March 31, 200422 yr Sturtze late entry in bullpen race BY JUAN C. RODRIGUEZ South Florida Sun-Sentinel JUPITER, Fla. - (KRT) - As agent Eric Goldschmidt was leaving a message for Marlins General Manager Admin Beinfest on Monday night, his other line rang. It was assistant General Manager Michael Hill. The two calls had the same purpose: to get Tanyon Sturtze in a Marlins uniform. Sturtze, most recently of the Dodgers organization, was told late Monday night to be in Jupiter for a physical Tuesday morning. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound right-hander is the newest candidate for the Marlins' bullpen after signing a minor league contract. His bid to make the club got off to a successful start. Sturtze retired the three Expos he faced in Tuesday's game at Roger Dean Stadium before driving back to Vero Beach to collect his belongings. Sturtze opened spring training with the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee. He approached General Manager Paul DePodesta about getting his release once it became apparent he wouldn't make the big-league club. "I really was trying to make the Dodger team, and I thought I was throwing the ball really well with the Dodgers," said Sturtze, who was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and .367 opponents' batting average in four games (11 innings). "It just happened there were no spots." Bullpen opportunities abound with the Marlins. With less than a week before Opening Day, the only sure members of the bullpen are closer Armando Benitez and setup man Chad Fox. Including Sturtze, the Marlins have seven candidates for four jobs. A native of Worcester, Mass., Sturtze spent last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, going 7-6 with a 5.94 ERA in 40 appearances (eight starts). He pitched 89 1/3 innings after throwing 224 the previous season with Tampa Bay, where he was 4-18. "That's still coming up?" Sturtze said. "2002 was a difficult year. It seemed like every time something would happen it would happen where I would end up taking the loss. I didn't throw the ball that bad the whole season. Things just kept piling up a little bit. Once they get into those higher numbers, people start talking about them." It didn't help that as the Devil Rays' top starter, Sturtze regularly was facing opponents' No. 1 pitcher. He ascended to the top of Tampa Bay's rotation after going a combined 15-12 with a 4.03 ERA (248 innings) in 2000-01. --- STILL WAITING Jeff Allison's jersey hung in his locker at the Marlins' minor league complex, but there was no sign of the former first-round draft pick. A source close to Allison said the pitcher is in South Florida and could arrive as soon as today after missing the first three weeks of minor league camp. According to industry sources, Allison has agreed to random drug testing for the next two years and accepted a restructured payout of his $1.85 million signing bonus. "Jeff is fine," said the source close to Allison. "That's all I can tell you. Jeff is fine. I can't say anything more." --- EYE IN THE SKY After being ejected in the third inning of Tuesday's game, manager Jack McKeon watched the remaining innings from the second-floor patio of Marlins offices beyond the left-field wall. "It was great," McKeon said. "I smoked three cigars. ... It's tough watching it from up there. I didn't have my binoculars." ... With his team trailing 3-2 in the 10th, infielder Mike Mordecai hit a solo homer to salvage a tie. Last season, Moredcai hit two game-winning homers. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...rts/8315904.htm
March 31, 200422 yr I thought I was throwing the ball really well with the Dodgers," said Sturtze, who was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and .367 opponents' batting average in four games (11 innings). Say What? :thumbdown :lol
March 31, 200422 yr give him a chance, he will start the year in AAA you can never have enough arms...
March 31, 200422 yr Allison was at camp today with his father although he did not suit up and did not participate in either drills or practice He passed through the practice facility and went into the Marlins offices, after that I dont know what he did or how long he stayed but I am 100% certain that he was there with his father and another man Im assuming could be his agent
March 31, 200422 yr Allison was at camp today with his father although he did not suit up and did not participate in either drills or practice He passed through the practice facility and went into the Marlins offices, after that I dont know what he did or how long he stayed but I am 100% certain that he was there with his father and another man Im assuming could be his agent well that is good news since he was a team excused no show for a while there.
March 31, 200422 yr Sounds like a strange situation, but its personal so at least he is not pissed at the team or anything.
March 31, 200422 yr Sounds like a strange situation, but its personal so at least he is not pissed at the team or anything. Ummm ... doesn't it bug anybody that Allison restructured his contract to include random drug testing? And that they're spreading out his signing bonus?
March 31, 200422 yr Sounds like a strange situation, but its personal so at least he is not pissed at the team or anything. Ummm ... doesn't it bug anybody that Allison restructured his contract to include random drug testing? And that they're spreading out his signing bonus? Yea...maybe he has drug problems.
March 31, 200422 yr if he turns out to be a Josh Hamilton I will be very angry :thumbup Here's a thread from the mlb board from September 2003 that I completely blew off at the time ... http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/mb/message.asp...lins&msg=3030.1
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