http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/articl...sp&c_id=fla

 

Notes: Gregg embraces change

02/23/2007 5:50 PM ET

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

JUPITER, Fla. -- Caught in a logjam of relievers with the Angels, Kevin Gregg now finds himself as a front-runner for the Marlins' closer role.

Obtained from the Angels for reliever Chris Resop last November, Gregg is a 28-year-old with 125 games of big-league experience.

 

That bit of Major League service time is giving him an early edge for Florida's unsettled closer situation.

 

Ideally, the club wants someone big-league battle-tested to replace Joe Borowski, who parlayed a 36-save 2006 into a free-agent contract with the Indians.

 

Gregg, who has been a starter and long reliever, is in the closer mix with Taylor Tankersley, Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom.

 

"Everybody aspires to be either a closer or starter," said Gregg, a 6-foot-6, 238-pound right-hander. "You want to work in the back end to pitch in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning. I've been blessed over the last couple of years to watch guys like Troy Percival, Francisco Rodriguez, Scot Shields and Brendan Donnelly. Those are some of the premier guys in the game. I've been fortunate to watch them a couple of years."

 

Because of the depth the Angels had, Gregg found himself logging innings in a long-relief or spot-starter role. He appeared in 32 games a year ago and worked 78 1/3 innings, striking out 71 while walking 21.

 

His fastball is clocked between 91-94 mph, and he mixes in a sinker and slider.

 

From his days with the Angels, he witnessed firsthand how talented relievers went right after hitters.

 

"Along with all of their abilities, they like to attack hitters," Gregg said. "They put hitters on edge. They never pitch timid. They believe in their stuff and that they are going to get guys out.

 

"They've got good stuff. At this level, a lot of people have good stuff, but you have to believe in what you have. That's what they do. They believe in what they can do and they attack people."

 

Closing, though, would be a new role for Gregg. He doesn't have a big-league save, and he logged just one save in his Minor League career.

 

"Baseball is a game of opportunity," he said. "We have an unbelievable starting staff here. I like the idea of going to the back end of the bullpen and pitching in 60-70 games."

 

Health update: Anibal Sanchez, working to regain the strength in his shoulder, threw off the mound Friday.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez says Sanchez is close to pitching against hitters in batting practice.

 

"No news is good news," Gonzalez said. "Usually [bad] news filters down. But [pitching coach] Rick [Kranitz] said everything was outstanding. He will be ready to throw BP in the next day or two."

 

Gonzalez said Sanchez is about "four or five" days behind the rest of the pitchers. The plan is to get the right-hander caught up quickly once the games begin.

 

Josh Johnson, meanwhile, will throw off flat ground again on Saturday.

 

Johnson took Friday off from tossing a day after he wasn't feeling entirely right after a throwing session.

 

Johnson has been battling through some discomfort in his right triceps area, which has bothered him since January.

 

He threw Wednesday and Thursday, took Friday off, and will be back tossing Saturday.

 

Getting game ready: Full-squad workouts are a time to stress fundamentals, but Gonzalez says the players are getting antsy for the games to begin.

 

On Tuesday, the Marlins get their first game action against the University of Miami Hurricanes, who visit Roger Dean Stadium for a 3:05 p.m. ET start.

 

Florida's Grapefruit League schedule begins the next day, also at Roger Dean Stadium, when the Fish are the visitors against the Cardinals. That game starts at 1:05 p.m.

 

Gonzalez said he will announce the pitchers for the University of Miami game, as well as setting an early schedule for his pitchers, on Saturday.

 

The position players are expected to get at least one at-bat, and perhaps two, against the Hurricanes.

 

Cabrera working on his defense: Offensively, Miguel Cabrera is among the elite hitters in the game. Defensively, the 23-year-old feels he should also improve now that he has one full season at third base under his belt.

 

Groomed as a third baseman in the Minor Leagues, Cabrera played mostly left field from 2003-05. In 2004, he worked in right field in the early part of the season.

 

Overall, Cabrera has appeared in 220 big-league games at third base, compared to 347 in the outfield.

 

An area he expects to improve on is his throwing to first base.

 

"I think I'm going to do better. I played about 30 or 40 games [at third base] in Venezuela," he said, referring to Winter League action. "I feel I'm going to be more comfortable making better throws to first base. That was harder for me, throwing to first base, after I [switched from left field]. Now, I have better throwing angles to first base."

 

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball

If he can win the job for this year more power to him, I still think its just a matter of time before one of the young guns settles the closer position for a few seasons.

I would prefer tankersley and make him our closer for years to come.

I would be fine with him as a closer. I think he would easily match Borowski's performance from last year and the only other bullpen role I can see him doing well in is long relief/mop up.

 

I ain't saying it in a mean way, but you and Borowski are like Spike and Olivo.

I think he could match borowski last year as well. I also buy into the closers are highly over-rated crowd though and fully admit it.

 

I still like the idea of owens out of the closers role too perhaps.

I would be fine with him as a closer. I think he would easily match Borowski's performance from last year and the only other bullpen role I can see him doing well in is long relief/mop up.

 

I ain't saying it in a mean way, but you and Borowski are like Spike and Olivo.

No, I have statistical basis. He is talking out of his ass.

 

Other than SV/OPP, look and see how Borowski ranks statistically compared to the rest of the MLB closers and get back to me.

 

Yes, his save percentage is not awful, but I am contending that he is not a good pitcher overall if you are willing to open your eyes and look beyond the almighty S. He was a serviceable closer in many respects but he did not earn his paycheck, which is something to consider for a cash conscious club.

 

Who said I liked Borowski or value the save stat so heavily?

If Gregg ends up the Marlins closer I'll be suprised considering all of the injury risks with our rotation this year with him being a prime candidate to be a spot starter in 2007 and his past as a middle reliever. At this point I think the closer to start the season will either be Owens, Lindstrom or Pinto.

Not quite sure how Nolasco getting a shot at closer is a bad idea. It might not be the clear answer but there are no bad ideas in terms of what there is to work with in regards to the bullpen.

Not quite sure how Nolasco getting a shot at closer is a bad idea. It might not be the clear answer but there are no bad ideas in terms of what there is to work with in regards to the bullpen.

i agree...unless you have a dominant closer or at least a guy extremely capable of doing the job...all you can do is stockpile arms and hope one of them grabs the job and turns some heads...if not...you trade for someone who can and will

I would be fine with him as a closer. I think he would easily match Borowski's performance from last year and the only other bullpen role I can see him doing well in is long relief/mop up.

 

to you even Eric Reed will shine and outmatch Borowski's