I went down to the Marlins game against the Cardinals today knowing only Ricky Nolasco was pitching for the Marlins and Anthony Reyes for the Cards, but I wasn't disappointed.

 

Most of our probable starters at this point were playing (HanRam, Uggla, Hermida, Willingham and Aguila) and Girardi was coaching. As you probably know, the Marlins won 3-0 and it was good to see a win against the Cards with a few of their starters on the field. There were a number of good defensive plays with no errors committed by either side and it was definitely a pitchers game.

 

Here are a few other things I noted during the game:

 

? Nolasco looked strong, had good control, kept the ball low and had some nasty breaking stuff. Harvey Garcia also looked strong during his one inning pitched.

 

? Matt Herges looked a little wild for a bit, throwing balls high and in the dirt, but was able to get out of the inning without giving up a run and leaving two on.

 

? Travis Bowyer was also strong but wild. It looked like the Cards might make a 9th inning rally after getting consecutive line drive singles, but he managed to strike out Prentice Redman to end the game after almost hitting him a few pitches earlier.

 

? As far as hitting goes, Hanley Ramirez's homerun really carried. I thought it might hit the wall if left center, but it managed to drop over the fence. There was no doubt about the bomb Jason Stokes hit in the sixth inning.

 

? I thought Hermida definitely had at least a double in the fifth, but the Cards CF Schumaker made a great diving play to rob him of a hit. Hermida showed great patience at the plate, drawing two walks.

 

? As far as batting stances go, Wilson has one of the oddest stances around. He leans back at almost a 45 degree angle. Definitely something you have to see for yourself.

 

Overall, I was impressed with the Marlins performance. One disappointing note was the attendance of Marlins fans at the game. It was a sea of red in the stands and I seemed to be the only Marlins fan, literally, to be cheering and clapping at times.

 

By the way, I yelled out "Come on Shadez!" when he stepped to the plate in the fifth. Unfortunately he proceeded to pop out.

So, if Nolasco has a strong spring, will he be the #5 guy in the rotation, knocking Moehler and Mitre back to the pen?

I'd guess that Moehler is pretty close to guaranteed a spot in the rotation to begin the year (plus he's had good ST outings). Mitre, not so much guaranteed, though if he keeps pitching well he could earn one. He's fighting like everyone else but has ML experience, which could help.

I'd take any of the young pitchers we acquired this offseason or we already had in the minors any day of the week over Mitre in the rotation. We want to win games afterall, or at least have a chance.

I'd take any of the young pitchers we acquired this offseason or we already had in the minors any day of the week over Mitre in the rotation. We want to win games afterall, or at least have a chance.

How can you say that when none of these kids have proven anything yet? I cannot judge Mitre on a half a season with the Slubbies.

You might not be able to, but I have no problem with it.

So, if Nolasco has a strong spring, will he be the #5 guy in the rotation, knocking Moehler and Mitre back to the pen?

 

 

I am almost positive the one through four spots in the rotation will be filled by Willis, Vargas, Moehler and Olsen (unless he is traded) come opening day. The three front-runners for the number five spot, it seems to me, are Mitre, Johnson and Nolasco. With the way these three have been performing in spring training so far, I will not venture a guess. By the end of ST we will have a better idea.

Once Sanchez gets in the mix, I have a feeling he'll make a run at the rotation...

Didnt JG already say no young pitching would be traded?

Didnt JG already say no young pitching would be traded?

 

 

I find that near to impossible to believe. It's the one thing we have an abundance of and at some point will use it to fill the holes. That may or may not be this season.

Didnt JG already say no young pitching would be traded?

 

I believe he said young pitching wouldn't be traded for a LF, not that it wouldn't be traded at all.

Does anyone have the exact quote or a link to the Girardi comment?

 

For some reason I keep thinking it was either the Marlins' site or PBP. I remember reading it a day or two or three ago but I just can't get the right search criteria to pinpoint it.

 

Thanks in advance.

Does anyone have the exact quote or a link to the Girardi comment?

 

For some reason I keep thinking it was either the Marlins' site or PBP. I remember reading it a day or two or three ago but I just can't get the right search criteria to pinpoint it.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

It was a radio interview here is the link to that thread.

 

http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...0entry1067383

Nice commentary on the Kids...We have to trade a pitcher ...what else do We have to trade?..I say give Mitre and Bostic to someone...how about to Houston for Josh Anderson and Hunter Pence

Does anyone have the exact quote or a link to the Girardi comment?

 

For some reason I keep thinking it was either the Marlins' site or PBP. I remember reading it a day or two or three ago but I just can't get the right search criteria to pinpoint it.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

It was a radio interview here is the link to that thread.

 

http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...0entry1067383

:thumbup thanks

Nice commentary on the Kids...We have to trade a pitcher ...what else do We have to trade?..I say give Mitre and Bostic to someone...how about to Houston for Josh Anderson and Hunter Pence

 

 

So Josh Anderson for LF and Hunter Pence in CF right? Nice, dont know if the Astros would do it, but sounds good on paper. I like how it would affect the batting order, with one being a lefty and one being a righty.

 

Sounds like Anderson could be a nice leadoff hitter, led the minors in stolen bases last year, and he did hit .282 at AA, so he'd be right on track to come in and take the LF job, assuming Willingham goes to C. But on the downside, he struck out 80 times compared to 29 walks in 524 ABs, so he seems like something of a free singer. No power to speak of either, 1 hr.

 

Pence, a right handed CF, hit .338 with 25 HR in 302 ABs in class A. Better K/BB ration at 53/38. I guess you could flip the two around, put the faster Anderson in CF.

 

Anderson is on the 40 man, Pence isn't. But with Tavares in place, I could see this trade happening.

 

BTW, is this a real rumor you have heard, because I did something I dont normally do and looked stuff up...if it's just an idea of your I shall be quite...agitated.

 

I still wouldn't mind getting Cody Haerther from the Cardinals, but it doesn't seem likely with Edmonds about at the end of his rope.