JUPITER, Fla. -- Unable to witness history in person, Marlins pitching coach Mark Wiley has relived the memory several times on video.

 

Anibal Sanchez's no-hitter against the D-backs on Sept. 6, 2006, remains one of the most historical performances in Marlins history. It's a game that Wiley has broken down and examined in his evaluations of the right-hander.

 

 

 

On the night Sanchez stymied Arizona, 2-0, Wiley was a special assistant in the Rockies organization. That year, he attended about seven of Sanchez's starts, and each time he walked away impressed. But on Sept. 6, Wiley was not at Dolphin Stadium, because he was on assignment at another game.

 

"I saw him throw about seven starts that year, and every one of them was unbelievable," Wiley said. "And I missed that one. I was on the road."

 

As fate would have it, Wiley was talking up Sanchez to other scouts before the no-hitter was recorded.

 

"I remember telling scouts, 'Have you seen Sanchez?'" Wiley said. "They said, 'No.' I said, 'I've seen seven games, and he gave up like four or five hits in seven innings, every time out. He's like [Greg] Maddux. He uses both sides of the plate. He's up above and below. He's got all the pitches. Everything is great.' Then, they put up on the board, 'Anibal Sanchez pitches a no-hitter.'"

 

This spring, Sanchez is striving to recapture the magic of his rookie season, when he was 10-3 with a 2.83 ERA. Since then, injuries have hindered his progress.

 

In June 2007, he underwent surgery to repair a right shoulder labrum tear. He returned to the rotation last July, and he went 2-5 with a 5.57 ERA in 10 starts.

 

Admittedly, Sanchez was rusty. At times, he was very sharp, and other times, he struggled. So much of Sanchez's game is precise command. That's why he reminds Wiley of the way Maddux pitched, working corners, keeping hitters off stride, while not always overpowering them.

 

"When he's at his best, he has a very good sense of changing speeds, and moving the ball," Wiley said. "When he can move the ball and change speeds, like he can, he's an elite pitcher."

 

Sanchez, who turns 25 on Feb. 27, is a frontrunner for a rotation spot. What he's showing so far is the ability that once made him a highly-rated prospect when he was coming through the Red Sox's farm system.

 

The Marlins acquired Sanchez after the 2005 season in the trade that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Red Sox.

 

On Sunday, Sanchez threw his second bullpen session in as many days on the back fields at Roger Dean Stadium. A refreshing sight for Florida is the right-hander was threading the needle with his pitches. Catcher John Baker barely had to move his glove as Sanchez was repeatedly hitting his spots.

 

Having peace of mind is a big reason why Sanchez is upbeat this Spring.

 

Asked if he could be the pitcher he was in 2006, Sanchez said: "I'm looking for that guy."

 

Sanchez noted that when he was a rookie, he didn't have experience, yet he found success.

 

"Right now, I have experience," Sanchez said. "I'm throwing good. I'm healthy. I don't have any problems. I don't have any restrictions.

 

"Getting my command and working down in the zone are key. Last year, even though I was back and healthy, the command wasn't there all the time. It was there sometimes."

 

Sanchez has trimmed about 10 pounds from a year ago.

 

"I feel light now," the Maracay, Venezuela, native said. "When you are in shape, you are more prepared for everything."

 

Even though he was healthy last year, Sanchez noted he had to overcome some doubts in his mind. "What's hard is when you go to the mound and you don't know if you are going to feel something or not, but in your mind you still feel it," Sanchez said. "Right now, I'm healthy and I'm ready to go to the mound. I'm excited, too. I want to finish healthy, too."

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

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Comparing him to maddux is some high praise. Man if He does come around and Ricky,jj, and volstad pitch like they can watch out.

Sadly i think he will stink again.

He's not Maddux unless he gets extra inches off the plate.

I don't see it.

 

Edit: By it, I mean the Maddux comparison.

We knew that he has great stuff but can he remain healthy?

Anibal doesn't have elite "stuff", so he doesn't have elite potential. Frisaro says that because of his stats in 2006. Sanchez does have the potential to be a very good middle of the rotation guy that can put together 6-7 innings of 3 or less run ball. I love Anibal, but his potential took a slide after shoulder surgery.

I think he (Frisaro) says it because when he's on, and we saw glmpses of it last season, his fastball explodes nears the plate, making it virtually unhittable. If he can again throw that pitch with consistency the rest of his stuff becomes that much more effective.

 

He works quickly, he's an intelligent guy, he's going to have to overcome the natural fear of re-injuring his shoulder and just pitch the way he's capable of, which is all a guy with his injury can do. His career could be three more starts or 300 more starts and while it's easier said than done, he can't pitch worrying about it might be.

Anibal still has big potential considering what he did last season, if look at more stats than just ERA.

I have said it before and still believe it now. When Anibal is on there are very few pitchers in the majors better. Dang he can pitch, unfortunately we caught only slight glympse of it last year. Lets hope that this season he will be much futher along his recovery and injuries are a thing of the past

I don't see it.

 

Edit: By it, I mean the Maddux comparison.

I agree with you Rabb he is nothing like Maddux as a pitcher

I have said it before and still believe it now. When Anibal is on there are very few pitchers in the majors better. Dang he can pitch, unfortunately we caught only slight glympse of it last year. Lets hope that this season he will be much futher along his recovery and injuries are a thing of the past

 

"Few," huh?

Well from the article it looks like they are only comparing him to Maddux in terms of his ability to use both sides of the plate and to spot pitches. I dont think the comparison goes beyond that.

Sanchez and elite. What an oxymoron.

Mets and winning. What an oxymoron.

 

fyp

I am not really sure whether the shoulder injury will prevent him from reaching his full potential, but prior to the injury I have to admit that I thought he probably was our most talented pitcher.

 

Sanchez has the following pitches: fastball, changeup, slider, curve. His fastball has a lot of movement and hits the low 90s consistently. He has really strong command of all his pitches and can throw any of them for a strike at any time. He can spot any pitch at will. All his pitches are above average, with none of them being "elite". But because he can spot the pitches at will, I think he has outstanding stuff. Most guys have 1-2 above average pitches, and one "out" pitch. He's got 4 above average pitches, which means all of them are "out" pitches because the hitters are consistently off balance.

 

If he can regain his form this year, I think he can win 15 and have an ERA of around 3.

well my dad thinks anibal is like our 2nd worst pitcher last year (gregg being first) but my dad never really followed the marlins since they broke up in 05, and he didn't see the 06 or 07 season. I told him how good anibal was but he said that he will never be the same, and alot of other people have as well. But i wish him the best and hope he shows people he still has potential and can be back to 06 form( pull a D Wade lol)