Fish Bytes

Jacob Turner being considered for Arizona doubleheader

    DENVER -- With injuries, trades and so forth, there are so many unfamiliar faces inside the Marlins clubhouse and dugout these days that manager Ozzie Guillen says he doesn't dare try to call them by name. He refers to each player simply as "big leaguer."

     Here's one Guillen might want to memorize: Jacob Turner [stats].

     Guillen said that Turner, the right-hander the Marlins obtained from the Tigers in the Anibal Sanchez/Omar Infante deal, is under consideration to make his Marlins debut in next Wednesday's day-night doubleheader at Arizona.

      Since the July 23 trade that also brought catcher Rob Brantly to the Marlins, Turner has gone 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA in his four starts at Triple A New Orleans, striking out 13 while walking 10 in 22 1/3 innings.

      Guillen emphasized that a Turner call-up and start in the Arizona twinbill is not set in stone. But Turner is expected to make his way up when rosters expand after Sept. 1, if not before.

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       The latest newcomer to the Marlins: infielder Gil Velazquez, who has amassed nearly 5,000 plate appearances in the minors but has only 16 at bats in (very) brief stays with the Red Sox and Angels. He fills the roster spot vacated by Nick Green, who was placed on the DL with a thumb injury.

       "I would love to have an opportunity to be up here and play consistently," said Velazquez, 32, who began his professional baseball odyssey in 1998 in the Mets farm system. "But it is what it is and every opportunity I get I'll try to take advantage of."

        Velezquez's stay with the Marlins may be just as brief as those with Boston and Los Angeles. Emilio Bonifacio and Donnie Murphy are eligible to come off the DL on Sunday.

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        Even though he is playing in considerable pain with a strained oblique, Greg Dobbs said he has given no thought to going on the DL and allowing the injury the time it needs to heal.

        "Until I physically can't play or physically feel I can't help this team, I'll cross that bridge," Dobbs said. "But I haven't got to that point yet, nor do I envision that happening. I envision this as something I will get through and play through, and it will slowly get better. The DL is not a thought at all. If I don't have to (go on the DL), I don't want to."

        Dobbs said that throwing, more so than hitting, causes him the greatest pain.

        "Throwing is the worst," Dobbs said. "Hitting I don't feel it too much. You just try to grit your teeth and get through it."

        Guillen said he admires Dobbs for sticking it out.

        "Having Dobbs on the field is a plus, and I appreciate it," Guillen said. "This guy is grinding right now because he knows we need him."

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        The rapidly expanding "Perfect Game" club added yet another member Wednesday when Seattle's Felix Hernandez accomplished the feat. His was the 23rd perfect game in major league history but the third this season sixth since Mark Buehrle tossed his with the White Sox in 2009.

        "I don't know what's going on with why there's more now than previous years," Buehrle said. "I have no idea. I can't figure it out. The game hasn't changed."

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        Tonight's lineup (No. 92 this season for the Marlins):

        Marlins: 1. Bryan Petersen, lf; 2. Gorkys Hernandez, cf; 3. Jose Reyes, ss; 4. Carlos Lee, 1b; 5. Giancarlo Stanton, rf; 6. Greg Dobbs, 3b; 7. Donovan Solano, 2b; 8. Rob Brantly, c; 9. Ricky Nolasco, p.

        Rockies: 1. Eric Young Jr., cf; 2. Tyler Colvin, rf; 3. Carlos Gonzalez, lf; 4. Michael Cuddyer, 1b; 5. Wilin Rosario, c;  6. Jordan Pacheco, 3b; 7. DJ LeMahieu, 2b; 8. Jonathan Herrera, ss; 9. Alex White, p.

        Umpires: HP -- Larry Vanover; 1B -- Dan Bellino; 2B -- Jerry Layne, 3B -- Mike Estabrook.

Should the Marlins consider Melky Cabrera?

    DENVER -- Though his reputation is stained and his robust stats over the past few seasons are now subject to question, Melky Cabrera [stats] could be just the ticket for the Marlins when they go looking for lineup help in the offseason.

     The Marlins probably won't be throwing wads of cash around like they did last December, and Cabrera -- a pending free agent -- could come at a bargain for, say, a one- or two-year deal. The Giants outfielder all but shot himself in the wallet (and the foot) when he received a 50-game suspension for PEDs, and instead of a four- or five-year deal that might have been worth more than $50 million when he hits the free agent market after the season, he'll likely be looking at much less than that.

     Cabrera has played all three outfield positions, but his suddenly majestic offensive numbers over the past two seasons in Kansas City and San Francisco must now be judged with a a high amount of skepticism. Were they inflated artificially? Or, is it also possible that his improvement resulted from his maturation as a hitter? Or, could it be some combination of both? He's only 28, swings from both sides, and put up solid numbers in a pitcher's park. Did I also mention his .314 average with runners in scoring position this season?

     The Marlins had interest in Cabrera during his Yankees years. Given the weak market for looming free agent hitters, should the Marlins give Cabrera another look when he hits the market?

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     The Marlins placed infielder Nick Green on the 15-day disablied list (retroactive to Aug. 13) for a sprained left thumb, transferred outfielder Logan Morrison (knee) to the 60-day DL, and selected the contract of infielder Gil Velazquez [stats] from Triple A New Orleans.