We have a light schedule today, with most of the American League teams taking the day off. There really is not a ton of great match-ups on the docket today, even though Johan Santana takes to the mound. The best of the bunch appears to be Javy Vazquez, the most underrated pitcher in fantasy circles ever, taking the mound against the Norwegian, Rick VandenHurk.
Braves (51-50) @ Marlins (53-48), 7:10pm
ATL: Javier Vazquez (32, RHP, 8-7, 2.98)
FLA: Rick VandenHurk (24, RHP, 1-0, 2.45)
Marlins reliever Matt Lindstrom, on the disabled list since June 24 with a right elbow sprain, will pitch in a rehab assignment game for Class A Jupiter on Saturday. The hard-throwing right-hander tossed a simulated game in Jupiter on Wednesday. If all goes well, he could join the Marlins in early August, perhaps when the team heads to Washington for a three-game set beginning on Aug. 4.
"The final test will be when he goes back-to-back," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. After throwing on Saturday, he could pitch again on Monday for Jupiter. From there, he would pitch every second or third day before being used in back-to-back games.
When he's ready to return, it's not automatic that he will close. At least immediately, Gonzalez said on Friday that he's leaning towards easing Lindstrom back. "We may ease him into it," Gonzalez said. "I think it's only fair for him and to the team."
read more »Got to thinking about when the Marlins might give Opening Day center fielder Cameron Maybin another shot. He's lit up the Pacific Coast League for the better part of three months now. At this point, you have to wonder whether Maybin is still in the minors to delay his arbitration eligibility.
Maybin opened the season with 58 days of service time. He accumulated 36 more before the Marlins optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans on May 10. If the Marlins recall Maybin any earlier than let's say Aug. 30 more or less, he's a virtual lock to qualifty for arbitration as a Super 2 after the 2011 season instead of after 2012, the team's first season in the new ballpark.
The Bottom Line: Stanton and Heyward are both elite prospects with All Star potential, but at this moment Heyward is probably the No. 1 prospect in baseball. He doesn’t seem to display a true weakness, while Stanton still must overcome his issues with contact. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Stanton has more upside, however.
Now, the one question I have is what if the Marlins put Stanton in center? Would Stanton in center be more valuable than Heyward in right? I think so, but it might be a moot point since Florida’s plan is to use Stanton in right. With that said, Heyward has to be considered the better prospect at this point because of his combination of upside and safety as a prospect. Both are tremendous talents, but Heyward is the surer bet to reach his potential.
read more »Rick VandenHurk, who on Monday earned his first major league win since last July 22 after allowing two runs over six innings, will assume Miller’s rotation spot. The Marlins don’t need a fifth starter until July 31 at the earliest. “I can’t say it completely surprised me,” Miller said. “Vandy pitched well for us tonight and they know they don’t need another guy. It gives me a chance to go down there and get some work in, hopefully work out some kinks.”
Asked what he needed to work on, Miller said: “The last couple of games I haven’t had command at all. For a while it was there and for whatever reason I lost it the last few outings. I just have to find out what it is and get it back.” During one eight-start stretch from May 16 to June 23 it appeared Miller was figuring it out. He had a 3.47 ERA with 21 walks and 44 strikeouts over 46 2/3 innings.
Injured reliever Matt Lindstrom has heard and read all the rumors about the Marlins looking for a closer as the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline approaches. His reaction? The Marlins don't need to make a move. "I want to be that guy," he said after throwing 40 pitches off a mound this afternoon. "But I don't think about anything else except getting healthy. When I'm healthy I know what type of pitcher I can be."
The Marlins have said Lindstrom will not return before July 31. There's a chance he could be back for the home series against Chicago that starts Aug. 1. If not then, he could rejoin the team Aug. 4 in Washington. "If everything goes right, it should be before mid-August," said Lindstrom, who has converted 14 of 16 save chances and has a 6.52 ERA.
Marlins break ground on new stadium:
Finally! No more excuses. No more 20 million dollar payrolls! .. right? ;)
TheFlorida Marlins and representatives from Major League Baseball broke ground today with South Florida officials on the team's new, retractable-roof stadium in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, saying the long-awaited ballpark will capture the city's youthful spirit and the attention of baseball fans worldwide.
"We have a special vibe," Marlins owner Jeffery Loria said. "Our architecture is bold and exciting. And it was always clear to me that this ballpark must capture and mirror the special feeling of Miami. It's the feeling of cool."
The team — which will be called the Miami Marlins when the stadium opens — showed off new renderings and videos of the ballpark plans at the ceremony, which officials capped off by donning white hard hats and plunging gleaming shovels into the dirt where home plate will be located. The ballpark, which is expected to be completed by Opening Day 2012, is being built on a patch of land where the now-demolished Orange Bowl once stood.
Well I certainly wouldn't rush out to pick him up. I'd be shocked if he even saw 2 or 3 save chances this season.
With Matt Lindstrom out until August with a sprained right elbow, the Marlins plan to stick with the combination of right-hander Leo Nunez or left-hander Dan Meyer to close games.But manager Fredi Gonzalez didn't rule out the possibility of new reliever Luis Ayala closing some time this season. "Why not?'' said Gonzalez. "It's a good move for the bullpen for us. He's done it all in his career, so I'm not opposed to using him in any situation. ... I don't know if he's a multiple-inning guy.''
Sounds like his long term gig will be in the bullpen.
"Here's a young kid, a diamond in the rough that's not polished, and we're asking him to compete at the major-league level with just one weapon, a fastball,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He needs to work on the secondary pitches, his changeup and his curveball and other aspects - holding runners, bunting. ... He'll be back and he'll be a dominating force once he gets it going,''The Marlins will make a roster move today. They won't need a starter until July 20, when West had been slotted to start in San Diego. "I agree 100 percent on their decision,'' said West, who has failed to pitch at least five innings in four of his 10 starts.
Not surprised to see Dan Meyer start the ninth tonight because left-handed hitting outfielder Garrett Jones, who already had one home run, led off. Yet with two righties following, righty Leo Nunez was not prepping.
He had a good reason. Nunez woke up with a stiff neck Friday and was unavailable for either of the first two games of the series. Nunez said after the game he wasn't sure about his status for Sunday's rubber game. It would depend on how he felt when he woke up.
