Conine readies for return

March 5, 200521 yr

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- In a week to 10 days, Jeff Conine is expected to start seeing live pitching.

Once that stage of rehabilitation takes place, the Marlins and Conine will have a better gauge as to whether the veteran will be in the lineup for Opening Day.

Rehabilitating from two offseason surgeries on his right shoulder, Conine has increased his on-field activities. The 38-year-old hooked up with the team at Fort Lauderdale Stadium on Friday, and before the Marlins faced the Orioles, he took part in light hitting and throwing drills on a backfield.

Conine hit off a tee and hit some soft toss without feeling any pain. He also tested the shoulder with some throwing drills.

"I felt good," Conine said. "I've got to keep progressing from here, and increase my activity day by day and see how it progresses. If everything is fine, I'll step it up a little bit more."

In the best case scenario, Conine hopes to be playing Grapefruit League games on March 20. He says the team is looking more at a return on March 24 or 25.

If Conine gets 10 games, and around 30 Grapefruit League at-bats, he says he should be ready for the April 5 opener against the Braves at Dolphins Stadium.

That may be optimistic, and it looks as if Juan Encarnacion will be the Opening Day starter in right field as Conine recovers.

Conine said that he will not rush a return.

"I'm not going to get out there and embarrass myself or put us at a deficit and hurt the team," Conine said. "I wouldn't do that. I have too much respect for my teammates and too much pride in myself to do that. If I'm capable and ready to roll, I'll be in there."

But if Conine gets in about 10 spring games and he is feeling fine, he sees no reason why he shouldn't be considered for a starting role in the outfield.

"I think the last 10 days will be fine," Conine said. "But that's not up to me."

Monday for Delgado? Bothered by a touch of tendinitis in his left elbow, Carlos Delgado likely won't play in a spring game until Monday.

There is an outside chance the slugger will be ready on Sunday, but manager Jack McKeon doesn't want to push it.

"He's going to take a couple of days to let it calm down," McKeon said. "Let's correct it now. Sunday is a possibility, but we're hoping he can go on Monday. If it doesn't feel right Monday, we'll go Tuesday."

On Monday, the Marlins have a split-squad day, facing the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET in Fort Lauderdale and the Dodgers at 7:05 p.m. at Roger Dean Stadium.

Delgado is taking medication to reduce the inflammation to his non-throwing arm.

The left-handed first baseman last played on Tuesday in the Marlins' 9-7 loss to the University of Miami at Roger Dean Stadium, going hitless in two at-bats.

Jason Stokes has filled in for Delgado in the first two Grapefruit League games.

Moehler, Waldrond impress: Should the need for a sixth starter emerge, Brian Moehler and Les Waldrond are candidates to step up.

Both showed signs that they can provide help if the situation arise where another starter is needed.

Moehler started Friday, tossing three scoreless innings, and Waldrond followed by blanking the Orioles for two innings. Waldrond collected the win in the Marlins' 3-1 victory at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

Moehler gave up two hits without issuing a walk or recording a strikeout. Waldrond worked two innings, giving up two hits with two strikeouts.

"I was looking to get ground balls and letting these guys make plays behind me," said Moehler of his outing.

Moehler, who enjoyed some successful years in Detroit, has battled back from Tommy John surgery and is looking to make an impression with the Marlins.

McKeon liked what he saw on Friday.

"That's the way he pitched when he was in Detroit before he hurt his arm," McKeon said.

Waldrond also impressed, showing a sharp breaking ball in his two innings.

Mota saves: In the Marlins' first win, Guillermo Mota collected his first save of the spring.

Mota gave up two hits in a scoreless ninth inning.

Mota said that he was anticipating working the fourth inning, but before the game, the team decided to allow Mota to pitch the ninth if they were ahead and the eighth if they trailed.

"I felt a little bit sharper today," Mota said of his second spring outing.

The reason to pitch him earlier in the game is for him to see regular sluggers like Baltimore's Sammy Sosa and Miguel Tejada.

Old-school Jack: Rapid expansion of technology hasn't caught up to the 74-year-old McKeon.

McKeon still generally gets his box score information from a newspaper, but his wife, Carol, is Internet-savvy.

McKeon says that he rarely messes with the computer, and he doesn't have an e-mail address. Instead, he tells friends to e-mail his wife's address.

When McKeon does get online, he admittedly clicks on buttons and fouls up the computer.

Asked if he had an iPod, McKeon quipped: "I have a tripod."

Coming up: Dontrelle Willis will make his first Grapefruit League start on Saturday against Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals. St. Louis is the home team on Saturday. On Sunday, A.J. Burnett will make his second spring start, facing the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. St. Louis, the visitors that day, will go with Jason Marquis. For Monday's split-squad, Al Leiter faces the Orioles at Fort Lauderdale Stadium at 1:05 p.m. ET, while Josh Beckett will start against the Dodgers at 7:05 p.m. in Jupiter.

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