Marlins Building Confidence

Notes: Confidence building

Utility man Hermida; Cabrera plays small ball

SAN DIEGO -- Confidence is quietly building in the young Marlins clubhouse. It is best exemplified in brash 22-year-old rookie Scott Olsen.

The left-handed starter pitched probably the best game of his Major League career on Saturday night. He gave up one run on two hits, walking just one, in seven innings at San Diego.

Saturday guaranteed a winning road trip in a tough West swing for the Marlins, who swept three games in Colorado and then went 1-2 in San Francisco. Couple the winning road trip with a 6-3 mark in the Marlins' last homestand, and the team is believing it can compete.

"The talent is here," Olsen said. "I think experience is very overrated. We've got enough talent to win. We just can't make the mistakes that other teams can afford to make. We pretty much have to play flawless all the time."

While the Marlins still remain in last place in the N.L. East, this is a season of retooling and evaluating.

A big reason the Marlins are much improved since losing seven straight on the road from May 15-21 is better starting pitching.

"We need experience, that's what we need, and we're getting it," manager Joe Girardi said.

Last year, Olsen, Josh Johnson and Logan Kensing were three starters for Double-A Carolina. Now, Olsen and Johnson are in the rotation and Kensing has emerged as a promising eighth-inning setup reliever, and potential future closer. Since those three rookies have been successful in the Minor League level, Olsen feels it is a matter of time before they see more positive results in the big leagues.

"We're going to be a tough team to beat," Olsen said. "We're going to be around in a lot of these games, especially towards August and September, when we're playing a lot of divisional opponents. I think a lot of teams aren't going to want to face us."

Because the Marlins are so young, they will need their share of breaks.

Some good luck actually befell Olsen on Saturday night when he instincively made a great defensive play..

With one out and no one on in the second inning, Khalil Greene swatted a hard chopper up the middle. Olsen was on his follow through, and had drifted toward third base. But out of instincts, he blindly waved his glove hand behind him. Somehow the ball found his glove. Surprised he had it, Olsen threw Greene out at first.

"It was a just stick your hand out there and hope the ball goes in the glove," Olsen said. "I wasn't even looking. It was completely by accident. But it worked. I was hoping to knock it down, but the ball was in my glove, which even better."

Stunned to make the play, Olsen gave special thought to completing the throw.

"I got worried right away, thinking, 'Boy, you better not throw this ball away,'" he said. "That's going to look really bad."

Center field option: Three times this season, rookie Jeremy Hermida has played center field, including twice on the road trip.

Girardi is confident Hermida can play all three outfield spots; right field will remain his primary position.

Hermida has seen action in center partly because Reggie Abercrombie has struggled offensively.

"Herm in my mind is a center fielder," Girardi said. "I think Herm can play all three outfield positions, but center is not something I've intended to do long-term."

Hermida has good speed, but the Marlins traditionally like a burner in center because they play in spacious Dolphin Stadium. Abercrombie can cover more ground in such a big park.

"We play in a big ball park," Girardi said. "Herm covers his amount of ground, but Reggie covers a little bit more."

Element of surprise: Miguel Cabrera will never be confused with former Marlin Juan Pierre when it comes to bunting for hits. But during this series with the Padres, the power-hitting Cabrera stole a page out of Pierre's playbook.

Cabrera dropped his first MLB bunt single, surprising everyone in the stadium Friday night in the sixth inning of a 3-2 loss.

Very rarely does a cleanup hitter with a runner on second base and no outs opt for a bunt single. But at the time the Marlins were trailing by two runs, and Cabrera saw the opportunity to get two runners on.

"When I saw Jacobs on second, I knew I had to do something," Cabrera said. "I was thinking, 'I've got to get him over to third base.'"

Girardi called Cabrera's decision heads up.

"We needed baserunners," Girardi said. "Some people might say he should try to drive in the run. But if he is not feeling good at the plate, a lot of teams will give [the bunt] to him. I'm surprised more guys don't do it."

Not that Girardi is looking for bunt singles from a slugger. But last year while Girardi was bench coach with the Yankees, he recalled Jason Giambi bunting for a hit.

"It's a weapon," Girardi said.