Duchscherer on comeback trail

PHOENIX -- With all his injuries over the past few years, Oakland right-hander Justin Duchscherer wasn't about to let a line drive off his left thumb keep him off the mound. Duchscherer threw 30 pitches in a simulated game Friday, his first outing against hitters this spring training. Max Stassi's line drive caught Duchscherer on his left thumb, which then ricocheted off his right shoulder. Duchscherer fell to the ground. "I was scared seeing the ball coming at me," Duchscherer said. "If I didn't block it, the ball would have hit me in the face." Stassi rushed to the mound along with coaches and teammates. "I felt bad," Stassi said. "I'm glad he was able to get his glove up in time." Duchscherer feels healthier than he's been in five years and hopes to start the season in Oakland. "I see myself as one of the best pitchers in baseball," Duchscherer said. "My only concern is if I have time to get ready to throw six innings. I'm hoping I don't have to start the season somewhere else." Catcher Landon Powell said his stuff was good enough to pitch in a game. "We've all missed having Duch in the clubhouse," Powell said. "We're all rooting for him. Duch has had bad luck in spring training. I've seen him get hit every year. I'm glad he got it out of the way this year." Duchscherer said he was distracted as the pole of the screen came back into his peripheral vision during his delivery. "I don't like screens," Duchscherer said. "Out of my windup my eyes get a little off. In the past I've asked for the screen to be taken away and I've gotten hit. Now, even with the screen, I get hit again." Stassi and Ryan Sweeney managed to hit one ball hard apiece as each had four at-bats each against Duchscherer. Otherwise the two-time All-Star appeared to be in control as he used all his pitches in an encouraging outing. "I threw with the intent of throwing to every location with all my pitches," Duchscherer said. "My body feels great. No elbow pain. No back pain. It was nice not to have to think about if I was going to get through the pain and focus on doing my job." Duchscherer's elbow problems began in 2006 and had his season ended prematurely because of hip injuries the next two years. He reported to camp last year but never threw in a game because of right elbow surgery. He arrived at spring training this year on track to resume his career -- until needing a medical procedure to relieve discomfort in his lower back less than a week into training camp. "I was actually nervous even though I was facing my teammates," Duchscherer said. "I didn't want to embarrass myself. I'm a pitcher, not a thrower. I don't have the velocity to throw it by anyone. After years of getting my butt kicked in the minors I finally learned that location, movement, change of speed and getting hitters guessing were more important."