Random Marlins Notes

[General]

This is where I'll post random tidbits about the Marlins that seem interesting or enlightening.

[General]

Sergio Mitre left his start in a minor league game Tuesday after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand.
"In the fourth inning, a one-hopper came back and hit me on the hand. It's nothing bad," Mitre said. "They took me out just to make sure. It hit my finger, got my thumb. It kind of flared up a little bit, turned purple. Nothing too bad." Mitre, who is in the running for a rotation spot, is expected to make his start Saturday against the Orioles.

[General]

Manager Joe Girardi indicated Tuesday that Jeremy Hermida will bat second in the Marlins' lineup.
This should be interesting. Hermida is a walking machine, but he's unlikely to get pitched around at all batting in front of Miguel Cabrera. He may have to be more aggressive initially.

Manager Joe Girardi confirmed Tuesday that he will hit Miguel Cabrera third in the lineup this year.
Cabrera will likely be batting between Jeremy Hermida and Mike Jacobs, which isn't so bad. Still, he can look forward to being pitched around an awful lot.

[redsrbetter]

I just can't wait to see this team grow into what they will eventually become. Hermida will be nasty and Hanley Ramirez will also be a huge future star.

I can't say I disagree with this lineup structure either. Allow Hermida to see good pitches as he gets used to MLB pitching.

[General]

I hope all of the prospects fail miserably. I'm damn scared of the Marlins if these prospects they have reach their potential.

[realmofotalk]

But then Loria or whoever will buy the team from him will break up the team even if they win the World Series.

[General]

Marlins optioned RHP Yusmeiro Petit to Triple-A Albuquerque.
Petit had been officially in the mix for a rotation spot, though he was pretty much ruled out as a legitimate candidate with the more experienced candidates each having success this month. Considering that he struggled in his taste of Triple-A at the end of last season, he definitely needs a few months at Albuquerque.

[General]

Ricky Nolasco will begin pitching out of the bullpen Thursday and may be out of the running for a rotation spot.
"We're going to see how he does out of the bullpen," manager Joe Girardi said. "It's just kind of a different role, some flexibility for us. He has pitched very well in camp and we believe we can pitch him anywhere."

[Fishercat]

Well, if Nolasco has a shot of doing what he wants, the Marlins is the place. The Royals are too focused on getting 60 wins with veterans and everyone else is better. Well, he may have gotten a better shot in Tampa if he had a choice, but Florida's the place to be this year for someone trying to establish himself.

[General]

I disagree. Florida has enough mediocre MRers. KC is probably the place to go.

[General]

Marlins reassigned LHP Taylor Tankersley, LHP Josh Stewart and RHP Ryan Rupe to minor league camp.
While there were several newspaper reports suggesting that the Marlins were thinking of jumping Tankersley, a 2004 first-round pick, from A ball to the majors so he could be used as a lefty specialist, this is for the best. Tankersley's future may be in the pen, but he hardly needs to be a specialist at this point of his career. With Stewart also getting demoted, the Marlins don't have a lefty reliever remaining in camp. There's some chance they could carry Scott Olsen as a middle reliever if he doesn't make the rotation.

[General]

Marlins manager Joe Girardi indicated Saturday that he'd likely have Josh Willingham split time between left field and catcher this season.
As long as he's in the lineup. "He's still going to catch," Girardi said. "But we believe he will be more productive if he doesn't catch six days a week." Barring the acquisition of an outfielder, Willingham will probably get the majority of his starts in left. The Marlins would carry both Miguel Olivo and Matt Treanor. Chris Aguila, the alternative to Willingham in left field, could also see action in center to keep himself in the lineup at least three or four times per week.

[Fishercat]

I am kind of curious to how splitting time between the most demanding fielding position (catcher) and one of the least demanding (LF) will affect a young player like Willingham. Sure, there are a few guys who do that (like Robert Fick did). However, it will be interesting to see if Willingham suffers the declination some catchers see as the season wears on if he is in LF once in a while.

[General]

Jason Vargas worked five innings and allowed two runs and seven hits Monday against the Orioles.
Vargas was credited with a win, his second of the spring. He should be officially named to the Florida rotation later this week

[General]

Sergio Mitre appears to be in line to start the second game of the season for the Marlins.
"It's a pretty good bet," manager Joe Girardi said. If Mitre's in, then Scott Olsen, Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco are competing for one rotation spot. It's expected to be Olsen's job.