SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -Brandon McCarthy understood the immediate “here we go again” reaction when he had shoulder stiffness early this spring training and the Texas Rangers scratched him from a start.
“If I’m looking at it as a fan, I probably think the same thing,” McCarthy said. “Here’s a guy that for three years now we’ve looked at and counted on to do something and injuries have held him back. … That you’re oft-injured, it’s not fun to read, but I can understand that.”
Since being traded in December 2006 from the White Sox for top prospect John Danks, who immediately became part of Chicago’s starting rotation, McCarthy has appeared in only 28 games (6-11, 4.73 ERA). The 6-foot-7 right-hander pitched 22 innings in five starts last year.
“I have to prove something to myself and my teammates,” said McCarthy, still only 25. “I have to prove that I’m still a quality major league pitcher and I can do this for 200 innings a season and do it year after year … that they can count on me every five days.”
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That stiffness in his shoulder wound up being just that, nothing more. He still threw 62 pitches with five strikeouts over three innings on his scheduled day, though in the more controlled environment of a ‘B’ game than the Cactus League game.
“When we thought that he might not make that start, he showed us what he was all about,” manager Ron Washington said. “Mac is on a mission. If he stays healthy, we all know he can throw the baseball.”
McCarthy then threw four shutout innings against San Diego in his next Cactus League start. He faced one batter over the minimum with three strikeouts.
In his first spring training start last year, McCarthy went just one inning before having to come out with a sore elbow. He then missed four months because of right forearm inflammation, and after returning missed his last scheduled start with a strained tendon in his right middle finger.
Blisters on his pitching hand and a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade limited McCarthy to 23 games in 2007.
“In my mind, this is the year to start changing that,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy resumed throwing in December and took part in offseason workouts without any problems. The tightness he felt in a bullpen session two weeks ago, two days after his first spring start, wound up being the normal spring training soreness.
him from his start. They didn’t plan to let him pitch in a game until he proved with long toss and a bullpen session that his arm was fine.
That was still enough to start creating more questions about McCarthy, though he was confident the problem was never as serious as it was being portrayed.
“Because the way the last few years have gone, there’s already enough going on in your head when you’re thinking something bad’s going to happen that when you have to start answering questions about it, it eats at you a little bit,” McCarthy said.
While that can be annoying, McCarthy understands because of his past that will be the reaction until he proves himself on the mound.
“He’s a pro and he has pride,” Washington said. “I just wish and pray and hope that he can finally stay healthy so he can be happy with himself. Once he’s happy with himself and pleased with himself, we’re all gong to be pleased.”
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