Jason Schmidt threw only 10 of 21 pitches for strikes in last week's spring training "B" game. When a reporter asked about his command, he responded with barbs.
"Is that a question?" the veteran Los Angeles Dodger asked. "Really, you want to know?"
He laughed. He appeared happy.
"Happy? I'm happy my arm doesn't hurt."
It's a place to start, with Schmidt saying he wants to focus on staying healthy and keeping the ball around the plate.
The 36-year-old right-hander said he wasn't concerned about proving anything in the final year of a three-year, $47 million contract that has thus far yielded more shoulder surgeries (two) than wins (one). He merely hopes to be able to capture the fifth spot in the rotation, after originally signing as a possible ace.
In a departure from the expectations and timetables placed on Schmidt over the past two years, measures of his success are even more modest this season.
"I've got a little 5-year-old that's never seen his dad throw before," said. "If he has, he doesn't remember."
Schmidt hasn't pitched a major league game or even an official spring training game since 2007. Career-threatening shoulder surgery became necessary in June that year. Bullpen sessions, simulated games and rehabilitation assignment starts last year only led to setbacks and another season-ending surgery.
"When he was going to rehab places, in between there would always be that one day where he wasn't sure," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "Last year he was never really consistent on a day-to-day basis with how he felt."
Schmidt said the latest procedure, to clean up scar tissue, gave him "instant relief," and the early testimonials are pouring in. After catching Schmidt in the bullpen, A.J. Ellis said it was like "night and day" compared to last year.
"The ball's coming out better than what I've seen the last two years," pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said. "The main thing is the arm feels good. He wants everything to be perfect right now, but that comes with time."
Schmidt said he's unconcerned with his velocity, resigned to the fact that his fastball is no longer blazing. The former All-Star and National League Cy Young runner-up is searching for a new arm slot to accommodate a different arm.
"Everything I'm doing right now is still old mechanics (from) when I was throwing hard," he said. "I'm not going to be the 96-to-98 (mph) guy like I was before, so I just got to get it around the plate and get them to hit it on the ground."
No radar guns have been seen pointed at Schmidt. After making his spring debut last week, he said his biggest goal was to "walk off in one piece."
"I hope I don't trip on the way to the clubhouse," he joked.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif.
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