CLEARWATER, Fla. — Aaron Harang acted like a guy who didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
“We were just being precautious,” said the veteran 36-year-old right-hander, making up a new word after completing a bullpen session at Bright House Field Monday and declaring himself ready to resume his role as a member of the Phillies' starting rotation Thursday night.
Despite being scratched from two starts this spring because of back problems, Harang said he still has “plenty of time” to get ready for the regular season.
“It’s frustrating, but I don’t view this as any type of setback,” said Harang, a large ice pack strapped to his balky back. “I can catch up on my innings pretty easily.”
Harang, who made his big-league debut with the Oakland A’s in 2002, pitched for seven different teams, making 352 starts, before signing a one-year $5 million contract with the Phillies on December 30.
Only nine active pitchers have amassed more than his 2,149 2/3 innings.
Harang knows his own arm and he understands what it takes to get ready for the regular season.
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“It’s not that hard. I know exactly what I need to do,” Harang said.
“Sometimes when something is irritated, and you’re trying to get back, you push things,” he explained. “But there’s no reason to push this now because you don’t want it to linger on.”
Besides, Harang said, his latest episode, which caused him to miss his scheduled start on Saturday, was not the same as the lower back discomfort that caused him to miss his first start of the spring.
“But this was different than what was bugging me before,” Harang said. “This was muscular. I woke up the other morning and I just kind of moved around and it grabbed on me for a second.”