After a three-week shutdown due to shoulder inflammation, Joe Musgrove has started a two-week throwing program as the first step towards a possible return from the injured list. Musgrove tells Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune that he is aiming to be back with the Padres by late September and hopefully through the postseason, though he acknowledged that another shutdown is possible if the team is out of the pennant race. Things are looking grim for the Padres at the moment, as they sit 6.5 games out of the last NL wild card position.
“There’s no need for me to be rushing and pushing things back if we’re out of this thing,” Musgrove said. “But I have full confidence that we’re going to be in it, so these first two weeks are going to be important in just laying down the foundation work and being able to open up from there….It’s difficult knowing that there’s a chance I might not touch a mound again this year. But every part of me mentally and physically is preparing to be able to get at least one more (start) in the regular season and then be strong for the playoffs.”
Between a broken toe suffered in Spring Training and his shoulder issue, it has been an injury-riddled year for the right-hander, as Musgrove has thrown only 97 1/3 innings. His absences have been one of the reasons why San Diego is only on the fringes of contention, yet Musgrove has still looked like an ace when he has pitched, posting a 3.05 ERA over his 97 1/3 frames. Acee writes that Musgrove will also probably undergo another MRI next week, to check up on the shoulder after the first few days of throwing.
Other items from around the NL West…
- Mike Yastrzemski is closing in on a return from the injured list, as he recently took part in a live batting practice session and ran the bases yesterday. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (X link) writes that Yastrzemski is set for more baserunning work tomorrow, and he has been working in the outfield today. Yastrzemski has been out with a hamstring strain since July 30, and seemed to be on the verge of a return two weeks ago before suffering another strain during rehab work. Now, the outfielder could return to San Francisco’s lineup as early as Monday, when the Giants begin an important series with the Reds.
- In another Giants injury update, John Brebbia threw that live BP session to Yastrzemski, and Slusser writes that the plan is for Brebbia to throw another simulated game Sunday with an eye towards soon beginning a minor league rehab assignment. Brebbia suffered a Grade 2 lat strain back in June, and he has been sidelined beyond his initial recovery timeline of 4-8 weeks. While he’ll need some time to ramp up during his rehab assignment, Brebbia’s return could be a big boost to a Giants club in need of pitching help. Brebbia has posted strong numbers as a swingman over the last two seasons, including a 3.14 ERA over 28 2/3 innings in 2023.
- Matt McLain’s instant success with the Reds creates an interesting sliding-doors moment for the Diamondbacks, who drafted McLain 25th overall in 2018 but didn’t reach an agreement to sign. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes that the two sides couldn’t manage the gap between McLain’s ask for a $3MM bonus and the Diamondbacks’ offer, which was the $2,636,400 slot price attached to the 25th pick. Beyond the money, McLain told Piecoro that “I was pretty set on [playing in college]. I wanted to go to UCLA. I think that if I would have signed in the minor leagues at that point, I would have always wondered what UCLA was like and what I had missed out on. I don’t think it was necessarily the other way around.” As it turned out, McLain had a standout career in college, and ended up picked by the Reds with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 draft, receiving a $4.625MM bonus that was well above slot price.
If he can do it with 0 risk of any additional injury issues, then by all means let’s go Java Joe! If we have any chance of making a run he will have to be involved.
If they have any chance is the key phrase, since any chances they have are slim and none, and slim just walked out the door. Last year the worst record to get a WC berth was 86 wins (TB Rays). For the Padres to get 86 wins they would need to go 25 and 8 over their last 33 games (a winning percentage of .758).
Even if they could win 25 games, 86 wins still might not be enough, It took 87 wins for Philly to get the last WC berth in the NL. If they can go 26 and 7, they will have certainly earned a spot in the PS, but I don’t see that happening.
Musgrove is right there with everyone else waiting for the Padres to go on that epic run that gets them in the playoffs. When is that run scheduled to start again?
Sadly, the teams that “won the off-season”(Mets, Padres & Rangers) are all faltering now. The only thing “all in” guarantees you, is that your playoff chances in subsequent years will be diminished and you’ll have little payroll flexibility.
Well the Giants lost the off season, and didn’t even try at the trade deadline, and will be back under 500 by this time next week. Better to try and build a legit contender than not try at all. I have more respect for teams that spend and try to win than teams who are always worried about future financial constraints.
Because, you know, they don’t run the team like a business or anything and don’t care if they lose money.
Spending without concern for the future. Then just call it the inflation reduction act.
As opposed to all those tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations that exploded the deficit to record amounts?
Congress always spends money, it just depends on who is in power what they spend it on.
The facts are that the tax cuts caused record job growth and record government surpluses going into the pandemic. But as usual, bureaucrats will always find new ways to waste our tax dollars along with graft and thievery which have never been higher. eg: There are still education dollars allocated as Covid relief that have not been spent or wastefully spent. Btw…corporations are not actual people, so there is no need to tax them. Yes! Tax everyone that works for the corporation or owns stock in a corporation an amount commensurate to their income and profit margin.
This is a baseball website, not twitter or x marks the spot or whatever Musk calls it now. I’m sure they will welcome you back.
Your “facts” are highly suspicious and from one obvious source. Explains a lot.
The Giants are trying to build a legit contender. You are just so blinded by your opinion on how it should be done, you don’t see it.
Maybe you’re the one who is a fact denier. American pro athletes make tens of millions of dollars more than the average American and many fans root for their favorite clubs to keep increasing payroll. If you deny such facts, it would far more honest to change your allegiances. The Russian hockey league, Venezuelan and Cuban baseball or Chinese basketball would all be better choices than the system that you condemn.
Padres should have sold at the deadline.
Definitely on the pending free agents and players who could opt out after 2023 yes.
The Mariners this season are another example of why if a team is close they need to go for it. No real fan ever said I would rather have prospects than a shot at the playoffs.
The Mariners actually sold out the deadline. It also helps the Rangers forgot how to play baseball.
The Padres should’ve at least sold Hader.
Who?
The Mariners traded Paul Sewald. They sold.
So should have the Giants. In fact, the Padres still have a slight shot while the Giants look determined to blow each and every game.
What’s up with Hunter Greene? I thought he would provide the Reds with a much needed SP but the numbers don’t look very good.
Missed a lot of time, looks rusty and struggling with command
He hasn’t been pitch efficient from day one and can’t get past trying to throw it past everyone. Doesn’t work in the big leagues.
Java Joe coming back to pitch in the ‘meaningful’ games this team is poised to be playing in September
The Padres have so many financial problems and a problem with clubhouse chemistry
When that big local TV deal dried up, so did a major source of income.
It will be interesting to see how much payroll they try to jettison in the offseason. I am guessing a lot.
Mclain is another example of the Reds going above slot price to get the prospect they want.Money well spent with Matt. Reds are cheap with FA- but signing FA is risky. Just ask the Mets, Padres, Yankees, and Angels.