Washington Nationals are not in hurry to bring Drew Storen back in the season - MLB Update
The relief pitcher Drew Storen is not going to earn the call straight away as the Washington Nationals’ pitching staff feel that he has yet to reach the level from where he can be brought in the season.
Storen has been trying to appear in the games since start of the season. As yet, he has been unable to convince the management of his fitness.
Furthermore, he has gone through surgery to eliminate bone chips from his elbow in April. Since then, he has played for Class A Potomac in three rehab games.
As the second half of the regular season has started now, Storen can believe that he is going to be called up soon.
While before the All-star break he was optimistic that in the second half he will come back right away, he will be a bit disappointed that the management is still cautious.
Meanwhile, Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson is content with his current mix of relievers in the bullpen. The fact he enjoys an availability of quality starters on the rotation, he does not face the depth of the bullpen being exposed.
Furthermore, whenever the Nationals’ relievers assume the mound, bulk of the work has already been done by their starters. Therefore, the relievers just keep up with the momentum.
This kind of makes the manager a little unconcerned about the relievers. Instead, Johnson appears to be working out issues in other areas.
In the meantime, Johnson comes up with an explanation about Storen. He says until he can achieve his arm strength, he cannot be a part of the bullpen. He clarifies that the team does not want to see Storen injured again by putting an extra burden on his
arms.
“The consensus among the coaches is his arm strength is not quite where it needs to be,” Davey Johnson said. “I think Drew is champing at the bit. But our concern is that he’s ready, and that he doesn’t have to extra-stress his arm when he gets up here.
This is about making sure his arm is ready.”
As the Nationals move forward in the second half, Storen will want to make it possible that he plays his first game of the 2012 regular season at the earliest.
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