BALTIMORE -- Back in May of 2003, after Dontrelle Willis beat the Padres for his first Major League win in his second big-league start, then-teammate Josh Beckett half-jokingly said: "He needs 299 more for 300."

It didn't take Beckett, now with the Red Sox, long to see the talent of the D-Train, who just might some day challenge some elite win totals.

 

On Tuesday night, in his 108th Major League appearance, Willis recorded his 50th career win. The 24-year-old now stands alone in the team record books. He had been tied with A.J. Burnett at 49.

 

Willis downplays the number, because he expects plenty more victories before he's done. That's one reason he didn't receive, or want, the game ball after working 8 2/3 innings in beating the Orioles on Tuesday.

 

Mindful of Willis' 116 pitches thrown in beating Baltimore, manager Joe Girardi went to Joe Borowski for the final out.

 

"I think the important thing, because he's ours, is to keep him healthy," manager Joe Girardi said. "And to make sure he is healthy for a long time."

 

Willis reaching 50 wins in 108 starts, makes him the eighth fastest (among active pitchers) to reach that plateau in so few career starts.

 

"I hope he keeps going for a long, long time and I'm around to watch him gather a lot of wins," Girardi said. "He's a quality pitcher, and he gives you quality starts all the time. He works hard. I'm a firm believer that good things happen to people who work hard."

 

The only pitchers to reach 50 wins in fewer starts are Barry Zito (88), Tim Hudson (90), Mike Mussina (90), Roger Clemens (91), Mark Mulder (93), Andy Pettitte (98) and Freddy Garcia (100).

 

On a young squad with three rookies in the rotation -- Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Scott Olsen -- Willis jokes that his franchise record won't hold up long.

 

"Well, Johnson and Ollie will break that soon enough," Willis joked, "and Nolasco. That will only hold up for a year maybe, the way they've been throwing the ball lately."

 

Despite the constant subject of persistent trade rumors, sources have told MLB.com that Willis is not available. Over the past week, teams have inquired, tossing around the names of serious prospects, but the Marlins have not expressed interest in moving their 24-year-old ace.

 

Uggla rests: In trying to leg out a grounder to third in the fifth inning Tuesday night, Dan Uggla hit the bag awkwardly, tweaking his right hamstring.

 

Playing it safe, Uggla was not in the starting lineup Wednesday, and his status is day-to-day.

 

Riding a five-game hitting streak, the rookie second baseman typically runs hard to first on any ground ball. An indication that he wasn't right came in his final at-bat, in the seventh inning, when he didn't sprint to first on a grounder to short. Instead, he trotted, and was replaced in the field the next inning.

 

Willingham ready: After playing two straight rehab assignment games with Double-A Carolina, Josh Willingham will officially be activated Thursday.

 

After Wednesday's 4-0 loss to the Orioles, Girardi announced Willingham will be activated and outfielder Chris Aguila will be optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Aguila started as the designated hitter Wednesday, and was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He has been used sparingly since being brought up when Willingham went on the disabled list June 14.

 

On the disabled list with a sprained left hand, Willingham went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and two hard-hit balls Wednesday. He played a day game after a night game, when he was 2-for-4 Tuesday.

 

Happy for the Heat: A number of Marlins were watching and rooting on the Miami Heat, winners of the NBA championship on Tuesday night.

 

Willis, who makes South Florida his offseason home, went to a number of Heat games before Spring Training started. He is a big fan of Dwyane Wade, the MVP of the championship series against Dallas.

 

"We were jumping around," Willis said after the Heat won. "We want to get back to Miami, and enjoy the festivities down there. We caught the tail end of it at the hotel.

 

"They are the kings right now."

 

The Heat's title run comes at a time the Marlins have won nine straight games.

 

"That's how it is," Willis said. "I think we'll have another run. They won a world title. We're all extremely happy for them."

 

Home run sprint: Not wanting to show up Daniel Cabrera or the Orioles on Tuesday night, Matt Treanor basically went into a home-run sprint after belting his first Major League home run.

 

By going deep in the fourth inning, Treanor ended a string of 266 career at-bats without a homer.

 

It had been a long time since Treanor homered. For Triple-A Albuquerque in 2004, he had eight home runs in 62 games.

 

As he was circling the bases, he remembered what he was taught in high school: run hard on a homer, or sit out.

 

That was instilled in him by his high school coach, Bob Ickes of Mater Dei Catholic School in Santa Ana, Calif.

 

Futures Game representative: A year ago, Jeremy Hermida made a strong impression, while representing the United States in the XM Satellite Radio Futures Game. Also in that contest, playing for the World Team and representing the Red Sox, Hanley Ramirez participated.

 

Representing the Marlins this year in the Futures Game will be right-handed pitcher Jose Garcia, a Dominican native who will be on the World Team.

 

The 21-year-old was in Spring Training with the Marlins, and opened the season at Class A Jupiter. But recently he was promoted to Double-A Carolina.

 

Garcia went 6-2 with a 1.87 ERA in 12 games for the Hammerheads. At Carolina, he is 1-0 with an 0.71 ERA in two starts.

 

The Futures Game is part of the All-Star Game weekend. It will be played in Pittsburgh on July 9.

 

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

Good thing for the offense that Hammer gets back tomorrow.

Bye bye Aguila

Why are we refusing to option down Abercrombie? Why?!?

Why are we refusing to option down Abercrombie? Why?!?

 

Because he is such a good bench warmer

Why are we refusing to option down Abercrombie? Why?!?

 

He has potential.

Why are we refusing to option down Abercrombie? Why?!?

 

He has potential. :lol

 

 

Aguila has potential too. In fact, Aguila has proven himself a better minor league hitter than Abercrombie. And more defensively responsible as well.