Marlins

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Happy Fourth of July!  Or if you live across the international dateline, Happy Fifth of July!

Hopefully the Marlins gave out all the presents they were planning to present to our host the Rockies.  And personally, I've could've gone with a less generous offering.

So let's try it again.

Olsen has started twice in Coors Field and posted 1-1 record in the process.  He won in 2006 only allowing 3 runs in 6 innings and most of that came off a home run.  In his 2007 campaign, you know the one, where he was the only young starter from 2006 whose arm didn't fall off from overuse, he only went 2 innings..  Ollie has  since rebounded and is pitching well.  Now it just a matter of whether the Marlins will ever score some runs in one of his starts.

Reynolds is a rookie and I know very little about him.  Lefties are hitting him at a .306 clip.  He has given up 10 home runs in the 10 games he has pitched.  He does, for some unknown reason, pitch better in Coors than on the road.

Ichthyomancy is loving the long weekend.  Best of Luck to You! 

 

 

 

Scott Olsen gets it.

If pitcher Scott Olsen doesn't finish what he starts Friday, it won't be any skin off his back as long as the Marlins end up winning. But he will put the Marlins in the record book if he does not go the distance against the Colorado Rockies.

The Marlins would break the major-league record for consecutive games -- 262 -- without a complete game from one of their pitchers.

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''They look nice,'' he said. ``It seems like everybody has a good time after the game, usually. But I don't think they're relevant. I really don't. If you go seven, you've probably done your job most likely.''

 

Olsen said the late innings are what bullpens are for.

''You've got guys in the bullpen who are specialized,'' Olsen said. ``It's not like the '70s and '80s, where you didn't have a lefty specialist. You didn't have a long reliever.

``Now we've got guys that are specifically brought in for certain situations, and as a starting pitcher your job is to keep the team in the game and give the manager the ability to use those guys in the right situations.''

 

Unless Ollie can put together nine innings with about 100 pitches, the Marlins will break the record.  As I have said, many times before, who cares?

The purpose of trotting the guys out on the field is to win, that's it.  It is not to overextend a young starting pitcher so that the club doesn't set some misguided record.

Naturally sports writers will harp on the record, they have column inches to fill, but the record just doesn't matter.  

All of the stats thingys are screwed up, so you just get me.  Aren't you lucky?

The Marlins are off on an eleven game road trip that will take them right up to the All-Star break.

First up on the trip are the Colorado Rockies.  The Rockies have fallen on hard times this season but are starting to show signs of life, winning their last two games.

The Marlins starting pitcher is Andrew Miller.

Miller's story hasn't changed.  Sometimes he is good and at other times.....let's just say, not so good.  This will be his first time to pitch in altitude as a major leaguer, so who knows what to expect.  

The Rockies starting pitcher is Mark Redman.

You remember him, or at least you should since he was a member of the 2003 team.  Redman is having an off-year to say the least.  He started the season in the rotation, was moved to bullpen, spent some time in Triple-A and is now back with the big club.  Normally, looking at his stats, I would be all elated but there is one concern -- he throws slow junk, and that is something the Marlins have problems with on occasion.  But if he leaves his fast ball out over the plate, it won't matter what speed he is throwing.

Game time is 8:05 p.m.

Assuming there are no delays or a bunch of pitching changes we shouldn't see Midnight Baseball tonight.  But since the Marlins are out West and will be heading further West after the four game series is done, this series should provide a gradual adjustment into Midnight Baseball.  And trust me, Midnight Baseball is coming.

Ichthyomancy is running late.  Best of Luck to You!

Now, it is entirely possible I'm wrong about this, but I bet I'm not.

Andrew Miller, whose last complete game was in Class A early last season, is the Marlins' last hope to avoid entering the baseball record books.

No Marlins pitcher has finished what he started since Anibal Sanchez's eight-inning complete game on Sept. 16, 2006, a span of 260 games. The Nationals own the record of 261 games, a streak that ended May 31 with Jason Bergmann's eight-inning complete game.

"I don't feel any pressure," said Miller, who has not completed a game in 30 big-league starts. "I haven't gone eight innings yet so I'm not going to kill myself if I don't go nine.

Who cares?  The last person to it for the Marlins is still on the DL.

I've said it before and I will say again: complete games are overrated.

I couldn't care less if the Fish set a record for not  throwing a complete game.  Heck, set one that can't be broken.  What I want the Marlins to do is win.  And if that means no one throws a complete game, fantastic.

The other thing is, with exception of Hendrickson (who couldn't go nine if his life depended on it), the rest of the starters at the most have pitched 2 1/2 years in the majors.  I'm tired of sending pitchers to Birmingham.

There is a reason the Fish pay Gregg to pitch the ninth and have six other pitchers in bullpen -- it's to bring the game home.  And that is something they do pretty well.....most of the time.

Complete games: pfffft!  I would still like a rotation in tack at the end of the season.

 

 

Dan Uggla isn't progressing as fast as the team originally hoped.

Dan Uggla will take some swings today for the first time since spraining his left ankle Saturday. Uggla may not be ready to play until the San Diego series next week.

Should Danny show vast improvement it is likely that the first time he will face action on the field will be the last game of the Colorado series.  But I wouldn't count on it.

It will be ashamed that Danny won't get his cuts in the rarified air of Coors Field.  And probably by the time he returns, he will have lost his title of the player with the most home runs.  But really, that's no matter.  He can catchup and pass Utley when he is healthy and good to go.

The key is to just get him healthy again.

Hanley Ramirez took home the honors for NL Player of the Month for June.

Hanley Ramirez, who will find out Sunday whether he was voted onto the National League All-Star team as starting shortstop, was informed Wednesday that he had been named the NL Player of the Month for June -- the first Marlin to win the award since Jeff Conine got it in 1995.

''I don't feel happy for myself,'' Ramirez said. ``I feel happy for everybody.''

Ramirez hit .298 in June, with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases.

In case you are wondering, other Marlins players have won the Player of the Month but normally not in June.

Congrats Hanley!

 

As Matt Wilson reported yesterday and Jrsyeagle expounded on in the comments, Taylor Tankersley is back up and Eulogio De La Cruz was sent down.

An industry source said Taylor Tankersley will be recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, after the 25-year-old former University of Alabama standout compiled a 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 innings at the Minor League level.

Tankersley, who opened the season with the Marlins, will take the roster spot of right-hander Eulogio De La Cruz, who was optioned to Albuquerque after Florida beat the Nationals, 4-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Dolphin Stadium.

If Tank is ready, and it looks like he is, he will be welcomed addition to the Marlins pen.  The Marlins definitely need an another left-handed pitcher in the pen and Tankersley fits the bill.

De La Cruz was a starter in Triple-A and it was probably too much to ask that he all of a sudden convert to a reliever.  Staring pitchers and long relievers are different animals, though one can adjust to becoming the other over time.  De La Cruz is only 24 years-old and he needs to be pitching with more regularity than he was seeing with the big club.

 

Wes Helms is more than a rally starting strikeout artist, a good defensive replacement at the corners and a veteran presence in the clubhouse.  He has a future as a hitting coach.

Wes Helms was one of the players Amezaga talked to about Manning.

"I was telling him he is going to use the cutter and pound you [inside]," said Helms, who then went to the batting cage with Amezaga and tossed him inside pitches.

I don't know where in the standings the Marlins will finish this season, but I do know this: they will do it as a team.  And that ain't bad.

 

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The Marlins are going to try this win the series thing again.  

Nolasco, when he is on, and he has been for quite awhile, can shut anybody down.  In his last start against the Nationals he went 6 innings, giving up 4 hits and only allowing one run.  Ricky is a pretty good day game pitcher.

Perez is making his second start since coming off the DL for shoulder tendinitis.  His first start was a good rehab start going 4 innings, giving up 0 runs while throwing 75 pitches.  I wouldn't look for the lefty to go long in this game either.

Ichthyomancy news: I think this is the other Camp Day, though I haven't been able to confirm it.  If it is, the attendance will be somewhere between 15,000 to 20,000+.  If not, you are looking at around 7,000 announced with approximately 300 people in the stands.

The one thing Ichthyomancy hates worse than Mondays are weekday day games.  Best of Luck to You!

 

 

 

Dan Uggla's ankle sprain is getting better but he still be ways off from rejoining the lineup.

An MRI Tuesday on second baseman Dan Uggla's left ankle showed nothing more than a sprain, but the Marlins second baseman still was not able to take part in any baseball activities.

"I'm really optimistic," Uggla said. "The pain has decreased dramatically. Hopefully, I can start running the next couple of days and start swinging. Once I do that, it's not long at all."

Although Uggla likely will not be ready to start the series opener Thursday in Colorado, his original target date, he is hoping to return sometime during that series.

 

Robert Andino started at second base for the third consecutive game.

I'm not sure that Danny will be back for the Colorado series, at all, assuming that is the time table.  While all fans of the Fish want him back in the lineup as soon as possible, his being out does allow someone else on the bench a chance to win the Rock-Paper-Scissors game for a change.  Given that Andino is playing in the field and all.

And anyways, it may be beneficial to the team, down the line, to let Andino get some starts in-a-row.  And if he keeps showing what he is showing, he could be trade bait or possibly the new starting shortstop.  For the latter to happen the Marlins would have to do something like trading Jacobs, re-signing Cantu and moving him to first, where he is a pretty good defender.  Then moving Hanley to third.

Now I wouldn't count on that happening but it is in the realm of possibilities.

 

Ryan Tucker will probably stay in the rotation, or at least that is plan.  For now.

There are no plans to supplant rookie Ryan Tucker in the starting rotation, even though he has been struggling. Tucker gave up five runs in five innings Monday against the Nationals and has a 6.84 ERA.

He is scheduled to start Saturday in Colorado.

In all likelihood, Tucker will be replaced in the rotation when Josh Johnson is activated from the disabled list, perhaps by the middle of next week. Johnson is expected to make at least one more rehabilitation start in the minors.

Long reliever Doug Waechter is a candidate the Marlins could turn to if they want to make an immediate change. Waechter made 54 starts when he was with Tampa Bay from 2003-06. But the Marlins are pleased with the job Waechter has done in his role out of the bullpen.

Yeah, so is Gregg, but I don't see that happening either.

I don't have time to go into this fully, but I'm not sure Ryan Tucker is first man out of the rotation when Johnson comes back.  Given the way things are going I would guess that Hendrickson will lose his spot in the rotation and be sent to the bullpen.  Thus giving the Marlins another lefty in the pen and De La Cruz will be sent down in order to make room for Johnson.  Tucker would keep his spot in the rotation.  Ryan has talent, albeit raw, but talent nonetheless.

Should Anibal ever be ready to pitch in the majors again, Tucker is Carolina bound.

That is my guess, yours may differ.

 

It turns out MLB isn't so proud of Matt Treanor's work at the bat.

Catcher Matt Treanor received a warning Tuesday from Major League Baseball for slow play.

"They said I'm in and out of the (batter's) box," Treanor said. "I've never been told by an umpire to hurry up."

Treanor noted by batting eighth, he sometimes has to buy the pitcher time if the first two hitters make quick outs.

Oh, like he is the only catcher hitting eighth who tries to protect his pitching staff.  Then again, maybe he is.  While I'm sure Matt wants to do his best at plate, his first concern is taking care of the pitchers, especially the starters.

I have no doubt that the umpires have yet to utter a word.  I was privileged to have a conversation with an older gentleman who was a minor league umpire for a number of years.  I asked him during our talk whether he called the strike zone differently for certain players -- he thought for minute and said "Yes."  He said the only person he would give the benefit of  the doubt to was the catcher.  Which prompted me to ask: Why?

To which he responded: the catcher is the only " friend"  I have when calling balls and strikes.  If he gets mad at you, all he has to do is duck and I get nailed with the pitch.  

 

 

 

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The Marlins are going for the series win tonight.

Hendrickson hasn't been very good of late...and I'm being kind.  Hopefully he will right the ship and go at least 6 innings while also keeping the Fish in the game.  I could rehash his latest stats, but why?  You lived through them.  You saw them.

Balester is making his major league debut.  I don't know anything about him other than he is righty and the Nationals think highly of him.

Ichthyomancy is sorta, kinda ready for Tuesday.  Best of Luck to You!

 

 

 

Fredi Gonzalez tries to convince someone, maybe himself, that he doesn't have a short bench.

Gonzalez, though, was not lamenting his limited bench, which consisted of Luis Gonzalez, Wes Helms and Paul Hoover, along with Amezaga.

"I don't feel like we're short-handed," he said.

Face it Fredi, you are short-handed.  I appreciate the optimistic words but you're not fooling anyone.  Danny isn't ready, Alfredo can only play the infield at best.  Gonzo and Helms are being saved until the late innings for pinch-hitting duties.  And you are old school enough that there ain't no stinking way you are going to use your backup catcher unless the starter gets hurts.

So in actuality you are looking at a 3 1/2 man bench and basically none of those you will use in a double switch.  Sure, you're playing the hand that was dealt, but c'mon, the bench is short-handed.  We all understand.

 

Mets Geeks interviewed Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News and asked this question.

What is your take on the Mets’ season so far? Who, out of the Mets, Marlins, and Braves, looks like the likeliest challenger to the Phillies in the second half?

(Leaving the Mets stuff out and cutting to the chase) he answered.

Fully understanding that this is a little like picking lottery numbers, I’d rank the challengers in this order: Marlins, Braves, Mets.

It's nice to be noticed.

You read the entire interview at the Mets Geeks, the link is provided up above.

 

Hanley Ramirez looks to be driver's seat to become the second Marlins player to start an All-Star game.

It looks more and more as if Hanley Ramirez will be the National League's starting shortstop in the All-Star Game. Ramirez stretched his lead to about 170,000 votes over Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada. Ramirez led by 70,000 in last week's All-Star update.

The fact that the voting is this close is awful.  However, the Astros fans are trying to make sure Berkman is the starter at first base, and that's understandable.  Obviously some/most of the Houston faithful are just voting a straight Astros ticket.

Danny has moved up in the balloting.

Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla moved up to third in the voting, but Philadelphia's Chase Utley, who leads with 2.6 million votes, is all but a lock to be the starter at second base. Online voting ends Wednesday night, and teams will be announced Sunday.

Woo Hoo!  We've got him up to third.  Unfortunately he isn't going to be selected as a starter unless I tell you how to game the system.  Which I won't do.  But there is a way to do it.

Danny may or may not play in the All-Star game.  I fully expect him to be chosen by the players and the managers.  But given his problems with his ankle, the Marlins may request (read demand) that he doesn't play.

Online voting ends at midnight on Wednesday.

In other All-Star voting news.

Chris Volstad of Palm Beach Gardens is among six members of the Mudcats named to the Southern League Northern Division All-Star team. Volstad (4-3, 3.28 ERA) is joined by infielders Gaby Sanchez and Chris Coghlan, outfielders Cameron Maybin and John Raynor and pitcher Chris Mobley.

Carolina will host the game July 14.

Congrats to the Mudcats who made the team.

 

Once again the Marlins won in their last at bat and the celebration at the plate took place.

The thought did not cross Josh Willingham's mind until he saw the swarm of giddy teammates waiting to pounce at home plate.

But when the Florida Marlins' latest hero was engulfed after putting an exclamation point on another dramatic final-inning victory, he remembered.

"Somebody was yelling in the pile, 'Don't jump on him,' '' Willingham said. "I was hoping they wouldn't."

Yeah, right.

Willingham, and his back, survived the celebration caused by his leadoff home run in the bottom of the 10th inning Monday that gave the Marlins a dramatic 6-5 victory against the Washington Nationals.

Willingham, who also homered in the third inning, disappeared then emerged from the celebration, no doubt a result of the left fielder's chronically bothersome back.

 

"We just kind of took it easy," Hanley Ramirez said.

It's nice to know the Marlins have some kind of protocol for these type of celebrations, from not dropping Hanley to not piling on the Hammer.  It is a good thing, whatever the rules are,  that they are in place.  Though how well they are being followed is an entirely different discussion.

Oh, do you know the trigger in both of the comeback wins?

If you guessed Hanley tying the game with a solo home run, you would be wrong.

In both games, right before Ramirez came to the plate, Helms pinched hit for the pitcher and struck out.  Then Hanley hit the home runs.  It looks like the Fish have found the formula for comeback wins.  While it is a little unfortunate for Wes to always have to take one for team, I'm sure he is more than happy to do so.

 

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The Nationals, winner of three of their last four, are in town.

Tucker will be facing the Nationals for the first time.  He last outing didn't go so good, to say the least, giving up 7 runs in just 4 innings.  But these things happen when 21 year-old pitchers are hastened to the bigs.  There is no doubt that Tucker has talent but much like the prize in Cracker Jack, you never know what you will get.  (Do they still put prizes in Cracker Jack?)

Redding always goes 5 innings but very rarely more than 6.  His last start was good one going 6 innings and only giving up 2 runs.  He hasn't had a decision in his last 7 starts but the Nationals are 14-3 when he takes the mound.

I'm so completely out of time, but quickly:  don't look for to Uggla to start any of the games in this series.  If, and that is if, Amezaga plays in the field in the series it will be as an infielder and Andino will be used in the outfield.

A little Josh Johnson news:

Josh Johnson (right elbow) allowed five runs on 11 hits in 52/3 innings Sunday for Class AA Carolina. He walked one and struck out three.

His next start could be Friday for the Marlins in Colorado.

Anyone else think they be rushing him back?  And maybe a bit before he is ready?

Just asking.

I've gotta go.

Ichthyomany still hates Monday.  Best of Luck to You!

 

 

In case you didn't see the Marlins celebrating yesterday's victory, it was a sight to behold.

And so after this 4-3 comeback win at Dolphin Stadium you had Alfredo Amezaga jumping into the arms of Mexican countryman Jorge Cantu by first base. This came after Cantu's groundball snuck through Arizona's tightly bunched infield.

Reliever Logan Kensing came running in from the bullpen to lift an unsuspecting Hermida completely off the ground.

Then there was Hanley Ramirez, who leapt onto the broad shoulders of catcher Matt Treanor. At first Treanor didn't realize which teammate was up there, but once it hit him that it was the $70 Million Man, he tightened his grip ever so slightly.

"That's a big load I was carrying," Treanor said, smiling. "I'm glad I didn't drop him on his back."

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"I'm going to drop you," a concerned Treanor yelled as the celebration swirled and jerked and threatened to engulf him and the $70 Million Man.

"No, no," Ramirez called down to him. "I'm going to just stay up here."

Ramirez was still grinning as he recounted this story a little later in the winning clubhouse

Ramirez would later remark.

"It's more like school. It's more like family," Ramirez said.

Actually, that is an abbreviated quote.  I can't find the longer version.  It must be Monday.

Oh, speaking of Treanor, in case you didn't see his outstanding defensive on Saturday, here is a description.

Catcher Matt Treanor made the highlight reels with a nifty inning-ending double play in the fifth Saturday. Brandon Webb's bunt attempt went a few feet straight up in front of the plate. Treanor pounced, bare-handing the ball and firing to second to double off Chris Young.

But really that doesn't do it justice.  Here is the play on video:  Treanor's play.

Honestly, given the camera angle, it really doesn't do it justice either.

The audio in the video didn't work for me but that may be a Mac unfriendly kinda thing.