all pics and logos c/o mlb.com

 

vs

 

Projected Starting Pitchers

Jason Jennings & Mike Tejera

 

*WQAM, FSN, at 6:05*

 

Ramp's prediction: Fish take game 2.....BIG TIME

MARLINS PREVIEW

 

 

Credit: MLB.com / Joe Frisaro

 

05/10/2003 12:24 AM ET

Marlins meet Rockies on Saturday

Colorado (16-19) at Florida (16-21) 6:05 p.m. ET

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

 

MIAMI -- It didn't take Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis to realize he wasn't in Double-A anymore.

While Willis was impressive in his Major League debut, he did go through an adjustment period. Between innings, he spoke with Marlins minor league pitching coordinator Wayne Rosenthal, a guest of the team this homestand.

 

"Dontrelle told me, these hitters are better than Double-A," Rosenthal said. "The one thing about Dontrelle is, he will learn. You won't see him make the same mistake twice."

 

Willis tossed six strong innings Friday in the Marlins' 5-4 win over the Rockies.

 

Although he wasn't involved in the decision, he showed he belongs in the Major Leagues after making just six starts in Double-A, where he was 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA at Carolina.

 

Willis gave up a solo home run to former Marlin Preston Wilson on a pitch that wasn't located that badly. It was down-and-in, but Wilson, a good low-ball hitter, ripped it into the left-field seats.

 

The Marlins rallied from 3-1 and 4-3 down to win in the ninth on Juan Encarnacion's walkoff solo home run.

 

Encarnacion provided the late heroics. But it was Willis who offered early energy.

 

"I've never been this fired up," Willis said. "Just to get out there and play. No matter what or how well I did. I was just happy to get out there. To play, basically, against the best players in the world. You can't get moved up from the big leagues, this is it. Day-in, day-out. These are the best players. This is something I've been dreaming about since I picked up a ball."

 

 

 

Pitching matchup:

 

 

• COL: RHP Jason Jennings
   
  
• 2003 record: 2-3, 6.75
   
  
• 2002 vs. FLA: 2-0, 1.42
   
  
• Lifetime vs. FLA: 2-0, 1.42
  

• FLA: LHP Michael Tejera
   
  
• 2003 record: 0-0, 5.04
   
  
• 2002 vs COL: 0-0, 0.00
   
  
• Lifetime vs. COL: 0-0, 0.00
  

 

 

Scouting Report:

 

Jennings tied a career high with nine strikeouts in his last start on Sunday and won the start before that one, but needs to be more efficient. He threw 99 pitches in five innings on Sunday and 102 pitches in six innings the previous start.

 

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On an injury-depleted staff, Tejera has been converted from the bullpen to starter. The versatile left-hander has appeared in 13 games with two starts. He was effective in six innings against the Astros, giving up two runs on two hits. He wasn't involved in the decision. The key for Tejera is locating his pitches down in the zone, first establishing his fastball.

 

 

 

Player to watch:

 

Encarnacion had been hitting .198 (9-for-48) in his 12 games leading up to Friday night. The right fielder broke out of his slump by going 2-for-4 with a game-winning homer, and a two-run double.

 

 

 

Quotable:

 

"Just to be mentioned in the same sentence as him is an honor, especially me being from the same area. I'm just trying to be Dontrelle." -- Willis on being compared by manager Jeff Torborg to Vida Blue because of his high leg-kick and deceptive delivery.

 

 

 

On television:

 

• Marlins station: FSN
   
  
• Rockies station: UPN 20
  

 

 

 

On radio:

 

• Marlins station: Sports radio/WQAM (560 AM); WQBA (1140 AM) Spanish
   
  
• Rockies station: KOA 850 AM
  

 

 

 

Quick hits:

 

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who has missed four straight games, took batting practice Friday and could play Saturday. ... Luis Castillo has hit safely in 18 of his last 20, although he went 0-for-4 Friday and is now batting .298. ... Mike Lowell, who doubled and homered against the Rockies, raised his average to .285. Lowell's 26 RBIs lead the team.

I just wish I could watch this game on TV - Tallahassee is completely blacked out; at sports bar, on internet, on digital cable. If anyone knows a way around this, please, I will name my first born after you! :lol

I have no idea why they block Marlin games in Tallahassee :mischief2

 

I live in Ocala (couple hundred miles southeast) and they usually block D-Rays games.. but I get to see the Marlins' games.. :mischief2

 

 

Something fishy about that.. :mischief2

Rockies Lineup:

Belliard

Payton

Helton

Wilson

Walker

Hernandez

CJ

Stynes

Jennings

Fightin Fish

Pierre

Castillo

Lowell

Pudge

DLee

MarlinsBaseball.com's Fun Fact

 

 

Mike Lowell

 

 

 

• Ranks 6th in NL in AB (144)
   
  
• Ranks 8th in NL in HR (9)
   
  
• Ranks 10th in NL in RBI (26)
  

 

GAMETIME

Welcome Back....Alex "Sea Bass" Gonzalez

 

:brigginbounce :party :jump :notworthy :dkdance :wow :thumbup :coolman

Tejera gets the first 2 guys....

 

Helton walks

 

PW flies out....

 

Nice Job....

 

bottom 1st we go....

 

0-0

Pierre

Castillo

Lowell

how embarrassing...lowell swings at a 3-0 pitch and grounds into a double play...

0 - 0

 

 

Bottom 2nd

 

Pudge

DLee

Encarnacion

 

 

 

News:

 

Rockies' manager ejected (PW situation)

FLORIDA 2ND

 

-Bottom of the 2nd inning

-I Rodriguez struck out swinging.

-D Lee struck out swinging.

-Colorado's Manager C Hurdle ejected by D Cousins in the 2nd.

-J Encarnacion reached on infield single to shortstop.

-T Hollandsworth doubled to deep left, J Encarnacion thrown out at home.

 

0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors

Colorado 0, Florida 0

Encarnacion thrown out at the plate.. 0-0

4-0 Rockies....

 

Can the offense get Marlins back in the game... :unsure :

Tejera walks Jennings to lead off the inning...... uh oh

 

a couple of batters later and a 3 run HR by Preston and its

 

0-4 after 2 and a half

COLORADO 3RD

 

-Top of the 3rd inning

-J Jennings walked.

-R Belliard flied out to right.

-J Payton reached on infield single to shortstop, J Jennings to second.

-T Helton singled to right center, J Jennings scored, J Payton to third.

-P Wilson homered to left, J Payton and T Helton scored.

-L Walker grounded out to second.

-J Hernandez flied out to deep right center.

 

4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors

Colorado 4, Florida 0

PW is doing what he never did with the Marlins.. hit with RISP.. throw at him the next time.. lol :mischief2

PW is doing what he never did with the Marlins.. hit with RISP.. plunk him the next time.. lol :mischief2

LOL.

Tejera tries to stay out of a DP....trips over 1st base.....ugly fall.......dunno if he will continue

Toby Borland is warming up

FLORIDA 3RD

 

-Bottom of the 3rd inning

-A Gonzalez singled to right.

-M Tejera grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, A Gonzalez out at second.

-J Pierre grounded out to second.

 

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors

Colorado 4, Florida 0

Any one has 411 on other pitching prospect please reply to my post...

While Tejera was warming up.. he was taken out.. another injured pitcher? :banghead