Anthony DiComo reports that Mets pitcher Shaun Marcum has “temporarily stepped out of the Mets’ Grapefruit League rotation” to concentrate on a long-toss program designed to strengthen his shoulder. DiComo notes that it is not due to any injury.
Marcum last Spring with the Brewers suffered from shoulder soreness that prohibited him from making his Cactus League debut on his original schedule. He wound up pitching in a game about 2 weeks later and ended up being able to follow through with his expectation of being ready for his regular season turn in the rotation of April 9.
Marcum joins Johan Santana as pitchers who say they have decided to do more long tossing not due to injury but to strengthen their arms. Santana is scheduled to resume throwing off a mound tomorrow.
8 comments
TX
2/28/2013-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Hello Hefner and McHugh!
TX
2/28/2013-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
Off Topic…
Elvis Andrus scratched from the lineup today due to a new tattoo.
darknova306
2/28/2013-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
It’s always a concern when oft-injured pitchers need to alter their routines, though it’s understandable that delays in their offseason workouts in late 2012 would leave them with lower arm strength right now. My expectations for Johan this year have always been low, and my optimism for Marcum is extremely cautious.
Pitching depth is a good thing.
Stick
2/28/2013-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder how much has to do with the extended ST this year? Might be best not to waste pitches on those guys, because they sure aren’t unlimited. So take it slow, and try to gear toward having them ready for April 4/5 when their turns will come up.
darknova306
2/28/2013-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
Good point. I keep forgetting that ST started earlier because of the WBC. Still, it’s easy to be paranoid about pitchers that are always injured.
SaltyGary
2/28/2013-3:04pm at 3:04 pm (UTC -4)
Seeing I only have nasty things to say, how about a Harlem Shake compilation instead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlqW0qNK72I
srt
2/28/2013-5:27pm at 5:27 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s hoping at least one of them – if not both – are ready to go by Opening Day.
If I had to put my money on only one being ready, I’d bet on Marcum.
Stick
2/28/2013-8:22pm at 8:22 pm (UTC -4)
they won’t really need a 5th SP for the first week at least, so most likely they can just run with the 4 guys until the 15th or so.