Miami Herald

Marlins looking for leadership

BY MIKE PHILLIPS

mphillips@MiamiHerald.com

 

ST. LOUIS -- How much do the Marlins need a leader in the clubhouse?

 

''I think we have some guys who hopefully will become that later,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

 

But for now, the Marlins have no elder statesmen in their clubhouse to help mold this young team.

 

Gonzalez said Tuesday that when Miguel Cabrera showed up late for Monday's game, there wasn't a veteran in the clubhouse to speak to Cabrera.

 

''I have to do it,'' Gonzalez said.

 

Cabrera is 24, and although it might be unfair, he is held to a higher standard because of his star status and his salary -- he is the highest-paid Marlin at $7.4 million this season.

 

''I don't know if he realizes that or not,'' Gonzalez said. ``Maybe you [the media] should ask him.''

 

No such luck.

 

Cabrera bolted from the clubhouse after the game Monday without speaking to the media, and he wasn't talking Tuesday.

 

When asked about his tardiness, Cabrera walked away without replying. When media members from South Florida requested the Marlins to make Cabrera available, they were told Cabrera had no comment.

 

Gonzalez said again Tuesday the problem with Cabrera's tardiness was behind him. Gonzalez benched Cabrera and used him as a pinch-hitter in Monday's game. Cabrera was back in the starting lineup Tuesday. Gonzalez said he talked to Cabrera and everything was fine.

 

''Our relationship is good, better than good,'' Gonzalez said.

 

``Nobody showed up late on purpose. He realized what he did was not right.''

 

Gonzalez, who is in his first season, joked about managing such a young team.

 

''The more I'm around this job, I learn that nothing should shock you,'' he said. ``I hate off days. I can't stand them. You have a young club, and the off days, you don't know what they are going to do.''

 

NOLASCO UPDATE

 

Ricky Nolasco, who began the season in the rotation, was finally taken off the disabled list Tuesday and optioned to Triple A Albuquerque (N.M.), where he will pitch until the Marlins decide to recall him.

 

Nolasco went on the disabled list May 18 because of elbow inflammation. There is no timetable for his return, but the Marlins could wait until Sept. 1, when rosters are expanded, to call him up.

 

OLIVO SITS

 

Catcher Miguel Olivo, who sustained a groin injury Thursday, took another day off as backup Matt Treanor started behind the plate against the Cardinals.

 

''He's not 100 percent,'' Gonzalez said. ``We're just working him in easily. He's still struggling a little bit running.

 

``We're just giving him a little breather. You don't check with him. If you check with him, he will always say he wants to play.''

but at much as people in this site would say ... "leadership" is overated ... "veteran presence" is not needed.

The whole Cabrera-tardiness "fiasco" has been blown out of proportion by the local media, IMO. He made a mistake, he was benched, and he moved on. I think Cabrera has shown plenty of leadership qualities this season as well as last: being the first to congratulate teammates from the dugout, holding back Phillies and Marlins players in the benches-clearing brawl earlier this season, encouraging pitchers both on and off the field. He's matured a lot since 2005.

The whole Cabrera-tardiness "fiasco" has been blown out of proportion by the local media, IMO. He made a mistake, he was benched, and he moved on. I think Cabrera has shown plenty of leadership qualities this season as well as last: being the first to congratulate teammates from the dugout, holding back Phillies and Marlins players in the benches-clearing brawl earlier this season, encouraging pitchers both on and off the field. He's matured a lot since 2005.

 

 

Yea but these stories come about on a 7 game skid while falling into last place.

The whole Cabrera-tardiness "fiasco" has been blown out of proportion by the local media, IMO. He made a mistake, he was benched, and he moved on. I think Cabrera has shown plenty of leadership qualities this season as well as last: being the first to congratulate teammates from the dugout, holding back Phillies and Marlins players in the benches-clearing brawl earlier this season, encouraging pitchers both on and off the field. He's matured a lot since 2005.

Yea but these stories come about on a 7 game skid while falling into last place.

Sensationalist journalism at its worst, when it's needed least. :thumbdown

The whole Cabrera-tardiness "fiasco" has been blown out of proportion by the local media, IMO. He made a mistake, he was benched, and he moved on. I think Cabrera has shown plenty of leadership qualities this season as well as last: being the first to congratulate teammates from the dugout, holding back Phillies and Marlins players in the benches-clearing brawl earlier this season, encouraging pitchers both on and off the field. He's matured a lot since 2005.

Yea but these stories come about on a 7 game skid while falling into last place.

Sensationalist journalism at its worst, when it's needed least. :thumbdown

 

Exactly. And you're right FishFF: The media has nothing better to write about with the way this team is playing.

The whole Cabrera-tardiness "fiasco" has been blown out of proportion by the local media, IMO. He made a mistake, he was benched, and he moved on. I think Cabrera has shown plenty of leadership qualities this season as well as last: being the first to congratulate teammates from the dugout, holding back Phillies and Marlins players in the benches-clearing brawl earlier this season, encouraging pitchers both on and off the field. He's matured a lot since 2005.

Just wondering.... has Cabrera ever done anything bad in his life in your eyes?

The whole Cabrera-tardiness "fiasco" has been blown out of proportion by the local media, IMO. He made a mistake, he was benched, and he moved on. I think Cabrera has shown plenty of leadership qualities this season as well as last: being the first to congratulate teammates from the dugout, holding back Phillies and Marlins players in the benches-clearing brawl earlier this season, encouraging pitchers both on and off the field. He's matured a lot since 2005.

Just wondering.... has Cabrera ever done anything bad in his life in your eyes?

 

 

Well, considering my name is Cabrerafan, I can't possibly think badly of him, can I? :mischief

 

Seriously, though, of course he has. His behavior in 2005 was inexcusable. My point was the media has ignored the accolades the whole season, focusing instead on his weight issue, and now they blow out of proportion a minor team infraction. But considering this team has lost 7 in a row, it doesn't surprise me.

The whole Cabrera-tardiness "fiasco" has been blown out of proportion by the local media, IMO. He made a mistake, he was benched, and he moved on. I think Cabrera has shown plenty of leadership qualities this season as well as last: being the first to congratulate teammates from the dugout, holding back Phillies and Marlins players in the benches-clearing brawl earlier this season, encouraging pitchers both on and off the field. He's matured a lot since 2005.

Just wondering.... has Cabrera ever done anything bad in his life in your eyes?

 

 

Well, considering my name is Cabrerafan, I can't possibly think badly of him, can I? :mischief

 

Seriously, though, of course he has. His behavior in 2005 was inexcusable. My point was the media has ignored the accolades the whole season, focusing instead on his weight issue, and now they blow out of proportion a minor team infraction. But considering this team has lost 7 in a row, it doesn't surprise me.

As you said though, the team has lost 7 in a row...