Fish Bytes

Cishek recorded first 1-2-3 save of the season Friday

LOS ANGELES -- Closer Steve Cishek has endured his share of struggles this season, but he finally recorded his first 1-2-3 save of the season in Friday night's 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Dodgers.

Cishek got the benefit of a borderline called strike three on the outside corner on pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke to open the ninth. He then got Carl Crawford to bounce out to first and struckout Nick Punto looking to end the game.

Cishek has had just six chances to pitch with the lead in the ninth this season -- and that's something Redmond said has affected him.

"I think early on he had a few struggles with lefties. He wasn't in a lot of save situations, we were pitching him in tie games, maybe putting him a little out of his role," Redmond said. "At the same time he gave up some hits and home runs. But he's working hard on locating his fastball and getting the ball in on lefties. He's done a nice job making adjustments. That was a nice ninth inning against some good hitters."

Cishek said he's changed his approach in his throwing program a bit. In his 14 appearances this season, he's had a perfectly clean inning just four times. He's given up a walk or a hit every other time and has surrendered a run five times.

"I've been leaving the ball up and that's when I've gotten in trouble," Cishek said. "My main focus has been trying to throw everything hard at the knees and whatever happens, happens."

Zambrano doesn't want to be in the bullpen long

ATLANTA -- Carlos Zambrano made it clear Tuesday he doesn't think he's built to be in the Marlins bullpen long term.

"It's not my role, but I have to do it," said Zambrano, who struggled with control over his last nine starts. "There is no other choice. If they put me in the bullpen, they put me in the bullpen. I have to keep doing my job, and keep trying to come back and being in the rotation again.

"The Cubs tried to do that to me, put me in the bullpen. It didn't work. My arm is not built to be in the bullpen, but I have to do it. I'm at a stage in my career where I've been my whole life as a starter. But I have to do it. I will do it until somebody remembers me."

Asked about the trouble he has had issuing walks, Zambrano became a little testy.

"People walk. It's not only me. Obviously, I'm the one people most see here," he said. "What can I do? Be in bullpen. What can I do?"

> Manager Ozzie Guillen said Tuesday the loss of Edward Mujica won't affect the roles of anybody in his bullpen because "nobody has a role here."

"When that phone rings get up," Guillen said of what his relievers will do from now on. "I can't say this guy is my closer, this guy is my setup. We're going to see the matchups and what gives the guys the best opportunity for success."

> Guillen said he's not going to ask a lot of Wednesday's starter Wade LeBlanc. "Give me three good innings. We'll take care of the rest," he said. "We got Zambrano. We got [Chad] Gaudin. Whatever your going to give me, give me good ones. We'll figure it out for the next time."

> Guillen said he's happy Josh Johnson made it through the trade deadline without being shipped off. "I want JJ here. JJ is a gamer," Guillen said. "This kid is going to give you everything he has on the field. And as a manager and a coach you appreciate that. He don't want to come out of games. He wants to help. He's not that superstar ace that I know [right now]. But this kid goes about his business the right way and that's why I love him."

> Guillen said Jose Reyes "got a bad jump, a bad read" off Carlos Lee's single Monday when he was thrown out at the plate by Martin Prado. 

> Guillen said he still isn't sure who will start along with Johnson when the Marlins face the Nationals in a double-header Friday.

> Guillen said if any of his players were worried about being traded before the deadline "they should look themselves in the mirror and ask 'Who wants you?'"

> Guillen was asked about what the Marlins got in return from the Cardinals for Mujica, third baseman Zach Cox: "I don't know. I'm not that type of manager, baseball who guy goes to computer and finds out. I know he's a pretty high round pick. I think the Marlins before St. Louis drafted him they liked him a lot and they had an opportunity to pick him up. He's an athletic third baseman and has an opportunity to help us here in the future. Hopefully he can help us."

As for incoming outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, Guillen said: "So far in the big leagues he's only played defense. He'll have an opportunity to get some at-bats. We'll figure it out. I'm going to play him in centerfield, get him some at-bats to see how he's doing. Then we make decision how we're going to play. It's all about opportunities. We'll move [Justin] Ruggiano to one of the corners."

Zambrano moved to bullpen; LeBlanc to start Wednesday

ATLANTA -- The Marlins on Monday moved struggling starter Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen and inserted Wade LeBlanc -- the team's best pitcher this spring -- into the rotation.

How long that lasts, manager Ozzie Guillen said, depends on how both perform. But LeBlanc will start Wednesday against the Braves.

"I think we need to take a look at LeBlanc for a couple starts," Guillen said before Monday's game against the Braves. "It wasn't an easy move.

"I think Carlos -- I don't want to say deserved more than that, but the first two months of the season was outstanding. The last game was weird. This guy was dealing, a very nice game. Then from one inning to another he lost it. I want to try to give him a lot of chances [in the bullpen]. We're going to see how it works."

Zambrano started the season 4-3 with a 2.81 ERA over his first 11 starts with 56 strikeouts and 29 walks. But over his last nine starts he's been miserable, going 1-6 with a 7.62 ERA. He's walked 38 and struckout just 27 over the span.

Guillen said his plan is to use Zambrano for as many as two innings -- or as a long reliever if need be. The Marlins play a double-header Friday in Washington and while Josh Johnson will start one of those games the other starter has yet to be announced. Guillen said depending on how Zambrano is used, he could start the other game Friday. But the more likely scenario is the Marlins will call up someone from the minors -- possibly recently acquired Jacob Turner, who is scheduled to pitch for Triple A New Orleans on Thursday.

"He was disappointed. He was embarrassed," Guillen said of Zambrano went told he was going to the pen. "[He] feels bad because we brought him here and he’s not doing the way he thinks he can do it. When we make moves is not because was want to, it's because we have to. Carlos took it the right way and I expected that. We’re not going to take you out the rotation because you are pitching well. He was fine. And I told him I will give him the opportunity to pitch."

Zambrano waved off reporters while sitting on a sofa in the Marlins clubhouse.

As for LeBlanc, he's excited about getting an opportunity. The 27-year old left-hander went 2-1 with a 1.31 ERA in six Grapefruit League games (two starts) for the Marlins this spring. But he didn't make the big league roster. He's gone 1-1 with a 1.15 ERA in 11 relief appearances (15 2/3 innings) since being called up on July 1. He was 17-21 with a 4.47 ERA as a starter over four seasons in San Diego.

"As long as I'm up here helping this team do something I'm happy -- whether I'm better suited for the rotation or the bullpen it remains to be seen," LeBlanc said. "I'm aware they got Turner from Detroit and they probably want to see what he can do. So, I'm just going to go out there and try to get as many outs as I can and give this team a chance."

Marlins reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo has sprained elbow

According to the Marlins, an MRI has revealed that relief pitcher Juan Carlos Oviedo has suffered a UCL sprain in his right elbow.

As of Monday evening the team has not given a timetable for his return.

Oviedo walked off the mound Saturday night in a rehab appearance at Triple A New Orleans after recording only one out because of right elbow discomfort.

Oviedo was back in Miami Sunday and was examined by team doctors. Manager Ozzie Guillen spoke to the media at 4:15 Monday afternoon and said Oviedo's MRI results were being evaluated.

Oviedo is eligible to return from his eight-week suspension for age and identity fraud on July 23.

Oviedo headed back to Miami to have elbow examined

Juan Carlos Oviedo's comeback has hit a snag.

The right-handed reliever formerly known as Leo Nunez walked off the mound after recording just one out Saturday night in a rehab appearance at Triple-A New Orleans because of right elbow discomfort and is headed back to Miami to be examined according to the Marlins.

Oviedo, who saved 92 games for the Marlins from 2009 to 2011, is eligible to return from his eight-week suspension on July 23. The Marlins were hoping he would be ready to return to the team that day.

Oviedo hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since revealing last September that he had been playing under a false name and birthdate.

Prior to pitching in New Orleans Saturday, Oviedo had made two appearances in Single A Jupiter, giving up a hit and an earned run (3.38 ERA) over 2 2/3 innings. He faced three hitters in New Orleans before being pulled Saturday. He gave up a walk, a hit and recorded one out.

> How do you celebrate your first career five-out save? Steve Cishek did by waking up sick to his stomach Sunday with vomiting.

The 26-year old right-hander, who picked up his second save of the season Saturday night against the Nationals, was in the Marlins clubhouse with a cup of Gatorade in one hand and a piece of bread in the other.

"This is the first thing I've put in my mouth this morning," Cishek said. "I couldn't probably play catch right now if I tried."

The Marlins probably were not going to turn to Cishek to close today anyway after he became only the third Marlins pitcher since 2008 to record a save of five outs or more.

The last pitcher to do it before Cishek? Burke Badenhop on April 14, 2010 vs. the Reds. Prior to 2008, it happened 59 other times. Robb Nen has the most five-plus out saves in franchise history with 12. Bryan Harvey is next with nine.

SUNDAY'S LINEUPS

> Nationals (50-35): 1. Steve Lombardozzi 2B, 2. Bryce Harper RF, 3. Ryan Zimmerman 3B, 4. Adam LaRoche 1B, 5. Mike Morse LF, 6. Danny Espinosa SS, 7. Roger Bernadina CF, 8. Jhonatan Solano C, 9. Stephen Strasburg RHP.

> Marlins (42-45): 1. Jose Reys SS, 2. Omar Infante 2B, 3. Carlos Lee 1B, 4. Logan Morrison 1B, 5. Hanley Ramirez 3B, 6. Greg Dobbs RF, 7. Emilio Bonifacio CF, 8. John Buck C, 9. Ricky Nolasco RHP.

Ozzie: It's closer by committee until Bell regains form

When the Marlins open the second half of the season Friday night at Marlins Park against the Washington Nationals, the ninth inning will no longer belong to Heath Bell.

In fact, the closers job won't belong to anybody.

On his weekly appearance on the Dan LeBatard Show on 790TheTicket Tuesday, Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said he's going to with a closer by committee approach until Bell -- he hopes -- figures it out.

"... I'm going to go by committee, see who throws the ball better," Guillen said. "I will talk to [Bell] when we come back from the All-Star Break and explain to him why we're going to do this. Hopefully, he'll come back and start throwing the ball better and then he'll go back to his role."

"I have to," Guillen continued. "The players, club, the fans, myself, himself -- it's kind of hard dealing with this every other day."

Bell (2-5, 6.75 ERA) has blown six saves this season -- one more than he did all of last year in San Diego. But he's also had a handful of other situations where he's given up the lead and just hasn't been charged with a blown save because someone else inherited the opportunity or because the Marlins' lead was more than three runs (such was the case in a loss to the Cardinals on June 25).

This is the second time Bell has lost the Marlins closer's job. Guillen took it from him back in May temporarily, giving right-handers Steve Cishek and Edward Mujica and left-hander Randy Choate a couple opportunities to close out games and pick up saves.

Cishek and Juan Carlos Oviedo, who will complete an eight-week suspension for age and identity fraud July 22, are the most likely candidates to replace Bell in the closer's role moving forward. Mujica is expected off the disabled list (broken right pinky toe) Sunday, and also could be in the mix.

> Although the Marlins didn't have a visible representative at Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Kansas City, they'll receive more exposure -- and be exposed more than any other team in the league -- when The Franchise television series begins airing Wednesday night on Showtime.

Wednesday's first episode of the behind-the-scenes look at the Marlins will be one hour long. The next seven episodes will last a half hour.

MLB Productions executive producer David Gavant said the Marlins provided them more access than the Giants did last year, specifically to members of the front-office and ownership. “It’s ground-breaking,” he said.

Marlins President David Samson agreed.

"We promised to give them access to everything and we've delivered that. They're everywhere we are," he said. "They were there when we traded for Carlos Lee. They're there when we send players down. They there when we talk about players, off the field and on the field. It debuts Wednesday and it should be very interesting because there will be a lot of stuff that won't make the show because of the hours of footage.

"When they asked to do the Marlins, I don't think they had any idea what they were in for. I feel badly for next year's team."

> For more Marlins nuggets, check out Barry Jackson's Buzz Column.

Guillen: Getting Oviedo back will be like 'biggest trade of the year'

ST. LOUIS -- A day after closer Heath Bell came dangerously close to blowing another lead in the ninth inning, Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen expressed his delight in the fact it won't be long before former closer Juan Carlos Oviedo is back with the team.

"Biggest trade of the year," Guillen said when asked Saturday what it would mean to the team when Oviedo finishes serving his eight-week suspension for age and identity fraud on July 22nd.

"I will [treat] that as a big trade we make for the [playoff] run. He's going to help the bullpen. A day like today, he'll take Bell's spot. [Other times] we'll see how Bell's throwing and we'll flip flop each for whatever reason. It's going to be a big lift. Hopefully, he'll throw the ball like he has in the past."

Oviedo, who saved 92 games in three previous seasons for the Marlins when he was known as Leo Nunez, was scheduled to receive his first rehab assignment Saturday with Single A Jupiter. But that's been pushed back to Monday night because of a stiff neck The Herald learned.

Guillen has long said he'd keep Bell, who has converted 19 of 24 save opportunities, as his closer when Nunez returned. But it's clear after Saturday's comments Oviedo could put some heat on Bell, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Marlins in the offseason, but has struggled.

Guillen said he might go see Oviedo pitch for Jupiter while the Marlins are off. The Hammerheads are scheduled to play in Fort Myers Monday night. Oviedo is expected to rejoin the Marlins on July 23rd.

> With Bell having pitched on four consecutive days, Guillen said he's giving him the day off Saturday. Guillen said right-hander Steve Cishek or left-handers Mike Dunn and Randy Choate could pitch the ninth today. Guillen said he would prefer to give Cishek the day off.

> A night after making the game-saving defensive play in the Marlins 3-2 win over the Cardinals, Omar Infante is also getting the day off to rest. That means 24-year old rookie Donovan Solano, who grew up in the Cardinals farm system, will get his first career start against his former team. Solano went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter against the Cardinals when they faced the Marlins last month in Miami.

> Although his team has won 7 of 9 and has closed to within a game of .500, Guillen said he's disappointed with the Marlins' first half. 

"We're finishing a little strong," Guillen said. "But am I disappointed? Yes. I'm disappointed. I should be. We're a better club than we're playing. I didn't manage this club for .500. I think we're a better club than .500. We not playing up to the caliber we should be playing. A little inconsistent, a little weird first half, you can call it that.

"[But] I'm pretty sure having Carlos Lee here [for the second half] is going to help. He's a guy who is going to lead and a guy they're going to look up to, a guy who has been in this situation before. I don't know why I feel that way. I hope it happens. I'm not going to say Carlos is going to carry this ballclub, or put people under his wing. But having him in the middle of the lineup, having his presence in the clubhouse is going to help those guys."

> Guillen said when Emilio Bonifacio returns to the Marlins after the All-Star Break, it's likely he'll return to the bottom third of the order. "I think I'm going to keep him low so we can get more speed in the bottom," Guillen said. "I think we're a little bit too slow in the bottom of the lineup."

Bonifacio has played in three games for Jupiter since returning from thumb surgery and is 1-for-7 with two walks, two strikeouts and two stolen bases.

> As far as outfielder Justin Ruggiano is concerned, Guillen continues to insist he will continue to get playing time when Bonifacio returns.

"If he continues to swing the bat like that and I bench him I shouldn't have a job. Fire me," Guillen said. "I'll try to find him a spot to play. Boni can play a little bit of second base, can play center field. We can move him around. We got to start thinking about [Giancarlo] Stanton and [Logan Morrison]. It's time to give them a couple days rest, too."

Ruggiano, who entered Saturday's game on a nine-game hitting streak and with a .411 average, five homers and 15 RBI since June 1, said he'll do whatever the team asks of him.

“I’m not going to be a selfish teammate,” Ruggiano said. “I want whatever is best for the team. It’s [Guillen]’s call and I’ll obviously support whatever Ozzie wants to do.”

> After seeing his average dip to .224 on June 26, Morrison has been swinging as hot a bat as anyone for the Marlins. He came into Saturday's game having hit in nine consecutive games (.444) with four homers and 11 RBI.

Morrison, who has played with an ailing right knee all season, was hit by a pitch in his calf and by another pitch on his ankle Friday. He also said he injured his right hand trying to make a diving catch on a sinking liner by Carlos Beltran in the fifth inning.

"I think I hyperextended a finger or something like that. But I'll be fine," Morrison said.

Guillen praised Morrison’s grit Friday. “Lomo is crazy or he loves baseball that much,” Guillen said. “He’s been playing in pain the whole season.”

As for his hitting, Guillen credited hitting coach Eduardo Perez for Morrison's improvement.

"I think Lomo has been more aggressive, pulled the ball a little bit more," Guillen said. "Now he doesn't have the mentality of a leadoff hitter. That's what I thought he was -- Lomo was a No. 6, 7 hitter who acted like leadoff hitter. He was trying to hit the ball to left field, looking for a great count to hit, looking for a perfect pitch. Now, I think Eduardo has tried to get him to swing the bat as a No. 6, No. 7 guy. He's 200 pounds. Drive the ball. He's doing it right now."

SATURDAY'S LINEUPS

> Marlins (41-42): 1. Jose Reyes SS, 2. Hanley Ramirez 3B, 3. Carlos Lee 1B, 4. Giancarlo Stanton RF, 5. Logan Morrison RF, 6. Justin Ruggiano CF, 7. Donovan Solano 2B, 8. Brett Hayes C, 9. Carlos Zambrano RHP.

> Cardinals (44-40): 1. Rafael Furcal SS, 2. John Jay CF, 3. Matt Holliday LF, 4. Carlos Beltran RF, 5. Allen Craig 1B, 6. David Freese 3B, 7. Skip Schumaker 2B, 8. Tony Cruz C, 9. Kyle Lohse RHP. 

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.

Oviedo eligible to return to Marlins July 23

Juan Carlos Oviedo, the Marlins relief pitcher formerly known as Leo Nunez, arrived in South Florida Monday and was promptly handed an eight-week suspension by Major League Baseball for age and identity fraud.

The suspension will run through July 22nd, meaning the first day Oviedo will be eligible to return to the Marlins is July 23rd, when they open up a three-game series at Marlins Park against the Braves.

According to the league, Oviedo, who spent the last eight months in the Dominican Republic trying to resolve the issue of his identity, will be eligible to participate in extended Spring Training during the period of his suspension. The Marlins allowed to send Oviedo for one rehabilitation assignment to a Minor League affiliate that cannot exceed 16 days. That is expected to happen at the end of his suspension so he can prepare to return to the team.

Oviedo will meet with reporters Tuesday morning in Jupiter along with President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest and general manager Mike Hill.

Heath Bell says he's patiently waiting to get his job back

HOUSTON -- Since blowing his fourth save of the season last Friday in San Diego, former closer Heath Bell has been relatively quiet in the Marlins clubhouse. 

"I've been watching a great team play baseball and go out and kick some butt," Bell said before Wednesday's game in Houston.

With starting pitchers going deep into games there hasn't been much opportunity for the bullpen to see action. Guillen said he's wanted to use Bell in the sixth or seventh inning -- or even in the ninth if the Marlins have a cushion -- before getting Bell back into the closer's role. 

So far, though, Bell has just been a spectator.

"I'm going to pitch when Ozzie tells me to pitch. Plain and simple. He's the manager. He's going to put me in when he thinks its time for me to come in. And I'm okay with that," Bell sid. "But I want my job back.

"... If he pitches me the first inning, second inning, ninth inning, it doesn't matter. When Ozzie puts me out there to pitch I'm going to go out there and shove it up whoever I'm facing. That's pretty much it."

Pitching coach Randy St. Claire said Bell, like struggling starter Josh Johnson, is simply pressing.

"I don't think it's so much of a confidence thing," St. Claire said Wednesday. "I don't think Albert Pujols lost his confidence. I don't think Jose Reyes has lost his confidence. I just think [Johnson and Bell] want to do well so bad -- because they're so used to doing well -- that the pressure of wanting to do well is getting to them and they're not letting it happen.

"When you do things and try to create things that's when issues start happening. I think they'll be fine."