Former star Athletics and Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder is hoping to return to the big leagues, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports. Mulder, 36, struggled through shoulder injuries in the last several years of his career, which ended in 2009. He last pitched in the big leagues in 2008, and has not pitched more than 11 innings in a season since 2006. He currently works for ESPN as an analyst.
Crasnick reports that Mulder's comeback attempt began in October, spurred by an attempt to mimic the delivery of Dodgers reliever Paco Rodriguez. Mulder thinks Rodriguez's delivery may have helped him figure out how to pitch effectively again.
Representatives of three big-league teams watched Mulder pitch last month, and he says he threw 89-90 MPH. "To be honest with you, I never anticipated this five or six weeks ago," Mulder says. "It was just a flat-out fluke that came from me trying to imitate Paco Rodriguez in my living room."
How is 54 innings overworking the pen?
I don’t know, for being only his first full year I felt like they relied on him too much as one of the only lefties and he burnt out towards the end of the season. I know Howell threw more innings but for a while there in the middle of the season paco was ran out there every day it seemed like
Would have thrown just as much in the minors.
love this guy. I hope it works out
Man, I love Mark Mulder. Hope he makes it.
Didnt this guy learn anything from watching roger clemmens?
I’m pretty sure Clemens was only trying to come back that season to reset his Cooperstown bid.
hmmm perhaps. Maybe he can, who knows. I enjoyed watching him pitch in oakland. One of the quickest games i have ever been to…he threw a shutout I believe, but it could have been a no hitter.
God I hope not.
Now I’m curious what Paco Rodriguez’s delivery looks like. I hope there’s a big wind-up and a swirl at the end.
Seems like Mark wants a nice one-year, $3mil contract before he heads off in the sunset.
I just saw Paco’s delivery on YT… I see where Mulder is going with this. Very little shoulder movement. Problem is, if he’s facing hitters with good eyesight, the deliver forces you to tip off pitches before the ball is released. You can see the finger grip on the ball.
36? i figured he was older than that.
Man this is a tough room. Last time I checked, Mulder was a solid # 1/2 starter before the injury. If his arm is now healthy, there is no reason he can’t be an effect middle to back end guy much like most 1/2 guys when they reach their mid to late 30’s. Either you know how to pitch or you don’t. Have you seen most teams 4 and 5 starter? They’re terrible! This guy’s got a shot.
The question will be, can he give you some quality innings? Shoulder injuries are bad news for pitchers. Them shoulders are complicated thing-a-ma-jigz. Not like elbows. Age shouldn’t be the issue – plenty of older pitchers who have done well in the recent past. Good luck, Mark.
Totally agree… and if you shoulder checks out you’ll have to worry about hamstring and calf strain trips to the DL… but all that can be proven in Spring Training… I would totally roll the dice on a Spring invite for this guy if I was a GM for about 25 teams in the MLB
So you’re saying they should just become the 2004 Oakland Athletics? Considering they already have Tim Hudson and Marco Scutaro. Maybe they can go get Bobby Crosby and Erubiel Durazo, too?
Maybe he saw that Mark Prior is now off the market and figured he could step into those shoes?
st louis cardinals have a dl spot he can fill.
So, you’re telling me that the Giants’ hopes of re-acquiring the early 2000 A’s rotation is still alive? Christmas miracles are abound on the Hot Stove!
Somebody wake up Billy Koch and tell him he might have a payday coming.
Too bad it isn’t Fox Mulder making a come back…
The Twins are paying $8 million a year for less…
One would think a guy should follow his heart.
This offseason, sadly enough, it counts as something. The brass apparently has no plans to make the team any better, might as well make it a big joke.
I believe DD said Robbie Ray will start the season in AAA. Hopefully he’ll be ready by the time Detroit needs a 6th starter.
Yeah, and Somehow this makes me think of Kenny Powers…
Best of luck to Mulder but this news kind of came out of leftfield.
Too bad Zito’s option didn’t vest. We’d have the Big three again in the Bay 10 years later.
Wow!!! This came out of no where! Best of luck to MM on his path back to the majors!
Ha! Is there such a thing as a half year contract?
Ben Sheets is hardly a case of Oakland breaking him down. McCarthy I will give you, forgot about him. Even with him, he did get hit in the head with the line drive- his injury problems didn’t all stem from a potential Oakland breakdown thing.
It also may have been a joke because I don’t think there’s any chance whatsoever Mulder makes it back after a six year hiatus without roids.
I can see the headlines now… “Giants sign Mulder; reunite the Big Three a decade later.”
I tried to throw a baseball like Paco Rodriguez in my living room and broke my TV.