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Friday, April 11, 2008
Chad Cordero says he is ready to return. Everyone from the Washington Nationals who saw his one-inning rehabilitation assignment with Class A Potomac on Wednesday night said he looked ready to return. But the Nationals will take a conservative approach with their closer, who will make one more appearance in Potomac tonight, with the goal of activating him from the disabled list Sunday.
"He probably could be [activated sooner] if we wanted," General Manager Jim Bowden said yesterday. But pitching coach Randy St. Claire and Manager Manny Acta "both felt strongly that one more outing to build up arm strength would be better for [Cordero], and I defer to them on that."
Cordero, who opened the season on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, threw a scoreless ninth inning for Potomac on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out one. Radar-gun readings clocked his fastball at between 86 and 88 mph, just a couple of ticks below his normal velocity.
"I did exactly what I wanted to do, and my arm felt great," Cordero said yesterday. "I didn't have any pain."
Peña Set to Return Soon
Bowden said the team is "expediting the process" for the return of left fielder Wily Mo Peña from the disabled list, after another solid performance yesterday at extended spring training in Viera, Fla.
Peña, out with a left oblique strain, will play again in Viera today, then be moved to Class AAA Columbus for at least two games, beginning tomorrow.
"I'm hoping at least by next weekend he's playing [in the majors], and maybe earlier," Bowden said.
Entering last night, the Nationals' fill-in left fielders (primarily Felipe López and Willie Harris) had combined to hit .182 with no extra-base hits and one RBI.
"He and Elijah [Dukes] are missed," Bowden said, "because every time they come to the plate they have a chance to hit the ball out of the ballpark."
