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Long road back Ligtenberg does fine against Marlins in first outing
Posted: Saturday March 11, 2000 05:45 PM
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- Two seasons ago, "normal" for Kerry Ligtenberg was earning 30 saves in 34 attempts while helping the Atlanta Braves to the National League Championship Series. But after successfully undergoing surgery on the medial collateral ligament in his right arm, Ligtenberg knows he has a long road back to normal. "Right now, everything doesn't really feel normal, getting back in the games and pitching doesn't feel normal," said Ligtenberg after the Braves 9-0 win against the Florida Marlins on Saturday. While Andres Galarraga's pair of two-run home runs and Tom Glavine's two-hit, two strikeout performance over three innings stole the show against the Marlins, it was Ligtenberg's second appearance of spring training that kept fans interested late into the Braves blowout victory. "I think the biggest thing is I need to get out there a little bit more and try to get into the flow of things. Throwing BP (batting practice) or throwing on the side is one thing, but getting into the game that's a totally different thing," he said. "I feel good about the way things went and my arm doesn't hurt, so that's good. It felt good to be in the game." The Braves will look to Ligtenberg to help solidify their pitching rotation, which lost starter John Smoltz to the same MCL injury that Ligtenberg suffered last year. While Ligtenberg's recovery process is expected to take time, Glavine said he hopes last year's reliever, John Rocker, and Ligtenberg can eventually team up to give the team a stronger bullpen. "Hopefully Kerry's recovery is going to continue to go as well as it has," Glavine said. "If it does and he's able to be with us all year long, it's going to give us a good bullpen. I think we had a good bullpen last year and certainly to have him and John (Rocker) out there will make it even better. We're looking forward to his recovery to continue to go well and we're looking forward to him coming back and being a big part for us this year." Manager Bobby Cox says he has so far been impressed with Ligtenberg's play. "He's fine," Cox said. "He got through an easy inning and it's no problem. You can't expect any more than what he's doing right now." As he begins his process to become the reliever he was two seasons ago, Ligtenberg said he also hopes to help Smoltz through his recovery from MCL surgery. "We talked about it a little bit. He's got a pretty good idea what he's got to go through and it's definitely not going to be easy,' Ligtenberg said. 'But, I'm going to be here if he needs someone to talk to. It's going to be tough for him but if he can take the whole year, you can get back."
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