OC Register: After 5 months, Garrett Richards is set to return to Angels rotation on Tuesday

[AngelsWin.com]

ARLINGTON, Texas — Garrett Richards is past the point of being just a hope or a maybe.

After Richards successfully passed his final test with a bullpen session on Saturday, the Angels announced that he will start on Tuesday in Oakland, It will be his first big league game since he pitched — coincidentally — in Oakland on April 5.

“I’m obviously excited,” Richards said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a while now. I’ve put in a lot of work. A lot of time. I’ve been pretty patient. I’m just excited about playing baseball.”

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Richards has missed almost the entire season with biceps nerve irritation, a rare condition that frustrated Richards because for most of the time he was out he was pain free.

The Angels moved him slowly, keeping him from even throwing until the All-Star break. After his first start in the minors, last Wednesday, the signs were apparently good enough to accelerate the process.

Manager Mike Scioscia had said they wanted Richards to get up to at least 60 pitches before he came back, but he threw only 40 in what will be the only game of his rehab assignment.

“This was really driven from our medical department,” Scioscia said. “They’ve turned this thing inside out and they feel very comfortable he’s not at risk. He’s past this. He’s throwing the ball as well as he ever has. He just doesn’t have quite the stamina he has if he pitched all year. We’ll see where he goes Tuesday.”

Richards said Scioscia told him he’ll be on a 50-pitch limit. After that, he could increase his pitch-count each time he starts. Richards could get as many six starts in the regular season, which would be plenty of time to get up to a standard 100 pitches by the end.

How effective he will be after missing so much time remains to be seen, but Richards is counting on being the guy the Angels viewed as their ace.

“In my eyes, I’m back to who I am,” he said. “I don’t notice any difference in my delivery or my action in my stuff. I am ready to compete again. I have full confidence in going out and giving us a good start.”

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[tdawg87]

[Tank]

brilliant. LOL.

[Tank]

i'm not setting the bar very high for GRich. any positives we can get from him are cherries on the cake.

[Lou]

5 hours ago, Tank said:

i'm not setting the bar very high for GRich. any positives we can get from him are cherries on the cake.

As long as he can give us a 4.77 era  and 1.41 whip, I'll be ecstatic 

[ten ocho recon scout]

6 hours ago, Tank said:

i'm not setting the bar very high for GRich. any positives we can get from him are cherries on the cake.

Cherry tomatoes

[Lou]

7 hours ago, Tank said:

i'm not setting the bar very high for GRich. any positives we can get from him are cherries on the cake.

What cake are you eating that has cherries on it? 

[fan_since79]

If he can get through his start without a twinge somewhere, I'll be happy.

One baby step at a time with this guy.

 

[zenmaster]

Is is the last year of his contract? I thought it was. If so, these next few starts are huge for him. 

[arch stanton]

14 minutes ago, zenmaster said:

Is is the last year of his contract? I thought it was. If so, these next few starts are huge for him. 

Next season is his last arb season. He's a free agent after next year

[Waybackman]

If he can go 4 innings it will be a major improvement over some recent starts. 

[Tank]

2 hours ago, Lou said:

What cake are you eating that has cherries on it? 

Chocolate cherry cake/black Forrest cake. It's delicious.

[AngelsFaninGA]

I'm just hoping he doesn't go full Skaggs

[red321]

Interesting that they are mapping out his return with the thought he'd be good to go 100 pitches in a wild card game. If this was May they would have his ass in A ball making a rehab. With the lackluster rotation and pennant race they figure his spring training workup is best done is a playoff race. 

 

Crazy crazy year. 

[Slegnaac]

3 hours ago, Lou said:

What cake are you eating that has cherries on it? 

Cherry-pie cake

[Troll Daddy]

5 hours ago, Lou said:

As long as he can give us a 4.77 era  and 1.41 whip, I'll be ecstatic 

I expect a 2.5 era with a .99 whip, I'll be ecstatic 

[Farmbuildingfan]

8 hours ago, Lou said:

As long as he can give us a 4.77 era  and 1.41 whip, I'll be ecstatic 

I agree.

Every pitch he throws without the trainer making an appearance is a small victory

Anything more than the above stats will be a surprise.

I hope this board will not give him the Skaggs treatment if he does no better.

.

 

[AngelsFaninGA]

3 hours ago, red321 said:

Interesting that they are mapping out his return with the thought he'd be good to go 100 pitches in a wild card game. If this was May they would have his ass in A ball making a rehab. With the lackluster rotation and pennant race they figure his spring training workup is best done is a playoff race. 

 

Crazy crazy year. 

Because this strategy has worked so well with Heaney and Skaggs and totally isn't backfiring at all.