April 1, 200620 yr FRISCO, Texas ? Two days before the regular-season opener and Joey Gathright still is with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. As far as the Marlins are concerned, that's where he's staying. The Marlins never found a suitable trade partner through their spring inquiries about outfield depth. They also didn't think anyone available outmatched Reggie Abercrombie's potential. That Abercrombie secured a spot wasn't a surprise. In addition to proving he could play great defense, Abercrombie batted .377, slugged .672 and reached base at a .415 clip in Grapefruit League play. What he didn't do was lay sole claim to the starting center field job. Eric Reed batted .315 this spring and also made the club. "I had a good spring, and he had a great spring," said Reed, before the Marlins' 4-1 exhibition loss to the Rangers at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. "I didn't know what was going to happen until a couple of days ago. I had a suitcase in front of my locker, but I had to ask Joe [Girardi] what was going on. It's pretty cool." The left-handed hitting Reed has less power than the right-handed hitting Abercrombie. Reed is more of a Juan Pierre-type contact hitter with speed who can bunt. The two players are different enough to where Girardi feels he can provide both with sufficient playing time. "We could use these guys in a lot of different ways, and we don't have to put a lot of pressure on them right away,'" Girardi said. "If one is going through something we can relax, maybe let the other guy play a couple of days, and work on things and just continue to teach." DOWN TO 25 The Marlins reduced their roster to the allotted 25 Friday as they assigned catcher Tom Wilson to minor league camp and placed Rule 5 left-hander Michael Megrew on the disabled list retroactive to March 24 with shoulder tendinitis. Megrew won't stick around once he's activated. The Marlins have no intention of paying Megrew the $327,000 major league minimum any longer than necessary and ultimately will offer him back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. BACK IN BLACK Matt Cepicky was among the minor-leaguers the Marlins brought with them to Texas for their last two exhibition games. Cepicky had the option of requesting his release Wednesday, when the Marlins informed him he would not make the club. Instead, he accepted a minor league assignment. ... Second baseman Dan Uggla's fianc?e, Tara, gave birth to the couple's first child Thursday night. Jackson Daniel weighed in at 9 pounds, 3 ounces. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins
April 1, 200620 yr good to see that Cepicky will be sticking around ... im sure we'll see him again with the big club soon enough
April 1, 200620 yr Why do we have to be so cheap? It's not like $327k is very much in baseball terms.
April 1, 200620 yr Why do we have to be so cheap? It's not like $327k is very much in baseball terms. There's always the possibility that Mcgrew isn't worth the investment in time needed, especially considering our deep supply in pitchers. I thought it was a waste of a Rule V pick in the first place, and here we are sending him back.
April 1, 200620 yr Why even keep McGrew on the DL if the Marlins "have no intention of paying McGrew"? Just send him back and save a few thousand. :plain
April 1, 200620 yr Why do we have to be so cheap? It's not like $327k is very much in baseball terms. Because with a thousand and one arms in the system, and a lengthy recuperation period ahead of him, McGrew isn't needed. Besides, "we" aren't so cheap, that is unless you're footing the bill, I know I'm not. That $300k will make or contribute to a nice signing bonus for the sixth or eighth pick in the upcoming amateur draft and can be used to get someone healthy. Besides there's always the chance the Dodgers won't take him back in which case he can come off 25 man roster and be paid like any other minor leaguer.
April 1, 200620 yr According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Marlins will send Rule 5 pick Michael Megrew (shoulder) back to the Dodgers as soon as he's healthy enough to come off the DL. Yes, they really are that cheap. rotoworld :confused
April 1, 200620 yr The only thing that bothers me is we could of had another position player. I don't really get why it was wasted on a pitcher, one who had recent injuries at that.
April 1, 200620 yr The only thing that bothers me is we could of had another position player. I don't really get why it was wasted on a pitcher, one who had recent injuries at that. who did we pass on? I guess 2b Kevin Howard, but they liked Uggla better
April 1, 200620 yr Well, since there are alot of unprotected position players out there we passed on quite a few, to claim an injured pitcher we didn't need and are getting ready to send back.
April 1, 200620 yr Well, since there are alot of unprotected position players out there we passed on quite a few, to claim an injured pitcher we didn't need and are getting ready to send back. and im asking you who are these players?
April 1, 200620 yr I cant really bring up every player that was left unprotected in the rule v from memory. But dont you think there was a position player, somewhere, that could of helped us more than Megrew that we could of taken?
April 1, 200620 yr Three what? Players we could of taken that could of helped our needs? Allright, I'll try... 1)Cody Haerther, OF, Cardinals(22) 2)Shawn Garrett, OF, PHI(27) 3)Melky Cabrera, OF, NYY(21) Cabrera has MLB experience and is a switch hitter, Garrett is MLB ready and is also a switch hitter, and Haerther I cant figure out why is left unprotected, but bats lefty. All 3 could of been a lefty off the bench, Haerther and Cabrera can both play all 3 OF positions, and Garrett is a corner OFer.
April 1, 200620 yr I like what Girardi is doing mixing up the players. I love Jack McKeon and trusted everything he did, but the one thing I didn't like about his managing style was how he used his bench. He would throw the 8 starters out there every single day... You see a lot of other teams that mix in their entire roster. I can see days where Reggie plays left with Reed in center... Aguila will play left when Hammer catches.... he has a lot of options.. I really like it.. And after yesterday's game, I think Reed can wreak some havoc on the basepaths.. He had a bunt single and 2 stolen bases. I'm looking forward to watching him play.... I'm really pumped with the team we have this year... 2 days til Opening Day !!!!
April 1, 200620 yr Three what? Players we could of taken that could of helped our needs? Allright, I'll try... 1)Cody Haerther, OF, Cardinals(22) 2)Shawn Garrett, OF, PHI(27) 3)Melky Cabrera, OF, NYY(21) Cabrera has MLB experience and is a switch hitter, Garrett is MLB ready and is also a switch hitter, and Haerther I cant figure out why is left unprotected, but bats lefty. All 3 could of been a lefty off the bench, Haerther and Cabrera can both play all 3 OF positions, and Garrett is a corner OFer. 1) He cant be drafted in Rule V draft 2) If the Fish like him they could have signed him as a minor league FA 3) He is on the 40 man roster so he is protected
April 1, 200620 yr I didn't think Cabrera was on the 40 man. I know he got some playing time last season, but things I read didn't have him listed on it. My bad.
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