PHOENIX (AP) -Chad Gaudin’s spring training preparation has been especially challenging this year.
The Oakland right-hander underwent operations on his left hip and right foot on Dec. 18, meaning that putting too much pressure on either side of his body while rehabilitating was painful for a while.
Now, he is playing catch every other day and hopes to be throwing off a mound by March 1.
“Just having both, it limits you,” Gaudin said Wednesday, when A’s pitchers and catchers reported to the team’s minor league complex. “It’s getting better. I’m looking forward to March 1.”
Gaudin was 11-13 with a 4.42 ERA last season in his first year as a member of the A’s rotation. Though he slumped with a 3-10 record after the All-Star break, Gaudin tied for the AL lead with 34 starts after pitching exclusively in relief in 2006.
While he felt good about parts of his year, the finish was frustrating. And it didn’t help that the A’s went 76-86 after reaching the AL championship series the previous season, had their streak of winning seasons end at eight – their first losing year since a 74-88 showing in 1998 – and went 9-17 in September for the team’s worst final month since going 8-20 in 1985.
“I’m looking to have a lot better ones,” he said of his performance. “I will put that in the past. Last year’s last year. You have to learn from it to get better. I look at the positive of what’s happened and just try to go help the team win every day.”
The 24-year-old Gaudin needed hip surgery to repair a torn labrum.
“His main thing is the foot,” manager Bob Geren said. “We don’t need a fifth starter until April 15. That’s an option – it’s more than a goal. We’d like to have him sooner.”
Gaudin is expected to be part of a rotation also featuring right-handers Joe Blanton, Rich Harden and Justin Duchscherer. The A’s dealt ace Dan Haren to the Arizona Diamondbacks in December.
Blanton, also still part of trade speculation, and Harden are slated to pitch the first two games in Japan.
Gaudin hopes he won’t be too far behind.
“It’s about a month setback,” he said. “This is still sort of my offseason in terms of throwing and training. I have to make sure I monitor everything.”
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