Marlins rookie pitcher a real eye-opener

 

Teammates sing praises as Nolasco makes bid for spot in the starting rotation.

 

By Juan C. Rodriguez, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, March 17 2006

 

VERO BEACH ? Dan Uggla's remarks were so complimentary they caught Robert Andino's attention.

 

Andino, who lockers next to Uggla in the Marlins' clubhouse, overheard the discussion about an opposing pitching in last season's Double-A Southern League.

 

"Who are you talking about?" Andino asked.

 

Uggla: "[Ricky] Nolasco."

 

Andino: "Oh, hell no. He's got the dirtiest stuff in here."

 

The Marlins' evaluation of Nolasco isn't far off. Had the Cubs taken Nolasco off the table during trade discussions for Juan Pierre, they might still be looking for a leadoff hitter. Sergio Mitre and Renyel Pinto are nice pieces, but Nolasco was the key cog of that December trade.

 

So far he's shown why, tossing 82/3 scoreless innings in three appearances. He lit up the Southern League last year with West Tenn, winning his first nine decisions and finishing 14-3 with a 2.89 ERA, 46 walks and a league-high 173 strikeouts in 1612/3 innings.

 

"Everything we've seen from him this spring has been a positive," manager Joe Girardi said.

 

His major league readiness isn't in question. Nolasco may win a rotation spot outright, but if not the Marlins must determine whether he's better served pitching in relief in the majors or starting for Triple-A Albuquerque.

 

At 23, Nolasco exhibits exceptional command. His low 90s fastball isn't overpowering, but he spots it impeccably. Factor in an outstanding curveball that Nolasco isn't afraid to throw in any count and that 3.2 to 1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in five pro seasons isn't difficult to explain.

 

"He overpowered everybody on my team," said Uggla, a member of the Diamondbacks' Southern League affiliate that Nolasco beat three times in four tries. "To me, his fastball and his curveball look exactly the same coming out of his hand. I can't tell you how many times he'd bust me in with a fastball and come back with a curveball, and I'm bailing out. Nobody does that to me, nobody last year anyway.

 

"It took me about three times of facing him [to remember], `OK, he's got that curveball, too.' If it turns out to be a fastball, just wear it, but he's got good enough control where he's not going to hit you unless he wants to."

 

Uggla added that Nolasco and West Tenn teammate Rich Hill, the fifth overall prospect in the Cubs' system according to Baseball America, were the two toughest pitchers he faced.

 

No argument from Andino, who saw Nolasco twice as a member of the Carolina Mudcats.

 

"He spots up so nice," Andino said. "He just paints so good, in and out. He knows how to work it. He ain't scared."

 

Nolasco credits his success last season to making better use of his change-up and picking up a sinking fastball. Alan Dunn, now the Cubs' pitching coach at Triple-A Iowa, was instrumental in Nolasco's breakthrough.

 

"I had a pitching coach that was unbelievable," Nolasco said. "Once you get on a roll you just believe more and more and your confidence just keeps going up. It gives the team a lot of confidence as well as knowing that every day I'm out there to pitch we're in a good position to win."

 

A native of Corona, Calif., Nolasco began playing tee ball at age 4. His father, Emilio, was born and raised in Mexico. He came to the United State as a 19-year-old and fell in love with the Dodgers, a passion he passed on to his sons.

 

Nolasco, whose older brother David pitched professionally in the Brewers' system, was in the Dodger Stadium seats when Kevin Gross no-hit the Giants in 1992.

 

"Ever since [tee-ball], baseball has been my life," Nolasco said. "God blessed me with something, and I'm trying to make the most of it."

 

My dark horse guy in the rotation. :thumbup Man how are we ever going to fit all these guys in?

Is it safe to say that Nolasco has established himself as one of our "A" prospects - on the level with Olsen, Petit & Sanchez???

 

:mischief2

Is it safe to say that Nolasco has established himself as one of our "A" prospects - on the level with Olsen, Petit & Sanchez???

 

:mischief2

 

which may be why they may be willing to trade one of them for outfield help... I hope not though. I'd rather have all the pitching.

Ya supposedly Nolasco has ungodly control (I haven't seen him pitch yet) and a tremendous upside.

 

But doesn't it seem like everyone is vying for a spot in the rotation :lol

Whether it's one of the guys from Tampa or not....there is no question that we have more than enough firepower to get a topflight CF'er with our abundance of pitching.

 

Let's make a push for Reed!! (wrong thread i know)