May 20, 2013; Flushing, NY,USA; Marshall (45) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. (Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports)

I’m sure some were thinking this. In the 7th, Reds starter Mat Latos served up two runs as the Mets would tie the game. In the inning, Latos face three consecutive lefty bats (pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin, Daniel Murphy and Rick Ankiel).

The question: where’s Sean Marshall? Answer: not available.

Seems like Marshall’s shoulder was “cranky”, this according to Mark Sheldon.

During pregame, Marshall’s shoulder did not take well to throwing and there is the possibility inflammation has set within the shoulder. Dusty would have used Marshall to face Ankiel.

Here’s Marshall…

“We were kind of erring on the side of caution. I told them I was a little bit sore,” Marshall said. “I did a little bit of exercise after the game. With this extra day of rest [Thursday], I will be back to how I’ve been feeling.”

I wish there was a silver lining here. I wish I had a positive spin on this, but truthfully, there isn’t. Marshall was a key cog in last season’s bullpen and his use has been a bit sparse since his return from the disabled list.

Oh…and it looks like Manny Parra could return. If Marshall’s shoulder doesn’t respond to the off-day and must once again hit the DL…

I don’t want to think about it.

May 26, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Sean Marshall (51) pitches during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park. The Reds defeated the Rockies 10-3. (Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)

Enter Marshall.

When the transaction was announced, there were those not in favor of the move. “The Reds gave up too much.” was a common refrain. With Reds having already sent four players to San Diego, they shipped three more to Chicago. Seven guys to get two? Granted, the caliber of players sent to the Padres was greater than those sent to the Cubs, but the thought was there.

It wasn’t all peaches and cream in the beginning. In spring training, Ryan Madson hit the table for Tommy John and his season (and days in Cincy) were done. Marshall was to assume the role of closer. When April ended, Marshall had five saves, one blown save, and gaudy numbers in ERA (5.40) and BABIP (.400). Opponents hit .273 off of him that month. He had allowed runs in three of the nine games in which he appeared.

Not what we think of when the tag “closer” is attached. May would prove to be a “downfall” for Marshall, but maybe that was a positive. His first seven games in May saw him permit runs in two of his seven appearances. And another gaudy BABIP of .571! It was his appearance against the Yankees on May 19 that would ultimately prompt the move of Aroldis Chapman to the closer’s role and Marshall would assume the role he held in his previous two seasons in Chicago.

We will always have the debate on moving Chapman to the role of closer, but that move benefited Marshall more than any other pitcher on the Reds staff. The addition of Jonathan Broxton at the trade deadline aided Marshall as well. The ‘pen was now set up and primed for the late innings.

So let’s look at how Marshall’s performance in ’12. We’ll look at three different time spans: as the closer, being “removed” as closer until acquiring Broxton and from the Broxton acquisition until the end of the season.

There is a little info in regards to the “post Brox” numbers: August was rocky while September was rocky while September was as smooth as could be. In fact, Marshall was the Reds best ‘pen arm over the season’s final month.

So, in total after moving out of the closer’s role…

57 G, 46.2 IP, 4-3, 2 SV, 3 BS, 1.74 ERA, .191 BAA, .269 BABIP, 13 BB, 53 SO

And what did the Reds give up? Travis Wood (6-13, 4.27 ERA, 1.199 WHIP in 26 starts), Dave Sappelt (.266/.314/.376, 7 HR, 54 RBI, 15 SB in 550 PA for Triple-A Iowa; .275/.351/.449, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB in 78 PA for Cubs), and Ronald Torreyes (.264/.326/.385, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 13 SB in 474 PA for A+ Daytona). Wood is slotted as the #6 starter while Sappelt is listed as the backup left fielder on the Cubs website. Torreyes is only 20, but he’s not listed as being one the Cubs top prospects.

Not a difficult decision to make here as far as who is ahead on this deal, is there?

Almost everyone, anyway. Here’s what Trevor Hoffman told Hal McCoy:

“Nothing is going to compare to Norm (Charlton), Randy (Myers), and Rob (Dibble), but those are three really good arms in the back of the bullpen.”

Yes, they are. But surely Hoffman is right. Sean Marshall, Broxton, and Aroldis Chapman are very good, but they probably don’t compare to the Nasty Boys. (more…)