Nothing new here.

 

Marlins report: Inside pitch Nov. 10, 2003

 

 

Already faced with the possibility of losing their starting catcher to free agency, the Marlins may start the season without a key backup catcher because of legal problems.

 

Ramon Castro, Florida's third-string catcher, was ordered to stand trial in Pennsylvania on rape charges. But Castro's availability for spring training, which starts in February, was in question because the trial was not immediately scheduled.

 

Starting catcher Pudge Rodriguez filed for free agency, and it's uncertain whether Florida will be able to afford him in 2004.

 

Asked if he still wants to be a Marlin in 2004, the 10-time All-Star with the Rangers told reporters: "I don't know. We will see later what is going to happen."

 

Rodriguez also became a free agent after the 2002 season. When he didn't find a deal to his liking, he agreed Jan. 20 to a $10 million, one-year contract with the Marlins. He collected $3 million of it this season, with $7 million deferred over the next two years.

 

If Rodriguez doesn't return, the Marlins will want Castro to be their starting catcher. Now, the uncertainty will force the Marlins to hold onto veteran backup catcher Mike Redmond, who made $1.05 million in 2003 and is due for a pay raise through arbitration.

 

 

Last offseason, Castro was designated as the starting catcher for 2003 until Rodriguez was signed in January to a one-year deal. Castro went on to hit .283 with 5 home runs and 8 RBI in just 53 at-bats.

 

Castro, 27, was accused of raping a woman in a Pittsburgh hotel room in August during a Marlins series against the Pirates.

 

Castro was released on his own recognizance and was allowed to remain free until trial. His attorney, J. Alan Johnson, said no rape took place and that hotel surveillance tapes will eventually prove that his client is innocent.

 

The rape charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison, though under state sentencing guidelines it's unlikely Castro would receive such a sentence if he were convicted.

 

--First baseman Derrek Lee and second baseman Luis Castillo each won their first Gold Gloves, an award for fielding excellence voted on by coaches and managers. They are the first Marlins to win the award since catcher Charles Johnson won three straight from 1995-97.

 

"It's something I've been striving for," said Lee, who committed just five errors in 1,381 chances over 155 games. "This year has been great with the World Series and the birth of the baby, and now this is just the icing on the cake."

 

When Lee learned he won, one of the first people he told was Perry Hill, Florida's infield coach.

 

"I told him, 'It's probably two years too late, but now you can start your own streak,' " Hill said, referring to Lee getting passed over and Colorado's Todd Helton and San Francisco's J.T. Snow getting the award in previous years.

 

"There's a quiet confidence about him. Derrek's never going to talk about himself, so I had to do it for him. I told him all season, 'You're the best I've seen. You're going to win that thing.' "

 

 

Castillo, who led second baseman with 386 putouts and was second with 433 assists, overtook St. Louis' Fernando Vina. He had a .986 fielding percentage and helped turn 99 double plays while starting 151 games.

 

"Luis and Derrek, they're like vacuum cleaners," Hill said. They've made so many great plays to keep us in games so that the late inning heroics actually meant something. They save so many runs, I call them defensive RBIs."

 

Like his teammates, Castillo's disadvantage was playing in a small market with minimal national exposure. But Florida's surge in the second half forced other teams to take notice of the team's talented defense.

 

"I told him, 'Luis, people are going to notice you. Just keep it up,' " said Hill.

 

"Just to watch how they work in batting practice and take their ground balls, it makes me feel like such a proud papa. They go about their work every single day to get to this point."

 

Florida had what many considered to be the best infield in the National League even though shortstop Alex Gonzalez and Mike Lowell didn't win Gold Gloves. Two St. Louis Cardinals got the awards -- third baseman Scott Rolen and former Marlins shortstop Edgar Renteria, whose trade to St. Louis made way for Gonzalez's promotion from the minor in 1998.

 

"Mike Lowell has some tough competition, but I think he'll get it someday," Lee said.

Very, very intriguing. I'll bold print the interesting stuff.

 

Marlins report: Roster Nov. 10, 2003

 

ROTATION:

 

RHP Josh Beckett (9-8, 3.04, World Series MVP) -- Became a superstar in the World Series. Florida's No. 1 starter in April.

 

RHP A.J. Burnett -- He'll be in rotation by May if he proves in the spring he has recovered from reconstructive elbow surgery.

 

RHP Brad Penny (14-10, 4.13) -- Will be trade bait unless brass think he showed postseasons spark of better things to come.

 

RHP Carl Pavano (12-13, 4.30) -- He opened eyes in postseason. Look for a big season in 2004.

 

LHP Dontrelle Willis (14-6, 3.30) -- Must prove he was not a one-year wonder. Must work on pitches other than his fastball.

 

LHP Mark Redman (14-9, 3.59) -- He made $2.15 million. Marlins may not tender him, mainly for economic reasons, and focus on Willis as their main lefty.

 

BULLPEN

 

 

RHP Ugueth Urbina (3-0, 1.41, six saves with Florida) -- He made $4.5 million and is a free agent. Can Marlins afford him? Do they even want him?

 

RHP Braden Looper (6-4, 3.68 28 saves) -- He made $1.6 million, but staff is mixed on whether he can be a closer. Arbitration eligible. Trade bait.

 

RHP Chad Fox (2-1, 2.13) -- Affordable ($500,000) free agent. He'll get shot as setup man.

 

RHP Tim Spooneybarger -- Limited action in 2004 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

 

LHP Armando Almanza -- Arbitration eligible. Might not be tendered a contract.

 

LHP Michael Tejera (3-4, 4.67) -- He'll stay because of his flexibility in long relief.

 

CATCHERS

 

 

Ivan Rodriguez (.297, 15 HR, 85 RBI) -- Free agent. He's the $7 million (deferred money owed to him over next two years) question. He has floated a possible three-year deal worth $21 million to stay home. But Marlins could let him go and start cheaper Ramon Castro. And Pudge might get a better offer elsewhere.

 

Mike Redmond (.240-0-11) -- Steady backup catcher who knows the staff best. Affordable. Will be back.

 

Ramon Castro (.283-5-8) -- Limited action because of Pudge and Redmond. Could be Opening Day starter if Marlins can't afford Pudge.

 

INFIELDERS

 

 

1B Derrek Lee (.271-31-92) -- Coming off his best year, when he made $4.25 million. Arbitration eligible. Won his first Gold Glove, but will Marlins want to pay him $8 million?

 

2B Luis Castillo (.314-6-39, 21 SB) -- Free agent who could command at least $8 million, money the Marlins won't want to spend on a second baseman with no power. Don't be surprised to see him wearing Yankees pinstripes with Alfonso Soriano in center.

 

SS Alex Gonzalez (.256-18-77) -- Even if he can't hit, the Marlins will keep the NL's best defensive infielder ($1.7 million in '03) as they build around pitching and defense.

 

3B Mike Lowell (.274-32-105) -- Arbitration eligible. Salary ($3.7 million) could double after 30-home run, 100-RBI season. Will be a public-relations nightmare if Marlins brass reneges on July talk of negotiating a multiyear deal.

 

IF Andy Fox -- Free agent who will listen to other offers.

 

IF Mike Mordecai (.213-2-8) -- Two big home runs helped Florida's clinch wild card. Veteran leadership. Affordable. He'll be back.

 

OUTFIELDERS

 

 

LF Jeff Conine (.238-5-15 with Florida) -- He's back, making $3 million in '04. A veteran and fan favorite.

 

CF Juan Pierre (.305-1-41, 65 stolen bases, stats) -- Team MVP is back, making $3.3 million in '04. If only he had a stronger outfield arm.

 

RF Juan Encarnacion (.270-19-94, 1.000 fielding percentage) -- Marlins won't tender him a contract and will put rookie Miguel Cabrera in right field.

 

OF Miguel Cabrera (.268-12-62) -- Future superstar is only 20 years old. Will start in right field unless Lowell is gone.

 

OF Lenny Harris (.286) -- Pinch-hit king who filled role and will be gone.

 

OF Todd Hollandsworth (.256-3-20) -- Free agent who will have to come back at a cheaper price than $1.5 million.

 

Redman and Encarncaion will be traded. The Marlins would never let them go for nothing and non-tender them.

Good luck finding someone who's willing to go to arbitration with Encarnacion. He will be non-tendered.

It'll be interesting to see if any teams still see Holly has a starting OF.....if not, I wouldn't mind bringing him back, which is the opposite of what I thought in June.

The catcher situation is too uncertain now. If Castro didnt have legal problems, we could be set. That said, I would be surprised if Castro isnt found innocent, or settle out of court. Which means Redmond should be gone, depending on whether we re-sign Pudge or not. Right now, I dont care either way if Pudge comes back or not. There are pluses to both sides.

I think the GGs should have been an all Marlins infield.