Solis encouraged by first bullpen session

MIAMI - Left-hander Sammy Solis threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session since going down with shoulder inflammation August 16.

"Good, just nice to get back out there," Solis said. "It's been a long time, longer than I anticipated. But just to be back out there knowing that I am that much closer to a game, it's encouraging."

Solis said the process of ramping up each bullpen session will not be necessary because of his current relieving role where he might just pitch one inning in a game.

"Thankfully I am a reliever now so I don't have to build up to five innings any more," Solis said. "Hopefully a few more and I'm ready to go. It doesn't take too much longer so I would think another 'pen, maybe two, and I'm facing hitters. It's kind of what I'm thinking. But as far as their plan for me, I'm not sure."

Solis had been casually throwing early in the rehab process but today was the first time he was able to throw as had as he wanted to and he got positive results.

"I wasn't holding back," Solis said. "Probably throwing a little harder than I should have. Just a little amped up, a little more energy than I've had just playing long toss. Glad to be back up there, it felt strong."

Solis said he was not worried something would go wrong when he did throw like it was a real game situation.

"I think I got past that in the throwing program so the first few times I threw I was definitely apprehensive, definitely holding back a little bit, mechanics were a little off because I just wasn't sure about the shoulder," Solis said. "But now I'm past that and it feels great.

"Stuff looked great. Obviously, location's a little off just cause it's the first time off the mound. But that will come up within the next one or two I'm hoping and I'll be ready to go."

Manager Dusty Baker said the next step is to see how Solis recovers from those 25 pitches tomorrow.

"As always, you got to wait till the day after to see," Baker said. "We'll just wait till the day after. Hopefully, slowly but surely, we get some of these guys back. "

Solis has experience as a starter and he has the ability to go long in innings. But Baker doesn't see Solis' role like that for the post season, at least not at the outset.

"I don't know if he'd pitch more than one inning because he hasn't been out there in awhile," Baker said. "He's important because he's pretty good with left and right. When you got a guy that can get them both out then you don't have to go through a pitching staff. And it's going to be a little different later on when your not going to have all these reserves to call upon.

"Right now everybody has 40 men at their disposal and you can left-right, left-right but soon you're not going to have that many. That's where Sammy comes in."

But there is no doubt that having a lefty who can throw 94-95 mph is critical for a contending team to make it to the World Series. Solis, when healthy, can be that necessary piece.