Plenty of Marlins jobs up for grabs

 

BY CARL KOTALA

FLORIDA TODAY

 

JUPITER - Joe Girardi had been working for a while on his first big speech as the Florida Marlins manager.

 

"Oh yeah, probably since I signed as a manager," Girardi said Thursday. "Because I knew that would probably be the toughest meeting that I had. I had a little practice with the pitchers and catchers. Today, it was the whole squad."

 

Girardi's message to his players was actually simple: Take care of your body, be responsible to yourself and your teammates, and never forget that competition is a good thing.

 

"Don't accept being the fourth or fifth outfielder," Girardi said. "Don't accept being the long relief. Push each other. Take someone's job."

 

Looking at the Marlins roster, you can pretty much count on one hand the number of jobs that aren't there for the taking.

 

Lenny Harris, a non-roster invitee who is only two weeks younger than Girardi, said he came to camp last year itching to play cards with guys like Mike Lowell, Josh Beckett and Carlos Delgado.

 

Now, he's looking at a locker room filled with youngsters who were acquired in trades for those veterans.

 

"I can't wait until the spring training games start, just to see these young guys, because they've been talking so much about these players," Harris said. "They're highly ranked. They're hot prospects. I'm just like you guys. I'm waiting to see what they can do, too."

 

It hasn't gone unnoticed to Harris that a number of the Marlins' young players are wearing low uniform numbers. For instance, the No. 1 that was on the back of second baseman Luis Castillo is now worn by outfielder Eric Reed, who has never played a major-league game. Juan Pierre's old No. 9 now belongs to shortstop prospect Robert Andino.

 

On a veteran team, those young guys usually are assigned numbers in the 50s, 60s or 70s.

 

"But that's a good stepping stone right there," Harris said. "When I came in, I wore No. 56. When you're in those big numbers, there was no opportunity to get a chance of making this club. But you've got guys who played in (Class) A ball and Double-A who are wearing 1, 2 and 3 and things like that. That's a good sign."

 

One of the more interesting battles to watch this spring will be at shortstop, where veteran Pokey Reese will compete against highly-regarded prospect Hanley Ramirez and Andino.

 

"All three of them are very athletic, all three of them have great hands," Girardi said. "Pokey's obviously got the experience. You look at Hanley and Robert, two young, up-and-coming prospects that can play defensively right now.

 

"You want to see how they progress offensively during camp and during the season, but we're pretty fortunate to have two young guys like that."

 

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../602240337/1002

good read... go marlins go!

I don't know why, but I just don't see Andino making the Opening Day roster. I think we'll be seeing Ramirez at SS and Uggla possibly at 2b.. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see Pokey starting at one of them...