JUPITER, Fla. -- Switching to right field would be a change, but nothing Jeff Conine hasn't experienced before. He's one of two Marlins battling for a corner outfield job up for grabs this spring. Exactly who is playing where is yet to be determined.

 

Conine and Juan Encarnacion are competing to be the outfielder opposite Miguel Cabrera, who finished up last year in left field.

 

To the 38-year-old Conine, it doesn't matter where he is playing, as long as he's in the starting lineup.

 

"Basically, you're just flip-flopping the field," Conine said Friday of a possible move to right. "There is one longer throw in right -- to third base. I think it's easier to play right."

 

Since rejoining the Marlins in late August 2003, Conine has played either left field or first base. The Marlins finished up 2004 with Conine at first, Cabrera in left and Encarnacion in right.

 

Cabrera opened last year in right field, but is happier playing left. Still, he will see work at right field this spring.

 

Should Cabrera remain in left, Conine isn't opposed to playing right. He last saw action at the position for one inning over two games in 2003 with the Orioles. In Baltimore in 2001, Conine played 16 games in right field.

 

But before deciding who is playing where, manager Jack McKeon wants to make sure both Conine and Encarnacion are healthy. Conine has had two surgeries to his right shoulder in the offseason, and Encarnacion had surgery to his left shoulder after the season.

 

Although position players are set to report on Sunday, with full-squad workouts beginning on Tuesday, Conine showed up at Roger Dean Stadium on Friday.

 

The veteran is easing back into shape, and he said he likely won't start playing in Grapefruit League games until the second or third week of March, saying he needs about 20-30 spring at-bats to be ready for the season opener on April 5 against the Braves.

 

"In my mind, I'm an everyday player," Conine said. "I want to play every day."

 

Having an established starter coming off the bench is something the Marlins haven't had in recent years.

 

"The No. 1 thing is right here where it says 'Marlins' across the front of the uniform," McKeon said. "If you want to win, you have to have everybody going in the same direction. Things play out.

 

"It makes no sense rushing either one of them back. Ideally, you'd like to get both of them in."

I would like to see a platton situatoin in right between conine and Juan.....with conine getting the majority of the playing time..

Platoons suck. I hope Enc's only purpose is to give Cabrera and Conine rests.

Let's see how spring training goes.

 

If Encarnacion gets off to a good start, then his defense will be more valuable in RF. Conine is more valuable off the bench.

 

Now if Encarnacion can't get it going and Conine is ready, then by all means put him in RF instead.

If only we could put him on waivers.

I absolutely agree with PBMarlin, Depending on who's better in ST, Start him. :thumbup