Shaun Marcum Fighting Through Shoulder Tightness

Fortunately, there appears to be good news. Writes Michael Hunt:

Marcum spent some time with the team trainers, and when they worked on his shoulder he didn’t feel as much discomfort as before. He seems to be making progress, and while he isn’t a lock for his final spring start, it appears to be likely. He’s set to throw a bullpen, make that start, and be ready for the beginning of the season.

Marcum says he’s dealt with some tightness in his shoulder all spring long. And you wouldn’t necessarily know it from looking at his numbers, as he has 11 strikeouts to go with one walk. He says that, if it were August or September, he’d pitch through the pain without saying a word. But while Marcum may not be very concerned, Buster Olney quoted a scout who gunned Marcum at 86mph on Thursday night, which is a slight tick below where Marcum usually sits. And you just never want to hear a pitcher talking about an unusual sensation in his shoulder.

So this is a situation to monitor. Marcum isn’t worrying, but the organization would prefer that he feel fine and dandy instead of pitching through discomfort so soon. While there’s no reason to assume the worst, there is reason to keep an eye on this story and see how it develops.