Papelbon to be on a starting pitchers throwing program
Posted on February 23, 2008
Filed Under 2008 Season |
It was announced today that Jonathan Papelbon is going to go through the first half of spring training by preparing the same way he would as if he was a starter. Normally a closer would spend this time of the year conditioning himself to throw one inning but Paps is preparing himself to pitch up to three innings per appearance.
Don’t get too excited though, he isn’t going to be joining the rotation. Pitching coach John Farrell explained that the reasoning behind the preparation is to build up arm strength and hopefully avoid having to shut Jonathan down again like what happened in 2006. Throwing like a reliever won’t accomplish this so he will spend the first half of spring training on a program used by starting pitchers.
“We like it, but I don’t think it’s typical,” Papelbon said. “It’s just more throwing in the beginning to build arm strength. I’m going to go out there and throw two innings, and maybe another one and then back down from that. Halfway through (spring training) I will back down.”
“He’s not going to start games, but what we’re going to do is get into it where he is going two innings, possibly three,” Farrell said. “We don’t want to get him out there for one inning, take a day or two off, and go another inning. We feel the best way to build arm strength is rest between outings and stretch him out a little bit more.
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