So now what... Marcum

[monty57]

This is probably jumping the gun, and hopefully Marcum won't miss any time after being pulled from tonight's game with an injury, but this has been my worst fear for a while. Ever since Estrada was put in the bullpen instead of being sent to the AAA rotation, we have been without a valid option if one of our starting pitchers goes down. I certainly hope Marcum is okay and makes his next start. Otherwise, we're probably either going to see someone like Sam Narron make a start or we're going to trot Estrada out for 3-inning bullpen busters until he's stretched out.

 

Am I missing something? Do we have any options if a starting pitcher goes down?

[RockCoCougars]

It looked like a pulled groin to me. If that's the case, I think it's a safe bet he will be dl'ed.

[paul253]

Yeah looks like something with a muscle. Maybe miss a start or two but nothing serious. I hope so at least.

[umphrey]

I would be very surprised if Marcum missed more than 3 starts. Asking 5-6 innings from your bullpen once every 5th day when your other starters are going 6-7 is not a big deal or all that uncommon. Especially when you can bounce a few guys between AAA and the majors. Roenicke uses about 3 relievers the way it is anyway - Loe, Axford, and a replacement when Loe has pitched the last 12 days.

[1992casey]

Gord Ash says "there's no injury to report."

[crossface21]

Nothing to report? No injury according to Gord Ash. That's a lie.

[RockCoCougars]

They just said, 'no injury'. Did he eat some bad seafood last night or something? It kind of looked like he was having an immodium moment out there.

[markedman5]

If he wasn't hurt or at the least sick why was he pulled in the 2nd inning?

 

Give me a break.

[umphrey]

Probably because throwing 44 pitches in 1 inning is about as stressful as throwing 130 in 7.

 

Keep him fresh for August and September please. Marcum our most vulnerable pitcher to wearing down IMO.

[1992casey]

Now they're saying it's a left hip flexor strain.

[Funketown]

Nothing to report? No injury according to Gord Ash. That's a lie.

Well hot dog! We have a weiner!

 

Anybody know how long we should expect Marcum to be out?

[markedman5]

Haudricourt Finally got word on #Brewers RHP Shaun Marcum. He left the game with a left hip flexor strain. Will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

[fondybrewfan]

Rivas & McClendon Up, midget boy down and Marcum to the DL. That is my prediction

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

Now they're saying it's a left hip flexor strain.

This makes a lot of sense... watching him in the first, I saw he was struggling to get much push off the rubber. Hope it's not too bad.

[jeffy]

He'd be pushing off with his right leg, though.

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

He'd be pushing off with his right leg, though.

Duh. Wow. Missed the "left" part... haha. Neeevermind.

[TheCrew07]

Hip flexor... he might not have to go on the DL, but he'll likely miss a start.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

He's scheduled to go on Wed vs. the Rays, then we've got some off days to work with. Of course if Wolf only makes it one inning tomorrow they could pitch him on short rest.

 

Likely at least one Estrada start...then clear to July 3rd. That would be right at the end of a DL stint. Hopefully Shaun is ok by then.

[PrinceEatMeat]

He's scheduled to go on Wed vs. the Rays, then we've got some off days to work with. Of course if Wolf only makes it one inning tomorrow they could pitch him on short rest.

 

Likely at least one Estrada start...then clear to July 3rd. That would be right at the end of a DL stint. Hopefully Shaun is ok by then.

We'd actually need a 5th starter on July 2. Marcum would be eligible on July 3 if he went on the DL. So he'd have to miss 2 starts.

[Oldcity]

This is why it was stupid to take a stretched out Estrada and make him a reliever when they have a handful of capable relievers in AAA.

[monty57]

That was my thinking exctly Stevo. Now we have to either bring up one of our less-than-stellar AAA pitchers or let Estrada start, knowing he can only go around three innings. I don't think we have the bullpen right now to start Estrada, but that's probably the route we'll go. Roenicke's already poor bullpen management will be put to the test, as he'll have to decide who can go the day or two prior to Estrada's start, and the day or two after the start.

[Funketown]

So who do the Brewers turn to? The Twins series is sandwiched between two days off, but they'll need at least one spot start. DiFelice is stretched out, but the Rays most likely would play six lefty hitters against him, and I wouldn't trust him more than once through the order against righties anyways.

 

How good is Narron against lefties? I've been very bearish on him in recent years, but I figure this might be a decent chance to try him out, simply for the lack of better options. Besides, he can hit pretty well (153 PA, .285/.333/.398/.732), so he'll fit in with Gallardo and Greinke.

 

Otherwise who else is there? Butler is an obvious no, De La Cruz might be an option, and so could Rivas, but Rivas' peripherals scare me a bit.

[jeffy]

I don't know if he has ever done it before, but what about Wolf on short rest on the 22nd? Then he can go on the 28th and Marcum is not needed until July 2.

 

They have 2 days off in the next 5 after that, followed by 6 DH games. If it were to turn into a short start, bullpen game the days off and the DH games would give them a chance to recover.

 

Maybe Narveson can throw an inning, instead of bullpen on the 22nd?

 

If they don't move Wolf up to the 22nd or do some other shuffling of the rotation, Greinke pitches on the 21 and then not until the 28th. This may not be helpful to getting him to reach mid-season form.

[dlk9s]

He'd be pushing off with his right leg, though.

True, but even so, it's very difficult to pitch well when it hurts every time your plant leg lands. I had a minor hip flexor issue for a little while in high school and while I worked through it fine, it was a huge annoyance. Basically, I stretched the hell out of my hip/leg before I pitched to keep it feeling ok. It didn't feel as much painful as it did weak - when I planted, it hurt, but it also sort of felt like my leg just wanted to buckle. Like I said, it was minor, so I never had to sit out and I still pitched well, but if Marcum's is bad, I could see him missing time. Plus, it's the pros, so even if it's not bad, he still might have to miss a start.

[jeffy]

... even so, it's very difficult to pitch well when it hurts every time your plant leg lands.

 

Sure. I was only commenting about the previous comment: saw he was struggling to get much push off the rubber

not intending to imply it is not a problem.

(though it is probably better having it be his left leg rather than his right)