McGowan: things looking up

Post #1 » by **YogiStewart** » Wed May 4, 2011 4:36 pm

RGriffinStar Richard Griffin
D-McGowan 1 inning against live hitting in game situation this a.m. Was really upbeat after. Feels will pitch for a team before summer ends.

S-centz · Post #2 » by **S-centz** » Wed May 4, 2011 6:15 pm

I hope his recovery goes well and hope he returns to form.

DonYon · Post #3 » by **DonYon** » Wed May 4, 2011 6:25 pm

finally an update on this guy. great news.

CapeCrusader · Post #4 » by **CapeCrusader** » Wed May 4, 2011 6:54 pm

Good to hear that hes back on his feet throwing.

MGD24 · Post #5 » by **MGD24** » Wed May 4, 2011 8:45 pm

wooo!

Hoopstarr · Post #6 » by **Hoopstarr** » Wed May 4, 2011 10:02 pm

I refuse to get my hopes up

Post #7 » by **tsherkin** » Wed May 4, 2011 10:35 pm

Unless his velocity comes back AND he gains command that he never had, he's looking at a minor league career at this point. I'd love the 'burns to come back as a reliever for us, but I'm not even going to remember him for the rest of the season so I don't get disappointed when he gets dead-arm in six weeks.

killahkam · Post #8 » by **killahkam** » Wed May 11, 2011 5:18 pm

i cant wait for the return of those burns!

MGD24 · Post #9 » by **MGD24** » Wed May 11, 2011 6:09 pm

killahkam wrote:i cant wait for the return of those burns!

me too!

Graham's Cracker · Post #10 » by **Graham's Cracker** » Thu May 12, 2011 12:45 am

Asked whether he is airing out his fastball these days, he replied ambiguously: "I throw it now and I kind of let it go."

In the next breath, he said he knows he has to be more of a pitcher than a thrower, that he "can't get away with as much" if he misses his spot with a fastball.

McGowan is out of minor-league options, but if his rehab continues apace, he will return to the minors for a rehab stint. He hopes that will happen this year.

"If I keep progressing, I should be ready," he said. "I know it's going to take a little while."

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Jays+McGowan+reason+optimism+rehab+stint/4729196/story.html

satyr9 · Post #11 » by **satyr9** » Thu May 12, 2011 3:27 am

Quite often, even if we don't always care to admit it, our hopes for players are largely selfish: we want them to recover and play well so we get to watch our team win. That isn't to condemn fandom or anything - it's not a negative thing - but I wanted to acknowledge that plays a role in how we cathect with player injuries and development.

In this case I can honestly say I want McGowan to get another shot without any semblance of a personal investment or hope for future Jays success. If he makes it back with the Yankees or Pirates or whatever that's fine with me. All that talent and drive and hard work made him a monster prospect then he fought through major surgery (TJ I think) and still looked like an amazing future star only to suffer another major injury and he's still fighting for it. I know he's not a unique case and there are far too many young kids out there with similar career paths, but I would be ecstatic to see McGowan makes his way back and get to pitch in the bigs again.

I know I'd given him up for dead, as far as a realistic pitching option goes, quite a long time ago and right now I sincerely hope he proves me wrong. Sorry if this was a little sentimental, but goddamn McGowan needs to catch a break.

baulderdash77 · Post #12 » by **baulderdash77** » Thu May 12, 2011 4:11 am

They're doing the right thing by letting him rehab, but he's really done as a Blue Jay. Who's he going to displace in the bullpen? Zep - no way. Villeneuva - forget about it. Dotel - that 8th reliever spot should be another utility guy like McCoy