DETROIT -- It's hard to tell if reliever Fernando Rodney is any closer to a return following his second simulated game this week. And this time, it's the player who's more cautious. Manager Alan Trammell and pitching coach Bob Cluck agreed that Saturday morning's outing was better than his last simulated game Wednesday at Minnesota. But whether he's ready to begin a minor-league rehab stint isn't clear. "I feel good," a disappointed Rodney said, "but I'm not 100 percent like last year." Rodney's fastball registered around 90 mph during the session, according to Cluck. That's below his normal mid-90s heater but could be chalked up to rust, as could his control problems. What worries Rodney is that the pain in his elbow returned on a couple of pitches when he tried to throw his fastball near full velocity. "He doesn't feel it on every pitch," Cluck said. "It's just some tightness." The Tigers are calling the injury an elbow sprain. Rodney had been throwing pain-free since resuming his program last week. He hasn't pitched in a game since a March 14 Spring Training contest. Urdaneta's simulated game was more encouraging in that he threw without pain. The staff won't decide how to proceed on either player until seeing how their arms respond Sunday. Rodney said he wants to feel 100 percent again before returning to games, even if it means another simulated game. That would happen Tuesday or Wednesday if needed. Ultimately, Cluck said, it's the player's option of what happens if his tightness doesn't go away. "There's a lot at stake," he said. "The options are he either pitches through this or he has surgery." --

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