Week In Review

Overview: The Marlins had a .500% week, dropping two of three against the Padres but taking the weekend series against the Nationals.
Positives: Hanley Ramirez has heated up with a 9-22 week with 4 homers to keep the offense rolling. The starting pitching has been a bit up and down, but the club notched two complete games this week. Especially nice was Chris Volstad's gem, his best outing this season by far.
Negatives: Overall the team has struggled. They lost three consecutive series and then dropped the opening game to Scott Olsen and the Nats which dropped them under .500%. Nate Robertson started on three days rest on Wednesday and it didn't work out.
Line of the Week: Josh Johnson clinched the honor early in the week with his epic effort in the series opener against San Diego.

CG, 9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 12 K's
3-4, 3 RBI

Highlight of the Week: Clay Hensley pitched three scoreless innings in relief on Friday and struck out seven.
Looking Ahead: After a day off tomorrow, the Fish wrap up the home stand with three against Giants. On the weekend they will face off with the Nationals again in Washington.

Lastly, as you probably have heard/read by now. After Clay Hensley's stellar outing on Friday, he learned his father passed away. He has been placed on bereavement leave. Thoughts and payers to him and his family.

Read more...

Weekend Roundup

Ed. note: This will be our last Weekend Roundup of the Spring, as the team has been sending many of its scrubs and minor leaguers back to farm. As such, the beat writers are focusing less on the no-name players and more on the few positional battles in camp. Ted and I will be doing the same starting Monday. Enjoy you weekend.


Logan Morrison focusing on rest of spring, by Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald:

The Marlins have little doubt that Morrison, who ranks among the organization's top prospects, will blossom into a mainstay for them -- a sure-fire member of the 2012 Marlins' lineup when they move into their new, Little Havana ballpark.

They love his swing. Scouts compare him to former top-hitting first basemen like Mark Grace and Tino Martinez.

But with spring training half over, it has been a hard March for Morrison.

Marlins prospect Petersen still learning from McGwire, by Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel:

"His [outfielder Bryan Petersen] swing is there," [Mark] McGwire said. "The biggest thing is talking to him about the mental part of the game… The other day when we played them I think he was 0 for 4. I said, 'Dude, those were really good at-bats. You faced two tough left-handers. You stuck your nose in there, you took pitches. You worked the count. You might not have gotten any hits, but those coaches over there see that.'"

Hensley making Marlins' rotation bid, by Joe Frisaro of MLB.com:

"The biggest thing about coming into this camp is, I was going to have to throw strikes if I was going to make this team," [Clay] Hensley said. "If you go out there and aren't throwing strikes, you're not giving yourself a chance."

Adding Mike Lowell would be smart move by Florida Marlins, by Greg Cote of the Miami Herald:

Acquiring Lowell would be seen as a smart move if it were one of those mid- to late-season trades made for the stretch run, a deal for an extra bat, for veteran leadership. So why not have all that for the whole season?

Marlins' Brett Carroll takes aim on larger role, by Harvey Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel:

Andre "Hawk" Dawson, a 2010 Hall of Fame inductee, had one of the most powerful wings in the game with 10 or more assists in eight seasons.

"Brett [Carroll] knows you got to use it to strengthen it by long-tossing and taking infield," said Dawson, who works with the outfielders as a Marlins special assistant. "He's very proud of it and likes to show it off."

Read more...