The National League’s Central division projects to be a closely fought contest, making it all the more important for each team to have all of its players available and in top form. Here are the latest notes on a few health situations from the division:
- Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress is likely to open the year on the injured list, skipper Craig Counsell acknowledged to reporters including Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Twitter link). The veteran righty was slowed by some shoulder issues early and has not yet returned to working from the mound, though he is throwing. While the Brewers would no doubt prefer to have Jeffress available from the jump, there’s no sense rushing him and risking a lengthier absence.
- The Cubs have a shoulder issue of their own, as infielder Daniel Descalso is dealing with soreness, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). There’s no indication that it’s a serious malady, though neither is a timeline presently available. On the bright side, the initial indications are that reliever Pedro Strop’s injured hamstring won’t be a major concern. As ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers reports (Twitter links), Strop is quite confident that he’ll be able to return in time to get ready for the start of the season. Though he’ll be taking a break from his mound work, Strop was able to participate in practice today, indicating that the rest is primarily a precautionary matter.
- The Cardinals now have a plan in place for right-hander Carlos Martinez, per MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch (Twitter link), to bring him through some shoulder weakness. Martinez will “build up arm strength” with a throwing program over the next two weeks. At that point — just on the cusp of the season — the team will decide how to complete his preparation for the season. It’s still possible, from the club’s perspective at least, that Martinez will be on a program designed to deliver him to the MLB pen. As of late last month, that was not a path he wanted to take.
I may be way off base, but wouldn’t you expect Martinez to have been working on shoulder strengthen in the off season and come to camp ready to go? How is it he is just now working on that?
Just a guess because I dont know but maybe they just wanted him to strictly rest it to come into ST as healthy as possible.
And earlier interview from Mo stated that Carlos did very extensive workouts in the offseason. The Cardinals even released a statement stating that they do not require the level of training that Martinez performed this offseason. Sounds to me like he over did it and is suffering the consequences now.
He definitely over worked. The cardinals aren’t happy with his workouts because almost all of what he has been trying to do is pure muscle growth like arms and chest, but not stretching and tendon management.
I followed him on IG for while and it was super vain, but also showed his workouts. I think he is more concerned with his image and being viewed a certain way than his on field results.
Still a great pitcher and fiery catalyst for the team, but needs to get it figured out if he wants to be elite and remain in the cardinals long term plans.
I certainly hope that happens too. He has amazing talent and an attitude that most of the team lacks. Just needs to harness it.
Nope not concerned with image zpgreen he was working out because of last years injuries he was trying to ensure that didn’t occur, your assumption just like all others are trash and an opinion not a fact. He’s still figuring out a good training program much like many other pitchers as it’s a volatile position with a high injury risk no matter who you are. Luckily he cardinals with Shildt are becoming a good organization at this. Same people said the stuff about Ozuna and look at his throwing now. Fans need to stop thinking they know it all just from social media.
Have you seen his Instagram? He’s pretty vain. Anybody would be able to make that determination from a quick glance. The more selfies someone takes, the more vain they are.
As far as his workouts go, they seem pretty functional, not a typical body builder workout. His focus was more balance and strengthening his core and legs, essential for a pitcher.
You obviously don’t know anything about Carlos Martinez and the good charity work he also does do you? You are obviously reading too much as earth to you 2id everyone on instagram pretty much takes selfies do you have instagram? I bet you’d have a good share of selfies as well, then go ahead and throw in pretty much everyone on there as vain. Sad judgement as usual. He was definitely looking great with the muscles he was building up for strength as remember he’s had some injuries in the past that have stopped him from a full season’s work and he’s a very determined guy. His response yesterday is usual Carlos put me wherever and I’ll pitch he just wants to be healthy and pitching and would like if he also got the Reyes treatment as Shildt and Maddox can be great at watching the innings of many of the youth and injury prone pitchers. This is a strength, now if Matheny were in charge I wouldn’t trust him as he’s run down a lot of our guys with the way he used a lot of our talent.
Honestly no, if I’m running an organization that’s the last thing I want from my pitchers, even though that might seem counter intuitive.
I’d want my players spending the off-season just resting and healing, giving thier bodies a break. Then come to spring training ready to get in shape under the watchful eyes of trainers i trust
Players who try and stay in game shape 365 days a year will have very short, injury plagued careers.
Or you can look at the talent of cubs pitchers where you are still using Steve cishek as your closer now that strop is down. No one has perfected how to keep pitchers healthy which is why it’s amazing pitchers back in the day used to pitch complete games and have less rest but we as humans evolve. I personally like what the cardinals are doing with their training and putting $ into research and studying more to perfect the rehab. We also have Bob Gibson stop by ST and shares his knowledge with current pitchers. Working out is a key thing for them to do if you rest entirely you get weaker!
My take is there is a happy medium… This is not the 1950’s when players take a job at the hardware store and play cards and drink all night during the off season – then show up to ST all bloated and out of shape. Taking time off is important, both physically and mentally, but staying in shape and starting more intense training BEFORE ST is required or you will also have a short career
Irresponsible.
Better watch put redfeather I have reported you and your childish and unfunny posts for once you avoided you dumb catchphrase
This is why, in my opinion, that if the Cardinals want him in the pen he goes to the pen. I could care less about Carlos Martinez feelings pertaining to his desires to be a starter. The Cardinals gave him a plan for the off season and he did nothing with the plan. He did use his fingers, in the off-season, to order a Lamborghini and had it shipped to him during spring training for all of his teammates to see.
Seems to pelican you can stuff your beak with more fish as it seems you’ve made opinions rather than actually reading facts as Carlos has never been a me me guy. He’s pitched wherever used, I guess you don’t remember Rosenthal who was always stating he wanted to start even when given closer $. Carlos has been very versatile and always wanting to help the team, yesterday he said put me wherever, I just want to pitch. Stop assuming and READ! FACTS MATTER, opinions are just trash.
Andthenisaid——I agree with you. Carlos Martinez has extremely poor personal work ethics. He plays around too much. Doesn’t take his off season designated seriously. Plus, he won’t do what the club ask him to do. (Ozuna is among others on the Cardinals who snub winter workout assignments). My first impression of Carlos Martinez was Wow!! This guy has a lightning bolt for an arm. However, once he got one minor injury, he has pitched like he is afraid to pitch because he COULD get hurt. Head case. Too stubborn to do winter assigned workouts and can’t be coached to make any difference.
“The National League’s Central division projects to be a closely fought contest,”
It really is a shame that that statement about any division is an exception instead of the rule anymore.
Yep. In the AL there are two teams competing in the central, three teams in the east and three teams in the west, and that’s being very generous to the Angels and Rays.
In the Nl, there are probably two legit contenders in the West, four in the central, and four in the East. A little better. But still…
Completely agree. I’m not against teams tanking because they are simply utilizing the system that is in place, but the system has to change. Every division should be full of competition and the current system rewards teams for not being competitive.
id hardly say that is the case. there is only one division, (AL Central) in my mind, that wont be overall competitive, and even that race can be if Cleveland’s BP and OF dont hold up. Two divisions have four pretty good teams that could all feasibly win the division. I dont think there being one division withought a half of its teams able to contend at least for a wild card spot (okay you can throw in the NL West too, it will be hard for Arizona to compete for a wild card spot with the rest of the NL in play) makes noncontention the norm.
I’m not exactly sure what your point is… There are 4 legit teams in the NL Central, 3 in the East and pretty much one in the west. Then there are the Astros, Indians, Yankees and Red Sox in the AL. That’s it.
>> “The Cardinals now have a plan in place for right-hander Carlos Martinez…”
My favorite kind of plans are canceled plans
Ha ha canocorn
This can of corn has botulism