Marlins notebook: Moehler now staff's seasoned veteran

JUPITER ? Florida Marlins' pitcher Brian Moehler might have a much different role with the team than he did last season.

Moehler has the most experience of any pitcher in the Marlins' camp after the departure of starters Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett.

"I'm starting to figure out some of those guys," Moehler said of his new teammates on Monday. "I'm glad they've got names and numbers on the back of their jerseys."

The right-handed pitcher tossed 158 1/3 innings for the Marlins last season. He finished with a 6-12 record to go alongside a 4.55 earned run average, splitting time between reliever and starter. The chance to return as a full-time starting pitcher helped keep Moehler in Miami, even if he must earn the spot.

Just two years after Tommy John surgery, Moehler said he would like to bring back his change-up. He worked on the pitch in the offseason after going most of last season without it.

"I didn't have that command and that feel for it," Moehler said. "I'm starting to trust it."

EARLY RISER: Marlins manager Joe Girardi said he woke up several times during the night heading into his first "real" day as a major league manager.

"I woke up at 1:50 a.m. and thought it was time to go," he said. "Then I woke up at 3:30, and 5:30, and finally got out of bed at 6:15. I was pretty anxious today."

Girardi said he wants his players to feel free to communicate with him.

"(My door is) open all the time, 24 hours a day," the first-year manager said.

EIGHT BALL: Although Dontrelle Willis has hit above the ninth spot in the batting order in his career, he does not expect to hit early this season.

Girardi said he would keep his mind open toward that option, but will probably keep the traditional format of having his starting pitcher bat ninth.

Willis led all pitchers with 24 hits and 14 runs scored in 2005.

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