-- Scott Olsen has been sent to Viera to continue rehabbing his injured left shoulder, but he has been shut down from throwing for now. "He's still in the no-throw mode," general manager Mike Rizzo said. Doesn't sound to me like we can expect him to be back anytime soon.-- Chien-Ming Wang is "still on track for somewhere in mid-July," Rizzo said. He continues to throw off a mound in Viera and has also faced live hitters in BP. His next step is to pitch in simulated games. If Wang really is going to be back in mid-July, that would indicate he would need to start a minor-league rehab assignment within the next week or two, though Rizzo said he's not sure yet when that will actually take place.
-- Jesus Flores has begun throwing to bases in simulated games in Viera. "He's on the right track," Rizzo said. Asked if it's a certainty he'll be back in the majors this season, the GM replied: "Yes, I think it's a certainty, unless he has a setback. But we're planning on having him back this year." Before that can happen, though, Flores will need to show he can play a full, nine-inning game with full throwing capabilities without any restrictions.-- Ross Detwiler made his second rehab start on Sunday, allowing one run on four hits in 3 2/3 innings for Class AA Harrisburg. The left-hander hit 93 mph with his fastball, struck out six and walked only one, more encouraging numbers for a guy who could find himself in the Nats' rotation within the next three weeks.
-- Jordan Zimmermann continues to be ahead of schedule in his return from Tommy John surgery, but the Nats will hold him back and not let him return until August at the earliest.
32 comments:
thank you, Mr. Z. do you generally agree with the information reported above?
This is the type of continued insight and updates that are why this site rocks. Thanks, Mark!
Thanks for smoking this stuff out of these guys. Now, the translation:
Olsen--2011.
Flores--Ditto.
Detweiler--Post All-Star break.
CMW--September would be nice.
Zimm'nn--See Olsen.
I'm sorry, but I have taken to use dog years whenever anyone from the Nats talks about injuries. They haven't been straight with us for five years, and counting. I call it the Brian Lawrence Syndrome.
Mark,
As you point out, Rizzo's comments about Wang being in the Major leagues in mid July does not hold water with what he is doing now. Same for Flores. Why is it so hard for them to be honest and say they both have had major setbacks since March, both are progressing slower than projected at at this point, there is not much hope either will be any help this year. That is the truth is it not?
Nats have always had trouble with this aspect of the game and it is distressing to see it is continuing from Jimbo days to Rizzo.
Any word on Marquis? Or should we also not be expecting to see him again this year?
Great work, mark. Not so great work, rizzo and the nats' medical staff.
For those that don't know, I believe Marquis is making a rehab start today. Is that correct?
Bowdenball: Not sure where you heard that, but it's not at all true. Marquis has yet to do anything other than physical therapy. He's scheduled to return to D.C. this weekend to be examined by team doctors, but he has not been cleared to resume throwing yet.
if I remember right Detwiller left the game in the fourth with the bases loaded, he hardly looked like a major league pitcher
What's the status on Mock? I cannot imagine he will return to the Nats this season. If anything he will be sent to Syracuse.
Thanks Mark. It was a dc sport blog of some kind I believe. And probably a bit of wishful thinking.
I'll take Rizzo's and Zuckerman's word over JayB's any day. JayB is a moron. Give him his money back and get him out of here, Mark.
Mark,
Your fans trust you...do you see Flores playing this year and Wang pitching in mid July?
JayB: My hunch -- no on both cases. I do think we'll see Wang this year, but it's going to be tough to be here by mid-July unless he starts a rehab assignment in the next week. Much as I would love to see Flores back in the big leagues, I can't say it looks promising at the moment.
Thanks Mark....nice to know I am not too much of a moron on this one....Why is that so hard for Rizzo to be real about?
JayB - Would you really prefer Rizzo come out and publicly say he thought Flores had no chance of playing again this season - especially when Jesus is working his tail off? Same goes with Wang.
There's nothing wrong with a GM publicly showing confidence in guys to keep them motivated and working - no matter how much it offends you.
What is wrong with this picture is Wil N. I don't mind what he says if he goes out a gets a MLB catcher who can help the team 75 games a year. Wil N. is killing the team every time he plays and with Pudge's back it is going to be a lot more the rest of the season.
Wil Nieves is an issue - I'll agree with you there. But, a lot was broken with this team so I'll give our FO a pass on the back-up catching spot this year, especially with the rash of injuries we've had.
OK with a pass in Feb but as soon as it was clear that Flores was not going to play this year then Rizzo should have dealt with the reality of the situation and stop the wishful thinking that "Flores will be back this year". Not a realistic way to run the team. It was clear in March he needed a new plan....No pass on that from me.
I'll add one more comment and leave the catching topic alone.
When it was clear in March that Flores wouldn't be ready until after the All-Star break, Rizzo signed Coste to battle Nieves for the back-up catching spot.
Unfortunately for Rizzo and Nats fans, Coste got injured. It happens.
If there was someone out there that could have been acquired I wholeheartedly believe Rizzo would have already made the move.
Moron JayB says "OK with a pass in Feb but as soon as it was clear that Flores was not going to play this year then Rizzo should have dealt with the reality of the situation and stop the wishful thinking that "Flores will be back this year". Not a realistic way to run the team. It was clear in March he needed a new plan....No pass on that from me."
Rizzo signed Coste, Burke and Maldonado after it became clear that Flores was not coming along as quickly as expected. Sounds like a plan to me. At that point in spring training, there's not all that much available - especially at catcher, which is a tough position to fill in the best of times.
Thanks, Mark, this is incredibly valuable stuff. we could sure use some help from some of these guys. I give the front office credit, they know that some of these pitchers aren't going to give them squat, just keep hoping that 1-2 of them puts some juice into the starting rotation.
On Zimmermann (who I've been hoping can take Strasburg's spot when he gets shut down):
Mark says "earliest is August"
Sunshine says "2011"
Thoughts?
Re: Zimmermann -- Sept 2010, limited to 35 innings-ish -- perhaps eased in through the bullpen? He really does seem, from every account I've read, to be progressing fantastically well. If he is truly ready, let him go -- injury timetables are just that and not universal for every player.
Re: catching and JayB: Yes, "Who?" is hurting the team, at least offensively (and a good case can be made defensively as well). With Pudge susceptible to break down, it would seem logical that a plan should have been in place when Flores went down (again). I'm trying to remember the market for catchers in March. What would you have him do? If there was a solution there, then I'd tend to agree with him on balance.
That being the case, Rizzo shouldn't be castigated for allocating resources based on the information he had at the time. We may have, in our heart of hearts, known Flores was afflicted with some unshakeable injury bug, but if the team doctors say he'd be good within a few weeks (which, recalling the long WaPo Nats Journal article, sounded like the case) then our reaction to any move would have been, "why are we spending xxx for so-and-so, who is at best 4th string?" (pudge-nieves/flores-player x).
So, it seems a little of both. I would like for Rizzo to perhaps swing a deal for a solid, defensive-oriented catcher for middle relief (SELL SLATEN!). That is just me though.
Nearly forgot -- I didn't want to let a thank you to Mark to go by. Great stuff. I'll be donating this week and encourage newbies to the site (although I am not one myself -- I remember the "spring" in Viera through Mark's daily accounts) to donate as well. If you like Strasburg, you'll like our other players too. If you like them, there is no better place for consistent, timely coverage and informed reporting/commentary (both from the author and commenters).
@Big Oil
They did have a backup plan, Coste, who had major league experience and went to pot with Tommy John surgery. Lack of pop in RF I blame the Nationals for. Catcher not so much. They don't want to invest but so much in catchers because they believe Pudge can be a bridge to Norris I think.
How is Maldonado doing?
A friend of mine's wise mother used to say," Two things everyone thinks that they can do better: run a restaurant, and manage a baseball team," and I'm sometimes guilty of doing both,yet I think Rizzo and Riggleman inherited a mess and both, particularly Rizzo, have done a helluva job.Riggleman does drive me nuts with his playing guys out position, but overall he's gotten away with it. We all know that the Nats need an everyday RF and another catcher, but where are they supposed to get them, and who are you going to give up for them? This team is soon going to be very good for a long time to come, yet this year is not the time to begin trading quality youngsters for a chance to make the playoffs.
Right now I'm concerned with Lannon's inability to consistently give us quality starts.
Exactly @Joe Seamhead
Hey, maybe Matt LeCroy is available to catch.
Are we seriously arguing about our backup catcher when we only have 2 SP's that can get through the 5th inning? Focus people.
Mark:
Wang's status from Rizzo seem a bit ahead than facts.
Last he said Wang threw Bullpen session, actually that time he's long tossing.
Now bullpens plus long tosses...
According TW's news in mid May, Wang's BP session push back to June 21 or 22.
That time tw media expects see Wang in Majors sometime in August, based on the BP date,
he is still on track for that for now(according TW media)..
According to Steve Gober, answer question to TW newspaper reporter, on June 2 or 3, about Wang's reture to majors, his quoute: "He will pitch in the season , but I don't know when."
Post a Comment