PHOENIX -- Ted Lilly experienced two types of discomfort last season after arriving in Oakland from the Yankees in a midseason trade. The first was in his left shoulder, which started bothering him after his first start for the A's. It forced him to miss about a month, was a factor in his postseason struggles and never completely abated until the offseason. The second was related to the shoulder but mostly in his head. "The majority of the time [after the trade] I was hurt, and it's hard to feel involved when you're not doing anything," he said. "I spent a lot of time in the training room, so basically my only contribution was eating the [postgame] spread."

New manager Ken Macha, who was Oakland's bench coach, felt Lilly's pain.

"It had to be tough," Macha said. "You're part of a big trade, coming to a contender, and you get hurt. You start to think, 'These guys are counting on me, and I'm not doing it.'"

But thanks to a winter dedicated to strengthening his weak wing and three solid showings thus far in his first Spring Training with the A's, the discomfort in both areas is gone. Lilly is healthy and contributing, and that has made all the difference in the world.

"It's definitely different," he said. "I'm confident and throwing the ball well. I feel more part of things."

Lilly, 26, went 2-1 with a 4.63 ERA in five regular-season starts for Oakland before being shelved by the shoulder, and when he came back he was ineffective in relief. The low point came in the American League Division Series against the Twins, who lit up Lilly for six earned runs in four innings over his two relief outings.

"The worst part was knowing I didn't do my job," he said. "I always want to walk away knowing that I did the job, regardless of what role I'm in, and I couldn't say that last year."

So he entered the offseason with a one-track mind. Everything he did was designed to get his arm stronger, and it's paying off in a big way. The strength work added about 3 mph to his fastball, from 91 to 94, and a few minor mechanical tweaks -- lengthening his stride to the plate and not throwing across his body as much -- have him feeling more confident than ever.

"Getting stronger was the whole focus," he said. "I've never thrown as hard as I'm throwing now, and it makes an undeniable difference."

Cactus League opponents can attest to that. In nine innings over three outings, Lilly has allowed four hits and two runs, locking up the No. 4 spot in the starting rotation that, because of questions about his health, seemed up for grabs heading into camp.

"Ted's shown us everything we wanted to see," said Macha. "He's been tremendous."

And to hear Lilly tell it, everything has gone exactly to plan.

"I'm not so much trying to prove myself to anyone," he said. "I just came in believing I'd do well, and so far I have."

By Mychael Urban / MLB.com