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Coming Soon To A Bullpen Near You: Gil Meche

Gil Meche came down with a case of shoulder bursitis in late May landing him on the disabled list. He has yet to play and is eyeing a September return to the bullpen, where he might stay into 2011.

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22 Total Updates since June 17, 2010
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Gil Meche Coming Soon To Kansas City Royals Bullpen

It's getting closer and closer. Kansas City Royals pitcher Gil Meche, who declined shoulder surgery this season, will make his return to the lineup as a reliever.

On Wednesday, the Royals roster will expand to 40 and it's likely that Meche will be included.

Meche is currently in AAA-Omaha on a rehab assignment.

Meche allowed one run and two hits in 4 2/3 innings over three outings at Omaha after choosing not to undergo shoulder surgery, which was deemed necessary to continue his career as a starter.

If you can get it, $11 million for bullpen work isn't bad. 

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Getting Closer: Gil Meche Throwing One Inning In Omaha Saturday

Gil Meche was originally reported to be undergoing season ending shoulder surgery. He and the Royals opted against surgery to see if he could make a come back this year.

The long road continues on with a big step on Saturday.

Royals manager Ned Yost says Gil Meche will throw one inning in rehab with Omaha on Saturday. Can throw 20-25 pitches.

Meche was right around 40-50 pitches in his rehab last time around when they originally reported surgery would be coming so we'll see how it goes this time around.

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Royals Will 'Probably' Put Gil Meche In Bullpen In 2011

GM Dayton Moore's big money free agent starting pitcher may end his time in Kansas City as a relief man.

When Gil Meche declined surgery on his shoulder this season, the thought process was that he would return in September in some sort of bullpen role.

According to Royals manager Ned Yost, he may stay in the bullpen next year.

"We can maintain his shoulder issues in that role better than he can going out and pitching 100 pitches every fifth day. It lowers his workload and keeps him healthier," Yost said.

"That'll be a decision that we'll look at at the end of the year, but if I had to answer that today, probably, 'Yes.'"

It'd be disappointing but I suppose it's better than getting shoulder surgery, coming back and realizing one month into his return that he's not healthy (c'mon, that seems to happen too often with the Royals) and then going back on the DL.

Meche will go on a rehab assignment at some point likely before August to return by September.

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Royals P Gil Meche 'Threw The Ball Well' In Rehab Work, Aiming For September Return

Royals pitcher Gil Meche is opting against season-ending surgery and working to return to the Royals by sometime in September.

He pitched off of a mound this week and drew great reviews from manager Ned Yost.

“I thought he looked good last time, and he looked twice as good as last time,” he said. “He had a real hard breaking ball, nice cutter, good fastball. His command was a little bit off, but he threw the ball well.”

We'll see if he can get that September return.

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Royals' Gil Meche Opts Not To Have Surgery, Could Return To Bullpen By September

Gil Meche is in the fourth year of a five year deal with the Kansas City Royals. The last year and-a-half have been brutal with injuries and setbacks.

Last week it was announced Meche would have season-ending shoulder surgery. As it turns out, that surgery would have kept him out for the 2011 season as well. It also would have been career threatening, which is what happens when you have multiple shoulder surgeries.

Via the Kansas City Star:

“I took an option of not having it,” Meche said. “My shoulder’s beat up and everything. We’re going a different option. The only way to play out my contract and contribute something to this organization, having surgery wasn’t the way to go.

“For me, starting pitching is not an option for me. I’m going to pitch in the bullpen and see if my shoulder can handle it. As far as the endurance and stress, my shoulder can’t do it.”

I'd be surprised if Meche contributed to the Royals in any fashion ever again.

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Gil Meche On Season-Ending Surgery: 'I've Done Everything Possible'

It must suck to be Gil Meche today.

Royals manager Ned Yost announced that Meche would undergo shoulder surgery ending his season.

“The next step,” manager Ned Yost confirmed, “is he’ll probably have to have surgery on (the shoulder) to figure out exactly what’s wrong and repair it. We’re still evaluating, but it looks like that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

For Meche, he said he's done everything he could.

“I’ve done everything possible I could do to be on that mound,” Meche said. “I know that, (the Royals) know that. It’s not like I’m sitting here not wanting to pitch.”

He hadn't been throwing his curveball in two minor league rehab starts but apparently the shoulder situation worsened.

The Royals diagnosed him with shoulder bursititis when he originally hit the disabled list at the end of May.

Meche is entering year four of a five-year, $55 million contract and acknowledged that his performance the last year and a half has been disappointing.

For more on the Gil Meche injury, check out Royals Review.

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Shoulder Surgery: Royals Pitcher Gil Meche Out For The Season

Gil Meche had made two consecutive rehab starts in the minor leagues and things seemed to be going moderately well. Apparently that's not the case.

Ned Yost is now telling people that Meche will require surgery and miss the rest of the year.

This coming five days after David DeJesus suffered a season-ending injury.

This Meche mess goes back some time.

Back on May 25, Meche gave up four home runs in a loss to the Rangers which put his ERA at a devil-like 6.66. The Royals soon after placed him on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder bursitis expecting him back sometime after the All-Star break.

On July 15, after the All-Star break, the Royals transferred him to the 60-day DL which would put his return at the end of July.

So here we sit at the end of July with Meche now getting shoulder surgery ending his season.

This is a disappointing end to Meche's season.

Meche's name reportedly came up in trade talks with the Mets so it's unclear if they knew the extent of his condition at the time.

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Royals P Gil Meche Throws Four Scoreless Innings In Rehab Stint

Royals pitcher Gil Meche continued his recovery from shoulder bursitis with a start in AA NW Arkansas on Wednesday throwing four scoreless innings.

Meche, who was working on a pitch count of 40-60 pitches, threw four scoreless innings, allowing two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander threw 69 pitches, 42 for strikes. The three walks speak to Meche's command issues, which are to be expected after not throwing in a competitive situation for almost two full months.

He's still not throwing his breaking ball so there's still some things to figure out but it's a good start considering he hasn't thrown competitively in two months.

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Royals Manager Confirms Gil Meche Rehab Assignment Starts Wednesday

The last time we heard from Gil Meche he was hoping to get on a rehab assignment very soon. Per manager Ned Yost, that opportunity will come this week.

Royals manager Ned Yost says RHP Gil Meche will get a rehab start at AA Northwest Arkansas Wednesday. He's expected to throw 40-60 pitches.

Meche has been throwing around 40 pitches from the mound. He hasn't been throwing curveballs recently, according to reports, so it'll be interesting to see if he has his full repertoire.

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Royals P Gil Meche May Start Rehab Assignment Wednesday In AA

The last time we heard from Gil Meche he was just missing his 43rd consecutive game on the disabled list and was hoping to get a rehab assignment in the near future.

Per Dick Kaegel of MLB.com, that could come on Wednesday.

Meche, who last pitched on May 25, could pitch as soon as Wednesday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He threw the equivalent of four innings in a batting-practice workout on Friday.

"He bounced back really good today, he feels good," Royals manager Ned Yost said on Saturday.

Yost says his "command's a little off" but he's getting better. Meche said he's ready to get out there to see where he stands in his rehab from shoulder bursitis.

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With 43 Games Missed, Gil Meche Throws Four Simulated Innings

Gil Meche is slowly but surely making his way back from shoulder bursitis suffered at the end of May.

He played catch last week, then threw three simulated innings on Sunday. By Friday, he was up to four simulated innings but still without his curveball, which has caused some pain, according to the Kansas City Star.

“Everything went good,” manager Ned Yost said. “He got through it fine. No problems. It’s all part of the process going from bullpen to BP (batting practice) and ramping it up to a simulated game. Getting closer but a little ways to go.

“His mechanics were at times a little not smooth, little herky-jerky. That’s getting into throwing mechanics again, getting your rhythm back down, getting in competitive shape. The thing we’re looking for is if his arm feels good.”

Meche will have one more simulated game before making his way to his rehab assignment.

He's off the 60-day DL list on July 25.

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Royals P Gil Meche Nearing Rehab Assignment

Royals pitcher Gil Meche has been out of action since going on the disabled list May 29. The Royals recently transferred him to the 60-day DL which would put his return at the end of July.

He's been throwing, and feeling good recently, he says.

"Everything went well the last time I threw in Chicago on Sunday," Meche said. "I took the last few days off so my body feels pretty good. [On Friday,] I'll simulate a game with a few hitters and go four innings of that. That's all, just keep moving."

If all goes well after his next throwing session, he'll head to the minor leagues for a rehab assignment.

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Royals Transfer Gil Meche To 60-Day Disabled List, Could Return In Late July

The Royals originally put Gil Meche on the 15-day disabled list as of May 29.

Of course we know by now Meche hasn't returned to the Royals yet. He was expected to return after the All-Star break and has been feeling good after throwing simulated innings.

Now comes word that the Royals have transferred him to the 60-day disabled list. This would put his return at the end of July. It was more of a procedural move, according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.

A spot on the 40-man roster was needed for pitcher Henry Barrera, who was ending his injury rehabilitation assignment with Class A Wilmington and was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on the Royals' roster. Barrera was optioned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Are the Royals missing much without him? He's 0-4 with a devil-like 6.66 ERA so far this season in nine starts.

He's hoping to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week.

You can pretty much count this season as a waste for Meche.
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Royals P Gil Meche Throws Three Simulated Innings, Rehab Is Promising

Royals pitcher Gil Meche had set his sights on returning to the team after the All-Star break. It appears that will be happening.

On Sunday he threw three simulated innings and felt no pain afterward, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.

“Everybody is really pleased by what they see,” he said, “and I feel great. My shoulder is fine, but I’m still waiting to see my pinpoint location. If I can pitch pain-free, I can make it happen.”

He didn't throw any curveballs because he felt some elbow pain -- different from the shoulder bursitis -- after throwing them last week.

On Friday, he'll throw four simulated innings and then the Royals will reevaluate where he stands.

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Royals P Gil Meche Has Elbow Soreness Unrelated To Shoulder Injury

Sigh...

The last time we heard from Royals pitcher Gil Meche he was increasing his output in bullpen sessions hoping for a return after the All-Star break.

The most recent report indicates that there was a slight setback. Meche experienced elbow soreness on Friday. This is not related to the shoulder bursitis that landed him on the DL in the first place.

Shoulder + elbow = not a good long-term option.

Meche is scheduled to throw a full bullpen session on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

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Royals P Gil Meche Moving Along, Throws 60 Pitches Without Pain

Gil Meche is making strides, according to manager Ned Yost.

The last time we heard from Meche, he was tweaking his throwing motion to relieve himself of some pain.

Per the Kansas City Star, he's still eyeing a post-All-Star Game return:

Right-hander Gil Meche experienced no day-after problems following a 60-pitch bullpen workout Monday and is now scheduled to throw live batting practice this weekend as the next step in his recovery from bursitis in his right shoulder.

"He’s made great strides," Yost said. "It won’t be a (simulated) game because that’s ramping it up (too much). If he passes that test, the next test will be a sim game or two, and then out (on a rehab assignment)."

Tick-tock...

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Gil Meche Tweaks His Throwing Motion, Eyes Return After All-Star Break

Last week, Gil Meche was struggling at times throwing the ball while rehabbing his way back to the line-up. Here's what he said at the time:

"I'm throwing really good on flat ground, but when I'm on the mound, I'm doing something different mechanically with my arm slot," Meche said. "It's almost as if I'm going a little bit higher.

"When I throw on the mound, they make me think about it right before I am about to throw, being as low as I can be [with the arm slot] and I feel like I am side-arming it. They say I'm not. They want to videotape it so I can see it and I get comfortable."

Now we've got some more details. Meche is throwing from a lower arm angle between games, the Kansas City Star reports.

“We’re just trying to keep his arm in shape,” said pitching coach Bob McClure, who added that Meche’s arm slot has continued to rise during his rehab. “If (the shoulder) bothers him and we want him to keep throwing, then he just lowers his angle a little bit and he comes from a different slot.”

I can see how changing your motion one week, then getting healthy, and trying to go back to another motion the next week would be a problem. Meche says this could be a permanent solution, even though his McClure doesn't suspect it will be.

“When you try to make a small adjustment after you’re used to throwing a certain way for a long time, it’s hard to do it right away,” said Meche, who added that his velocity remains the same but he needs to improve his control. “But if I can get it down, it will be better in the long run.”

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Injured Royals Pitcher Gil Meche Throws 40 Pitches Off The Mound With No Pain

Royals pitcher Gil Meche has been on the disabled list since May 29 (retroactive to May 26) with right shoulder bursitis. The goal, we've been told, is to get him back shortly after the All-Star break, which starts on July 14.

He's making progress each day, according to the Kansas City Star.

Royals starter Gil Meche threw a 40-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday off a mound and reported no pain afterward.

Meche started throwing off of a mound last week. Previously he felt some discomfort throwing on the mound but apparently not anymore.

For more on the Royals, check out SB Nation's Royals Review.

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Gil Meche Throwing From A Mound, Eyes Return After All-Star Break

Gil Meche is making progress. Last time we heard from him he was still having trouble throwing from a mound. Now, according to MLB.com, he's throwing about 30 balls from the mound, which is a good indication that he'll be ready for a return after the All-Star break.

"I'm just throwing fastballs, no breaking balls yet," he said. "I want to get up to 40 pitches next time and keep going up each time. I'm just trying to get my arm slot back. My shoulder strength is definitely better."

He was having trouble throwing off the mound because he thought he was dipping his shoulder too much, almost throwing it side-armed, but video evidence apparently revealed something else.

He started throwing off of a mound on Wednesday.

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Royals Pitcher Gil Meche Throws Off A Mound On Wednesday

Gil Meche is still a few weeks from returning.

Meche, who has been out since May 26, started throwing off of a mound on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Meche had said throwing off of a mound didn't feel right yet.

"I'm throwing really good on flat ground, but when I'm on the mound, I'm doing something different mechanically with my arm slot," Meche said. "It's almost as if I'm going a little bit higher.

"When I throw on the mound, they make me think about it right before I am about to throw, being as low as I can be [with the arm slot] and I feel like I am side-arming it. They say I'm not. They want to videotape it so I can see it and I get comfortable."

Apparently the issue is slowly but surely getting batter.

"He feels better, still feels it just a little bit when he's on the mound. He feels absolutely nothing when he's on flat ground. He's still making progress," manager Ned Yost said.

Meche said that he would most likely be out until after the All-Star break.

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Royals Pitcher Gil Meche Still Not 100%

Gil Meche is eligible to come off the disabled list but he's not ready just yet, he said after a recent throwing session.

"I'm throwing really good on flat ground, but when I'm on the mound, I'm doing something different mechanically with my arm slot," Meche said. "It's almost as if I'm going a little bit higher.

"When I throw on the mound, they make me think about it right before I am about to throw, being as low as I can be [with the arm slot] and I feel like I am side-arming it. They say I'm not. They want to videotape it so I can see it and I get comfortable."

The most recent reports predict a post-All-Star break return for Meche because of the bursitis in his shoulder.

For more on Meche and the Royals, check out SB Nation's Royals Review.

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Royals P Gil Meche Looking To Return From Disabled List After The All-Star Break

The last time we saw Gil Meche on the mound, it wasn't pretty.

Back on May 25th, he gave up four home runs in a loss to the Ranges extending his ERA to a devil-like 6.66. Just four days later we found out part (but certainly not all) of the reason for his struggles when the Royals placed him on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder bursitis.

The Royals were originally hoping he could return to the rotation last week but that obviously didn't happen.

He finally started throwing from the mound this week and, if things go well, manager Ned Yost hopes to see him back after the All-Star break.

"He's definitely making progress," manager Ned Yost said. "We said you start making progress when you get his schedule worked out and we got the schedule worked up today so he's definitely making progress and we've tentatively got a date worked out, if everything goes right, for his return. So it'll probably be sometime after the All-Star break."

So the Royals originally hoped he would be ready to reclaim his spot in the rotation last week but now it won't come for another month. Sounds about right.

Meche has been ineffective all season so his return shouldn't matter a whole lot. Bruce Chen has been taking his spot in the rotation and, while he's not necessarily better, at least he's different. That has to count for something, right?

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