Fish Bytes

Logan Morrison talks about his return to the Marlins' lineup; Coghlan on his calf; roster updates

NEW YORK -- Logan Morrison was all smiles Sunday morning sitting in the Marlins dugout. 

The 25-year old first baseman, who is trying to battle back from two surgeries on his right knee over the past year and a half, was happy to be back with his teammates and in a major league lineup for the first time since last July 28. Is his knee finally 100 percent?

"I don't think it's 100 percent, but it's pretty close," said Morrison, who spent all of spring training walking in an anti-gravity suit on a treadmill before finally beginning a 16-game rehab assignment last month. "I'm happy with it. Hopefully I can stay away from walls and the adrenaline doesn't get the best of me.

"When I first started sliding on it, it bothered. But the last couple days sliding on it hasn't bothered it."

After learning mid-game Saturday in Birmingham he was flying up to New York to join the Marlins Sunday, the always easy going Morrison said he sent a text message to manager Mike Redmond during the 20-inning game saying 'I guess I'm flying to New York to pitch.'

Morrison hit just .179 with two homers, 10 RBI, six walks and four strikeouts over 56 at-bats during his time in Single A Jupiter and Double A Jacksonville. But he's confident his hitting stroke will eventually come back. "It's what I do," he said. "It will come back."

What does he hope to bring a team that has a 17-44 record, worst in the majors?

"I don't have any secrets for them. I don't have any cure-alls," he said. "It's just going to be about going out and competing. Turn it around a little bit. Just because we're young doesn't mean we're not good. We have all the talent in the world. Play like you know you're going to succeed. Call it cocky, call it arrogant, fine. When you go into second base and a guy hits into a ground ball double play let him feel you. If he turns that one, he's not going to turn the second one. That's how you've got to play. That's how I play."

DISAPPOINTED COGHLAN HEADS TO DISABLED LIST

The last thing Chris Coghlan wanted just as he was beginning to turn his career around was another trip to the disabled list. But that's where the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year is headed after losing his three-week battle with numbness in his right calf.

"My muscle is not firing. It hurts. It feels like a real tight feeling that I can't push," said Coghlan, who is supposed to undergo an MRI on Monday. "The DL sucks. I've been waiting a year and a half for this opportunity I got, so that sucks even more. It's disappointing. I'm frustrated, but at the end of the day I did what I could do. I grinded through it, and this is what's just in the cards for me. I've got to turn the page, be positive and do whatever I can do to get back here as soon as possible."

A pinch-hitter and reserve for the first month and a half of the season, Coghlan found his way into the starting lineup on May 18th and hit .343 with a homer and 9 RBI over his last 18 games. With a crowded outfield full of young prospects, the Marlins have talked about moving him to third base. It's a possibility that's where he'll be when he returns.

STANTON COULD BE BACK MONDAY

> All-Star right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, rehabbing in Single A Jupiter and trying to come back from a Grade 2 hamstring strain, text messaged Redmond and trainer Sean Cunningham Saturday to tell him he's ready to go.

Although he's gone hitless in the four rehab games he's played in -- including a double header Saturday -- Redmond said just having Stanton back in the lineup will be huge. It's likely the Marlins will send first baseman Casey Kotchman, 0-for-20 this season at the plate, to the disabled list on Monday with a strained oblique to make room for Stanton on the roster.

"It's a great presence to have in our lineup," Redmond said. "Even if he takes, he's going to walk. If he's ready to go, he's ready to go."

> Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi was scheduled to make his fourth and final rehab start in Double A Jacksonville Sunday.

> Redmond said right-hander Henderson Alvarez, who threw a 55 pitch simulated game Saturday, will likely begin his rehab stint next week.

> Second baseman Donovan Solano, whose gone 6-for-10 with an RBI in three rehab game starts down in Jupiter, is available to return this week. But the Marlins haven't decided yet what they're going to do.

"Solano's available," Redmond said. "But we still have to evaluate where he's at. We got a lot of guys that are close and we've talked about having some decisions to make. We have to sit down and figure out where these guys are at. We knew we would be getting guys back. Of course it all works out you get them all back the same week. It's a good situation. We're getting the lineup we thought we'd have when we left in spring training back. That's good."

> Saturday hero Kevin Slowey, who pitched seven scoreless innings of relief, will now pitch on Wednesday. He was scheduled to make his next start on Tuesday, but Redmond has moved right-hander Jacob Turner up a day and flip-flopped their spots to allow Slowey to gain an extra day of rest. 

VIDEO: Stanton talks All-Star selection

He's headed to his first All-Star Game. Here is what Giancarlo Stanton had to say after Sunday's sweep over the Phillies was complete.

Stanton receives lone All-Star invite for Marlins

Giancarlo Stanton is going to Kansas City in two weeks for more than just the Home Run Derby.

The 22-year old slugger, who made his debut just two years ago, earned his first All-Star Game invitation Sunday and will be the Marlins' lone representative when the National League and American League meet for the 83rd time at Kauffman Stadium on July 10th.

"If one thing is very bright for us, it's him," manager Ozzie Guillen said before Sunday's series finale against Philadelphia at Marlins Park. "For me, it's a shame. I looked at this ballclub in December and I said 'Wow we got a few All-Star guys.' Unfortunately they didn't play good enough to get in the All-Star Game."

But Stanton being selected, Guillen said, is great for baseball because he's a young power hittereveryone can fall in love with. Stanton went into Sunday's game with 18 homers, third-most in the National League. 

"That's something baseball needs. Because when everybody was hitting home runs [before] they were under something," Guilen said. "Now having kids like that coming up, enjoy this home run thing, that's good for everyone. Kids can see new kids doing that. That's a motivation for people to watch the game."

Stanton's 49 RBI, 44 runs scored and .910 OPS leads the Marlins. His .283 average ranks second to second baseman Omar Infante among everyday players.

Pitcher Josh Johnson, a three-time All-Star selection, said his advice to Stanton is to enjoy the trip.

"It's going to be a really fast three days, two and half days really. It's going to be non-stop," Johnson said.

Earlier this week, Stanton confirmed he also will participate for the National League in the Home Run Derby, which can be seen on ESPN at 8 p.m. on July 9. The All-Star Game, scheduled for an 8 p.m. start, can be seen FOX.

Since he was promoted from Double-A Jacksonville on June 8, 2010, Stanton's 74 home runs are the fifth-most in the Major Leagues.

In May, he batted .343 with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs, earning NL Player of the Month honors. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1920, the only other player under the age of 23 who had that many home runs, RBIs and a batting average that high in a calendar month was Joe DiMaggio.

Teammates believe Stanton will be a perennial star.

"I think he's real capable of being an All-Star, not just the Home Run Derby, but to be an outfielder out there," closer Heath Bell said. "He'd be one of those guys who should be starting in a couple of years. Maybe next year, people will start seeing who he really is, and people will start voting him in. And Miami fans will start voting him in for next year."

Dunn, Choate, Cishek will split 8th inning role

With right-hander Edward Mujica shelved by a broken right pinky toe, the Marlins called up left-handed starter Wade LeBlanc from Triple A New Orleans Sunday to take his place in the bullpen.

So why not a real reliever instead of the guy who is supposed to be the first option if somebody in the rotation goes down? According to manager Ozzie Guillen, there just weren't a whole lot of intriguing options.

"We got a couple guys hurt," Guillen said. "[Alex] Sanabia's got a rib cage. [There was Chris] Hatcher, but we didn't want to keep doing it to this kid. He's got to stretch out, continue to pitch. We have to develop him and hopefully we get something out of him. LeBlanc was just the guy who was available at [this] particular time. He's going to be a long guy. We hope we don't have to use him."

Actually, bringing up LeBlanc might not be such a bad idea. Chad Gaudin, the team's designated long reliever, had to work overtime in June. He made 10 appearances -- one more than in April and May combined -- and didn't exactly sparkle. He went 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA.

As far as replacing Mujica in his usual setup role, Guillen said his plan is to move everybody up and just use left-handers Mike Dunn and Randy Choate and right-hander Steve Cishek.

Dunn, who had an ERA of 9.58 over 10 1/3 innings in his first two stints with the Marlins this season, hasn't given up a run or a walk in the 5 2/3 innings he's pitched since being recalled on June 21st. Guillen said he's been a pleasant surprise and said the difference for Dunn has simply been control.

"When you throw the ball 94, 95 and throw it where you want it, it's not the same as throwing 95, 96 and it's all over the place," Guillen said. "His location has been great and his breaking ball has been good enough to get away with. He's even thrown it for a few strikeouts.

Dunn said his second trip back down to the minors was when he finally figured out what was wrong.

"The first game I threw 3 1/3 innings and it was kind of a game where I had to mentally conserve myself because I couldn't go out there and blow it all out in one inning like normal," Dunn said. "After that game I realized I was under control. Pitches were a lot better and my velocity was even better than before with one inning. It was almost where less was more. Whereas I was trying to grunt through an inning and trying to overpower guys and pitch to velocity. Now, it's pitching to spots and actually pitching, not throwing. Go to the spot, be loose, be free and whatever comes out I know my stuff will be there."

Dunn spent three weeks in the minors in June and got to see a lot of LeBlanc. He said the 27-year old left-hander, who went 5-5 with a 3.74 ERA for New Orleans in 16 starts, looked just like he did in spring training when the Marlins last saw him.

"He was throwing a lot of strikes, going right at guys," Dunn said. "He's not going to ovepower you or blow you or away, but he knows how to pitch and throw strikes. He's fun to watch. He's like another [Mark] Buehrle really. They go out there and pitch, throw strikes and go right at guys."

> With the All-Star selections set to be announced at 1 p.m. today, most are expecting right fielder Giancarlo Stanton to be the Marlins' lone representative to get picked to go to Kansas City in two weeks.

"I hope he makes it," Guillen said. "If one thing is very bright for us [in the first half], it's him. For me, it's a shame. I looked at this ballclub in December, I said 'Wow we got a few All-Star guys.' Unfortunately they didn't play good enough to get into the All-Star Game."

Guillen said the only other player worthy of All-Star consideration in his mind for the Marlins is second baseman Omar Infante.

SUNDAY'S LINEUPS

> Marlins (37-40): 1. Jose Reyes SS, 2. Hanley Ramirez 3B, 3. Giancarlo Stanton RF, 4. Logan Morrison LF, 5. Justin Ruggiano CF, 6. Greg Dobbs 1B, 7. Omar Infante 2B, 8. John Buck C, 9. Ricky Nolasco RHP.

> Phillies (36-44): 1. Jimmy Rollins SS, 2. Juan Pierre LF, 3. Hunter Pencer RF, 4. Carlos Ruiz C, 5. Shane Victorino CF, 6. Placido Polanco 3B, 7. Ty Wiggington 1B, 8. Mike Fontenot 2B, 9. Joe Blanton RHP.