Jason Schmidt, speaking publicly for the first time since he had shoulder surgery in June, said Thursday that he hoped to be ready for the start of spring training. "It'll kind of dictate itself," Schmidt said. "If it's not [ready by spring training], I can't see it much longer than that." Schmidt, who was 1-4 with a 6.31 earned-run average in six starts before getting his shoulder repaired, was visiting Los Angeles from his Arizona home for a routine checkup with Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Schmidt said he hasn't set a target date to start throwing, and that he would be examined after another six weeks of rehabilitation.