Nolasco Making a Strong Pitch To Stay

Making a strong pitch to stay

Ricky Nolasco is bidding for a spot in the Marlins' starting rotation, mixing an aggressive approach with pinpoint control.

BY CLARK SPENCERcspencer@MiamiHerald.com

JUPITER - He threw his first pro pitch in Boise, Idaho, won far more games then he lost in the minors, and was obtained from the Chicago Cubs in a trade. Dontrelle Willis fits that profile.

So does Ricky Nolasco, a right-hander the Marlins obtained (along with pitchers Sergio Mitre and Renyel Pinto) when they dealt center fielder Juan Pierre to the Cubs in December.

Nolasco already is turning heads even though he isn't physically imposing and doesn't possess eye-popping stuff.

On Thursday, Nolasco started for the Marlins against the Cardinals and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only a double and a walk. He also delivered two scoreless innings in his only previous outing of the spring.

Nolasco is relishing the chance to crack the Marlins roster, but said his only goal going into camp was to ``open eyes and leave here with no regrets.''

His competition is stiff, though.

Willis, Brian Moehler and Jason Vargas are all but guaranteed spots in the rotation, and Josh Johnson has emerged as a top contender to nail down a fourth.

The Marlins are also looking at Mitre and Scott Olsen as strong candidates for the rotation.

Olsen on Thursday delivered three shutout innings against the Washington Nationals in a split-squad game in Viera and, like Nolasco, has yet to cough up a run this spring.

Nolasco doesn't make smoke rise from radar guns, topping out in the low 90s with his fastball. But he keeps the ball around the plate, mixing in a change up and ''slurve'' that he changes speed with to fool hitters.

''From what they say, I'm not projectable,'' Nolasco said of the scouting book, even though he was a fourth-round draft pick. ``I'm not 6-5 and I don't throw 98 mph. But I know how to pitch, I feel I've got good stuff, and I'm determined. And I'd rather have that combination than just having great stuff and not being able to pitch mentally.''

Marlins manager Joe Girardi has no complaints with that package. ''He's aggressive and he's able to throw strikes with his breaking ball, and he can spot the fastball anywhere he wants,'' Girardi said. ``A lot of times, young kids struggle trying to throw their second and third pitches over the plate at any time. He does not.''

Girardi said physical size is not an issue with him, either.

''I want guys that can pitch,'' he said. ``Size doesn't always tell the true story. I think when kids are drafted, scouts have to project. Sometimes you can't project someone's heart and their ability to handle situations and throw breaking balls over [the plate] late in the count. You can't project that when they're 16 or 17 years old.''

Nolasco, who is 23, has a minor-league record of 41-17 with a 3.41 earned run average. He has averaged a strikeout per inning but fewer than two walks per nine innings.

''I take a lot of pride in that, throwing strikes and going after hitters,'' Nolasco said of his stubbornness to walk hitters. ``I'd rather give up a hit any day than a walk.''

ALLISON SUSPENDED

The Marlins have suspended former first-round draft pick Jeff Allison for ''violating club policy'' but did not specify the pitcher's transgression.

Allison, a right-handed pitcher who was the team's first choice in the 2003 draft, is no longer in minor-league camp and has been in and out of drug rehabilitation programs for chemical dependency.

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