MIAMI -- At 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, the Marlins announced the signing of their first-round pick, right-hander Brett Sinkbeil. An hour and 15 minutes later, the Missouri State University product was in a practice uniform throwing off the mound in the bullpen.

With a 94-mph fastball, Sinkbeil is a highly touted prospect who will head to the organization's short-season Jamestown club in the New York-Penn League.

 

Based on how the Marlins promote pitching from within, the road to the big leagues may be a couple of years away. Right now he isn't concerned about his timetable.

 

"I'll let them tell me when they think I'm ready," Sinkbeil said. "I don't have any time expectations. I'm just going to let them monitor my progress and tell me when they think I'm ready."

 

Drafted 19th overall, the 21-year-old's signing bonus is believed to be $1.55 million.

 

At Missouri State he went 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 11 starts. He missed about three weeks with an oblique strain. And he says at the professional level, he is focused on perfecting his changeup.

 

The pitching-rich Marlins have drafted pitching in the first round for four straight years.

 

"You want to add the depth," general manager Admin Beinfest said. "You never have enough, because of injury and non-performance, you never have enough pitching. I think it's the recipe for success. We've seen it in the past. We've seen it with us the past three weeks, as we've started pitching better, we've won more games."

 

Along with Sinkbeil, the Marlins signed 27 other draft picks: Thomas Hickman (second round), Torre Langley (third), Scott Cousins (third), Hector Correa (fourth), David Hatcher (fifth), Justin Jacobs (six), Donald Czyz (seventh), Daniel Garcia (eighth), John Raynor (ninth), Graham Taylor (10th), Osvaldo Martinez (11th), Bradley Stone (12th), Andrew Saylor (13th), Jay Buente (14th), Guillermo Martinez (15th), Jacob Blackwood (16th), David Mense (17th), Ross Liersemann (18th), Thomas Davis (19th), Corey Madden (21st), Kevan Kelley (22nd), Rylan Hanks (23rd), Joel Fountain (25th), Andy Jackson (26th), Jeremy Hall (27th), Brandon McDougall (39th) and Luis Suarez (40th).

 

Ramirez struggling: Heading into Friday night, rookie standout Hanley Ramirez found himself in the midst of an 0-for-20 slump. The shortstop last collected a hit on June 7, swatting a fifth-inning single at San Francisco.

 

Over that stretch, his batting average dipped from .302 to .278. On May 24, he was batting .335.

 

After Thursday's win over the Braves, manager Joe Girardi told Ramirez that he was on the brink of breaking out of his slide.

 

A leader on the field and at the plate, Ramirez is going through his first prolonged big-league slide.

 

"I think it would be abnormal for him not to be frustrated," Girardi said. "You go from .335 with him to where he's at, I'd be frustrated. He knows he's probably better than a .275 hitter. It's been a while since he's put a good streak together. That happens to players. Players have good months and players have bad months. But when it's all over, he's going to hit where he's supposed to be."

 

During the slump, Girardi has stuck with Ramirez at the leadoff spot. The first-year manager has every intention of keeping his 22-year-old shortstop batting first.

 

"That's where I project him to be, a No. 1 or No. 2 hitter," Girardi said. "We've stayed with other hitters when they were struggling. We didn't move them to eighth in the order. To me, you've got to learn how to fight and make adjustments in this game. The more at-bats he gets, the quicker he's going to do it."

 

Martinez readjusting: One thing Girardi pledges to do with all his rookie pitchers is not over-extend them.

 

The team is being especially careful with right-handed reliever Carlos Martinez, who was activated off the disabled list on June 2.

 

Martinez went on the DL on April 17 with elbow inflammation. He last threw on Sunday, tossing one-third of an inning in San Diego. One reason Martinez didn't pitch in the Braves series is because he was up and throwing in the bullpen on two separate days.

 

So even though he wasn't used in a game, Girardi is being cautious, counting days the relievers throw in the pen as live action.

 

"He's fine," Girardi said. "I'm trying not to go back-to-back with him right now. We're trying to protect him."

 

Martinez was available to be used on Friday.

 

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

Im glad Girardi is keeping Hanley in the lead off spot and I think tomorrow we will see him have a good game.

Good to see.

 

Excited to see what Cousins, Sinkbeil, and Langley have got.

Good to see.

 

Excited to see what Cousins, Sinkbeil, and Langley have got.

 

STOP PLUGGING YOUR COUSIN

 

 

 

 

Oh wait, wrong person.

Umm, Homer, Off-topic, but by July 31st, the Fish will have played 107 games, not 102 as your sig notes (51-51).

Anyone remember that ridiculous thread that said something like "what if the Marlins drafted players and none wanted to sign with them"?...I guess you lost sleep over nothing!

 

Damn how i felt that stupid thread was never going to end :banghead