Notes: Olsen gets two extra days off

Prospects prep for fall league; Ramirez debates surgery

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

Scott Olsen has been unable to repeat his rookie success from last year. (Luis M. Alvarez/AP)

Marlins Headlines

 

WASHINGTON -- Scratching for answers to why Scott Olsen has struggled of late, the Marlins have decided to give the 23-year-old left-hander a couple more days to help get himself right.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez on Tuesday said Olsen will have his upcoming start bumped back two days to Monday against the Nationals at Dolphin Stadium. Initially, the lefty was slotted to go on Saturday at Philadelphia.

 

Rick VandenHurk will slide up and fill Olsen's spot at Philadelphia on Saturday. The 22-year-old rookie was in line to go on Sunday, but he will move up a day. As part of the shuffle, Dontrelle Willis (Tuesday's starter at Washington) gets the call on Sunday.

 

"We've got to get him right," Gonzalez said of Olsen. "This way, he gets two good side [sessions]."

 

The Marlins have flexibility with their rotation because of Thursday's day off. VandenHurk was going to be pitching on six days' rest. Now he is back on five days. And Olsen now takes the mound next eight days after his previous start.

 

Olsen will throw extra side sessions with pitching coach Rick Kranitz on Wednesday and Saturday.

 

Kranitz has been breaking down Olsen's mechanics, comparing tapes from last year to now.

 

Olsen has lost three straight decisions, and his last win was on Aug. 5, when he gave up three runs in 7 1/3 innings against the Astros. In Sunday's start, Olsen earned a no-decision, when he gave up five runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

 

Olsen is 9-12 (5.76 ERA) in 29 starts. As a rookie in 2006, he was 12-10 with a 4.04 ERA.

 

"Something is wrong," Gonzalez said. "This guy pitched pretty good last year."

 

Meanwhile, people who actually need the rest will continue to pitch.

Gotta love that last line.

sweet...i can use my BK Kim sign Friday...and now my RVH sign gets national TV attention SWEET!!!

Meanwhile, people who actually need the rest will continue to pitch.

 

Our pen is overused and abused. We are bringing guys up to help out there. Of SPs about the only guy that would qualify for this statement would be Mitre. DTrain isn't being overused, he's just having a bad year. Dutch Boy appears to be learning something every time he goes out there and I think the extra starts helps him (and us) in the long run. And BK hasn't even reached 100 innings on the year yet.

Meanwhile, two of the guys most of us wanted to see pitch at this level have been shut down for the year. Maybe controversial to some but I would rather they do that than have them come up for a few innings and then schedule a visit with the good Dr Andrews. Kids think they are indestructable, even while they are under the knife.

I don't know if pushing Scotty back a couple days will be effective. He seemed to be distracted again Sunday, and we all know what happens to him when he lets things get to him. It could be he has the off field things on his mind, or maybe he wasn't happy with the way balls and strikes were being called Sunday. But a couple extra days sure can't hurt.

Team should have shut down RVH two weeks ago. His innings pitched totals are way over what is considered safe.

Gotta love that last line.

How true. Of all the Frediism's this is classic. "Something is wrong.." Whoa-you think so Fredi? What could be wrong? So he fights with teammates, fights with cops, gets arrested in a police chase, thinks he is Sandy Koufax without having to prove it and on and on. So, Fredi, you think something is wrong? What ever gave you that idea.

Team should have shut down RVH two weeks ago. His innings pitched totals are way over what is considered safe.

 

No idea how many innings he pitched in the minors. All I can go by is that he dosen't look tired out there and dosen't have that many IPs at this level. And he seems to be learning something new almost every start. Gaby and Volstadt pitched alot of innings in the minors and are projected to actually be something special at this level, maybe as early as next year. Looking at it at face value I don't see any real problem with the way things are being handled right now.

The entire pitching should just be shut down for the year. Have Kim and Dontrelle be the pitching staff for the rest of the season or something.

Gotta love that last line.

How true. Of all the Frediism's this is classic. "Something is wrong.." Whoa-you think so Fredi? What could be wrong? So he fights with teammates, fights with cops, gets arrested in a police chase, thinks he is Sandy Koufax without having to prove it and on and on. So, Fredi, you think something is wrong? What ever gave you that idea.

 

 

 

:lol

 

Until I read that article I had no clue there was something wrong with Olsen.