Thread: Berardino: Diamond taking it slow

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_...w-steady-route

Nice piece from the Pioneer Press’ new beat guy detailing Scott Diamond’s recovery from offseason elbow surgery. The LHP states that he incurred the bone chips (or, I assume, first noticed them) when jumping rope in December, which answers the question many have asked about why he didn’t undergo the surgery until then. He called it a “freak mishap” (the number of those that have occurred to current/former Twins pitchers this offseason is mind-boggling).

Also, it seems like the writing is on the wall that Diamond will not be ready for the start of the season:

Asked if Diamond, 26, should be targeting a spot on the Opening Day roster, Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson shook his head.

"No, just think about each day," Anderson said. "We're not going to get too far ahead with him. We'll just play it as it progresses. I know he wants to be (ready for Opening Day), but we'll see as we go."

> By the end of the session, Diamond's second in as many days, Pinto was crouching almost on top of the plate. Obviously, he won't be allowed to do that once the games start

They should petition for this. It could be a good way to shake the Twins pitching staff up from their usual pitch-to-contact ways; and aren't pitchers always looking for ways to take a few feet off their fastballs? Hopefully the catcher wears an extra-heavy-duty helmet.