November 22, 200421 yr Some dogs bark when there's a knock at the door. Marlins relief pitcher Tim Spooneybarger's dog barks when the phone rings. "Hey, Closer, chill out!" Spooneybarger says as he takes a phone call at his suburban Lake Worth house. Yes, the dog's name is Closer, a fitting selection by a 25-year-old relief pitcher who one day hopes to make a living closing out the opposition in the ninth inning. But Spooneybarger has a long way to go toward proving that he can pitch effectively in relief, period. When the Marlins open spring training in February, he hopes to throw his first competitive pitches since undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. Spooneybarger, who missed all of last year and most of 2003, is in the Marlins' plans for 2005. But there is a degree of concern because he hasn't pitched since June 2003. "You always have to be a question mark coming off surgery but he's definitely in the plan," General Manager Admin Beinfest said. "Whether he's the seventh-inning guy or the set-up guy, he is a guy that we're hopefully counting on." For Spooneybarger, spring training has already started. He goes to the Marlins' spring training complex in Jupiter three days a week to throw under the supervision of minor-league rehab coordinators Gene Basham and Mike West. The other two days of the week, he works out at home. After Thanksgiving, he will start working out in early December with Marlins right-hander A.J. Burnett, another Tommy John surgery survivor. "We'll start throwing pretty hard," Spooneybarger said. Spooneybarger hoped to return to the bullpen in September, an ambitious timetable since he underwent the surgery Sept. 9, 2003. "I thought for sure I'd be back," he said, "but I think it's better I'm getting in a few more months of throwing." He knows Florida may not re-sign free agent closer Armando Benitez, which could mean the Marlins will rely on Spooneybarger to set up Guillermo Mota next year. "I want to come back and pitch," he said. "It would be nice to have four or five slingers down there. The (role of the) bullpen is so big nowadays. You take the course of the year some of those games, we had quite a few games we should have won." http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/conte...pozzi_1121.html
November 22, 200421 yr Good report! Thanks for that. Spooney has the right attitude, lots of heart, and I can't wait to see him in Spring Training. I'll tell you, this is going to be the most exciting Jupiter ST ever!
November 22, 200421 yr sexy :thumbup 620042[/snapback] Spooney is right? 620049[/snapback] No I am. :mischief :plain
November 22, 200421 yr sexy :thumbup 620042[/snapback] Spooney is right? 620049[/snapback] No I am. :mischief :plain 620050[/snapback] yes, spooney and b4p ..... :plain
November 22, 200421 yr sexy :thumbup 620042[/snapback] Spooney is right? 620049[/snapback] No I am. :mischief :plain 620050[/snapback] yes, spooney and b4p ..... :plain 620053[/snapback] but what about me? Im Bender, the lovable rascal!
November 22, 200421 yr We get a decent thread started (e.g. the report on Spooney) and it deteriorates.
November 22, 200421 yr Some dogs bark when there's a knock at the door. Marlins relief pitcher Tim Spooneybarger's dog barks when the phone rings. "Hey, Closer, chill out!" Spooneybarger says as he takes a phone call at his suburban Lake Worth house. 620039[/snapback] Awesome.. I saw Closer once I wonder if he goes to the same vet my animals go to...probably :thumbup It says he lives in Lake Worth :mischief2 The Community he lives in is in Wellington :mischief2
November 23, 200421 yr We get a decent thread started (e.g. the report on Spooney) and it deteriorates. 620057[/snapback] :crying :crying :crying :crying
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.