 |
Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Jason Marquis returns to the mound Sunday for the first time since April 18. |
PHOENIX -- Jason Marquis will come off the disabled list to start Sunday against the Dodgers, the veteran's first appearance since three early-season disastrous starts that resulted in him undergoing surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow.
Scott Olsen was scheduled to pitch Sunday in Los Angeles, but Jim Riggleman said the left-hander will remain in the rotation. If Stephen Strasburg returns from the DL himself to start Tuesday against the Marlins, Olsen would have to slot in sometime after that.
Marquis, who signed a two-year, $15 million contract over the winter to serve as a stabilizing veteran in the Nats' rotation, was shut down after only three April starts in which he was torched for 20 runs in 8 1/3 innings. He then admitted he had been experiencing elbow pain, and a subsequent MRI revealed bone chips.
After 3 1/2 months of rehab, including four minor-league starts, Marquis is ready to rejoin the big-league rotation. He last pitched Monday for Class AAA Syracuse, allowing one earned run and three hits over six innings, convincing himself and team officials he was ready to come off the DL.
"I feel comfortable with where I'm at now," he said. "My last two times out were pretty good. I'm ready to go."
Though the Nationals have an overflowing pool of rotation candidates right now, Marquis' contract status almost forces the club to make him part of the mix the rest of this season and in 2011. The 31-year-old is motivated to live up to his contract.
"They showed faith in me giving me a two-year deal," he said. "It didn't turn out the way I wanted the first four months with the injury. But I'm excited to get the ball again and show the organization, my teammates, the coaching staff and the city of D.C. that we do have a team that can win here, and I want to be a part of it."
20 comments:
Since obviously Jesus Strasburg is coming back and Livan is staying on, two of Lannan, Stammen and Detwiler have to be going down. It also seems pretty clear to me that one of those will be Lannan, whatever the official stance is. Even though I'm not terribly high on Detwiler, he would be my choice for the pitcher to stay up--if only because it's important to find out if he can be an ML starter, whereas we have already seen plenty of Lannan and Stammen and we are out of contention. I suspect the Nats will do the same. I am glad that Olsen's staying up, as he is actually good; if he can managed to stay uninjured he could potentially be a solid member of the Nats rotation for years (or a decent trade chip).
Don't forget Cuban Maya. I figure he takes over in September after we shut Jesus down. So the September rotation might look like this, in no particular order:
1. Maya
2. Marquis
3. Livo
4. Det
5. Stammen, Olsen and a cast of thousands
Aren't you forgetting a fellow by the name of Jordan Zimmermann? If anyone is "taking over" Strasburg's spot in the rotation, surely it's him.
Someone's forgetting about Zimmermann...
Stras/Maya, Zimmnn, Livo, Marquis, Olsen. this is going to be a pretty different team soon. Stammen or Detweiler to the Pen.
It feels weird to think that we might soon have a rotation that is both stable (no Olsen, Patterson, etc.) and talented (no "AAAA" pitchers like Stammen, Mock, Balester, Atilano, and yes, Lannan) at all! Of course, Livo almost certainly doesn't repeat his great season next year, and someone will probably get injured to ruin things, or one or more of Marquis, Maya and Detwiler don't pan out, but until then things are looking good for next year--certainly much better than they did last year at this time.
Strasburg isn't being shut down. There are enough innings left in his limit to allow him to pitch through the end of the season.
Detailed has to stay up so the brass can see what he's got. Sunshine, did you forget about Zimnn?
It seems to me that next we're looking at:
Strasbg
Zmnnn
Maya
Marquis ($7.5 m keeps him in rotation)
Set, Stammen, Olsen, Lannan, etc -- take your pick
I'm also guessing that some of these "contenders" won't be with the club next year.
Sorry -- meant Derwiler must stay. I can't type on ths iPhone...
Anon @ 8:34 - Close, but if he's only pitching 160 inn. and has already pitched 110 bwn majors and minors, he should be done about 2 weeks before the season ends. Not a lot left, obviously, but an extra 2-3 starts in there.
All you guys are correct. I forgot all about JZIMM'NN. Alzeimer's kicks in around 60, fellas.
So make it:
1. Jesus, then Maya
2. Livo
3. Marquis
4. J. Zimm'nn.
5. The Cast of Thousands.
We might be last in the NL East but we actually might have depth and competition next year at starting pitcher. SS, JZ, Maya,Marquis look to be set (sort of stuck with Marquis with that contract) that leaves one spot for Livan,Detwiler, Stamman, Lannan, Olson, Mock, Atilano, Martin Martis, and I am probably forgetting a few. Only problem I see is only Det and Olson might bring us something on the trade market. Still, its a lot better outlook than I can ever remember.
go Nats!
Mark:
With Morgan going on the dl, who will they bring up for two weeks?
Detwiler stinks, time to fish or cut bait. I say option him to Istanbul or Jerusalem, somewhere where they think he's good because they've never seen a good pitcher. He's not. Has never been, will never be. Time to free up a spot on the ML roster AND the minor league rosters. Send him to the unemployment lines. There are lots of better looking options in the wings. The Nats are wasting time with Detwiler.
For all you who write off Livan as a "one year wonder", I am one who believes Livo has figured out how to pitch, how to stay in shape (for him), and how to establish oneself as a real positive clbhouse presence.
He also happens to love DC and deserves a two year deal that rewards him for his role this year.
I firmly believe you can not do better than Livo as an anchor for your staff who gladly takes the ball every fifth day and gives you 6-7 solid innings.He definitely fills the fifth spot better than anyone we've ever had.
Detwiler needs a full season in AAA before he gets exiled to Istanbul or Jerusalem. Thats a pretty harsh review for someone with less than 3 healthy seasons in organized baseball.
Hope that we'll get to see what a healthy Marquis can do for us this time around...
August rotation:
Stras
JZimm
Marquis
Livo
Maya (I say he makes his debut in two weeks, so someone stays on the roster until then)
Mark: Any rumors as to what the moves might be to free up the rotation? Any thoughts of sliding some starters to the pen and moving some bullpen guys down until Sept. 1st?
Wonder if Livo would be happy with a Miguel Batista-like role in the pen (and spot starter if injuries make necessary) next year...
Also, anyone know if the Nats actually control Olsen next year or if he's a UFA? He pitched 20 innings in MLB in 2005, so he could be at 6 years, but I'm not sure what classifies as "a year" in free agency terms.
At this point Rizzo has said he has already penciled in 4 pitchers into the rotation. Pretty easy to guess who they are?
1. Strasburg
2. Zimmermann
3. Hernandez
4. Marquis
I think now that he has signed Maya he might change that ... Maya could end up as either #2, or even #1 given that he kind of is a veteran?
5. Maya.
6. Olsen, Detwiler, Martis, Martin, Atilano, Lannan, Stammen, Martin, Mandel, Milone, Arneson, Thompson, Tatusko, etc. etc. etc. and etc.
Post a Comment