Lindstrom optimistic about oblique injury

Lindstrom optimistic about oblique injury

PHOENIX -- There is no timetable for Matt Lindstrom to get into Cactus League action and test his left oblique strain that has kept him off the mound since he was scratched from his first appearance. But after playing catch Monday and going through a strenuous workout in the training room, Lindstrom has a sense the injury is getting better.

"Tomorrow we're going to go through my mechanics and actually get downhill," Lindstrom said. "But today was more like crow-hop, making sure I was getting over my front leg.

"Those guys told me there's going to be some soreness down in that rib cage area and so I'm just kind of battling through that. So far, so good."

Lindstrom was making progress last Tuesday when he had a setback and was shut down. The problem for the closer candidate is balancing the oblique pain with how good the ball feels coming out of his hand.

"I'm not tentative, but I'm not real confident in it just yet," Lindstrom said. "It's one of those things where you want to fire it in there as hard as you can, but you don't want it to do what it did last time and take a step back. Just being cautious. But as far as the work I'm doing in the training room, I feel real strong.

"We're just making sure I can get back on the mound. I don't want to be thinking about it when I'm out there, that's for sure. I think that's the most important thing. The frustrating part for me is my body feels awesome, my arm and legs and everything."
