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Vargas strikes out Brian Roberts to lead off the inning Slider down and away Matos flies out to Reggie in CF Bottom 1, 2 outs Vargas walks Melvin Mora Up Comes Tejada

Cepicky with a weak fly out to CF, headed to the bottom of the 1st 1-0 FISH

Full Count on Uggla, and he walks Uggla on First, Willy on Second, Cabrera on Third Up comes Matt Cepicky with 2 outs and the bases loaded

Willingham walks on 4 pitches 1st and 2nd 2 out Up comes Uggla

Jacobs with a powerful fly out to center field...Miguel retreats back to 2nd 2 outs

Wild Pitch by Cabrera....Miguel takes 2nd base

Amezaga strikes out Hermida doubles to right center field Hermida steals 3rd base Miguel singles opposite field and scores Hermida from 3rd.....1-0 FISH

With just over a week left until Opening Day, the Fish seem to be closing in on their initial 25-man roster. Their are currently 30 players on the active roster, the following is a list of these players broken down by position. Lets start with the pitchers... A. Baxter J. Borowski* T. Bowyer N. Bump* J. Johnson* C. Martinez M. Megrew R. Messenger S. Mitre* B. Moehler* R. Nolasco* S. Olsen* C. Resop J. Vargas* D. Willis* There are 15 pitchers fighting for 12/13 spots. The players who I have asterisked are those who are considered locks to make the big league squad. If you subtract the 9 asterisked players, these 6 remain. A. Baxter T. Bowyer C. Martinez M. Megrew R. Messenger C. Resop Now you have 5 pitchers fighting for 3/4 spots. A. Baxter??? Hasn't made an appearance in a game this Spring and I'm not sure why he's still on the Actice Roster. CUT M. Megrew??? Rule V Draftee who will either start the year on the DL with constant shoulder tightness or in the Dodgers minor league system. CUT C. Resop??? Brings experience from the tail of last year as well as a 3.00 ERA in 9 innings this Spring. HELLO MAJORS This leaves us with T. Bowyer, C. Martinez, and R. Messenger fighting for 2/3 spots. All three may make the team, but it is more likely that Bowyer and Messenger's respective upsides will outweight Martinez's somewhat impressive Spring. T. Bowyer...IN C. Martinez...CUT R. Messenger...IN On to the position players M. Treanor M. Olivo* J. Willingham* A. Amezaga R. Andino W. Helms* M. Jacobs* H. Ramirez* J. Stokes D. Uggla* M. Cabrera* R. Abercrombie C. Aguila* J. Hermida* E. Reed Once again, I have asterisked those who have been deemed as locks for the Opening Day roster. After I subtract the asterisked players, 6 players remain. They are... M. Treanor A. Amezaga R. Andino J. Stokes R. Abercrombie E. Reed These 6 players are fighting for final 3 spots on the team. M. Treanor??? Experience in the majors coupled with suprising offensive production this Spring allows Treanor to settle into the permanent backup catcher....IN E. Reed??? Im not bought on Reed only because of his speed, his pathetic outing this Spring has done nothing to improve our chances in center field, say hello to Albuquerque Eric...CUT R. Abercrombie??? Arguably to brightest spot this Spring has been the play of Reggie Abercrombie. He leads the team in home runs (4), RBI (13), and Total Bases (39). On top of this, his athletic frame may be a perfect fit for CF at Dolphins Stadium and the 8th spot in a revamped Marlins lineup...IN This leaves us with A. Amezaga, R. Andino,and J. Stokes fighting for THE final spot on the Opening Day roster. J. Stokes??? I'm eliminating him only because of those in front on the corner infield depth chart (M. Jacobs, W. Helms, M. Cabrera)...CUT R. Andino??? He has the potential to be a stud at SS, but with the emergence of Hanley Ramirez this Spring, Robert will either have to rot on the bench, or play in Albuquerque...CUT (toughest decision) Alfredo Amezaga??? Im giving him the final spot only because his main position is 2nd Base, a position the Marlins are thin at. If for any reason Amezaga slips up in any way, Robert Andino will be first in line to take his spot...IN So there you go, the Opening Day Roster is set. 12 pitchers and 12 positions players.. Wait 12 + 12 = 24....so whose missing?? Thats right baby, my boy ALL-TIME. Lenny Harris will be the sole Non-Roster Invitee to make the Big League roster and will be used in almost only pinch hitting appearances (with maybe the occasional game at 3rd or LF). So to recap... Your Opening Day roster will be: Pitchers J. Borowski T. Bowyer N. Bump J. Johnson R. Messenger S. Mitre B. Moehler R. Nolasco S. Olsen C. Resop J. Vargas D. Willis Catchers M. Olivo M. Treanor J. Willingham Infielders W. Helms A. Amezaga H. Ramirez D. Uggla M. Jacobs M. Cabrera Outfielders R. Abercrombie J. Hermida C. Aguila Pinch Hitter Lenny Harris

Jorg....what do you think about Stokes playing in left field?? Is it that realistic??

GO HEAT

FLORIDA MARLINS looking to win 8 of first 10 games

Once Sanchez gets in the mix, I have a feeling he'll make a run at the rotation...

ok ladies and gentlemen I am out... GO MARLINS

Im liking Reggie in CF because he actually could be a power threat

6-4 Final Fish are 1-0 in Grapefruit League play and 2-0 overall

THE MARLINS ARE IN THE WIN COLUMN!!! Ryan Rupe induces a game ending fly ball by Ryan Markakis

Corey Patterson strikes out....Treanor tags him out for the completion Bottom 9th, 2 outs

30 year old Ryan Rupe in for the Marlins to pitch the 9th... Brian Moehler vs. Bruce Chen tommorow in Jupiter Aguila makes the grab in foul territory to extinguish Desi Relaford Bottom 9, 1 out

Top 9, 2 outs, Wes Helms up to the plate Helms hit .298 last year with the Brewers Nick Markakis pulls down a warning track fly ball by Helms in Left Field Going to the bottom of the 9th 6-4 Marlins

Andy Mitchell in for the Orioles....their 6th pitcher of the day Matt Treanor up for the Fish Treanor strikes out looking Matt struck out swinging a few days ago against the pitching machine, a moment im sure he would love for everyone to forget

who would everyone here prefer to be our starting center fielder? Juan Pierre Mark Little strikes out swinging 1 out

High Fly ball center field... Eric Reed comes down with the ball for the putout End of the 8th Marlins lead it 6-4 Messenger gives up 3 runs off of 4 hits in 1 inning

Alejandro Friere hits a bouncer just over Stokes glove at first... Markakis scores... Newhan advances to 2nd... 6-2 Marlins Fiorentino hits a 2 run double off of Messenger Newhan and Friere score 6-4 Marlins

Batter grounds out....Kinkade to Stoke Man on Second....2 outs David Newhan with an infield hit to Mickey Lopez, Markakis advances to 3rd :bases_firstandthird 2 outs

Kinkade hits one deep, deep, deep....caught on the track in left field 6-1 Marlins, going to the bottom of the 8th Bottom of the 8th Randy Messenger takes over on the mound Nick Markakis lines one off of Kinkade's glove at third... Safe at first after the attempted recovery by SS Andino :bases_firstbase Markakis advances to 2nd on a ground ball to 3rd Baseman Kinkade, Stokes with a nice pick at first for the putout :bases_secondbase