Football
Associated Press 16y

Jason Schmidt taking a break from throwing

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jason
Schmidt is taking a break from throwing, but said Friday it's all
part of the rehabilitative process.

"It's just fatigued, a little achy, nothing serious," said the
35-year-old right-hander, trying to make his way back from shoulder
surgery. "You hope it doesn't happen to you, but you know it's
going to happen to everybody."

The Dodgers signed Schmidt to a three-year, $47 million contract
last winter hoping he'd join Brad Penny and Derek Lowe atop their
rotation. Instead, he was limited to six starts before undergoing
surgery June 20 to repair an inflamed bursa, a torn labrum and a
frayed biceps tendon in his right shoulder.

Schmidt hasn't thrown since working a bullpen session Tuesday.
Before that, everything had gone well since he reported to spring
training 2½ weeks ago.

"It wasn't a good bullpen. There were just some things where we
said we have to slow down," Schmidt said. "You come into camp,
you're feeling good, you try to run with the crowd. It's not
anything we're overly concerned about."

Schmidt said he's not sure when he'll throw again.

"I don't know. It could be tomorrow," he said. "I'll be doing
everything I was doing before except throwing."

Dodgers manager Joe Torre has said he isn't counting on Schmidt
to be ready when the season starts March 31, but hopes he'll at
least be close.

Schmidt, a three-time NL All-Star, went 58-28 with a 3.33 ERA
over 122 starts with the San Francisco Giants from 2003-06, making
him one of the most attractive free-agent pitchers before he signed
with the Dodgers.

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