Opening-day starter still unclear

 

By Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

 

 

 

JUPITER -- The Marlins won't set up their pitching rotation for another month, but manager Jack McKeon is thinking about the April 6 opener against Montreal.

 

"You've got in your mind how you'd like it to go,'' McKeon said Monday, the first day of workouts for the pitchers and catchers. "Whether it can stay that way, we'll have to wait and see. Anything can happen.''

 

Or, McKeon could go the unconventional route.

 

"You can go get four or five in a room and say, 'You guys are all capable of starting, you decide who you want to start the first game,' " he said.

 

What would the top four candidates -- right-handers Josh Beckett, Brad Penny and Carl Pavano, and left-hander Dontrelle Willis -- do if they were locked in a room and told to emerge with a decision?

 

Let's hope this group never sits on a jury together.

 

"Anybody on our team could start opening day,'' Willis said. "I think Josh has earned the right.''

 

Said Beckett: "Any of us could do it. It's not like one guy sticks out. You could decide any number of ways.''

 

Like choosing the World Series MVP?

 

"Like the most wins last year,'' Beckett said.

 

That would narrow it to Willis and Penny, since Mark Redman was traded to Oakland. All three won 14 games.

 

"We don't have a true No. 1 starter right now,'' Penny said. "Nobody has proven themselves in the big leagues like a Randy Johnson. The way I look at it, we have a lot of No. 2s and No. 3s.''

 

Pavano said spring training should weigh heavily on the decision.

 

"We'd have to see who has the best spring,'' he said. "Whoever is No. 1 shouldn't look at it like they're at the top.''

 

Beckett appears to have the edge coming off his World Series performance, which included a complete-game, five-hit shutout at Yankee Stadium in Game 6.

 

Yet Beckett has a career record of 17-17 and a 3.32 ERA.

 

McKeon was asked whether he was leaning toward Beckett.

 

"No, we don't know yet,'' he said. "I don't think he has to earn it. Somebody has to start opening day. You look at Houston, they've got three guys (Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Roy Oswalt) who could be opening-day starters. What's the difference if you pitch game one or you pitch the second game? As long as you're in there pitching.''

 

Send in the reserves: McKeon plans to take advantage of the Marlins' versatility and depth to give his regulars plenty of rest this summer.

 

Miguel Cabrera, who will start the season in right field after playing left field and third base last season, will take ground balls at third and first base this spring.

 

Wil Cordero, who signed as a free agent, will be McKeon's top player off the bench.

 

"He'll get some playing time,'' McKeon said. "I'll rest (Jeff) Conine and I can rest (Mike) Lowell. I can do some things I couldn't do last year.''

 

Contract talk: The Marlins have seven players who remain unsigned -- pitchers Beckett, Willis, Michael Neu, Tim Spooneybarger and Nate Bump, first baseman Hee-Seop Choi and catcher Wilson Valdez.

 

"It's all standard,'' General Manager Admin Beinfest said. "We have a scale and they fit in. They agree or they don't. It's not a big deal.''

 

If they don't agree to terms, each will be renewed on March 2.

 

Noteworthy: Pitchers Bryce Florie and David Manning were held out of the morning workout as each had a precautionary MRI on his arm. They threw in the afternoon.

 

tom_dangelo@pbpost.com

Beckett, hands down. He earned it by leading us to the World Series. I'm expecting big things from him this year.

I agree.

Josh will get it but as we know Jack likes pushing buttons and he lit a fire under Josh last year so he knows what he is doing...

Beckett will get the nod, he has to get the nod for confidence... but the fact that McKeon said it was up in the air, is only a sign for the kids to work a little harder in spring training

 

this is the way id like to be

 

Beckett

Penny

Willis

Pavano

Oliver

 

 

and thats only because i wouldnt want two lefties going back to back

I'd like to think it's a no-brainer that Josh will be on the hill, but Jack likes to go with the hot-hand, and if someone is dominating toward the end of ST, he'll set the rotation accordingly.

It's going to be Josh, but McKeon doesn't want anyone getting lazy so he's making them play their butts off, even during the spring.

 

I like it...

JBeck

If Josh is healthy, it'll be Josh. No question about it.

JOSHBEC GO FISH

It's gonna be a battle in spring training whoever wins it will be the opning day starter...

Remember that McKeon criticized Beckett last year for being immature. His reason to avoiding him the opening day starter may be a way to keep his focus on the game instead of his new found fame.

It is gonna be Beckett.

I doubt they put somebody in front of him.

Is there any question that Josh Beckett will be the opening day starter? :cool

Its obvious that Josh Beckett will start it. You think D-Train, Penny or Pavano will start over him?

Beckett will get his chance to show everyone he is an opening day starter instead of losing.

My money is on Beckett also.

It should be Josh. He deserves it after rising to the challenge in the WS.

 

Besides, how else would we have two Marlins WS MVPs starting against each other?

 

i.e. Beckett and Hernandez

I think it will be Beckett also but why not let D-Train go, Dontrelle always drew some big crowds so lets see how he performs on an opening day in front of a sell out crowd ????

I think it will be Beckett also but why not let D-Train go, Dontrelle always drew some big crowds so lets see how he performs on an opening day in front of a sell out crowd ????

Opening Day will be a BIG crowd whoever starts. So using that rationale would lead one to have Dontrelle start on the day with the least expected attendance to bolster it.

Yeah I guess your right but I want to see how he can perform in front of all the people because of the way that he struggled in game 4 of the NLCS so if I would like to see him thrown back out there because who knows how many times a year we will get a crowd like that

why put even more pressure on him?

 

i really dont see the point, and Josh deserves this honor anyway

I am with you that Beckett should be starting based on last year, I'm just saying that at some time or another Willis desearves another shot to play in front of a big crowd and I would rather have it 1st happen on a regular season game than taking a chance in the playoffs, you see what I mean?

I am with you that Beckett should be starting based on last year, I'm just saying that at some time or another Willis desearves another shot to play in front of a big crowd and I would rather have it 1st happen on a regular season game than taking a chance in the playoffs, you see what I mean?

not really

 

whenver DW pitches he will have a nice crowd

if beckett doesn't get it, i'm stupid