If right fielder Juan Encarnacion returns to his 2003 form -- and his grand slam was an encouraging start Tuesday -- it's hard to imagine Jeff Conine starting regularly anytime soon, barring injury. But the team isn't looking to dump Conine's $3 million salary (the most expensive for a Marlins reserve in memory) and would consider a trade only if it helps the team elsewhere.

 

'I want to be out there every day [but] . . . I'm not going to say, `If I don't play, I have to be traded,' '' said Conine, who admitted disappointment about not starting Tuesday. ``I'm part of a team. We have a great team. My home is here.''

 

Encarnacion has said he expects to play every day and it would be ''a hard situation'' otherwise because ``I've never been a part-time player.''

 

Before Tuesday's game, manager Jack McKeon said Conine ``is going to be on the bench for a while, then we'll get him in. If a guy gets hot, it's going to be tough for somebody to get in there. It will solve itself.''

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/11320987.htm

Stop being such an attention whore just kidding.

So does that mean we will see conine start today?

So does that mean we will see conine start today?

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Before Tuesday's game, manager Jack McKeon said Conine ``is going to be on the bench for a while, then we'll get him in. If a guy gets hot, it's going to be tough for somebody to get in there. It will solve itself.''

 

 

 

No man.

I hope we can keep niner on the team.

That's Jack. Ride the hot hand.

That's Jack. Ride the hot hand.

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Wurd.

 

Anything less is simply uncivilized.

That's Jack. Ride the hot hand.

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Wurd.

 

Anything less is simply uncivilized.

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Or steroids.

I'm a huge Conine fan. But the fact is, he's getting up there in age and maybe it's time for him to wind his career down by being a part time player.

 

I will admit, I was a bit upset when I didn't see him in the starting lineup yesterday. But I got over it quickly when Juan hit the Grand Slam.

 

It's very classy of Conine to say this is home, even if he has become a part time player. He needs to retire a Marlin.

I wouldn't worry about Conine. Encarnacion won't get another hit for 10 games. Conine will be in there in no time.