Scott Olsen and Sergio Mitre once again

by craig on Mar 11, 2008 8:15 AM EDT in News and Rumors

Scott Olsen and Sergio Mitre's paths to recovery after coming together may diverge once again.

Scott Olsen's shoulder issue is obviously minor as plans are for him to throw a side bullpen session Tuesday morning, returning to the mound for the first time since last Wednesday. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Olsen, anticipated to be the Opening Day starter, should get back on track quickly and be ready for the regular-season start.

Sergio Mitre is another story.

Mitre, who has not pitched since Feb. 28 because of a strained right forearm, also is scheduled to make his way back to the mound Tuesday morning for a side throwing session. But Gonzalez said he is further behind, and the timetable for his return to game action is less certain.

Both of the pitchers threw from 120 feet yesterday but that seems to be where the similarities end.

With Olsen being scheduled for a bullpen session today, in other words, throwing off the mound, the club doesn't feel his "injury" is anything major.

Assuming Scott can throw off the mound without any discomfort, I hope that Fredi or somebody will go up to Olsen and tell him he is the Opening Day starter. Also that he doesn't have to demonstrate he is worthy of being such anymore. All he has to do is get ready for the opening game. Meaning, work on his stuff, there is nothing left to prove.

If they don't, Olsen will go back out to mound, being the uber-competitor he is, and throw at a 100 percent instead of working on his game.

A full out effort comes later, we still have a lot of spring training to go through - and not to mention about 35 regular season starts after that.

Mitre, on the other hand, just needs to go through the rehab program and when he is ready - he is ready. If that includes going through extended spring training, so be it.

After all, it probably wouldn't hurt VandenHurk or Volstad's, or whomever is chosen, feelings if he got the chance to bump up his pay with a few starts in the bigs.

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