Sorry if already posted, just thought the bit about the bonespur is quite interesting, hopefully he is fit and ready to go very soon. Also good news on him gaining weight, though I will believe that when I see it, no way was he 210 last year.

01/24/2006 4:28 PM ET

Olsen to vie for spot in starting rotation

Southpaw feeling good, ready to battle in Spring Training

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

JUPITER, Fla. -- Pain free, Scott Olsen is getting back on a full-fledged throwing program and the 22-year-old promises to contend for a Marlins' rotation spot in Spring Training.

Elbow inflammation cut short the left-hander's 2005 season after he was optioned to Double-A by the Marlins following a loss at Philadelphia on July 16.

 

One of the organization's prize prospects, Olsen didn't pitch again in a game after being sent down. The elbow had been nagging him a while, and he resumed throwing activities in late August and September. An MRI taken a few months back revealed a bone spur in back of his elbow.

 

"Doctors said you can throw with it if you choose to," said Olsen, who is already in Jupiter, Fla., throwing and lifting weights. "They gave me an option if I wanted to go through surgery or not. I said, 'If I can throw through it, we'll hold off and see what happens.' I think a lot of it was from tendinitis, the swelling. I stopped throwing for five weeks and it went away."

 

Now with Marlins pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to Roger Dean Stadium on Feb. 18, Olsen recently progressed to long-tossing at 120 feet, and on Monday he is scheduled for his first bullpen session since last year.

 

Barring any unexpected setbacks, Olsen sees himself being ready to compete for a rotation spot in what projects to be a wide open race this spring.

 

While jobs will be won or lost in Spring Training, the only lock on the staff is ace Dontrelle Willis. Brian Moehler and Jason Vargas are projected as front-runners to win two other spots, leaving two spots up for grabs. And Sergio Mitre, acquired from the Cubs as part of the Juan Pierre trade, is considered to have an inside track for the fourth slot.

 

There is no shortage of talented young arms competing for a place in the rotation. Olsen, Josh Johnson, Yusmeiro Petit, Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco all promise to get ample opportunities to win starting jobs.

 

"It's going to be interesting," Olsen said. "Whoever gets to be on the team and who can go the whole year, I think they're going to be a lot better than people think."

 

Through their various offseason trades, the Marlins have stockpiled promising young pitchers. Olsen is well aware the team is exploring trade options for position players, and his name has been linked to a possible deal with Tampa Bay for speedy center fielder Joey Gathright.

 

Clearly not afraid to pull the trigger on major deals, the Marlins are expected to make some moves after Spring Training opens. As for any deal involving Gathright, it appears the front office wants to see how the young arms look in the spring before making any moves.

 

"I've heard some things," Olsen said about the possible trade reports. "I can't control it and it's not up to me. All I can do is put myself in the best possible position for myself."

 

If Olsen indeed remains with the Marlins, he understands the club is going through a transition period.

 

"There are a lot of guys in the Minor Leagues who have talent, they just aren't proven yet," Olsen said. "No one wants to believe in them, but there is a lot of talent down there. I think we'll be competitive. We have five or six guys going after three spots. It's going to be interesting to see what happens. All the guys are capable of doing it."

 

A star in the Minor Leagues, Olsen got a taste of the big leagues last season, appearing in five games with four starts. He went 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA, logging 20 1/3 innings before being optioned.

 

Building up size and arm strength have been two main objectives for Olsen, who had a rap of being too slender at 6-foot-4. Already he is making gains. On Monday, Olsen tipped the scales at 220 pounds, compared to the 210 pounds he carried last year.

 

"I've put on a couple of pounds," he said. "I've been lifting weights and doing lots of running. From what I hear, it is going to be a very well-conditioned camp. So you've got to be in shape for that to make the team. There are going to be a lot of guys trying to make those last few spots in the rotation."

 

Adding endurance is part of the maturation process for all young pitchers. Last year, he logged 80 1/3 innings at Double-A, posting a 6-4 record with a 3.92 ERA.

 

Counting his short stint with the Marlins, Olsen threw a total of 100 2/3 innings. His highest inning count in the Minor Leagues was 136 1/3 innings in 2004, with Class A Jupiter.

 

"It's a long season," Olsen said. "Throwing 130 innings in the Minor Leagues is long, and you can imagine throwing another seven or eight games. I think I'll be alright health-wise. I don't think it will be a recurring issue."

 

In his brief stay with the Marlins last year, Olsen learned there is more to pitching in the big leagues than throwing the ball.

 

"Just seeing how the guys go about their business," he said. "They are professional guys, and they take their job very seriously. You've got to go into it with that mentality that it's going to be a long season. You've got to work out, you've got to stay fit on a daily basis."

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

Link

There's a bad moon rising for Olsen. I'm concerned about his longetivity

Better to get it fixed now than two months from now I guess.

 

I am also beginning to be worried about the arm troubles though

Obviously the doctors know better than we do but my experience with bonespurs is they usually get worse not better with time as the deposits build up. And left unattended they in themselves can cause all kinds of trouble for tendons, muscles and ligaments that are displaced by their growth and begin to rub up against them.

 

I'm surprised a more cautious approach wasn't taken especially with plenty of time available to heel in the off-season but again, I'm second-guessing professionals who admittedly know better than I do the nature of the problem.

In case anyone forgets/didn't know, AJ Burnett had bonespurs and elected not to have surgery. He then had to have Tommy John.

In case anyone forgets/didn't know, AJ Burnett had bonespurs and elected not to have surgery. He then had to have Tommy John.

 

Exactly who/what I was thinking about when I saw the title of this thread.

In case anyone forgets/didn't know, AJ Burnett had bonespurs and elected not to have surgery. He then had to have Tommy John.

 

 

Very depressing.

 

I guess this is why we shouldn't be afraid to pull the trigger on any of our young pitchers if it helps us get a start quality CF/leadoff guy. I have always thought highly of Olsen and envision him as star in the majors but there is a reason baseball history is full of can't miss pitchers who....missed.

If you harken back to mid-2005 when Olsen was sent down and Vargas ultimately emerged from the pen as an everyday starter you may remember that one of the reasons the Marlins went with Vargas over Olsen was Olsen chose not to go to the pen because he said it took him too long to warm up.

 

I suspect it was the tendinitis/bonespur issue that ended his abbreviated appearance in 2005 may have been the reason why he had such trouble getting ready.

If you harken back to mid-2005 when Olsen was sent down and Vargas ultimately emerged from the pen as an everyday starter you may remember that one of the reasons the Marlins went with Vargas over Olsen was Olsen chose not to go to the pen because he said it took him too long to warm up.

 

I suspect it was the tendinitis/bonespur issue that ended his abbreviated appearance in 2005 may have been the reason why he had such trouble getting ready.

 

lol

 

come on 03.... that's not the real reason why Olsen didnt want to go to the bullpen

Okay Rampiepoo, call me naive, what was the real reason?

 

Is is your opinion he saw himself as a starter and nothing else, in effect putting himself above the team?

Okay Rampiepoo, call me naive, what was the real reason?

 

Is is your opinion he saw himself as a starter and nothing else, in effect putting himself above the team?

 

 

Yeah, most likely.

 

And most people would tell you that it's a-OK for him to be looking out for #1 (and his health) since doing the bullpen/rotation bounce isn't great for a young arm, look what happened to Vargas at the end of the year.

 

Not calling Olsen selfish, but he obviously didn't want to go to the pen, he'd rather have regular playing time, because he knew darn well he had a future in the majors.

In case anyone forgets/didn't know, AJ Burnett had bonespurs and elected not to have surgery. He then had to have Tommy John.

 

 

Very depressing.

 

I guess this is why we shouldn't be afraid to pull the trigger on any of our young pitchers if it helps us get a start quality CF/leadoff guy. I have always thought highly of Olsen and envision him as star in the majors but there is a reason baseball history is full of can't miss pitchers who....missed.

Fair, though given that this situation would appear to have been going on for some time, it does make the rumours about Gathwright for Olsen most likely just speculation from those not in the know. I think the Marlins have determined to wait until mid-to-late ST before pulling any prospective trigger, at least have a look at what they have/or in this situation the condition of what they have.

I guess this is why we were trying to trade him for Gathright?

I guess this is why we were trying to trade him for Gathright?

 

I think you have it backwards. The D'Rays wanted Olsen, the Marlins said no.

I am beginning to think that the Marlins should trade him now while he still has value.

 

 

Plenty of pitchers can be fine with bone spurs in their elbow, it isn't an instant Tommy John death-knell.

 

I just found it kind of ironic that the prospect who was tagged as AJ's replacement in August is now having a similar health concern. That's all, no suggestion of immenent breakdown.

He'll be alright and it says he's gained 10 pounds which is a good thing.

While we are in a rebuilding mode, I wish he'd just go and the surgery. I'd rather him sit a couple months now than miss a year+ later on when the rest of the team becomes more competitive. It will hurt a whole lot less having him out this year.

Trade him for Gathright now.

Pitchers seem to be made of glass these days.

 

The reason is two-fold. The way they're rushed through systems and the lure of the big payday.

 

A bad combination.

The Marlins have enough pitching talent anyway.

 

 

And the two most talented prospects (Sanchez, Olsen) both have health concerns.