3/13 Lou: Lilly "ahead of schedule"

Ted Lilly is ahead of schedule and could get into a Cactus League game this month. Lilly, coming back from arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder, threw on the backfield at HoHoKam Park early Saturday.

“We want to keep him under the radar gun and not talk much about it,” Lou Piniella said of Lilly’s progress. “He’s coming along really well. He’s had no setbacks whatsoever. He’s actually ahead of schedule. Let’s keep him under the radar as much as possible and let him continue to get his work. We feel pretty good about the possibility of him pitching some Spring Training [games].”

Lilly has not faced hitters. He had said he was going to throw live BP this weekend. The lefty, who was projected to be ready for the regular season in mid April or May 1, has made up for the time he missed because of a virus.

“He’s ahead of schedule, that I can tell you,” Piniella said. “I haven’t talked much about him because I don’t want him to push him too fast.”

– Carrie Muskat