http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla

 

Notes: Mental lapses bother Olsen

Marlins lefty upset over his lack of concentration at times

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

Scott Olsen yielded five runs on four hits in a spring-high 4 1/3 innings on Tuesday. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

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JUPITER, Fla. -- More than the runs allowed on Tuesday, Marlins left-hander Scott Olsen was more concerned with a couple of mental lapses.

Entering the split-squad contest against the Nationals, Olsen hadn't allowed a run in five innings. Washington, however, got to him for five runs on four hits in a spring-high 4 1/3 innings.

 

While the numbers weren't pretty, Olsen came away from the 10-3 loss encouraged by throwing 58 pitches and working into the fifth inning.

 

"The only problem today was the lack of concentration in the two leadoff hitters I walked," he said.

 

Olsen was kicking himself over walking Damian Jackson in the fourth and then issuing a free pass to George Lombard to open the fifth. Both runners eventually scored.

 

He did allow a solo homer to Lombard with two outs in the second, but that didn't trouble him more because he threw a hanging slider that was belted out of the park.

 

"The hanging slider in the second for a home run, that's something you can work on," Olsen said. "It's the mental stuff you want to avoid."

 

Olsen is having a solid spring that has him in the mix for a starting rotation spot.

 

"For the most part, I was pretty happy with what I saw," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's got a great chance at being one of the starters. As time goes on, we'll continue to evaluate all the people we have in camp as possible starters. He's throwing the ball well."

 

Olsen throws a live fastball and slider. To be successful at the big-league level, he understands he must improve his changeup.

 

"He's kind of a bulldog on the mound," Girardi said

 

 

Also for you Gathright lovers or Olsen haters.

 

Both Eric Reed and Reggie Abercrombie as of Tuesday have higher .AVG, OBP, SLG than Gathright.

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...ts.jsp?c_id=fla

http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/NASApp/m...ats.jsp?c_id=tb

thats because gathright is a 4th of at best in this league.

 

 

pretty much what reed and abercrombie will be.

how about the Dukes lovers :mischief

 

note: I would like to have both Reggie and Dukes in the OF

thats because gathright is a 4th of at best in this league.

 

 

pretty much what reed and abercrombie will be.

 

Gathright will be a much better ball player then Reed and Abercrombie. I don't know how to argue either of them over Joey. The Gathright bashing bothers me...... the real issue is, is he worth Olsen, not if Gathright is a player. Most people obviously believe no, but that shouldn't be an insult to Gathright's abilities.

I agree with Lou here that the Gathright bashing doesn't further the debate. The real question is whether trading Olsen for Gathright is the right deal - for either side.

Does anyone think the Devil Rays would take Renyel Pinto for Gathright? It seems to me that the Marlins are in the dominant negotiating position between the DR glut of talented outfielders clammoring for PT and the Marlins seeming willingness to go forward with Reed or Abercrombie in CF.

I've come to the conclusion that it (finding a major league capable CFer from outside the organization) just doesn't matter in 2006.

 

Better to develop who we have both pitchers and position players and wait a season than trade without fully evaluating who we have. Using the DRays for example and Gathright in particular, let's say he plays well in 2006 and goes from a current C level player to a B, he won't cost that much more in 2007 than now.

 

At the same time, since pitching is coin of the realm, if Olsen goes out and proves he's a bonafide major league talent his value skyrockets (it's very low right now, no history). So in the end, if both players have good years, Olsen far outstrips Gathright in value.

 

Of course Olsen could blow up or his elbow becomes problematic, or Gathright implodes, who knows.? But for myself, I no longer feel the need to rush into anything and I hope the FO feels the same.

i still want to see how reggie works out for us before anything else happens.

Does anyone think the Devil Rays would take Renyel Pinto for Gathright?

Nope

The Devils Rays are going to be in a real pinch when Delmon Young is ready to be promoted. We're not fielding a playoff contending team this year.

 

Time is certainly on our side. We can wait for Gathright, and if we miss him there are other possiblities. As 2003 stated, there shouldn't be a rush to trade away our pitching talent for CFer this year. We can wait until next off-season.

That's why I think we are better off going after Elijah Dukes of the DRays instead

Olsen takes trade rumors in strideLeft-hander Scott Olsen hopes to make the Marlins' roster this spring, but remains unaffected by the possibility of being traded.

BY MIKE PHILLIPSmphillips@MiamiHerald.comJUPITER - Easy does it.

 

That's Scott Olsen, at least when he's not on a pitcher's mound.

''I just don't worry about it, don't think about it,'' said the left-hander, referring to his attempt to make a major-league roster this spring.

Olsen has spent four years in the Marlins' organization, and he hopes to make the major-league roster. But if he is traded, he can live with that.

''I'll play with whoever will sign me,'' he said.

Olsen has heard the rumors that he might be traded, but not much seems to affect him.

''Getting drafted by the Marlins and having all my friends who I've played with throughout my entire professional career here, it would take some getting used to, but it's something where you have no control,'' he said of possibly playing for another organization. ``[but] I guess if someone wants to sign you, it's a good thing.

``I'm aware [of the trade rumors], but I don't worry about it. It's not in my control.''

Olsen has been impressive this spring. He didn't allow a run in his first two appearances, but was knocked around a bit Tuesday, giving up four runs in 4 1/3 innings.

''For the most part, I was pretty happy with what I saw,'' Marlins manager Joe Girardi said of Olsen's outing.

``I've been impressed [with him this spring]. He's got a great chance to be one of the starters. He's thrown the ball well. He's got a good fastball, slider. His changeup is better.

``He's kind of a bulldog out on the mound.''

This spring is different for Olsen, who knew last year when he was invited to his first camp that he wouldn't have much of a chance to make the team.

But the team's offseason dismantling has left the door open.

''I came in here [last year] kind of picking the brains of the older guys. This is way different,'' he said. ``It's different [because of the opportunity], but it's the same game as last year with the work ethic.

``But there's no pressure at all. I came to spring training with the goal of making the team, and the goal remains the same.''

Olsen knows he is in the mix with at least two others for the fifth spot in the rotation, but said he couldn't burden himself with those thoughts.

''You just have to put that behind you,'' Olsen said. 'If you sit there, and you worry about who pitched yesterday and look at what he did yesterday and say, `OK, I have to do better than him today,' then you're going to be all messed up in your head if you start thinking that way. You have to put everything behind you.

``When I'm on the mound, my adrenaline is going, but other than that I'm pretty calm, usually. I've just always been a calm person. I don't need to be up and yelling all the time.

``Unless I'm in the game, I'm calm.''

Girardi likes that attitude.

''I think his demeanor is very good on the mound,'' Girardi said. ``This organization has loved his demeanor all the way through.

``He's not scared.''

How about Mitre, Allison and Kensing for Gathright, Jon Matulia and rights to Josh Hamilton...great trade for Tampa and it works for us as well