Brandon Backe and Doug Brocail both threw simulated games yesterday at Minute Maid Park.
And the fans in Round Rock won't be pleased. Brocail apparently managed to talk Dewey Robinson and Cecil Cooper out of sending him to pitch one inning at Round Rock before being activated on Sunday from the DL. The people need to see the Broc. He'll apparently hump up for another simulated game tomorrow.
Says Brocail:
"The swelling went down, and on the fourth day, I was feeling pretty good. The only bad thing is you have to ride out the 15 days. I felt good. It's the hardest I've thrown in about a year, so I'll take it. I actually threw strikes today, so I can't complain."
Darin Erstad:
"He was the same Brocail. Ball moving in every direction possible, he's screaming at you in the batter's box. He's in peak form. He's ready."
However, Brian Moehler will throw five innings for Round Rock tomorrow, and Brandon Backe will throw four innings for Round Rock on Monday.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
