PORT CHARLOTTE -- Growing up in Barranquilla, Colombia, there weren’t many hometown baseball heroes for Donovan Solano to look up to.

 

That was until he turned 9 and a young Edgar Renteria caught his eye in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series.

 

“I saw him get that big hit,� Solano recalled Sunday inside the visiting clubhouse at Charlotte Sports Park. “Then I met [Renteria] after I signed [with St. Louis at 17]. I practiced with him for a season. He taught me a lot of things, how to take ground balls, things like that.�

 

Solano, who spent seven years in the Cardinals’ farm system before receiving a non-roster invite to Marlins camp this spring, has been chasing his own baseball dreams ever since. And if he can continue to impress manager Ozzie Guillen, the 24-year-old utility infielder might just earn a spot on the Marlins’ Opening Day roster.

 

With a week left in Grapefruit League play, Solano remains in the mix for a bench spot many thought would be reserved for veteran Donnie Murphy. But with Murphy struggling (.194, 6 for 31 in 13 games) and Solano posting the second-highest average on the team this spring (.375, 12 for 32 in 17 games), Guillen said deciding who gets that job will be among a few tough decisions he and his staff will have to make soon, possibly as early as Tuesday when the team returns to Jupiter from its two-game road trip.

 

“I love that kid,� Guillen said of Solano on Sunday. “He’s played very good in spring training. Swings the bat very well, making every play wherever we put him. Steals a couple bases. That’s another decision we have to sit down, see how we do it.�

 

Other decisions Guillen and his staff will have to make soon: setup man and a second left-handed hitter off the bench.

 

With outfielder Austin Kearns, catcher Brett Hayes and corner infielder Greg Dobbs pretty much penciled in as reserves, the Marlins are basically looking at Chris Coghlan or Bryan Petersen for that last job (or as a potential starter if Logan Morrison or Giancarlo Stanton aren’t ready for the start of the season).

 

Coghlan, the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year, raised his average to .267 (8 for 30 in 10 games) by going 1 for 2 on Sunday off the bench.

 

Petersen, who hit a two-run home run off Rays starter Wade Davis on Sunday, is hitting .231 (9 for 39 in 16 games) but has a higher on-base percentage (.333) than Coghlan (.290) thanks to six walks.

 

Guillen said Sunday “the competition is still there� regarding veteran outfielder Aaron Rowand. But if Rowand, who went 2 for 4 on Sunday to raise his average to .143, makes the team at this point it would be stunning.

 

As for the setup role in the bullpen, Guillen said he’ll lean on pitching coach Randy St. Claire.

“We going to sit down, see what’s the setup, righties and lefties,� Guillen said. “We can go that way, or we can go straight up. Then that will decide what the best one is for the ballclub.�

 

One candidate, right-hander Edward Mujica, gave up his first run of the spring Sunday and has a 1.80 ERA in five appearances. Other candidates include left-hander Mike Dunn (3.18 ERA in 5 2/3 innings) and right-handers Steve Cishek (1.93 ERA in 4 2/3 innings) and Ryan Webb (0.00 ERA in 6 innings).

 

All decisions will be based on what players did this spring, Guillen said, “nothing in the past.�

 

If that’s the case, Solano, a .278 career hitter in 235 games at the Triple A level, has to like his chances to become just the 11th Colombian-born player to make it in the major leagues.

 

“I don’t know if they got a spot for another [shortstop], but I wanted to open eyes, put in my time so the scouts could see me and see what I have,� Solano said. “Hopefully, I make it.�

 

 

Read more here: http://www.miamihera...l#storylink=cpy

.632 OPS in the minors. get your head out of your ass, Ozzie

This is precisely why I wasn't enthused about Ozzie coming to the Marlins. Stupid sh*t like this...favoring "his guys."

 

I also remember him saying a couple of months ago about how it would be a good idea to give Omar Vizquel a bench spot with the Marlins.

I'd be really pissed if we give this Solano kid a bench spot over Murphy.

 

It's not like past performance was that long ago. It was last year. Murphy earned a bench spot with the great job he did last season (and his versatility to play multiple positions).

I'd be really pissed if we give this Solano kid a bench spot over Murphy.

 

It's not like past performance was that long ago. It was last year. Murphy earned a bench spot with the great job he did last season (and his versatility to play multiple positions).

 

How did Murphy do a great job last year? He was f***ing awful. Unless stats has changed dramatically recently and .184 as a starter and .188 as a sub is all of a sudden considered good. I really don't understand the infatuation with this guy. He sucks and can barely play multiple spots. Give some new younger blood who can play multiple spots well a shot.

Its unreal people still have a hard on over Donnie Murphy's 44 ABs from two years ago.

I meant 2 years ago, my bad. Last year he was awful. But to his benefit, he was playing through nagging injuries.

 

The question for me comes down to who you feel more comfortable with pinch hitting. I'm more comfortable with Murphy. I find it that Solano doesn't seem to excel at anything in particular.

Its unreal people still have a hard on over Donnie Murphy's 44 ABs from two years ago.

 

 

I still have a semi for Reggie Abercrombie.

Its unreal people still have a hard on over Donnie Murphy's 44 ABs from two years ago.

 

Makes much more sense to weigh your opinion on that than on the rest of his garbage career.

I don't think Murphy is a Hall of Famer or anything but I would prefer he wins the bench job over Solano. If he falters, then we can always DFA him and call Solano up. Solano is having a great Spring but like I mentioned yesterday, so did a guy named Abraham Nunez once.

I meant 2 years ago, my bad. Last year he was awful. But to his benefit, he was playing through nagging injuries.

 

The question for me comes down to who you feel more comfortable with pinch hitting. I'm more comfortable with Murphy. I find it that Solano doesn't seem to excel at anything in particular.

 

If you take those 14 hits out of his career in 2010, he's 79/417 (.189). Come on, dim. You're better than that.

Didn't Ramon Castro once have an awesome Spring to win him the starting C job and he just completely sucked when the season started? Like Back in 04 or 05 I think.

Its unreal people still have a hard on over Donnie Murphy's 44 ABs from two years ago.

 

It's no less rational than having a hard on for 34 spring training at bats from this year, which is what Ozzie is doing.

Its unreal people still have a hard on over Donnie Murphy's 44 ABs from two years ago.

 

It's no less rational than having a hard on for 34 spring training at bats from this year, which is what Ozzie is doing.

I'm not saying Solano should be on this team outright no matter what out of ST but he deserves a shot over Murphy if he earns a spot over him which he is doing right now.

 

Didn't Ramon Castro once have an awesome Spring to win him the starting C job and he just completely sucked when the season started? Like Back in 04 or 05 I think.

 

We're not talking about a starting job, bud.

Its unreal people still have a hard on over Donnie Murphy's 44 ABs from two years ago.

 

It's no less rational than having a hard on for 34 spring training at bats from this year, which is what Ozzie is doing.

I'm not saying Solano should be on this team outright no matter what out of ST but he deserves a shot over Murphy if he earns a spot over him which he is doing right now.

Murphy sucks too and never should have been given this contract, but it's absurd to think that Solano is the lesser of two evils.

I don't think having a player play his way to the final roster spot is crazy at all.

 

But man oh man,I can't wait for a year full of penguino bemoaning Ozzie. It's going to be a buttload of fun... puke

I don't think having a player play his way to the final roster spot is crazy at all.

 

But man oh man,I can't wait for a year full of penguino bemoaning Ozzie. It's going to be a buttload of fun... puke

 

You say that as if there aren't legitimate reasons to be critical of the statements that Ozzie made above.

I meant 2 years ago, my bad. Last year he was awful. But to his benefit, he was playing through nagging injuries.

 

The question for me comes down to who you feel more comfortable with pinch hitting. I'm more comfortable with Murphy. I find it that Solano doesn't seem to excel at anything in particular.

 

If you take those 14 hits out of his career in 2010, he's 79/417 (.189). Come on, dim. You're better than that.

 

I believe in the philosophy that "not all hits are created equal".

 

Murphy did his in big spots.

Also, the "absurdity" isn't that a player is being asked to earn a spot. The absurdity is the audacity in saying that "nothing in the past" matters.

The roster hasn't even been finalized and you're already pulling out the old "this is exactly why i didn't want ozzie" spiel.

 

spare me

so, after some thought, this is obviously just a load of bulls***. is Ozzie gonna cut Stanton because he's hitting poorly this spring? nah

 

this is what we're gonna have to get used to.

Also, the "absurdity" isn't that a player is being asked to earn a spot. The absurdity is the audacity in saying that "nothing in the past" matters.

 

If that's the case, has Murphy earned a spot? Even with what he's done in the past? I think in this case, saying the past doesn't matter might even be of some advantage to Murphy. He's had a terrible major league career.

 

And I'd argue that Solano could very well be the lesser of two evils. It's not very hard for guys at this level to maintain a .202 average and post neutral +/- ratings in the field.

 

so, after some thought, this is obviously just a load of bulls***. is Ozzie gonna cut Stanton because he's hitting poorly this spring? nah

 

this is what we're gonna have to get used to.

 

Pretty sure what he said was only in relation to guys who aren't locks to make the team.

The roster hasn't even been finalized and you're already pulling out the old "this is exactly why i didn't want ozzie" spiel.

 

spare me

 

So what? I made that statement based on tangible reasons and several people seem to agree that it's a faulty mindset for a manager to have.

The roster hasn't even been finalized and you're already pulling out the old "this is exactly why i didn't want ozzie" spiel.

 

spare me

 

So what? I made that statement based on tangible reasons and several people seem to agree that it's a faulty mindset for a manager to have.

Because you're already set in your views no matter what.. I can already see that you're going to be extra critical of him this season and will probably over-analyze a buttload of otherwise inconsequential day-to-day things.. and I'm guessing its going to get annoying as sh*t. gee, can't wait

I meant 2 years ago, my bad. Last year he was awful. But to his benefit, he was playing through nagging injuries.

 

The question for me comes down to who you feel more comfortable with pinch hitting. I'm more comfortable with Murphy. I find it that Solano doesn't seem to excel at anything in particular.

 

If you take those 14 hits out of his career in 2010, he's 79/417 (.189). Come on, dim. You're better than that.

 

Take away his 14 hits? Are you kidding me? Donnie Murphy has at least shown SOME success in the bigs, while Solana can't even hit minor league pitching. But no, let's have some young blood on this team despite the fact that he's worse than Murphy.