July 2, 200520 yr NEW YORK -- The Florida Marlins are leaning toward skipping struggling left-hander Al Leiter's next turn in the rotation in favor of rookie Scott Olsen. Marlins manager Jack McKeon said Friday before Florida played the New York Mets that he was considering giving Olsen his second career start Monday against Milwaukee. "I understand," Leiter said Friday night, after the Mets beat the Marlins 7-6. "I haven't pulled my share. I haven't done my job consistently enough, and that's what happens." Leiter, who signed a one-year, $8 million contract in the offseason to return to the team he helped lead to the World Series title in 1997, has been ineffective. He is 3-6 in 15 starts with a 6.45 ERA this season. "I didn't expect this at all, knowing what I'd seen of him in the past," McKeon said. "I thought he'd be a guy who'd win 12 to 14 games for us." Leiter went 10-8 with a 3.21 ERA last season for the Mets and is 158-126 in his 19-year career. Still, McKeon remains optimistic the Leiter can turn things around. "Maybe this is just the ticket he needs to get out there and relax ... polish up a few things and the key we need for the second half." The 21-year-old Olsen has made two appearances for the Marlins this season, and has impressed McKeon. "He pitched a hell of a game and certainly deserved some more opportunities," McKeon said. "He did a pretty good job (Thursday). He got four key outs." On Thursday, Olsen gave up two runs in 1 1-3 innings against Atlanta. And on June 25, he made a spot start for the injured Josh Beckett against Tampa Bay, allowing two runs -- one earned -- and four hits in 5 2-3 innings and earning his first big league win. The left-hander has a 3.86 ERA in seven innings. "I like his poise," McKeon said. "I like the way he commands the strike zone." McKeon will make his final decision in the next couple days. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2099165
July 2, 200520 yr Author I am too. Finally McKeon does something this board has been rallying for. Now about Mike Lowell, Jack........
July 2, 200520 yr ah mixed feelings. I love Al. He's such a classy guy but Mike Lowell is also a nice classy guy, it's about what wins I guess. poor Al
July 2, 200520 yr Author ah mixed feelings. I love Al. He's such a classy guy but Mike Lowell is also a nice classy guy, it's about what wins I guess. poor Al 836394[/snapback] Dave Wannstedt was a nice classy guy. Thank god he's gone!!!
July 2, 200520 yr I like the move...Olsen pitched better in his first start than Al has in almost any of his, so he's definitely worth another look.
July 2, 200520 yr I would like to see this happen. Especially since I was at Leiter's last 2 home starts and don't feel like going through the agony of watching him pitch again.
July 2, 200520 yr It's about damn time, and hey, worst case scenario Leiter can come in for long relief :lol .
July 2, 200520 yr According to the Marlins' website, Scott Olsen is expected to take Al Leiter's spot in the rotation starting Monday against the Brewers. I don't know about anyone else, but I am definitely looking forward to this.
July 2, 200520 yr They mentioned it yesterday that Jack was heavily leaning that way. It's a good move and I can't wait to see how Olsen performs.
July 2, 200520 yr From the Palm Beach Post: Marlins may bump Leiter in favor of Olsen By Tom D'Angelo Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Saturday, July 02, 2005 NEW YORK ? Veteran Al Leiter likely will be demoted to the bullpen for the second time in two weeks. This time, the team is putting its trust in a rookie with one major-league start. Scott Olsen, who won in his major-league debut one week ago in Tampa Bay, likely will start Monday against Milwaukee. Leiter was demoted once, only to return to the rotation within days because of Josh Beckett's blister problems. "We're leaning that way,'' manager Jack McKeon said. "You're bringing these guys up, you're going to have to find out about them. He certainly warrants some opportunities the way he pitched.'' Olsen, a left-hander, allowed one earned run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings in his debut. He was the winning pitcher in a 6-2 victory. He pitched in relief of Josh Beckett Thursday, giving up two runs on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. "I like his poise; I like the way he commands the strike zone,'' McKeon said. "Certainly, I like his slider. He's got pretty good control. "It might be something we've been looking for all along, someone to come in, really bail us out, give us an extra starter.'' Olsen, 21, went 6-4 with a 3.92 ERA in 14 starts for Class AA Carolina. He had 94 strikeouts and 27 walks in 80 1/3 innings pitched. Leiter was unhappy the first time he was demoted, sarcastically calling his situation a "tryout.'' "Apparently,'' he said, "I forgot how to pitch.'' McKeon said he spoke with Leiter, and the left-hander took the news more diplomatically this time. "He was fine, but I mean, you know, he's certainly disappointed, of course,'' McKeon said. Leiter is 3-6 with a 6.45 ERA. He has struggled with his command all season and has allowed three grand slams. "We were hopeful Al pitched better, and I'm sure Al feels the same way,'' General Manager Admin Beinfest said. Beinfest, meanwhile, said the Marlins would continue to look for ways to improve their bullpen. "We're definitely looking at relief possibilities,'' he said. One possibility is left-hander Mike Stanton, who was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Thursday along with right-handed reliever Paul Quantrill. Beinfest is not allowed to comment about Stanton and Quantrill until they are released. Blister ruse: The meeting on the mound Thursday to start the sixth inning had nothing to do with Josh Beckett's blister. Rather, it was a ploy to allow Olsen more time to warm up. "I knew what they were doing,'' said McKeon, who was watching the game from his hotel room. McKeon missed the past two games to attend his brother-in-law's funeral. "They were buying time for (Olsen) to throw more pitches.'' Beckett pitched six innings, allowing one hit, in his return after 15 days on the disabled list. The finger shows no sign of the blister with the exception of a callous. "I feel great,'' said Beckett, who is expected to make his next start Tuesday. Link
July 2, 200520 yr It's about damn time, and hey, worst case scenario Leiter can come in for long relief :lol . 836439[/snapback] Only in blow out games. :plain
July 2, 200520 yr Said weeks ago, before the Beckett Blister, that Leiter should be moved to the Pen and also serve as Bull-Pen Coach. Actually, he doesn't need that "title" because he WILL be teaching. It's his nature.
July 2, 200520 yr From the Miami Herald: Olsen takes Leiter's spot BY KEVIN BAXTER kbaxter@herald.com For the second time in less than a month the Marlins have demoted struggling starter Al Leiter to the bullpen, giving his spot in the rotation to rookie left-hander Scott Olsen. ''We were hopeful that Al would pitch better; I'm sure Al feels the same way,'' Marlins general manager Admin Beinfest said. ``There's still a lot of games to be played, and he's a veteran with a lot of pride and we're hopeful that he will pitch better in the future for us.'' Leiter, who made his big-league debut in 1987 and has 158 career victories, has won 10 or more games each of the past 10 seasons. But he has battled control issues this year, winning three of 15 starts while compiling a 6.45 ERA. ''I didn't imagine this at all,'' Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. ``From what I'd seen in the past I thought he'd be a guy who would win 12-14 games. But he ran into some tough luck. ``Guys have weathered this storm in the past. Maybe this will be just the ticket he needs to get out there and relax and polish up some things and come right back and be the key that we need in the second half. We're not giving up on him, that's for sure.'' McKeon said Leiter, who signed a one-year, $8 million free agent contract to return to the Marlins in December, was disappointed but understanding when told of the plan. ''The fact is, of the five guys on the staff, I wasn't doing my share,'' said Leiter, who hasn't pitched in relief since 1993, his first full season in the majors. ``It goes back to doing the job, and I haven't been doing it.'' Olsen, 21, was called up from Double A Carolina on June 24 and beat Tampa in his big-league debut a day later, giving up just one earned run and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings. ''He pitched a helluva game, and certainly he deserves some more opportunities,'' McKeon said. ``If you're bringing these guys up, you're going to have to find out about them. It might be something that we've been looking for all along, someone to come in and really bail us out and give us an extra starter.'' Because of scheduled off days, the Marlins had planned to skip Leiter's turn in the rotation twice on their previous road trip and use him out of the bullpen, but those plans were scrapped when Josh Beckett went on the disabled list because of a blister on his right hand. Given a reprieve, Leiter responded by giving up 10 runs in 16 2/3 innings in his past three starts, walking 13. McKEON RETURNS McKeon rejoined the team Friday morning after spending two days in New Jersey attending his brother-in-law's funeral. But he watched both games he missed on TV and said he wasn't concerned when Beckett started fussing with the blister-plagued middle finger on his right hand late in Thursday's game. ''It [was] window dressing. I knew exactly what they were doing,'' McKeon said of Beckett, who took the mound to start the seventh inning only to buy Olsen more time to warm up in the bullpen. ``Had they not shown Olsen warming up, I might have worried.'' Beckett threw 80 pitches Thursday but just one of them was a curveball, the pitch that puts the most pressure on his injured finger, which appeared fully healed Friday. ''I feel great, the finger's great,'' Beckett said. LATE NIGHT The Marlins brought about four dozen season-ticket holders with them to New York on the team charter, but after the start of Thursday's game was delayed nearly three hours by rain, the team -- and the fans -- didn't get to their New York hotel until nearly 6 a.m. Friday. ''So you want to know how big-leaguers travel?'' trainer Sean Cunningham asked. ``Now you know.'' ? Former Marlins manager Jeff Torborg visited with the coaches and players before Friday's game. Torborg will be part of the play-by-play team on the Fox network broadcast of today's game. Link
July 2, 200520 yr Posted elsewhere on these duplicitous threads... Said weeks ago before Beckett Blister that Leiter should go to Pen and also serve as Bull-Pen Coach. In fact, he doesn't need the "title." He WILL teach. That is his nature. May open a new dimension for FO to utilize existing talent. And stop catering to the status-quo.
July 2, 200520 yr "You're bringing these guys up, you're going to have to find out about them. '[/b] Link 836478[/snapback] Wish he would take some of his own advice Anyways this is the right move although I worried that only having two pitches is going to catch up to Olsen real quick.
July 2, 200520 yr Hey el penguino, I just noticed that you have the most recent response for the top ten comments. That is pretty quick commenting.
July 2, 200520 yr The Marlins have replaced Al Leiter spot in the starting rotation with Scott Olsen. Leiter will pitch out of the bullpen while Olsen should start Monday against the Brewers. Olsen is a nice pickup in NL-only leagues now. Jul. 2 - 10:28 am et Source: Miami Herald c/o Rotoworld
July 2, 200520 yr Our two highest paid players are benched. 837088[/snapback] The 2003 World Series has taught us that payroll means nothing. For another example: see 2005 NY Tankees.... er uh Yankees. :thumbup I love this game!
July 2, 200520 yr Our two highest paid players are benched. 837088[/snapback] The 2003 World Series has taught us that payroll means nothing. For another example: see 2005 NY Tankees.... er uh Yankees. :thumbup I love this game! 837091[/snapback] Exactly, but just think what we could have done with that $14.5 mill.
July 2, 200520 yr Our two highest paid players are benched. 837088[/snapback] The 2003 World Series has taught us that payroll means nothing. For another example: see 2005 NY Tankees.... er uh Yankees. :thumbup I love this game! 837091[/snapback] Exactly, but just think what we could have done with that $14.5 mill. 837098[/snapback] Put it towards the stadium fund.
July 3, 200520 yr Our best pitching prospect. Impressive debut. Struggling pitcher in his final year. Jack should be a little more supportive of this. Instead it seems as he was a silent partner in the decision.
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