Gil Meche News: Pro Sports Daily

Meche believes back and shoulders issues are behind him

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March 7

Kansas City Star

"The key moment in Gil Meche's recovery from a year plagued by back and shoulder miseries came in November on a Texas golf course. It didn't hurt to play. "In the previous offseason," he said, "I wasn't able to play golf because when I would go to swing, I would notice from the (body) rotation that I would get a little tight the next day. "I played a round last November. When I realized how good I felt, I started playing every 10 days or two weeks. I never had any problems with it. So I knew what I was doing was definitely benefiting my body. "When I started throwing, it was the same thing. I didn't feel anything. To this day, I haven't felt anything in my back." A healthy Meche ranks atop ..."

Meche throwing from the mound without pain

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February 27

Kansas City Star

"Gil Meche is already having a better spring than a year ago. Five times already, he's pitched from a mound in either a bullpen workout or in throwing batting practice and - so far - he reports no problems with his shoulder or lower back. That's not just good news for the Royals. It might be the best possible news in what has been an upbeat camp through the first week of full-squad workouts. "I've pushed (myself in) a couple of bullpens to see where my arm was," Meche said, "and I felt great. For me, in camp, it's always been a matter early on of trying to get my fastball going and make sure my body feels good. "As of right now, I feel good, and I'm ready to go." A cautionary note: Meche ..."

Meche seeing benefits from new back-conditioning program

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February 27

Kansas City Star

"Gil Meche is already having a better spring than a year ago. Five times already, he's pitched from a mound in either a bullpen workout or in throwing batting practice and - so far - he reports no problems with his shoulder or lower back. That's not just good news for the Royals. It might be the best possible news in what has been an upbeat camp through the first week of full-squad workouts. "I've pushed (myself in) a couple of bullpens to see where my arm was," Meche said, "and I felt great. For me, in camp, it's always been a matter early on of trying to get my fastball going and make sure my body feels good. "As of right now, I feel good, and I'm ready to go." A cautionary note: Meche ..."

Jackson just the start of pitching deals

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December 8

Foxsports.com

"Edwin Jackson will not be the last starting pitcher traded. The Blue Jays are working three- and four-team scenarios involving Roy Halladay. The Braves are aggressively shopping Derek Lowe. The Rangers are actively discussing right-hander Kevin Millwood. Other available starting pitchers include the Reds' Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, the Royals' Gil Meche, the Rangers' Brandon McCarthy and — only for the right price — the Pirates' Zach Duke and Paul Maholm. For a team such as the Angels, facing the potential loss of free-agent right-hander John Lackey, the options are plentiful. If the Jays' price for Halladay is too high, they can always turn to Lowe. The Orioles, pursuing Millwood, ..."

Cubs and Royals meet to discuss a Milton Bradley-for-Gil Meche trade

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December 7

ESPN.com

"Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals personnel got together on Sunday night and had peripheral conversations about possible trade scenarios that could work for the two clubs. Milton Bradley would be the type of run producer Kansas City would be interested in, while Royals pitcher Gil Mesh is someone they would consider trading. K.C. is looking for a run-producing outfielder and Bradley could fit nicely with the small-market Royals."

Mets shopping for players that Meche

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December 7

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"The Mets intend to check in on the three top free agents -- Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey -- during the Winter Meetings, with the strongest hope that Lackey's price falls into a range to make him their No. 2 starter behind Johan Santana. But more and more the Mets are thinking they may have to spread their approximately 25 million in available dollars around to address multiple needs rather than lure one major player, particularly if Lackey commands a contract north of A.J. Burnett's five-year, $82.5 million deal. The Mets think Lackey is less of a physical risk than many other organizations do, and they expect that his stuff would be even better in the NL. However, they would ..."

Meche likely done for '09; Bannister seeks second opinion

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September 11

Kansas City Star

"Gil Meche is now unlikely to pitch again the rest of the season, and Brian Bannister is headed to New York for a second opinion, both Royals pitchers dealing with shoulder injuries. Royals manager Trey Hillman would not reveal what Bannister's diagnosis is from team doctors, or whether he thought it was possible for Bannister to pitch again this season. The Royals hope Meche - who has shoulder inflammation - can play catch sometime soon, but are in no hurry to put him back in the rotation. "I guess it's possible, but it's doubtful," Hillman said. "We want to monitor his body, continue to treat it.""

Royals' Gil Meche not likely to pitch the rest of the season

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September 11

Kansas City Star

"Gil Meche is now unlikely to pitch again the rest of the season, and Brian Bannister is headed to New York for a second opinion as both Royals pitchers deal with shoulder injuries. Royals manager Trey Hillman would not reveal what Bannister's diagnosis is from team doctors, or whether he thought it possible for Bannister to pitch again this season. The Royals hope Meche -- who has shoulder inflammation -- can play catch sometime soon, but are in no hurry to put him back in the rotation."

Meche's tired shoulder similar to Bannister's

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September 5

Kansas City Star

"Gil Meche's nightmare season continued Friday with a late scratch from a scheduled start. Club officials are calling it a tired shoulder, similar to what brought Brian Bannister out of his Wednesday start after 1 1/3 innings. Both pitchers underwent medical examinations earlier in the day, and the Royals are awaiting the results before making a decision on the next trip through the rotation. Meche is 6-10 with a 5.09 ERA in 24 starts, a season limited by injuries and his first stint on the disabled list in three years with the Royals. He was 14-11 with a 3.48 ERA last season while tying for a league high 34 starts. "It was sore a couple days ago," Hillman said. "…We've known for a couple ..."

Meche looks ahead to 2010

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August 24

Kansas City Star

"Gil Meche has adjusted whatever lofty goals he set for himself before the season, mentioning 10 wins and 170 innings as worthy aims. More important than that, though: figuring out a way to make his 2010 season healthy and much better. "I want to do a lot of things this offseason," he said, "to basically make sure this doesn't happen again next year. I guess we'll see." After tying for the American League lead with 34 starts in each of the last two seasons - one of only five pitchers in baseball with that many starts during 2007-08 - Meche missed more than a month because of back problems. Today will be his third start since returning from the disabled list; he gave up four earned runs in ..."

Royals to get Meche back on Thursday

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August 9

MLB.com

"Gil Meche is back in the Royals' rotation, at least tentatively, for Thursday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome. Royals manager Trey Hillman made that decision on Sunday after hearing reports on Meche's injury rehabilitation start for Triple-A Omaha on Saturday night. Hillman said that after Kyle Davies opens the series at Minnesota on Tuesday night, Brian Bannister will pitch on Wednesday night with Meche starting on Thursday. That means left-hander Bruce Chen, who gained his first Royals victory on Sunday, will be passed over and will pitch out of the bullpen. The Royals also will have to make a roster move to accommodate Meche's return. Meche, who hasn't pitched ..."

Meche 'good to go' for next start, manager says

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June 30

Kansas City Star

"Gil Meche produced a thumbs-up Monday afternoon after a pregame throwing workout to test whether his "dead arm" can handle his scheduled start Wednesday against Minnesota. Meche rested his arm for two days, saying that Monday's throwing session from flat ground would determine his availability to pitch the series finale against the Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Royals manager Trey Hillman said the decision would mostly be Meche's. Turns out he feels good enough. "Gil is good to go," Hillman said. "He's going to pitch Wednesday." Meche is 4-7 with a 4.27 ERA, and his next start was in doubt after displaying diminished velocity and complaining of "not feeling good" after lasting just five ..."

Meche to decide today on whether to pitch Wednesday

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June 29

Kansas City Star

"Gil Meche will test his "dead arm" today in a throwing workout before deciding whether to make his scheduled start Wednesday against Minnesota. "I won't know anything until (today)," he said. "Am I concerned? Wouldn't you be? I was throwing 87-88 miles an hour (on Friday). So, yeah, I'm concerned." Meche lasted just five innings Friday and showed diminished velocity in a 5-3 loss to the Pirates and complained afterward of "not feeling great." It was his second straight disappointing start since a shutout June 16 against Arizona. "It depends on how he feels in a couple of days," manager Trey Hillman said. "He says he felt a little dead in his last start." Meche said he didn't believe the ..."