Weekend Roundup

Ed. note: Every spring, in order to avoid repeating the same rehashed story lines, beat writers for every major league team write 300-word profiles of a whole host of new faces invited to Spring Training. These stories run the gamut from retreads hoping to extend their career one more year to marginal minor league prospects to new free-agent signees getting comfortable with their new teammates. Most of these stories are forgettable, but will give the reader at least one interesting anecdote or point of view. Every week of Spring Training, we'll be posting the best or most interesting of these stories from the Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, and other news outlets for your weekend reading pleasure.

Florida Marlins' Hayden Penn Stays Calm Despite Being Out of Options, by Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald:

"I'm not ruling him out to be one of the five [starters]," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I guess if worst comes to worst, he can become a guy in the bullpen -- a sixth guy."

Lamb Vying For Reserve Role With Marlins, by Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinal:

Last season registered high on the frustration scale as well. Lamb signed with the Mets and spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Buffalo, his first stint in the minors since 2003. In spite of all the Mets' injuries, Lamb was never added to the roster. [Ed. note: Yikes.]

Jorge Jimenez Aims to be Unexpected Starter for Florida Marlins, by Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald:

Growing up in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Jorge Jimenez said he had never heard of the term "dark horse" until Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez used it to describe the 25-year-old third baseman to reporters a week ago.

"I called a couple friends and asked them, 'What does that mean?' " said Jimenez, the primary player acquired by the Marlins in a trade with the Houston Astros for former closer Matt Lindstrom this past winter.

"They said, 'Don't worry, it's a good thing.' So, I guess I like being a dark horse."

Turnbow Ready To Pitch In Spring Game, by Joe Frisaro of mlb.com:

Spring Training for the 32-year-old, who last pitched in the big leagues in 2008, literally got off on the wrong foot. Early in camp, he jammed his left big toe, causing an infection under the nail. The discomfort was evident during his first few times throwing off the mound. It's still a little sore. 

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Rotation Set

Looks like Ted was right, Andrew Miller will start the season in the bullpen. The team named Anibal Sanchez the fourth starter, and Miller will join the rotation as the fifth starter on April 15. It seems like a sensible move to me, as Miller is still working on his motion so as to not throw across his body. Some extra time in the pen and some long relief duty in garbage time will give him an extra few weeks to iron out the kinks. Miller could become an ace, so there's no rush in getting him two extra starts in 2009.

Meanwhile, the Marlins picked up RHP Hayden Penn from the Orioles in exchange for Robert Andino in a rather unsurprising exchange of players out of options with no spots on their former teams. Hopefully Andino will find room to grow in the Orioles organization. As for Penn, he hasn't shown much promise in scant major league action, but in my mind, relievers are mostly a crapshoot: sometimes they put it together for long stretches, and sometimes they're Jorge Julio. Since the Fish would have been forced to release Andino, at least they got something in return.

The Fish also traded popular Player to be Named to Kansas City for first-baseman Ross Gload. Gload is being penciled in as Jorge Cantu's backup at first, which I am interpreting as disappointment in Gaby Sanchez. He had the first-base job all but locked up in the spring, but will open the season in Triple-A New Orleans. Surely, we will see him again by September (and maybe sooner), but in the meantime, the Marlins needed someone whose primary position was first base (with Wes Helms and Jorge Cantu being natural third-basemen).

So with Opening Day fast approaching, the roster appears all but set, with the injury status of Alfredo Amezega being the major remaining question.

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