Ready to return, Saito waits on decision

MILWAUKEE -- With just two appearances under his belt this season, only one at Miller Park, Brewers reliever Takashi Saito is anxious to get back on the mound and start contributing.Saito has been sidelined since April 11 with hamstring tightness suffered in his April 4 appearance in Milwaukee. The 41-year-old right-hander threw his second live batting practice Monday before the team's game with the Reds and said it felt better than his first."I let manager Ron Roenicke know that I'm ready to be activated," Saito said through his interpreter.The Brewers could activate Saito on Wednesday or Thursday and would have to make room in the bullpen, which could mean Brandon Kintzler is headed back to Triple-A Nashville.Saito said feels ready to get back to pitching in games but is being cautious about his hamstring and is concerned about the long layoff."I'm still worried because I haven't pitched in a while," Saito said. "I just want to be able to come back and contribute to the team in any way possible. Whenever I get called to the mound I'll just do my best."Roenicke said he would take a similar approach to Saito's return as he did with LaTroy Hawkins, slowly working him back into things. He knows, however, that plans can change easily, depending on circumstances."Sometimes the game changes to where, even though it's something you want to do, the game just doesn't allow you to do it that way," Roenicke said. "Ideally, I would like to take him a little slow."In his two appearances, which total two innings, Saito is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and three strikeouts.