PHILADELPHIA -- Lots of happenings here at Citizens Bank Park, so let's get right to it, starting with the big story of the day, the arrival of outfielder Mike Stanton, aka "Big Worm." Stanton flew in Monday, checked into the team hotel and was quickly escorted by catcher Brett Hayes to a nearby men's clothing store to find the young slugger a pair of dress shoes and a new suit -- required apparel for Marlins on road trips.
"Had to get him ready," said Hayes, who attended the same high school as Stanton. ""Had to make him look the part."
The shoes were no problem, apparently, But the suit was a different matter. Seems the salesman gasped when he saw Stanton, shook his head, and said the earliest he could find a suit large enough to fit the rookie would be a month.
"We've only got two days," Hayes begged the man."They had only three suits for him to pick from, that were large enough to fit him."
After the fitting, Hayes and Stanton went to a local joint -- Joe's Philly Cheesesteaks -- to sample the cuisine.
"He wanted to put away two (cheesesteaks)," Hayes said of Stanton. "But I said, 'We gotta go.'"
Stanton's eating habits are legend. Just ask Wes Helms. During spring training, he said he took Stanton, Matt Dominguez and Bryan Petersen to dinner one night and couldn't believe his eyes.
"(Stanton) ate a full rack of ribs for an appetizer," Helms said. "And then he crushed a steak and all the sides. After that he ordered dessert. And Dominguez told me when they got home he ate a whole loaf of raisin bread."
After taking batting practice and spending time shagging fly balls in right, Stanton met briefly with the media.
"I'm trying to to be normal and trying to soak it all in," Stanton said of his first day in the big leagues. "The seats are empty now, but not in a few hours."
Manager Fredi Gonzalez inserted Stanton into the seventh spot in the lineup, made him his right fielder, and said he'll likely keep him there. Chris Coghlan remains in left. Cody Ross slides over to center and replaces Cameron Maybin, which will be the case most of the time.
Gonzalez said he spoke privately with Maybin to explain the situation, and the young outfielder said he's fine with the decision.
"I'm still here," said Maybin. "It could be worse."
So tonight's lineup looks like this: 1. Chris Coghlan, lf; 2. Gaby Sanchez, 1b; 3. Hanley Ramirez, ss; 4. Jorge Cantu, 3b; 5. Dan Uggla, 2b; 6. Cody Ross, cf; 7. Mike Stanton, rf; 8. Ronny Paulino, c; 9. Chris Volstad, p.
JOHN BAKER SETBACK: Gonzalez said catcher John Baker suffered a setback on Monday with his injured right arm and was scheduled to see the team doctor, Dr. Lee Kaplan, in South Florida. Baker was scratched from a scheduled rehab game with Single A Jupiter after complaining of soreness in the right elbow area when he tried to throw. Baker went on the DL on May 15.
VANDENHURK, BONIFACIO ALSO JOIN TEAM: Overshadowed by the arrival of Stanton were the callups of pitcher Rick VandenHurk and backup infielder Emilio Bonifacio from Triple A. Gonzalez said he does not have an assigned role for VandenHurk, who will be used out of the bullpen.
JOSH JOHNSON COULD BE USED AS LEFTY BAT OFF BENCH: Yep, you read that right. With Mike Lamb being designated for assignment, Gonzalez was asked who he would now look to as his left-handed hitter off the bench. His reply: "J.J." That brought some snickers from the press gallery, but Gonzalez didn't flinch. He was serious. He said he could envision using Johnson as a pinch-hitter early in games, so there you have it.
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