By DOUG NEWHOFF, Sports Editor

JUPITER, Fla. - Nic Ungs is ready to make a career move, and the Florida Marlins have openings.

 

Now it?s up to the former University of Northern Iowa pitching standout to make a lasting impression over the next few weeks as one of 33 pitchers in the Marlins? Major League camp in Jupiter, Fla.

 

Ungs, beginning his fifth full season of professional baseball, is one of 18 non-roster invitees to the Marlins? big-league camp. Another 40 players, including 24 pitchers, make up the team?s current Major League roster.

 

?When you?re in the Major League camp, it means you?re being considered to make the team and break with them,? said the Dubuque native.

 

?This is kind of a little pat on my back. I?ve been putting up good numbers the last five years. For them to look at me like this, it?s like, ?Hey, this guy is going to help us in the big leagues, so let?s take a look at him.??

 

?It really means a lot to me right now.?

 

Ungs has been consistent over the past four-plus seasons in the minor leagues.

 

The 6-foot-1 right-hander, who was drafted by the Marlins in the 12th round in 2001, has averaged 147 innings per season, 6.46 strikeouts per nine innings and has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.1-1.

 

While pitching at three levels of Class A ball and at AA Carolina of the Southern League, Ungs has compiled a 40-31 record with a cumulative earned run average of 3.34 and a no-hitter for Carolina.

 

He has faced many of the best prospects in professional baseball.

 

?If you can play baseball in AA and be successful, you can play in the big leagues,? he said. ?There?s probably more talent in AA. Guys in the big league just do things more consistently. They do it right nine out of 10 times. If you make a mistake, they?re going to hit it and hit it hard.?

 

At the college level, Ungs was capable of overpowering some hitters with his 90-mph fastball. Those days are gone. Now, he?s a finesse pitcher who tries to stay ahead in the count, work the edges of the plate and make hitters swing at the pitches he wants them to swing at.

 

?I?m going to hit corners, not throw too many balls down the middle, throw about 88 to 91 (mph), sink the ball and cut the ball,? he said. ?That?s my game.?

 

Ungs believes the competition in camp is wide open, especially with new manager Joe Girardi at the helm.

 

The only established starting pitchers in camp are Dontrelle Willis, Brian Moehler and Matt Hertges, although the Marlins are high on several young prospects, including Jason Vargas, Josh Johnson and Scott Olsen. They also acquired Sergio Mitre from the Cubs.

 

The club will break camp with 12 or 13 pitchers on the Major League roster.

 

?We have a lot of great arms,? said Ungs. ?There is a lot of talent here. You just want to do something that makes you stick out a little more than the next guy, whether it?s not walking people, holding runners on or fielding your position.

 

?I think it basically comes down to the little things.?

 

Ungs also knows he will be auditioning for more than the Marlins? coaches. Throughout the exhibition season, other teams will be looking for players who can help them, as well.

 

?Someone is always looking at you,? he explained. ?You?re always playing for the other 29 teams, as well. I guarantee there will be some trades made in March. They will be moving some players. That?s just how things work.?

 

For now, Ungs just wants to take advantage of his chance.

 

?This game has a lot to do with opportunity,? he said. ?I want to take this opportunity and do the best I can with it. I can either be in AAA or the big leagues. I just need to do what I do, control what I can control, be who I am and do the things I?ve done to get to this point.

 

?Sooner or later, my opportunity (in the big leagues) will come.?

 

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2006/03...96697726727.txt

 

 

 

 

Does anyone think he has any shot of breaking camp with the big team? It hasn't even been thought of to the best of my knowledge, though I assume with a tremendous spring and ahorrid spring from others it could be possible.

 

Thoughts?

I could see him as a long reliever one day, but probably not much more than that (though it's always nice to have solid long relievers around).

I see this guy's name come up a lot yet hear very little about him (does that make sense?) so i have no idea what his status with the team is. He seems like a reasonable guy to be in AAA at least.

that no no he threw last year put himself on the map

I'd say that he's a long-shot to make the club, especially if Megrew sticks.

 

Here are the 12 pitchers that I think we'll probably break camp with:

 

Willis

Moehler

Olsen

Vargas

Johnson

Mitre

Borowski

Bowyer

Megrew

Resop

Messenger

Herges

I'd say that he's a long-shot to make the club, especially if Megrew sticks.

 

Here are the 12 pitchers that I think we'll probably break camp with:

 

Willis

Moehler

Olsen

Vargas

Johnson

Mitre

Borowski

Bowyer

Megrew

Resop

Messenger

Herges

 

Interesting to see that you have Olsen, Johnson, and Mitre all listed. Who do you expect in the pen, Mitre?

 

Also, the article makes a point of saying there could actually be 13 (why on earth?!?!?!) pitchers breaking camp. If that's the case who do you say as 13?

I'd say that he's a long-shot to make the club, especially if Megrew sticks.

 

Here are the 12 pitchers that I think we'll probably break camp with:

 

Willis

Moehler

Olsen

Vargas

Johnson

Mitre

Borowski

Bowyer

Megrew

Resop

Messenger

Herges

 

Interesting to see that you have Olsen, Johnson, and Mitre all listed. Who do you expect in the pen, Mitre?

 

Also, the article makes a point of saying there could actually be 13 (why on earth?!?!?!) pitchers breaking camp. If that's the case who do you say as 13?

 

Probably Mitre to the pen, maybe even go with a hybrid 6 man rotation (not sure how it would work, but I could see it happening).

 

If we carry 13 guys (which makes no sense to me) I still have a hard time seeing Ungs make it as the 13th would probably be Nate Bump.

I'd say that he's a long-shot to make the club, especially if Megrew sticks.

 

Here are the 12 pitchers that I think we'll probably break camp with:

 

Willis

Moehler

Olsen

Vargas

Johnson

Mitre

Borowski

Bowyer

Megrew

Resop

Messenger

Herges

 

I'd stick Ligtenbreg in there, maybe instead of Megrew (I could see him start the season on the DL).

I figured Bowyer would go back down for more seasoning at first, since Boworski is essientially blocking his job at the moment.

 

I predict Kensing makes the team

I'd say that he's a long-shot to make the club, especially if Megrew sticks.

 

Here are the 12 pitchers that I think we'll probably break camp with:

 

Willis

Moehler

Olsen

Vargas

Johnson

Mitre

Borowski

Bowyer

Megrew

Resop

Messenger

Herges

 

I'd stick Ligtenbreg in there, maybe instead of Megrew (I could see him start the season on the DL).

 

You know, I completely forgot we signed Lightenberg.

 

D'oh.

 

I figured Bowyer would go back down for more seasoning at first, since Boworski is essientially blocking his job at the moment.

 

I predict Kensing makes the team

 

 

You don't have to be a closer at every level.

 

It would probably benefit Bowyer more to work the 6th and 7th innings at the big league level than the 9th at AAA.

I think that if Bump's healthy, he makes the team, though I guess if Mitre (or Johnson) is around as the swing man/long reliever he could be out of luck.

I think that if Bump's healthy, he makes the team, though I guess if Mitre (or Johnson) is around as the swing man/long reliever he could be out of luck.

 

 

I just figured Bump as the hard-luck loser of a spot as it seems that he hasn't been used much early while guys like Bowyer and Herges have seen multiple outings.

u pretty much have to go with the listing above, because u do want to have a veteran presence not only in the bullpen but also in the clubhouse. I personally am hoping that Matt Herges can make the team for the simple fact that he does have a good track record from the past. As for Ungs I've heard on and off about him and he seems like a good player but is he ready for opening day? My opinon : Not just yet.

Rotation:

Willis

Moe

Vargas

Olsen

Mitre/Johnson

 

Pen:

CL Borowski

SU Herges

MR Resop

MR Messenger

MR Bowyer

MR Lightenberg/Bump (Nate probably makes it with Lightenberg signing elsewhere)

LR Mitre/Johnson

 

The long relief and every rotation spot but Willis's will probably have a new arm being auditioned at some point in the season.

 

As for Ungs, I believe he's a lesser version of Nate Bump, although I don't think he's nearly adept at keeping the ball on the ground. I predict Bump as our most effective reliever this year if his health issues clear up.

 

Darkhorse candidates for the pen:

Ungs

Kensing

Tank

 

Pitchers who will get some appearances at some point during the season:

Petit

Sanchez

Nolasco

Delgado

 

Hopefully AAA depth:

Jimmy Anderson

Josh Stewart

Buddy Carlyle

Ryan Rupe

Nic Ungs

 

This would be the strongest group we've had in awhile. Doubtful as I suspect one of the NRI will sign elsewhere.

Bostick/Pinto (maybe...)

I think that if Bump's healthy, he makes the team, though I guess if Mitre (or Johnson) is around as the swing man/long reliever he could be out of luck.

 

I just figured Bump as the hard-luck loser of a spot as it seems that he hasn't been used much early while guys like Bowyer and Herges have seen multiple outings.

Veterans rarely ever get time early in Spring Training. It's the kids and those fighting for spots. Wait until later when it comes time for the players to get in the practice of playing every day.

I think Bump makes the team.

Bump is scheduled to pitch today, along with Josh Johnson, Ligtenberg, Kensing, Delgado, Josh Stewart, and Eddie Gaillard.

 

Why not go with an 8-man pen? I know it's unconventional, but it's pretty likely we're going to have nights where our young pitchers are getting knocked around early...

Bump is scheduled to pitch today, along with Josh Johnson, Ligtenberg, Kensing, Delgado, Josh Stewart, and Eddie Gaillard.

 

Why not go with an 8-man pen? It's pretty likely we're going to have nights where our young pitchers are getting knocked around early.

 

An 8 man pen would mean having just 4 guys on the bench.

Bump is scheduled to pitch today, along with Josh Johnson, Ligtenberg, Kensing, Delgado, Josh Stewart, and Eddie Gaillard.

 

Why not go with an 8-man pen? It's pretty likely we're going to have nights where our young pitchers are getting knocked around early.

 

An 8 man pen would mean having just 4 guys on the bench.

 

Yeah... & one's the backup catcher. Just too much of a reach I guess. Putting someone like Mitre in the pen would make it easier since he could throw mulitple innings...

 

I just think we could be seeing the pen get used an awful lot this season on nights when Dontrelle's not pitching.

Hotcorner nailed it.

I just think we could be seeing the pen get used an awful lot this season on nights when Dontrelle's not pitching.

 

 

Just to play the devil's advocate, 3/5 of the rotation was here last year and before the whole firesale, most here (myself included) were prepared to hand rotation spots to Vargas, Olsen and possibly Josh Johnson to go with Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett.

 

Now, Beckett's gone, Moehler is back and players that had spots in the rotation before the team was declared dead in the water are still here, so I don't see the need for having a ton of guys in the 'pen. That is, unless you (not you HC, just a general 'you') have no faith in Vargas, Olsen or Johnson and their ability to get 18 outs.

 

In many ways, 7 guys in the bullpen is a lot, 8 is just overkill.

I just think we could be seeing the pen get used an awful lot this season on nights when Dontrelle's not pitching.

 

 

Just to play the devil's advocate, 3/5 of the rotation was here last year and before the whole firesale, most here (myself included) were prepared to hand rotation spots to Vargas, Olsen and possibly Josh Johnson to go with Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett.

 

Now, Beckett's gone, Moehler is back and players that had spots in the rotation before the team was declared dead in the water are still here, so I don't see the need for having a ton of guys in the 'pen. That is, unless you (not you HC, just a general 'you') have no faith in Vargas, Olsen or Johnson and their ability to get 18 outs.

 

In many ways, 7 guys in the bullpen is a lot, 8 is just overkill.

Willis and Vargas are the only guys that can be counted on to go deep into games with any sort of regularity, and really only Dontrelle is a guarantee. I expect Olsen/Johnson/Mitre/etc to have some pretty rough outings ending before the 5th. I spose I agree though...7 guys is probably enough, but you have to figure at least half of them will struggle mightily as well.