Burnett starts Wednesday: When the Marlins open their Grapefruit League schedule on Wednesday against the Dodgers in Vero Beach, A.J. Burnett will get the nod.

 

The hard-throwing righty will throw about 50 pitches. On Thursday, against the Orioles at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Josh Beckett will start and Al Leiter is set to follow.

 

The Marlins' exhibition season opens on Tuesday when Willis takes the mound against the University of Miami at Jupiter.

 

On Monday, the Marlins will have an intrasquad scrimmage on field No. 2 at the Roger Dean Stadium complex. Mostly non-roster invitees and young prospects will play. The start time for the scrimmage, which is open to the public, is approximately 11:30 a.m. ET.

 

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JUPITER, Fla. -- Getting a taste of the big leagues has changed Chris Aguila's outlook on what it takes to remain on a Major League roster.

Called up on two separate occasions last year, Aguila showed promise as a reserve outfielder.

 

In 29 games, he batted .222 (10-for-45) with three home runs and five RBIs. But over his final eight games, he batted .272 (6-for-22) with three homers and three RBIs.

 

Manager Jack McKeon says Aguila's time with the club in 2004 has helped his state of mind this spring.

 

Aguila is in the mix for a reserve outfield spot. He has an advantage because he is capable of playing all three positions, and he is a pinch-run and defensive replacement candidate.

 

"Aguila is looking a whole lot more confident," McKeon says. "He's swinging the bat well."

 

In the offseason, Aguila spent time working out with Dontrelle Willis and Juan Pierre.

 

"Last year, I had never been there," Aguila says. "I didn't know what it was like -- being in that type of atmosphere, in different stadiums, going against guys I've never faced. Obviously, it was very exciting. It was something to build off of, to motivate me in the offseason. To make me work hard, to come in ready to go, and know a little bit of what I experienced up here. It was good working out down here in Florida with some of the guys."

 

At the minor league levels, Aguila has shown he can hit for average. In 97 games with Triple-A Albuquerque a year ago, he batted .312, with 11 homers, 23 doubles, two triples and 56 RBIs.

"One thing guys helped me out with was to stay positive and get some experience," Aguila said. "I think towards the end, when I was actually playing and starting and knowing I was going to have three or four [at-bats], a little bit of pressure was off. I'm not saying all the pressure was off, but it helped out. I just try to make the most of the opportunities, to build off them and work on them in the offseason and work on them in Spring Training."

 

Advice from Alfonseca: Former closer Antonio Alfonseca willingly gives pointers to new Marlins closer Guillermo Mota.

 

Foremost, Mota needs to be centered on the game. No more gazing into the stands or letting his mind drift.

 

"The closer has to focus on the game," Alfonseca said. "Guys can't look at the fans. You have to focus on the game."

 

Signed as a free agent in the offseason, Alfonseca projects to be the setup eighth-inning reliever. A year ago, the right-hander was with the Braves, where he closely observed John Smoltz's approach to closing.

 

"A guy like Smoltz, when the game started, he was focused," Alfonseca said. "There were times I wanted to talk to him, but I was almost scared. It's like 'No, don't go close to him.'"

 

Alfonseca watched the way Smoltz would study how the starters pitched to the opposing lineup, paying attention to how the batters were being pitched.

 

Alfonseca says Mota can adjust to the role.

 

"I'm happy for him," Alfonseca said. "It's the first time he's been a closer in the big leagues. That's OK for him. For me, I was a closer a couple of years ago."

 

Should Mota struggle, Alfonseca could see time closing again.

 

The next Pierre? In terms of work habits and professionalism, there is only one Pierre. But the Marlins have a prospect who draws comparisons to the speedy center fielder.

 

Eric Reed is cut from the same cloth as Pierre. Both are left-handed hitting burners who can flat-out fly.

 

Reed actually may be faster in a foot race, having been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.28 seconds while at Texas A&M.

 

Thus far in Spring Training, Reed has yet to turn on the jets. Recovering from a hernia procedure, Reed feels a bit of discomfort in his right groin. He suffered the injury while playing in the Arizona Fall League.

 

Because of his size and speed, Reed has been mentioned as another Pierre. Comparisons are nothing new for Reed, who was called the next Jason Tyner when he was in college.

 

"It's an honor because I know Juan is an elite player in the Major Leagues," Reed said. "For me to be compared to him, that really helps me out a lot. At the same time, I'm my own player. When I was at Texas A&M, people were trying to compare me to Jason Tyner. I don't try to live up to what Jason Tyner did, and put undo pressure on myself."

 

He's participating in drills in camp, where he is battling for a reserve outfield spot, but the Marlins would like for Reed to incorporate bunting into his game a bit more.

 

Reed says he has bunted effectively in the past, but for various reasons will go through stretches where he stops.

 

"I think I get a little cocky, wanting to hit," Reed says. "I should do a lot more bunts. I'll be bunting and hitting good, and then I'll just stop. I'll try a couple, and I won't get any down, then I'll lose confidence in it. You've got to practice bunts to use it in the game."

 

 

 

 

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Thanks for the info Eric!

I guess I will wear my AJ shirt Wednesday :lol I gotta support my Fish

 

I wonder who is going to start Friday :confused Maybe Dontrelle

Willis is pitching against U of M (first game) so he'll be going after Leiter..

awsome. if the opener for the spring training game does well, he might be the opener for the official season. i wish i could go to one game but i dont have that kind of time

So AJ gets the nod to open ST. Could one assume he is in line to start opening day as well?

 

Josh right behind AJ, then Al an Dontrelle, doesn't give us that lefty-righty combination...son one would expect Jack to mix it up at some point during ST.

cool, I'll get to see AJ on Wednesday.