Murphy unable to take step forward in recovery

MIAMI - Second baseman Daniel Murphy will miss his fourth straight start tonight for the Nationals as they finish their series against the Marlins in Miami.

Manager Dusty Baker listed the injury as leg soreness on Monday, but progress to recovery has been slow the past couple of days, even though Murphy was employed as a pinch-hitter late in the first two games of the series.

"Well, it's the same thing. He hasn't been responding to treatment," Baker said. "So with a day off tomorrow, we'll work on him and see. That's why we try to hit Murphy with a two-out situation versus one-out. We could've lost him for a while.

"We're trying to keep him when he does come back. We can't afford to lose him and I know Murph the way he plays if he has a chance to be safe or he has a chance to score a run, he's going to run, that's what competitors do. But we have to take every precaution and make sure he's ready for later."

Does this latest setback concern Baker for Murphy's availability for games that begin after October 3?

"You're always a little concerned with a player of Daniel's ability but concern really doesn't help the situation," Baker admitted. "If concern and worry would help I worry all day and night and it'd be better. But it doesn't help. What you have to do is everybody else has to have to do a little more.

"Because Daniel's been carrying us most of the season so now it's time for some of the other guys to step up in Daniel's absence and not depend on Daniel being here."

Baker used the example of his time in Cincinnati when the club lost top hitter Joey Votto for 50 games and others stepped up. The Reds ended up winning 95 games that season.

"Can you imagine 50 games without Daniel Murphy," Baker queried.

Baker was asked what is really wrong with Murphy, but elected to not get specific.

"No, I can't elaborate what it is," Baker said. "I'm sure the world would like to know but out trainers are still working on it. We're trying to get to the bottom of it but (look to) solve it so hopefully doesn't come back.

"When you kind of hurt this late in the season it takes a whole bunch of time to come back cause you're already tired, you're already fatigued. We got some hands in there working on him."

Is this issue with the leg part of the problems Murphy had been having problems with before? Murphy dealt with a sore hamstring earlier in the season.

"No, this is different," Baker confirmed.

Baker said it is good to have Stephen Drew available to play in Murphy's spot, but he also has to watch Drew's minutes after he missed 40 games with vertigo-like symptoms.

"I'm very pleased but now we have to watch out how much you play him because you can overplay him," Baker said. "I got to watch that or else we'll be without both of them."