Radke fishes, finds answers
La Velle E. Neal III
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Published Aug 3, 2002
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire figured it would be useless to stay in contact with Brad Radke while his staff ace was in Florida on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.
"I didn't have a number to his boat out on the ocean," Gardenhire quipped. "So I didn't call him."
Radke did spend some time pursuing his favorite hobby, fishing. But because he lives in Largo, Fla., he actually stayed at teammate Eric Milton's house in Fort Myers, where the Twins maintain a year-round facility. There's no boat there.
And while Radke did have a line in the water a couple of times during his stay, he also was fishing for answers.
In the scorching heat at the Hammond County Sports Complex, Radke worked out while wondering if his right groin muscle -- which he has pulled twice this season -- would stay loose for the rest of what could be a special season.
After making three rehabilitation starts that boosted confidence in his health, Radke (4-2, 5.23 ERA) will start tonight against Kansas City. He has not pitched in a major league game since May 30, the longest inactive period of his career. The lure is getting in on the fun; the Twins lead the AL Central by 15 games over Chicago.
"It was tough," Radke said of the inactivity. "I came in here every day and tried to make myself better. The hardest part was when I went down there [the dugout]. For two months, I just pretended that I was in between starts, but it got old real quick.
"The way we've been playing, I didn't have to rush myself back."
Radke was coming off a complete game when he faced Kansas City on May 13. He took himself out after two innings when he felt the groin muscle ache and was placed on the disabled list the next day.
He breezed through therapy and told the trainers and Gardenhire he had not felt any pain for a week. But he couldn't get out of the first inning May 30 against Anaheim after re-injuring the muscle. Now he's facing Kansas City again.
"I think our whole ballclub is excited to get him back on the mound," Gardenhire said. "We know he's going to throw the ball over the plate, that he's going to keep everyone involved. When he's going good, he's fun to watch."
Radke posted a 2.31 ERA in 11 2/3 innings during three rehab outings. Most important, he was able to throw his trusty changeup for strikes. Radke drags his right leg slightly when he throws his changeup, and that's the pitch on which he injured his groin muscle both times.
So in addition to building his arm strength, Radke needed to prove he could throw his changeup without worrying about his groin muscle.
"I was thinking about it all the time [during rehab], but not lately because I've been on the mound a few times," Radke said. "It's difficult, because I've never been in a situation where I'm trying to come back and trying to get the mental part back."
After his last start for Class A Fort Myers, Radke told pitching coach Rick Anderson his edge was back. Anderson, after watching Radke smoothly navigate through a bullpen session Wednesday, agreed.
"Brad is basically about command," Anderson said. "Whether he's in rookie ball or in the big leagues, he's going to pitch the same and use the same stuff. I don't think it will be that big of an adjustment."
Gardenhire was more cautious. "I don't want anyone to put too much pressure on him," he said.
Pressure on the usually composed Radke?
"You've never seen him play golf, and you've never seen him fish," Gardenhire said. "I've seen pressure."
......................................................................................................................
07/30/2002 7:43 pm ET
MLBeat: Radke rejoins Twins
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS -- A young pitcher walked into the Twins clubhouse at the
Metrodome on Tuesday afternoon carrying a bag and looking for his locker stall.
The other players getting ready for that
night's game against the Chicago White Sox took notice of the arrival and were happy to see him.
"Hey -- we made a trade!" infielder Denny Hocking jokingly shouted. Others welcomed the player to the team and congratulated him for getting called up from the minor leagues.
But, this was not a player acquired by trade or a minor-league kid getting his first call-up. It was right-hander Brad Radke, who was back in the Twin Cities after making three rehabilitation starts in Fort Myers.
Radke appears to be fully recovered from the pulled groin that first put him on the disabled list May 13 and that was re-aggravated on May 30. He made his final rehab start Monday for the Miracle, the Single-A affiliate, going 4 2/3 innings and allowing one earned run on five hits.
"I feel pretty good," Radke said. "I had an okay outing last night. I got my pitch count up, that was the biggest thing. I didn't get tired after throwing 81 pitches."
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Radke is scheduled to start for Minnesota on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. A roster move to activate Radke hasn't been determined yet, but he said he might carry 12 pitchers on the staff.
"We haven't decided which way we're going to go," Gardenhire said. "We'll make that decision. Right now, I don't have to do anything."
Radke hurt himself the second time only 12 pitches into his return from his first trip on the DL. Although he thought he was ready back then, he's not apprehensive about getting hurt again in his upcoming return.
"I don't think so. I'm kind of getting over that stage," Radke said. "I'm just glad to be back. Hopefully, I can help the team. It's not like they need much help now anyway."
Gardenhire has no doubts that Radke will be okay.
"He's ready to go," Gardenhire said. "We're talking about Brad Radke here. If he's able to use all of his pitches, he'll be fine."
Radke is 4-2 with a 5.23 ERA in 10 starts this season for the Twins.
La Velle E. Neal III
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Published Aug 3, 2002
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire figured it would be useless to stay in contact with Brad Radke while his staff ace was in Florida on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.
"I didn't have a number to his boat out on the ocean," Gardenhire quipped. "So I didn't call him."
Radke did spend some time pursuing his favorite hobby, fishing. But because he lives in Largo, Fla., he actually stayed at teammate Eric Milton's house in Fort Myers, where the Twins maintain a year-round facility. There's no boat there.
And while Radke did have a line in the water a couple of times during his stay, he also was fishing for answers.
In the scorching heat at the Hammond County Sports Complex, Radke worked out while wondering if his right groin muscle -- which he has pulled twice this season -- would stay loose for the rest of what could be a special season.
After making three rehabilitation starts that boosted confidence in his health, Radke (4-2, 5.23 ERA) will start tonight against Kansas City. He has not pitched in a major league game since May 30, the longest inactive period of his career. The lure is getting in on the fun; the Twins lead the AL Central by 15 games over Chicago.
"It was tough," Radke said of the inactivity. "I came in here every day and tried to make myself better. The hardest part was when I went down there [the dugout]. For two months, I just pretended that I was in between starts, but it got old real quick.
"The way we've been playing, I didn't have to rush myself back."
Radke was coming off a complete game when he faced Kansas City on May 13. He took himself out after two innings when he felt the groin muscle ache and was placed on the disabled list the next day.
He breezed through therapy and told the trainers and Gardenhire he had not felt any pain for a week. But he couldn't get out of the first inning May 30 against Anaheim after re-injuring the muscle. Now he's facing Kansas City again.
"I think our whole ballclub is excited to get him back on the mound," Gardenhire said. "We know he's going to throw the ball over the plate, that he's going to keep everyone involved. When he's going good, he's fun to watch."
Radke posted a 2.31 ERA in 11 2/3 innings during three rehab outings. Most important, he was able to throw his trusty changeup for strikes. Radke drags his right leg slightly when he throws his changeup, and that's the pitch on which he injured his groin muscle both times.
So in addition to building his arm strength, Radke needed to prove he could throw his changeup without worrying about his groin muscle.
"I was thinking about it all the time [during rehab], but not lately because I've been on the mound a few times," Radke said. "It's difficult, because I've never been in a situation where I'm trying to come back and trying to get the mental part back."
After his last start for Class A Fort Myers, Radke told pitching coach Rick Anderson his edge was back. Anderson, after watching Radke smoothly navigate through a bullpen session Wednesday, agreed.
"Brad is basically about command," Anderson said. "Whether he's in rookie ball or in the big leagues, he's going to pitch the same and use the same stuff. I don't think it will be that big of an adjustment."
Gardenhire was more cautious. "I don't want anyone to put too much pressure on him," he said.
Pressure on the usually composed Radke?
"You've never seen him play golf, and you've never seen him fish," Gardenhire said. "I've seen pressure."
......................................................................................................................
07/30/2002 7:43 pm ET
MLBeat: Radke rejoins Twins
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS -- A young pitcher walked into the Twins clubhouse at the
Metrodome on Tuesday afternoon carrying a bag and looking for his locker stall.
The other players getting ready for that
night's game against the Chicago White Sox took notice of the arrival and were happy to see him.
"Hey -- we made a trade!" infielder Denny Hocking jokingly shouted. Others welcomed the player to the team and congratulated him for getting called up from the minor leagues.
But, this was not a player acquired by trade or a minor-league kid getting his first call-up. It was right-hander Brad Radke, who was back in the Twin Cities after making three rehabilitation starts in Fort Myers.
Radke appears to be fully recovered from the pulled groin that first put him on the disabled list May 13 and that was re-aggravated on May 30. He made his final rehab start Monday for the Miracle, the Single-A affiliate, going 4 2/3 innings and allowing one earned run on five hits.
"I feel pretty good," Radke said. "I had an okay outing last night. I got my pitch count up, that was the biggest thing. I didn't get tired after throwing 81 pitches."
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Radke is scheduled to start for Minnesota on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. A roster move to activate Radke hasn't been determined yet, but he said he might carry 12 pitchers on the staff.
"We haven't decided which way we're going to go," Gardenhire said. "We'll make that decision. Right now, I don't have to do anything."
Radke hurt himself the second time only 12 pitches into his return from his first trip on the DL. Although he thought he was ready back then, he's not apprehensive about getting hurt again in his upcoming return.
"I don't think so. I'm kind of getting over that stage," Radke said. "I'm just glad to be back. Hopefully, I can help the team. It's not like they need much help now anyway."
Gardenhire has no doubts that Radke will be okay.
"He's ready to go," Gardenhire said. "We're talking about Brad Radke here. If he's able to use all of his pitches, he'll be fine."
Radke is 4-2 with a 5.23 ERA in 10 starts this season for the Twins.
