Every player who spends extended time on the disabled list reaches a level of frustration informally known as “I’m ready to bite a bat.” Opening Day starter Kendall Graveman has been there twice since he went on the DL in late May with a shoulder strain, just eight starts into the season.
The first was when he first started throwing and his shoulder barked at him. The second was when he started pitching off a mound and could not command the ball.
“I wanted it to happen all at once,” Graveman said Saturday, his frame of mind much better now that he has passed a big hurdle.