PHOENIX -- Ted Lilly threw 30 pitches off a mound Sunday, the first big step in his rehab from shoulder surgery.
Lilly had a light throwing session off a mound a few days ago, but pitching coach Larry Rothschild said this was the first one with real "intensity."
Asked if Lilly would be able to get into a Cactus League game this spring, Rothschild hedged: "I won't know that until somewhere down the road. I'd probably prefer to stay away from that right now."
Lilly is not expected to re-join the Cubs until May, though he continues to insist he will be back sometime in April. The Cubs have no reason to rush him, knowing Lilly is an important piece to the puzzle and any setback could push him even farther back.
Rothschild said Lilly is "progressing nicely," after returning from a virus that knocked him out of action for a week.
"So far, no bumps in the road," Rothschild said.
Without prompting, Rothschild said he would not be giving daily updates on Lilly..
Thanks to Sunday's rainouts, the Cubs are throwing four potential starters against Oakland this afternoon in Phoenix. Ryan Dempster will be followed by Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija and Tom Gorzelanny, with Esmailin Caridad throwing in the ninth, if necessary.
Dempster breezed through his two innings of work, retiring all six batters he faced. Dempster, Randy Wells and Carlos Zambrano have combined for six hitless innings in their three starts.
In other news, Lou Piniella said Xavier Nady may make his debut as DH on Thursday. The Cubs wanted him to return Wednesday, but Zambrano is pitching that day, so no DH.
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Even the fake Bob Locker should know that Matthew Broderick and Oprah never dated. Nice try clone.
Is the world getting that screwed up that we now have 2 stinkin Bob Locker's. They are both morons. I would never admit I'm Bob Locker and here they are fighting over who is the real one. They are both one taco short of a combination platter.
Now to prove that I am the real Bob Locker and that other imposter is not, I will tell you all about the time I met Pamela Anderson and that should prove to you all that I am Bob Locker and the other Bob Locker is not Bob Locker. I was at a hotel bar in 1993 and who should I see at the end of the bar, but Pamela Anderson herself! I went over and bought her a drink and she started telling me all about being on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She told me how she thought that David Hasselhoff played a much better captain than Leonard Nimoy did. We then went across the street to the KFC and got the extra crispy value meal. She then invited me to the premiere of Star Trek VII: The Wrath of Khan, the new Star Trek movie that was coming out in which she reprised her role as Ensign Data, the sexy robot. I however had to decline as I had tickets to see the Wolves play the Manitoba Moose for the AHL Cup that night. Oh well, maybe next time Pamela! And that should prove how I am the real Bob Locker and that other Bob Locker is not the real Bob Locker. Does he know that story? I think not! Therefore, he is not the real Bob Locker. Got it everyone?
Hey, that Bob Locker is not THIS Bob Locker. He is as fake as a three dollar bill. As fake as Pamela Anderson's top half.
If Benson doesn't work out, then maybe we can bring back Rick Sutcliffe. I remember when he won Game 5 of the 1978 World Series. It was the greatest baseball moment I ever heard. I was listening to the radio in my 1982 Dodge Stratus. I was on LSD at the time. Yup, good old Lake Shore Drive. In fact, my favorire song of all time is Lake Shore Drive by The Beatles. It was great when they landed in America and started singing that song right after they got off thier plane at Midway Airport. Of course it was even better when they performed in front of 100,000 people at Wrigley Field later that day and then sang "Twist and Shout" with Matthew Broderick on Oprah. Ah yes, nothing like being on LSD and seeing the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. I was there when they built it for the 1956 Olympics. I'm not that sad that we didn't get the 2012 Olympics because I was right there for all the main events during the 1956 Chicago Olympics. Remember when the USA Hockey Team beat the Soviet Union that year? It truly was a Miricle on Ice! I don't think the United Center has ever been as loud since Stan Mikita scored the winning goal in that game. Great times!
Hey Locker, I saw Wilbur Wood strike out Dick Allen once.
If the Cubbies need another starter, why not bring in Kris Benson? Since we blew it on Reed Johnson and Ben Sheets he seems like the next choice. I saw him pitch at a game I was at and he beat the Cubbies on a two hitter. He struck out Tuffy Rhodes three times and Sammy Sosa twice. He looked good. Why not make him our stopper?
I must comment on every post. Kenny Willians is the worst GM, why does the Tribune have articles on teams other than the Cubs? I fell off a swing and hit my head real hard when I was a kid. Opening day very soon! I like our boys chances this year. I like my chances with boys this year. Go Cubbies!