Padilla throws off of mound

Adam Rubin at the NY Daily News, writes about Juan Padilla and him throwing off of the mound after his surgery:

Juan Padilla, who missed all of 2006 with Tommy John elbow surgery, is back. He threw off a mound yesterday and said he won’t be behind his peers during spring training. Look for him to make a strong push to make the bullpen.

As you may or may not know, Padilla is a personal favorite of mine. I'm eargly awaiting his return to the pen so we can once again see those Oakleys.