Friday start shows remarkable comeback from injury
Friday night will seem like Opening Day for Jose Contreras.
That's because he will take the mound for the White Sox at least three months earlier than anticipated after suffering a torn left Achilles' tendon.
"I'm not going to hide it," Contreras said Thursday. "I'm going to be very excited."
Contreras' future with the Sox was believed to be in jeopardy after he suffered the injury Aug. 9 while covering first base against the Red Sox. He underwent surgery two days later.
"I didn't think it was that bad," Contreras said of his injury, which happened eight months ago. "I was feeling bad because I was on the disabled list for a month before the injury. When (trainer) Herm Schneider told me I would be out for a while, that's when I felt really bad."
Manager Ozzie Guillen thought Contreras, 37, would return as a reliever, assuming he wouldn't make a full recovery until the All-Star break.
But Contreras said his turning point came on the first day of spring training, when Guillen called him the surprise of camp after noticing Contreras had lost 30 pounds and was performing agility drills without any problems.
"Even though people were counting me out, even doctors, I'm very happy," said Contreras, who lost the weight in an effort to take stress off his legs. "But the first day of spring training was very happy because I was five months ahead of the schedule the doctors and everybody said."
Contreras' comeback took a final preseason step when he threw four scoreless innings Saturday against Arizona at Chase Field, and Guillen selected him as the fourth starter ahead of Bartolo Colon.
Extra innings: The Sox observed a moment of silence in memory of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident early Thursday in California. … Kansas City's Coco Crisp has hit nine of his 57 career home runs against the Sox, the most he has hit against any opponent. … Jack Egbert was tagged for three runs on four hits in 12/3 innings of relief work as Triple-A Charlotte lost its season opener to Gwinnett 9-1.
Source: chicagotribune.com
"I'm not going to hide it," Contreras said Thursday. "I'm going to be very excited."
Contreras' future with the Sox was believed to be in jeopardy after he suffered the injury Aug. 9 while covering first base against the Red Sox. He underwent surgery two days later.
"I didn't think it was that bad," Contreras said of his injury, which happened eight months ago. "I was feeling bad because I was on the disabled list for a month before the injury. When (trainer) Herm Schneider told me I would be out for a while, that's when I felt really bad."
Manager Ozzie Guillen thought Contreras, 37, would return as a reliever, assuming he wouldn't make a full recovery until the All-Star break.
But Contreras said his turning point came on the first day of spring training, when Guillen called him the surprise of camp after noticing Contreras had lost 30 pounds and was performing agility drills without any problems.
"Even though people were counting me out, even doctors, I'm very happy," said Contreras, who lost the weight in an effort to take stress off his legs. "But the first day of spring training was very happy because I was five months ahead of the schedule the doctors and everybody said."
Contreras' comeback took a final preseason step when he threw four scoreless innings Saturday against Arizona at Chase Field, and Guillen selected him as the fourth starter ahead of Bartolo Colon.
Extra innings: The Sox observed a moment of silence in memory of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident early Thursday in California. … Kansas City's Coco Crisp has hit nine of his 57 career home runs against the Sox, the most he has hit against any opponent. … Jack Egbert was tagged for three runs on four hits in 12/3 innings of relief work as Triple-A Charlotte lost its season opener to Gwinnett 9-1.
Source: chicagotribune.com
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