Lefty Marshall feeling positive as rehab progresses

CINCINNATI -- Sean Marshall, who is rehabbing from inflammation in his shoulder, was in the clubhouse before Sunday's game against the Brewers, and the left-handed reliever said he's feeling positive about his progress.

"Throwing has been going very well," said Marshall, on the disabled list since May 24. "I've been building some really good arm strength, [throwing from] 90 feet the last three days -- slowly working my way to long toss, probably starting [Monday]. We'll see how it goes from there, and then get on the mound some, hopefully at the end of the week. Probably some flat-ground mound work -- that will be the first step."

The inflammation in his shoulder was caused by some extra moving parts, which the doctors described to Marshall as "laxity," or looseness.

Marshall first went on the DL on April 10 with left shoulder tendinitis, but he returned two weeks later. This time, Marshall took two weeks off from throwing at all, and he said that's made a major difference.

"The first time it was doing it, I was kind of pitching through it," Marshall said. "I'd pitch a game and be sore for a day, pitch a game and be sore for a day. And I was like, there's something obviously deep down that's causing soreness in my shoulder. I've pitched three or four days in a row for five years now or something. I know something was a little bit different."

Although taking time off has helped, Marshall said it will take a little bit longer to build up his arm strength. He said he's getting there, though, and he hopes to be back in game action in "three weeks or less." Most importantly, he wants to make sure he's at 100 percent for the stretch run.

"We're just playing it day by day," Marshall said. "They probably will want to send me to a [Minor League] team to pitch, so I understand that. But I'm trying to work my butt off each day and stay nice and healthy and strong."