Schmidt to Get Kicks with (Route) 66ers

From Dodgers.com, Jason Schmidt will do a rehab start with the Inland Empire 66ers on Wednesday. This preempts a simulated game Schmidt was going to throw while traveling with the team to Washington, D.C. From a Dodger fan's perspective, this is either incredibly uplifting or incredibly frightening, or possibly a little bit of both.

WASHINGTON -- Because he's further along in his recovery from right shoulder problems than the club had previously indicated -- or because the need for his return to the starting rotation is now more pressing -- disabled pitcher Jason Schmidt's upcoming simulated game has been scrapped and he will proceed to a Minor League rehabilitation assignment with Class A Inland Empire, starting Wednesday.

Schmidt, disabled since April 15 with shoulder bursitis that robbed him of velocity, had an impressive bullpen simulated game May 20 in Anaheim and a bullpen session Tuesday at Dodger Stadium in which he threw harder than at any time as a Dodger.

He was scheduled to throw a simulated game against live hitters on Friday, but that was cancelled because he had the flu. He threw about 50 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday and manager Grady Little said Schmidt would make the trip to Washington and throw a simulated game during the week.

Instead, club officials announced Monday that Schmidt would pitch in San Bernardino on Wednesday against Rancho Cucamonga, in a game that begins at 11 a.m. PT. He will be accompanied by team trainer Stan Conte, who was Schmidt's trainer with the San Francisco Giants until both came to the Dodgers this year. Conte has not skipped any other Dodgers trip this year. No other explanation was given for the change in plans.

I think I'll have this sinking feeling in my stomach until Wednesday afternoon...