Fish Bytes

You decide: Which catch is Giancarlo Stanton's best?

Giancarlo Stanton said he isn't sure if his diving catch in right field Monday to rob Eric Kratz of an RBI is the best grab he's ever made, "but it's up there."

"It's either that one or the one in May [versus Atlanta] to rob [Jason] Heyward," Stanton said Tuesday.

But the best part of the catch -- no question -- is the fact Stanton didn't feel any discomfort or limitations from his recently surgically repaired right knee.

"To save a potential run and to get a ball I didn't think I could get to right off the bat is a good feeling," Stanton said.

Since Stanton can't make up his mind about which catch is his best, can you?

MORE TIDBITS

> Emilio Bonifacio, who will play three consecutive rehab assignment games in the outfield in Jupiter starting Wednesday, said he expects to play in the outfield for the rest of this season when he returns from the disabled list Sunday in Colorado.

Manager Ozzie Guillen said over the weekend moving Bonifacio, who reinjured his thumb diving for a ground ball Aug. 3, is probably the safest move to keep him healthy and in the lineup. 

"Right now, that's what's in the plans, but I don't know beyond this season if that's where I will be," Bonifacio said Tuesday. "I told Ozzie wherever he wants to play me or thinks it's the best for me and the time, I have no problem with it."

> The swelling in the injured left thumb of infielder Nick Green still hasn't gone down enough for the Marlins to decide whether or not he'll go on the disabled list. Green said he took some swings Tuesday "at 30 percent" and still felt discomfort. Guillen reiterated the team is waiting to see how he responds to treatment.

The Marlins are shorthanded at third base with all their injuries. Greg Dobbs is playing there with an oblique strain. "Things are so bad, I almost activated myself a couple days ago," Guillen joked. "I know I can catch it and throw it, I don't know if I can hit it."

> Although he's 2-2, right-hander Nathan Eovaldi isn't particularly happy with how he's done in his four starts with the Marlins.

"I'd just like to get past the fifth inning," said Eovaldi, who has given up nine earned runs in 17 1/3 innings and has few strikeouts (10) than walks (12).

Even though he got himself in trouble a few times in Monday's 4-0 loss to the Phillies, Buck said he was encouraged by Eovaldi's adjustments.

"He's just been a little erratic with stuff," Buck said. "He's rushing at times and kind of got out of whack [Monday]. But I liked how he was able to slow himself down in those innings when he struggled. It probably could have gotten ugly if he kept doing the same thing. But he made some good pitches and got himself out of the mess he got himself in. The games he's thrown well for us are the games are the games he's getting ahead. When he falls behind, it doesn't matter how good your stuff is, it makes it easier on the hitters. He made some adjustments."

What has hurt Eovaldi the most is when he can't locate his off speed pitches.

"He's got great stuff," Buck said. "But when you can't locate your off speed stuff they can just sit on your heater. When they it spinning they can just shut down and wait."

TUESDAY'S LINEUPS

> Phillies (53-62): 1. Jimmy Rollins SS, 2. Juan Pierre LF, 3. Chase Utley 2B, 4. Ryan Howard 1B, 5. Domonic Brown RF, 6. John Mayberry CF, 7. Kevin Frandsen SS, 8. Brian Schneider C, 9. Kyle Kendrick RHP.

> Marlins (52-64): 1. Bryan Petersen LF, 2. Justin Ruggiano CF, 3. Jose Reyes SS, 4. Carlos Lee 1B, 5. Giancarlo Stanton RF, 6. Greg Dobbs 3B, 7. Donovan Solano 2B, 8. John Brantly C, 9. Josh Johnson RHP.

Brantly thrilled to be making his big league debut; Ozzie said he'll find ways to play rookie, Buck equally

Rob Brantly was five years old when his grandfather bought him his first set of catcher's gear. Brantly said he slept in it that night. 

John Paul Brantly, a former catcher in the Panamanian baseball league who passed away the same year his grandson was drafted out of high school, always told his Rob the easiest way to make it to the big leagues would be behind the plate.

Tuesday night, the 23-year old San Diego native will make his major league debut for the Marlins doing exactly that -- catching ace Josh Johnson and batting eighth in the lineup for manager Ozzie Guillen. 

Brantly said there is no doubt his late grandfather's voice will still be in his ear come game time.

"I always think I carry him with me," Brantly said. "I always hear his voice saying 'Hey Robby hit that ball with authority.' I'd get up there and swing and tell him, 'I hit it with authority.'"

Hitting with authority of course is something Marlins catchers haven't done this season. The combined averages of John Buck and Brett Hayes, sent down Sunday to Triple A to allow Brantly the space on the roster to move up, was a major league-worst .190. Brantly has a .280 career batting average in the minors with 16 HRs and 124 RBI in 262 games. He was a .286 hitter in Triple A this season for both the Marlins and Tigers.

Tuesday, Guillen said his plan for Brantly is to give him an opportunity to play a lot, but also not completely put Buck on the backburner.

"We're going to take a look at the kid. It's our job to make the lineup and make sure the kid has plenty of game time," Guillen said. "On the other hand, we're not going to leave John on the bench. We're going to pick a spot to play him and try to have the kid catch everyone in the rotation. But in the meanwhile, Buck also has to play games. He's not going to be a backup. We're going to figure out how to do it. It's a little bit of a headache. But I have to respect Buck. He's a veteran player and I respect that. We're going to find out, make sure they have equal playing time and the kid has enough playing time to see what he can have."

Brantly said his parents, cousins and agent took a red-eye from Southern California to Miami on Monday to be here for his major league debut. He said his father, a former college catcher, was "hysterical" when he heard the news.

Brantly said he's received text messages from his former coaches with the Tigers and former teammate Nick Castellanos, a sandwich round pick from Archbishop McCarthy High in Broward County. Brantly said some Castellanos family were also coming to his debut.

As for who Brantly grew up admiring? Well, turns out his grandfather had an influence on that, too.

"Mickey Mantle," Brantly said. "My grandfather always had videos of hitters. He said 'You got to swing like this guy.'"

Guillen joked he'd welcome a Mantle-type bat in his lineup.

"I want the catcher to take charge. I want the catcher to be the leader on the field. I want him to have confidence. I want him to be himself," Guillen said of Brantly. "Hopefully, it works out and he'll have a long, brand new career and stay here for a long time."