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Dotel
Brings Happy Face To Trenton
by Mike Ashmore
July 27, 2006 - Hunterdon County Democrat
The second he fired his first pitch from the
mound at Waterfront Park, Octavio Dotel joined an impressive
list of Yankees to make rehab appearances with the Trenton
Thunder this year.
Carl Pavano made two starts in mid-May, Gary Sheffield
played one game in New Britain for the Thunder about a week
later, and Shawn Chacon went five innings for Trenton on
June 4th. But Pavano's second start only lasted an inning
due to an elbow injury that required more surgery, and
Sheffield only lasted a week in the Bronx before going under
the knife for his injured wrist.
It was Chacon who made it back to the Yankees without a
hitch, and that's a path that Dotel is trying to follow.
Ever since pitching a scoreless ninth to pick up his 71st
career save against Boston in May of 2005, he hasn't thrown
a big league pitch, undergoing Tommy John Surgery on his
right elbow one month later.
Expected to be out for up to two years, Dotel is back only
13 months later, just days away from his long awaited debut
in pinstripes.
Wearing the number 27 on his back and a smile on his face,
Dotel relieved starter Matt Childers in the fifth inning. He
threw 16 pitches, 12 of them for strikes. He was impressive,
striking out the last two batters he faced, his only blemish
being a 400 foot double off the bat of the first batter he
faced, B-Mets center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Three days after a flawless inning for the Single-A Tampa
Yankees, Dotel addressed reporters after becoming the 13th
Yankee player to visit Trenton in four years.
"This one was better (than Tampa), a lot better,"
Dotel said. "This time, I was throwing more
consistently. Last time, I was throwing at about 80-85
percent. Today, I felt like I was at 95-percent, it feels
good. From what I saw in myself, personally, I think I can
go to New York and get some people out."
The press box was packed with scouts, and you'd have a hard
time finding one who wasn't impressed with his performance.
One said that his fastball topped out at 95 miles per hour,
not bad for someone who says he's not quite back to full
strength.
The Yankees signed Dotel to a one year, $2 million contract
in January, banking on a return to the form that saw him put
together a 36 save season while splitting time with Houston
and Oakland in 2004.
With Mariano Rivera not going anywhere as the Yankees
closer, Dotel is expected to serve as his set-up man,
creating an unhittable one-two punch in the Bronx for the
eighth and ninth innings. But for now, don't expect him to
be thrown into the fire just yet.
"I don't think I'm going to set up Mariano right
away," he said. "I think they're going to build me
up to where I can set (him) up. Remember, I'm coming off of
surgery and I've got to get stronger and get 100-percent
ready. Right now, I think they're going to use me in the
sixth or seventh inning, that's going to be my role."
For Dotel, the main concern would be how he feels the day
after he pitches, something that derailed his initial
attempt at a comeback while rehabbing with Triple-A Columbus
in mid-June.
"That's another question, how I'm going to feel
tomorrow," Dotel said. "After tomorrow, it's going
to be another happy face, just like right now."
If that proves to be true, there will be plenty of happy
faces to go around in the New York Yankees front office.
Thunder Notes: While SNY, YES and the rest of the
usual media members that show up for a rehab appearance were
there, there were far more scouts at this rehab appearance
than there were for either of Pavano's starts. Yankees
special pitching coordinator Rich Monteleone also
accompanied Dotel...In his first appearance since allowing
three runs at the Futures Game, Thunder ace Phil Hughes
struck out nine B-Mets in just five innings to pick up his
6th Double-A win. Hughes has been limited to five innings or
80 pitches by the organization, whichever comes
first...Bronson Sardinha was called up to Triple-A Columbus,
nearly two months after he was supposed to be called up to
the club. To replace him, Trenton received another
outfielder from Tampa, Matt Carson.
Contact Mike at:
mashmore@mikeashmore.com
Photo courtesy of Mike Ashmore
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