Injury: JJ Dealing with a Back Injury

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Marlins ace Josh Johnson could miss his next scheduled start due to back/side pain that has bothered him for weeks. Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said it's fair to say that Johnson is "50-50" to start on Friday in Washington while adding the severity of the problem is uncertain at this point. It's not inconceivable that Johnson's back issues could force him to shut down the rest of the season, as he has only five starts remaining. But that's purely speculative. It's just as possible that Johnson could try to pitch through the pain with continued treatment. Bottom line: the immediate plans for Johnson are up in the air. I've been told the Marlins should have a more definitive answer by Wednesday.

This much is certain: Johnson did not throw his normal, side bullpen session on Tuesday and did not stretch with his Marlins teammates before batting practice. He was inside the training room, receiving treatment for the back.

The Marlins have already lost Ricky Nolasco, who is scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday for a torn meniscus in his right knee, and are looking at suspensions for two of their other starters, Chris Volstad and Alex Sanabia.

Josh Johnson "50-50" to Make Next Start

Man, we have starters dropping like flies. I'll have to go over the rotation again given this new tidbit combined with the looming suspensions of Volstad and Sanabia (whose appeals should be heard Thursday or Friday).

[Jay]

Can we just use our AA rotation the rest of the season? Well AA rotation and Volstad anyway

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Whoa, I really don't know how they'd do it. It would be absolutley no problem to just have Mendez pitch in JJ's spot in the rotation but the suspensions of Volstad and Sanabia are a HUGE problem. The only way to maybe work this out is for Volstad to drop his appeal after tonight's game and begin serving the suspension tomorrow. If he does that, because of the off day Thursday, we still need to figure out something for the 14th. This is how the rotation would look (leaving everyone on regular rest).

9/8- Miller (Volstad starts serving 6 game suspension)
9/10- Sanabia
9/11- Anibal
9/12- Mendez (for Volstad)
9/13- Miller
9/14- JJ's spot (Sanabia on short rest or bullpen day?)
9/15- Volstad (His suspension would be served and Alex's would start this day)
9/17- Anibal
9/18- Mendez (who would stay in the rotation if JJ is shut down)
9/19- Miller
9/20- Volstad
9/21- Sanabia (His suspension would be served)
9/22- Anibal
9/23- Mendez
9/24- Miller

And so on.

What a mess!

[Ramp]

Good thing these games are meaningless

[fishy]

no shot they use the studs in AA because of playoffs or does that matter

[Fritz]

Can we just use our AA rotation the rest of the season? Well AA rotation and Volstad anyway

So you mean the AA rotation?

[Ramp]

no shot they use the studs in AA because of playoffs or does that matter

Sometimes management believes a playoff atmosphere is more important than a september call up, and I agree with that

[Metes]

Good thing these games are meaningless

I need him for fantasy playoffs, fartface

[Ramp]

Fartface indeed

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

The only thing about calling up Villanueva or Koehler is that they are not on the 40-man and we already have a full 40. We even put Nolasco and Murphy on the 60-day DL to get more guys up here. We don't really have much room to add any more guys right now.

[HUGG]

I don't like how loosely the word stud is being applied around here lately.

[Beef]

Maybe Adalberto can make Volstad's starts for the rest of the year

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

joecapMARLINS: Josh Johnson flying to Miami 2 c Dr. Back & shoulder exam. Will not start Fri. Will join #Marlins in DC this wkend Sanabia Friday

/Twitter

Mendez has also been penciled in for Sunday. So far, the rotation is setting up like I have listed above. If Volstad doesn't start serving his suspension until Friday, we'd either have to run Anibal out there on short rest for the start on the 15th or bring another starter up.
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The Johnson news could leave the Marlins starved for starters in the coming days. Right now, Alex Sanabia is scheduled to pitch Friday in Washington. Sanabia and Chris Volstad, who pitched Tuesday in Philadelphia, both have appeals hearings pending. They will have to serve suspensions stemming from last week's brawl with the Nationals at some point, but neither was sure when their appeal would be heard.

Anibal Sanchez and Adalberto Mendez are in line to go Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Mendez left his major league debut Monday after suffering a cramp in his right quad running to first. Tuesday he said the discomfort was subsiding.

If and when the need for an additional starter arises, it's unlikely the Marlins would pluck either of their top two pitching prospects — Elih Villanueva and Tom Koehler — from Double-A Jacksonville in the middle of their Southern League playoff run. Among the possible call-ups from the Triple-A roster: Brian Lawrence, Tom Mastny and Brad Stone.

Johnson to miss at least one start with back pain

[FishFanInPA]

ugh, gdi.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Beautiful morning in Washington DC. The biggest development so far is what did not happen — Josh Johnson didn’t throw this morning as he’d hoped.

He will try to throw in the bullpen on Sunday. If he can’t, he won’t start Wednesday and the Marlins will use a few relief pitchers that day against the Phillies.

Manager Edwin Rodriguez wasn’t ready to say that Johnson is done for the year, but he also didn’t offer up another potential start date for JJ if he doesn’t go Wednesday.

“His back is kind of too tight and he’s not feeling well,” Edwin said.

“We’re going day by day. Let’s see what happens tomorrow and after that we’ll decide what we’re going to do for Wednesday. And then after that, who knows what is going to happen.”

The team would probably would not dip into the minor leagues for a Wednesday starter. Class AA Jacksonville is in the playoffs and selecting a pitcher from Class AAA New Orleans could force the team to make a 40-man roster move.

Josh Johnson probably won’t start Wednesday for Florida Marlins
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With that in mind, here's the updated rotation (assuming JJ doesn't start Wednesday);


9/11- Anibal (Sanabia starts suspension)
9/12- Volstad
9/13- Miller (newly clean shaven by the way. Volstad starts suspension)
9/14- Mendez
9/15- Bullpen day (or JJ)
9/17- Anibal (Sanabia's suspension over)
9/18- Sanabia
9/19- Miller
9/20- Volstad (his suspension is over this day)
9/21- Mendez (or JJ)