Robb

Nen

Details to come, but Nen should be on track to return in another 7-10 days.

Nen, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, was placed on the 15-day DL on Opening Day with a shoulder strain. He hasn’t thrown since the team’s exhibition game against the A’s on March 29, but will resume throwing this weekend.

Nen is rather likely to stay with the Giants if he opts to sign a contract for 2005. It will probably be quite some time before he makes a decision.

“This is the best I’ve felt in two years, as far as playing catch and playing long toss every day,” Nen said. “There is no soreness, no pain. Before, there was always a little crankiness.” Nen plans to attempt to pitch with a torn rotator cuff next season. It remains likely that he’ll sign a minor league deal to stay with the Giants, even if he’s no longer a candidate to close for the team.

Nen should resume throwing in early May, but he figures to miss at least two months. Tim Worrell will remain San Francisco’s closer.

The Angels are also interested and the Giants still could re-sign him even though he wasn’t offered arbitration, but the Rockies can offer Nen a chance to close, which he may appreciate. Nen will keep rehabbing for now and could wait a few more weeks to pick a team.

''He’s had some setbacks. He’s just shut it down, pretty much,’' said Rockies special assistant Marcel Lachemann. ''He’s just going to shut it down, let his arm see how it feels. He’s tried everything. He’s rested, done everything else. He was going along pretty good, then it started bothering him again.’' Nen is probably done, but there is the chance he could join a team during the season if his shoulder feels any better.

The Rockies are also interested. Nen is in no hurry to pick a team after missing two years with shoulder problems.

Nen still hasn’t faced hitters in batting practice, so he’s at least a week away from getting into a game.

Nen threw about 25 fastballs at “80 to 85 percent” effort in a simulated game. He could pitch in another simulated game Wednesday or Thursday.