Fish Bytes

Baker, Meyer happy for former A's teammate Braden

CHICAGO -- Dan Meyer was on his way to the airport Sunday night aboard a quiet Marlins team bus when his cell phone began buzzing with text messages from his friends. The first one read: "Did you hear about Dallas Braden?"

"The first thing I'm thinking is what did he say about about A-Rod now?" Meyer said.

It didn't take the Marlins reliever long before he figured out his former minor league teammate in Oakland had just pitched the 19th perfect game in major league history. Soon after, Meyer ran over to share the news with Marlins catcher John Baker, who also played with Braden in the Athletics minor league system, and the two watched video highlights of the feat on Meyer's cell phone before boarding their flight to Chicago.

"It was surreal to see," said Meyer, who played three seasons with Braden in A's farm system and was his roommate for most of those seasons on the road. "We were pretty close, hung out a lot. I know him way outside of baseball. For me it is more than a baseball thing.

"I lived with him, played golf with him and used to stay at his grandmother's house on off days, so I even know the grandmother."

Baker was equally thrilled for Braden and sent him a text message with one word "Wow."

"I couldn't be happier for the guy," said Baker, who caught Braden in several spring training games and played against him once he was traded to the Marlins.

"He's just a different character. He almost seems like he doesn't care. But he he does care -- just like you saw with the Alex Rodriguez thing. He's not afraid of star status. It takes a pitcher like that, whose not afraid, to pitch a game like that."

RESPECT FOR PERFECTION... The Marlins have never had a pitcher throw a perfect game, but have had four toss no-hitters including Anibal Sanchez.

But there is at least one Marlin who has thrown a perfect game at the professional level -- reliever Clay Hensley. He threw one for Class A Hagerstown Suns in 2003 on only 81 pitches.

"It takes a lot of luck," said Hensley, who also threw two no-hitters in college. "The stars have to be aligned for you."

Marlins had success in '09 vs. Cy Young winners

The Marlins and Giants will kickoff a three-game series tonight at Sun Life Stadium. The story line is pretty simple: Can the Marlins hit the studs San Francisco will be throwing out on the mound? 

Back-to-back Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum (4-0, 1.27 ERA) gets the ball tonight. Then, 2002 Cy Young winner Barry Zito (4-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 5 career starts versus the Marlins) pitches for San Fran on Wednesday. Matt Cain (1-1, 2.84 ERA) goes Thursday. 

The Marlins, one of the best offensive teams in the game, are going in with a confident attitude.  "I think if you get caught up with the names and the hype, it only makes it a little more difficult," Marlins catcher John Baker said. "The guy is already good enough without having to give him an enormous amount of credit... we're just going to go out and play our game."

Florida does lead baseball with a .320 average when runners are on base and hit .286 (fifth-best) when runners are in scoring position. 

"We have to find some holes," manager Fredi Gonzalez said Tuesday. "[Anibal] Sanchez and the guys that are pitching -- [Nate] Robertson and Ricky [Nolasco] -- have to match zeroes. It's going to be a fun series. If we don't make mistakes defensively, add on runs late, we can win. It's pretty simple."

The Marlins are 0-2 this season when facing former Cy Young winners. They lost to Johan Santana in the season opener, producing just one earned run on four hits over six innings while walking twice and striking out five times. Roy Halladay then shut them down for eight innings for the Phillies on April 16th, scattering eight hits and giving up just two earned runs with four strikeouts and no walks before the Marlins mounted a late rally against Philly's bullpen and lost 8-6.

Last year, though, the Marlins actually went 6-2 the eight times they faced former Cy Young winners.  The key wasn't necessarily pounding the star pitcher, but getting to his bullpen.

Marlins '09 vs. Cy Young winners
> April 12: vs. Johan Santana, Mets lost 2-1. Santana charged with loss. 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 13 Ks, 26 ABs
> April 29: vs. Johan Santana, Mets lost 4-3. Santana was given a no decision. 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 Ks, 26 ABs
> June 5: vs. Barry Zito, Giants won 2-1. Zito earned the win. 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks, 19 ABs
> June 7: vs. Tim Lincecum, Giants won 3-2. Lincecum earned the win. 7 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 24 ABs
> June 8: vs. Randy Johnson, Giants lost 4-0. Johnson charged with loss. 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 22 ABs
> June 9: vs. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals lost 4-3. Carpenter received ND. 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ks, 23 ABs
> June 12: vs. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays lost 7-3. Halladay received ND. 3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 Ks 12 ABs
> June 21: vs. CC Sabathaia, Yankees lost 6-5. Sabathia received ND. 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 7 ABs

HENSLEY RETURNS; WOOD SENT DOWN: Manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was "a tough decision" sending reliever Tim Wood down to Triple A New Orleans on Tuesday to make room for Clay Hensley, who was reinstated from the bereavement list. 

Hensley left the team Friday after learning his father had died. With services still not set and authorities still trying to determine his cause of death, Hensley said he remained in town.

“We kind of lost touch over the last couple of years,” Hensley of his father, who was 60 and died in Jacksonville, Texas. "We spoke over the holidays and stuff. We didn't spend a lot of time together the last couple years. I was on the West Coast and he was in Texas. It's difficult no matter what. Being a new dad now, it hits a little closer."

Hensley threw three scoreless innings in relief, striking out seven, on Friday before learning about his father’s death. He has struck out 13 over five innings in his last two outings.

“I think I’ll feel better playing,” he said. “Sitting around the house, it’s probably just a little better for me to be here.”

Left-hander Hunter Jones of Palm Beach Gardens was called up when Hensley left the team Friday. He threw walked the only batter he faced Sunday on four pitches before Gonzalez removed him from the game. Gonzalez said he thought Jones, who was 0-1 with a 3.22 ERA in four starts in Triple A, was a little too amped up.

“We feel like we need to get that left-handed situation in the bullpen [settled]," Gonzalez said. "I like to carry two guys. We want to give Hunter Jones the opportunity to be that second guy until Danny [Meyer] comes back. That's the thing about opportunities. You get one, you don't want it to get it to waste.”

Meyer, who has been on the disabled list with a left calf strain since April 26, has pitched two scoreless innings in Single A Jupiter during his rehab assignment. He has four strikeouts and one walk in two games. He was 0-1 with a 16.20 ERA with four walks and two strikeouts in six games with the Marlins before he was placed on the disabled list.

TASED AND CONFUSED:  In case you missed it, a Philadelphia police officer Tasered a 17-year old high school senior during Monday night's Phillies game when the boy ran onto the field and proved hard to catch.

The Marlins, who were off Monday, saw the highlights of the chase and most had no problem with the way security reacted.

"What if you're at a really nice restaurant and somebody came in knocking plates over and causing a big scene? Police would show up and I think the same thing would happen," catcher John Baker said.

"It's not a difficult set of rules to follow. They're the kind of rules you learn when your a little kid. When somebody says don't run on the field, don't run on the field. When somebody says don't cuss in front of a little kid, don't cuss in front of a little kid. I know they have some problems in Philadelphia because they have rowdy fans. Well, don't throw up on a police officer on purpose. These are not difficult rules to follow. If you break the rules, there are going to be consequences and that's what we learned here. Somebody broke the rules and the police responded with how they felt was appropriate."

Barden's catch saved JJ's complete game

Brian Barden hasn't had many opportunities to swing a bat this season. Then again, it wasn't his offense that earned him a spot on the Marlins roster this season.

It's his defense manager Fredi Gonzalez and bench coach Carlos Tosca have long admired. And it's what was Gonzalez was praising yet again Tuesday, a day after the 29-year old defensive specialist helped Josh Johnson finish off the fourth complete game of his career. 

If not for Barden's diving catch down the third base line and powerful throw to first to get Oscar Salazar for the second out in the ninth, Gonzalez said he likely would have pulled Johnson who finished Monday's game with 117 pitches. Instead, Johnson remained in and struck out Chase Headley looking to set a new career-high for strikeouts (12) in a game. 

"As soon as JJ went out in the ninth, [Brian Sanches] got up [in the bullpen. We weren't going to extend [Johnson] anything," Gonzalez said. "I hope JJ takes him out to dinner, buy him a burger, something."

Barden earned the No. 1 WebGem on ESPN's Baseball Tonight show for his defensive play. "

"I remember the ball being halfway to me and then it was in my glove," said Barden, who extended his body fully to his right to glove the ball on a hard, quick hop. "I was just glad I could help JJ, be a part of his complete game."

Barden said Johnson gave him a smile after the out. He's not expecting anything more from the Marlins ace, who also produced three hits and three RBI in Monday's 10-1 win.

"I'm jealous," Barden said. "He has three more hits than I do."

ROBERTSON READY TO GO ON THREE DAYS REST: Nate Robertson doesn't have a ton of experience pitching on three days rest. But he has more than Ricky Nolasco does.

That's why the 32-year old left-hander -- who along with Nolasco pitched in Saturday's double-header in Colorado -- will get the ball Wednesday when the Marlins close out their three-game series against the Padres. Robertson has done it once in his career. Nolasco still hasn't.

The good news for the Marlins? Robertson won. He pitched five innings, scattering three hits and giving up two earned runs with three walks and seven strikeouts in a 5-3 win over the Blue Jays for the Detroit Tigers on April 14, 2004.

"I'm not looking for him to go out, give me nine innings," Gonzalez said. "He's gives us 6 or 7 [innings], that's good. He'll get an extra day the following time around like everybody else. "

Robertson only threw 84 pitches and four innings in Saturday's 8-1, Game 2 loss to the Rockies. He gave up five hits, five earned runs and walked four in the loss. 

MORRISON HAS MRI ON SHOULDER: Highly-touted prospect and Triple A first baseman Logan Morrison had an MRI Tuesday on his injured left shoulder. Jim Fleming, the Marlins Vice President for Player Development and Scouting, said the results would likely not be known until Wednesday.

Morrison, who struggled this spring and lost the battle for the starting first base job to Gaby Sanchez, suffered the injury during a collision at first base on April 19th and is one the seven-day disabled list. He is hitting .300 with 10 RBI in 12 games.

ROSS SCRATCHED: Outfielder Cody Ross was scratched from Tuesday's lineup with flu-like symptoms. He was replaced in right field by Brett Carroll, who moved into the eighth slot in the batting order. First baseman Gaby Sanchez moved up from eighth to seventh. Ross went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI Monday night. 

Gaby Sanchez among top rookies early

He hasn't created the kind of buzz Jason Heyward has in Atlanta. But when you stack Gaby Sanchez's numbers against the rest of the rookies in baseball after three weeks, the Marlins young first baseman is definitely worthy of recognition. 

Sanchez, among a dozen everyday playing rookies in the game early on this season, ranks fourth in batting average (.281) and runs (8), second to Heyward in RBI (9) and leads all first-year players in doubles (7). Not bad for a guy who hit third or fourth nearly his entire life and has had to bat in the eighth hole for the Marlins in 40 of his 57 at-bats this season.

"It has been an adjustment, but only because you have the pitcher hitting behind you," Sanchez said. "When you're up there with one out, two outs, you're the guy they want to swing the bat, to try and create a run or something."

Sanchez, who had 29 major league career at-bats between 2008 and 2009, said he's been extra patient at the plate trying to study pitchers he's never faced before. It's resulted in him taking nine walks (2nd most on the team) and accumulating a .388 on base percentage (third highest on the team).

"Every single outing, I'm seeing a new pitcher for the first time," Sanchez said. "I'm having to take pitches, sliders, change ups to see their movement, depth. I feel like once I get back to facing them again and again it will be a little bit different."

Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he's been impressed with how Sanchez has not only hit, but the way he's played defense. Sanchez has only been credited with one error this season and has done a good job handling throws that often pull him off the bag. 

"I feel like defense has been going very well for me," Sanchez said. "I've been learning the guys throws, what their ball typically does when they throw it and what side they like to throw to. Once it becomes second nature, it will be easier for me on backhand plays."

SANCHES RETURNS, MEYER HEADS TO DL: Brian Sanches provided a huge lift to the Marlins bullpen last season when he was called up from Triple A New Orleans. Now that he's finally over a strained right hamstring injury, the 31-year old right-hander is hoping he can do the same soon.

Sanches was activated from the disabled list Monday and inserted into a pen which ranks 22nd in ERA (4.91) and has struggled at times to defend leads late in games. The Marlins have given up 36 of their 92 runs from the seventh inning on and blown four save opportunities in 10 tries. 

Sanches, who spent 11 seasons in the minors before finally breaking through last season, began 2009 with 25 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings at home, the third longest streak in club history. He was 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA and threw two more innings 10 times in 47 appearances.

"I definitely missed being with the guys, competing with them, the camaraderie," said Sanches, who strained his hamstring in the next-to-last exhibition game of the spring. "I'm not looking at myself as a savior. I just want to be a piece of the puzzle. That's what I'm going to go in there and do, fill my spot. Hopefully, everything kind of molds around me."

The Marlins placed left-handed reliever Dan Meyer (0-1, 16.20 ERA, 6 games) on the disabled list with a strained left calf, retroactive to Sunday. Meyer said he strained his calf against the Reds on April 13th, before the Marlins went on a nine-game road trip. He said the injury had nothing to do with his struggles, though. He's given up six earned runs and 10 hits with three walks over two innings in his last three appearances.

"I'm not heloing the team out there trying to fight through it," Meyer said. "I wouldn't say anything is too serious. I just have to do what's good for the team, try and stay healthy and not try to work it too much."

COGHLAN FEELING BETTER AT THE PLATE: Chris Coghlan's struggles this season have been well documented. But the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year said he feels like he's close to breaking out of his 10-for-65 slump (.154) to start the season.

In his last two games, Coghlan has gone 3 for 8 and hit several balls hard enough to convince manager Fredi Gonzalez that the end is near. "When you only have 60 plate apperances, all you need is a 5 for 12 week and you're back up to .290 or .300," Gonzalez said. "I'm seeing signs."

"I feel great," Coghlan said. "I couldn't have said that when we played L.A. here," Coghlan said. "I was just missing pitches, striking out more, swinging at pitches out of the zone. I don't feel like that now at all. I feel normal."

Coghlan lost his job as the Marlins leadoff hitter in part because of his struggles, but also the consistent play and speed of Cameron Maybin. Coghlan said it doesn't matter in his eyes if he is batting first or second.

"When you're at the top of the lineup, you're a table setter," Coghlan said. "That's our job. Whether Cameron Is hitting first or I'm hitting first, our job is to be table setters, get on base for Hanley [Ramirez], Jorge [Cantu] or [Dan Uggla], score runs. It doesn't matter if it's leadoff or two hole. Whatever helps the team, that's what I want to do."

> Marlins top prospect Mike Stanton had yet another breakout performance for Double A Jacksonville on Monday. The 20-year old outfielder slugged three home runs and drove in seven runs in a win over the Carolina Mudcats.

Over his last two games, Stanton has hit five home runs and driven in 11 runs, raising his batting average from .263 to .338. He now has a minor-league leading nine homers and 20 RBI, tied for third-most. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez was well aware of those stats. He informed reporters of Stanton's two-day totals as they walked into the clubhouse.

"Five homers, 11 RBI in two games," Ramirez said. "Amazing."

Phillies believe Marlins "can be a threat"

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phillies might be everybody's pick to repeat as National League Champions. But after losing two of three to the Marlins and five straight series to the Fish at Citizens Bank Park, the Marlins can move onto Houston knowing they've gotten the Phillies attention.

I didn't get a chance to head into the Phillies' locker room after Sunday's game, but came across some interesting quotes courtesy of the Philadelphia Daily News tonight.

"I think the team that you saw out here today is young, and the last two years they started to get a lot of confidence and experience," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "If they're pitching holds up, they definitely can be a threat."

The Marlins showed the Phillies they could pitch this weekend. If not for Jayson Werth's two-out, solo home run in the ninth Saturday, Ricky Nolasco and his Sunday cohorts (Nate Robertson, Burke Badenhop and Leo Nunez) would have combined to shutout the best hitting team in baseball twice in a span of 24 hours. Instead, they left having allowed just one run in 18 innings to a club that came into Saturday leading baseball in batting average (.315), runs (77), RBI (76) and slugging percentage.

The Marlins used to be an organization rich with pitching and defense. But the last couple years have been rough to say the least. Even after these last two games, the Marlins team ERA (4.16) ranks 16th in baseball, the 52 walks allowed rank 9th and the 15 errors (Hanley Ramirez had one Sunday) rank No. 1 in the game. If the Marlins can get Nolasco and Josh Johnson to pitch to their abilities consistently and have Chris Volstad, Robertson and Anibal Sanchez provide adequate starts, the Fish definitely have the offense to be a legitimate contender.

As it stands after two weeks, they're hitting .275 (8th in baseball) as a team. They've produced 68 runs (6th best) and produced 67 RBI (2nd to the Phillies) despite striking out 102 times (4th most). With a little bit of improvement on defense and pitching, who knows how good this team could really be.

HIS NAME IS DAN UGGLA!: I'm pretty sure nobody in Las Vegas put money on Dan Uggla being the team's leader in batting average among starters after two weeks. But that's exactly where the second baseman is after today.

His third three-plus hit game of the season raised his average to .346. He's also tied with Jorge Cantu for the team lead in homers (3) and ranks second to Cantu on the team with 9 RBI. Uggla is a career .259 hitter, who hit a career-low .243 last season. His career average in April was is .236. But if he can keep it up and finish above .300 for the month, it will be the first time that's happened for him since May 2008 when he hit .347.

"I'm definitely not going to complain," Uggla said after he homered and drove in both runs in Sunday's win ""I'm not going to get too high or think about it and or get too happy about it because I know this game is a crazy game. I'm just gonna try to keep it simple and battle."

IS THE HOPPER THE NEW GO-TO GUY IN THE PEN?: Leo Nunez is the closer. But Burke Badenhop is the Marlins new Mr. Reliable. 

Sunday, when manager Fredi Gonzalez took Robertson out of the game with runners on first and second and only one out in the seventh, he handed the ball to a guy who used to be just the long relief pitcher last year. Badenhop didn't disappoint. He retired Placido Polanco and then got Chase Utley, a player with a .333 average against him, to fly out to the warning track in right to end the seventh inning.

With Renyel Pinto warming up in the pen, even Badenhop thought Gonzalez was going to replace him with the lefty after he got Polanco out. But to Gonzalez's credit, he stayed with Badenhop, who later retired Ryan Howard (who was 3 for 5 against him), Jayson Werth and Ben Francisco without a hiccup in the eighth. 

Badenhop was Gonzalez's man on Wednesday too if you remember. He picked up his first save with two scoreless innings against the Reds. Although he was the losing pitcher in Monday's game, Badenhop's numbers have been wicked good this season. His ERA is 0.93 (1 ER in 9 2/3 innings) and opponents are only 3 for 29 against him (.103).

"You expect good things and you go out there and you want to pitch," Badenhop said. "This is the first time I've really experienced that in terms of coming out of the pen. In the minor leagues [when I was] starting, I built confidence from start to start. This is the first time in the bullpen, I've felt like that."

COGHLAN PLAYING GREAT DEFENSE: Chris Coghlan's slump is not over and neither is his desire to keep making amazing catches. Sunday, he made two. First, he made a running catch against the railing in left field to end the second with the bases loaded. Then, he tumbled to the ground making another catch in foul ground later in the game.

"I know he ain't swinging the bat," Gonzalez said. But he has the mentality right now that if he's not going to get a hit, nobody is going to get one either. Good for him. He's plugging away."

Short Hops with Burke Badenhop

The first thing Marlins relief pitcher Burke Badenhop told me when he agreed to talk about his life outside of baseball during spring training was, "You're going to find out that I'm not really that interesting."

The 6-5, 220-pound, 27-year old right-hander might be more of a dork than Joe Cool, but he's proving to be invaluable again in a struggling Marlins bullpen -- at least early on. In the 17 innings Marlins relievers have been serviced out of the pen, Badenhop has provided five scoreless innings. His teammates have combined to give up 13 runs in the other 12 innings.

But talking baseball isn't what this blog is about. It's about getting you closer to the The Hopper, who has agreed to provide his thoughts on off beat stuff throughout the season. Although his bio says he was born in Atlanta, Badenhop said he considers himself from Perrysburg, Ohio, which also produced former Marlins World Series winning manager Jim Leyland. 

"It's right outside of Toledo, which of course is the glass city and an hour south of Detroit," explains Badenhop, who graduated from Bowling Green with a degree in economics and is smarter than your average baseball player. "The thing is, though, I didn't really grow up in Perrysburg. I grew up in Greensboro, N.C. and my favorite thing to do growing up was playing Little League Baseball. I played basketball all the way through high school. I could have played for D-2 or D-3 schools, but I was already signed to play baseball."

Badenhop can ramble a bit. And, take ribbing from his teammates in stride. During this interview, catcher John Baker takes a shot at Badenhop when he rambles on about what he used to do as a kid. "What about playing with Barbies?" Baker shouts.

The Hopper informs his catcher he never played with Barbies, but admits to me he does look a little little like Superbad's McLovin. Last year, a photo of the famed movie character dancing with a girl at a party (THE ONE TO THE LEFT) was placed on Badenhop's locker in the Marlins clubhouse, a gift from Marlins video man Cullen McRae.

"I don't know if I look like him as much as maybe I'm an unassuming guy who can't find his rhythm," Badenhop said. "But I'd say I'm one of the geekier personas on the team. So, that's why."

Any McLovin moments growing up? "Stealing beer and things like that?," Badenhop asks. "I don't know if this is good enough. I kind of move at a slow pace in terms of getting ready. I'm usually the last one out the door-type thing. I'm not good when I'm rushed. I was at a basketball camp when I was younger and one of the days they let us swim. Well, when my mom came to pick me up my shoes were on the wrong feet and my pants were on backwards. I didn't even know it. I was like seven."

Badenhop, by the way, loves Superbad. He's alternative music fan who listens to XM Radio Channel 46 for the Counting Crows and Blink 182. He's also a huge Duke basketball fan and was thrilled to watch them win the national title last week.

"A lot of people dog me for this, but I could watch Superbad anytime," Badenhop said "I really could. In terms of serious movies, I like a Shawshank Redemption. Baseball movies, you can't go wrong with Major League over Bull Durham. Just because the one-liners in it are unbelievable.

Any Major League movie characters in this clubhouse? "I might be one," he said. "[Renyel] Pinto would absolutely be. He'd be himself. There's no Rick Vaughn here. [Former closer] Matt Lindstrom could have been him. There's no Roger Dorn either. I could be Nuke Laloosh [from Bull Durham]. Yeah, I'm still trying to find it."

Badenhop, by the way, will not be available to pitch Sunday. But he will be on Monday.

Important starts for Volstad, Hensley loom

FORT MYERS -- With only eight Grapefruit League games left and time winding down this spring, manager Fredi Gonzalez said Thursday morning he'd like to have the two remaining openings in his starting rotation "cleared up" by the end of the week. 

That means Thursday's start against the Red Sox for Chris Volstad will be huge. If he pitches well, Volstad will probably cement a spot in the rotation. But if he struggles again, he could open the door for a few others. 

The 23-year old right-hander pitched well in his last start against the Nationals Saturday, walking two, scattering six hits and giving up just one earned run over five innings. But one good start out of five won't make Gonzalez or anybody in management feel good heading into the season. 

"He just needs to continue to do what he did against Washington and that's throw his sinker down in the strikezone and stick with that pitch," catcher John Baker said Wednesday. "That's what he did in 2008 when he got into trouble. He threw the ball in the middle of the plate and looked for ground balls. He needs to do the same thing, trust himself and trust his ability. If he does that, he's going to throw five innings and give up one run like he did the other day."

Rick VandenHurk is scheduled to "piggy-back" Volstad for a couple innings Thursday and at this point is likely third among the four players still competing for the final two spots in the rotation. Right-hander Clay Hensley, most believe, is currently in second when you consider he and not left-hander Andrew Miller will get the start Saturday in the big league game against the Cardinals in Jupiter.

Hensley hasn't given up an earned run or walked anybody in 10 1/3 innings and has retired 32 of the 37 batters faced. But he hasn't started either. Miller (1-1, 7.04 ERA) will start the Triple A game Saturday on the backfields at Roger Dean Stadium.

> ROSS STILL NOT READY: When outfielder Cody Ross left Tuesday's game against the Orioles with cramps in his right calf, Gonzalez didn't expect him to miss much time at all. But as it turns out, Ross still isn't even running. Ross said he's simply being cautious and he would be in the lineup if it was the regular season. But considering he's missed time because of a jammed thumb and a groin strain, he said he's considering asking for a few at-bats in Triple A. Ross is 4 for 22 this spring (.182). 

"I definitely need to get out there and I need to play," Ross said. "It's frustrating these little nagging things. These are things if it was the season, I'd be out there. But I don't want to keep aggravating it. So, we're being cautious."

> CARROLL INJURY UPDATE: Outfielder Brett Carroll, who left Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Twins with a strained left oblique, said he woke up Thursday feeling better than he was expecting. At this point, Gonzalez is guessing Carroll will be out at least a week. 

The timing obviously couldn't be worse for Carroll considering he was trying to compete with Brian Barden, Donnie Murphy and Mike Lamb for the final spots on the bench. "I just want to take the right steps," Carroll said. "As eager as I am to put it behind me and get back out there because I know it's an important time, I have to be patient with it."

Wild West sent down; Ceda heads to Double A

JUPITER -- The battle for the final two spots in the Marlins rotation now has one fewer competitor. 

Left-hander Sean West, who shined at times last season as a rookie, was optioned by the club to Triple A New Orleans Monday morning after he struggled through the first two weeks of the spring with control issues. West, 23, was 8-6 with a 4.79 ERA last season. 

Officially, he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA, three walks and one strikeout in one start in the spring. Unofficially, he was a little worse than that. On Saturday, in a 'B game' played in Sarasota against the Orioles, a wild West walked seven in 1 2/3 innings. 

"[We want West to] just pitch and get his command down," manager Fredi Gonzalez said Monday morning. "He came up and won eight games as a young pitcher last year. He will be back -- there's no question in my mind. He's going to be a big part of our rotation. Sometimes, young kids put stuff on themselves. He can get it worked out again and help us out."

West's departure leaves Andrew Miller as the only left-hander who could potentially earn a spot in the rotation.

Monday, Gonzalez talked to reporters as if he was already including Anibal Sanchez with Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco as locks to be in the rotation. Sanchez, who had been struggling a little early in camp, pitched four scoreless innings against the Mets Sunday.

That leaves Miller, Rick VandenHurk, Chris Volstad and Hayden Penn battling for the final two spots. Clay Hensley, who pitched in Triple A for the Astros last season, is a long shot, but has been impressive early in camp with six scoreless innings (5 Ks, 1 BB). Gonzalez said recently that Penn, who is out of options, could make the team as a long relief pitcher/sixth starter. 

> The Marlins also optioned relief pitcher Jose Ceda, signed in the offseason to a minor league contract, to Double A Jacksonville. Ceda was wild in his only out of the spring, hitting two batters, and giving up an earned run on two hits.

> Gonzalez said "running the bases will be the last hurdle" for outfielder Cameron Maybin (groin) before he possibly returns this weekend. Maybin will run from first to third on Tuesday. Catcher John Baker (strained forearm) will "throw to the bases " Thursday and could catch for the first time this spring this weekend. Baker could get a few pinch-hit opportunities during the week as well.

"We still have some time left, the biggest thing we want to know [regarding Maybin] are the at-bats," Gonzalez said. "As soon as we get those minor league games going, we can get him all the minor league at-bats we want." 

Fredi Gonzalez unhappy with walks

JUPITER -- Seth McClung knew he had the type of outing Monday that could tarnish not just a season, but a career. In just his second appearence of the spring, the 29-year old right-hander gave up six earned runs, three walks, plunked a batter and surrendered as many hits (2) as he got outs before being pulled in the Marlins 11-2 loss to the Mets.

"Man, I sucked today," McClung said Monday. "As a competitor, you want to beat yourself up. But knowing that a spring training process is 30 days long and you got to get yourself ready, you have to look at it in a different aspect. Although everybody wants to win a game, you aren't really ready yet to do some of the things you want to do.

"The best thing about spring is you take it, you say OK this is what I need to improve upon and then tomorrow is another day. I know I want to make an impression here in camp and the impression I want to make is I'm a professional."

McClung, one of four relievers with major league experience that the Marlins signed to minor league contracts in the offseason, is going to want to make sure his next appearance is a lot better. Ditto for other guys battling control issues.

Tuesday, manager Fredi Gonzalez voiced his displeasure about the amount of walks Marlins pitchers have been dishing out through six spring games. 

"I think the only time we haven't been good [this spring] is when we've walked people as a pitching staff," Gonzalez said. "You look at the bad games we've had and look at the boxscores, its been seven, eight walks, two hit batters. Usually those type of numbers cause bad games. I don't care if its the first day of spring training or the second game of spring training, we really don't want to do that."

The Marlins certainly had trouble with walks in 2009. The team gave up 267, second most in the National League. McClung, who has a 32.40 ERA this spring, isn't the only Marlins pitcher to struggle with control. Jose Ceda hit two batters in his only spring appearance. Starters Sean West and Andrew Miller had their issues in their first appearances on Sunday with a combined five walks. Reliever Derrick Turnbow, who has yet to make an appearance this spring, was having his own control issues during workouts because of an infected toe and sore shoulder.

> A FEW MORE TIDBITS... Turnbow threw a side this morning. No word yet on how it went... Outfielders Cody Ross and Cameron Maybin, both battling sore groins, played catch this morning. Gonzalez said the injuries appear to be more of a "four to five day thing" instead of a "four to six week" thing... Catcher John Baker (strained right forearm) hit some balls off a tee Monday and will play catch on Wednesday.

Marlins' Tucker battling Raynaud's Syndrome

JUPITER -- Former first round pick Ryan Tucker made his first start of the Grapefruit League season Monday afternoon against the Mets at Roger Dean Stadium. He pitched two innings, gave up two hits, one earned run and walked three batters. 

Then, before the game was even over, he dropped a bit of a stunner back in the team clubhouse when he told reporters he is battling Raynaud's disease, a rare condition that causes his hands to feel numb in response to cold conditions or stress.

The 23-year old right-hander, who had a taste of the big leagues in 2008 with the Marlins when he made 13 appearances and six starts, said the Marlins have known about his condition for some time and are simply hoping he can beat it. 

"I have quite an issue when it comes to the cold," said Tucker, who pitched in 72 degree temperatures Monday, but who admits he's struggled in camp the past week when temperatures dipped into the 40s and 50s.

"I can't get my hands warm ever. If you notice, I'm blowing on them all the time. I make sure with the umpire is OK with it. It's a tough issue for me. It's really difficult to grab the ball and throw it and not feel like I'm going to throw it at the guy in the box."

Tucker, who is a longshot to make the Opening Day roster anyway, hardly pitched in 2009 despite beginning the season as the No. 1 starter in Triple A New Orleans. He underwent quad surgery early in the season and later dealt with an oblique injury. He didn't really begin throwing again until this winter, a few months after becoming a father of twin girls.

The 6-1, 205-pounder went 2-3 with a 8.27 ERA in 2008 with the Marlins. He said his only expectations coming into the spring were to "come in and get work." Tucker said he carries hot packs with him everywhere he goes to try and deal with losing sensation in his fingers. But sometimes, he says, nothing works. 

"It's a syndrome that just comes and goes for one in every 100,000 people," Tucker said. "It's a pretty crappy feeling. I didn't realize I had it until a few years ago when I was playing in a cold place in Carolina. It would just go cold on me, numb. I couldn't feel the ball in my fingers. It feels like there's knives in there."

Tucker said its all a result of not getting enough blood flow to his extremities. "It's just something I have to figure out," he said. "There's nothing that fixes it. It's not like I can go to the doctor and they're going to go here's a pill, here's a surgery. That's not going to happen. It's a mental thing I have to figure out."