On the road to recovery
Veteran catcher Grandal feeling ‘fine’ as he works back from calf strain
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Yasmani Grandal wasted little time testing his mild left calf strain during Wednesday’s B-game against the Reds.
The White Sox catcher ripped a pitch to the right-field wall in his first trip to the platebefore he rounded first and slid safely into second for a double.
“I didn’t think it was smooth at all,” Grandal said Thursday. “I couldn’t feel my legs. But I guess it’s a good thing, right? We just need to get our legs underneath us now.
“I wasn’t trying to run hard. There was no trying — I have one speed pretty much. I was trying to feel my legs get underneath me, but they were way behind me. I was trying to get to second, which I didn’t think I was going to do, and thank God the right fielder bobbled it like five times and I was able to make it.”Grandal struck out in his second plate appearance Wednesday. He also caught the Reds off guard after his first-inning double. Noticing third base was unoccupied when the Reds went into a shift with Gavin Sheets at the plate, Grandal stole third.
“It was funny because I was talking to Brett (Walker), one of our trainers, and he said one of his guys, the same thing happened and his first two hits were triples.
“And then all of a sudden, I get a double and have to run to third afterward. But they wanted to see me run, especially on the bases, and take leads, so I’m glad we got that out of the way on the first (at-bat).”
One day after his first action of the spring, Grandal said he’s feeling “fine” in his recovery from the injury.
“It feels good,” Grandal said. “Now I need to keep building off it.”
Grandal said the next step is just to keep playing and gain strength.
“I’m still building up innings and making sure we stick to our schedule,” he said.
He is expected to start and, according to manager Rick Renteria, possibly play three innings Friday when the Sox face the Cubs in Mesa, Ariz.
“Hopefully that goes well,” Grandal said. “(Wednesday), I could have gone four or five innings. I don’t know how many I’ll play (Friday) but I don’t think we’re going to try to test anything. ”
Renteria thought Grandal moved wellWednesday.
“It was his first game, so he’s feeling a little of the game wind you get,” Renteria said. “I said (Thursday), ‘Are you feeling jelly legs?’ And he said, ‘No, I actually feel pretty good.’ So that’s a good sign.”
But while he hasn’t been hesitant on the field, Grandal knew the importance of rehabbing at a good pace and not trying to push it.
“My main concern was that the doc said if it happens again, especially this early, it can be eight weeks,” Grandal said. “Him saying that stays in the back of your head. Usually to an injury you might be able to push a little harder, you just take back a little bit and trust in the process. So far, so good, and hopefully we won’t have to be talking about this for much longer.”
He’s ready to return the focus back to the game.
“That’s why I’m saying, now you just have to get our feet underneath you,” Grandal said. “From there on it’s just playing. There’s not much you can do about it. Get the playing time in without stressing it.
“I’m in a good spot, so as long as we keep building off it, we should be fine.” ■ Right fielder Nomar Mazara went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run for the Sox in Thursday’s 7-6 victory against the Rockies at Camelback Ranch.