July 4, 200422 yr SPOONEYBARGER HOPES TO RETURN THIS YEAR The Marlins aren't counting on Tim Spooneybarger to pitch this season, but the reliever said there's a chance he could join the bullpen for a possible September stretch drive. ''There's a good chance,'' said Spooneybarger, who is working his way back from ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow and expects to begin throwing off a mound within the next two weeks. ``The way I'm feeling, I'm definitely trying to make a push to get back.'' Spooneybarger underwent Tommy John surgery Aug. 22. It took A.J. Burnett, who had the same surgery, 13 months to play again. Burnett began throwing off a mound in late January and pitched in his first major-league game June 3, a gap of about four months. But, in between, Burnett shut down his throwing program for about three weeks because of loose scar tissue in the elbow, something Spooneybarger said he already has experienced during his rehabilitation. Spooneybarger also said, because he's a reliever, he might not require as much time as Burnett to be game-ready. ''I don't have to build up to 100 pitches,'' said Spooneybarger, the Marlins' set-up man last season until the elbow injury flared up. Spooneybarger said if he is not feeling 100 percent, he will delay his comeback until next season. Could bullpen help be on the way? Nah, I'd be shocked if he came back this year.
July 4, 200422 yr Sounds like how AJ wanted to come back in April, he won't be back but would be great if he did
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