He's Finally Here

The Marlins announced a flurry of roster moves yesterday, including the callup of a prospect we have been waiting for all season:

What, you're not excited for ol' Henricus? Do you not tremble in anticipation of the Holland Hammer?

Okay, so the real reason everyone is excited is the callup of uberprospect Mike Stanton, the 20-year-old phenom who could be the next Dave Winfield, so long as he isn't the next Jeremy Hermida (not that you should be worried that he's wearing Hermida's old number... that's just some superstitious bs). Stanton will officially join the team tomorrow, with Mike Lamb being sent down to make room.

Today, however, ol' Henricus will return to the big club, as reliever Tim Wood is sent down. VandenHurk will likely start out in the bullpen, but he could be a potential replacement as a lefty starter if current starter Nate Robertson struggles.

And just to screw with our heads, the Marlins sent everyone's favorite defensive replacement Brett Carroll down to the minors and called up public enemy number one, Emilio Bonifacio. I have no idea how they will justify this move. The team probably wants another infielder on the bench since Lamb is being sent down. Even so, I disapprove. Bonifacio has proven himself to be a replacement-level player at best, I don't know why he is considered to be a better option than anyone else in the Marlins minor league system. He can run real fast, but that skill is negated by his inability to get on base. Is it wrong to hope a Mike Stanton batting practice foul ball hits Bonifacio in the kneecap?

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Meet the September Callups

Welcome back, now can we please keep Emilio Bonifacio out of the outfield?

Last night, the Marlins recalled Cameron Maybin from Triple-A New Orleans and DFA'd Luis Ayala (so much for that experiment). By making the move before September 1, the Marlins can add Maybin to the postseason roster if they make the playoffs (which is technically still possible). Today begins the first round of September callups, who are listed below. I'll update this post with names and commentary as more callups are announced.

The First Wave
Burke Badenhop, P
Rick VandenHurk, P
Brett Hayes, C

We already know plenty about Badenhop and Henricus, as they have both spent some time with the big club this year. Since the Marlins missed out on the Brad Penny derby, VandenHurk will likely get a start on Wednesday against Atlanta. With Volstad being sent down to the minors and the rest of the staff struggling, one would hope these two could contribute some quality starts and/or effective long relief if needed, but that may be asking too much (there's a reason they weren't on the 25-man roster...). Hayes seems merely a seat-filler at this point, he may get a start here and there to give Paulino and Baker a rest, but both seem well-rested due to their platoon situation.

More Callups
Andy Gonzalez, SS
Andrew Miller, LHP
Chris Volstad, RHP
Gaby Sanchez, 1B

Gonzalez becomes the de facto backup shortstop, since the only other option is Emilio Bonifacio. The Marlins recalled Miller from Triple-A. He will probably be used in long relief situations, though he could get a spot start in an emergency. Volstad will probably be used the same way. As for Sanchez, it's probably the bench for him.

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How Do You End A Slump?

Play the Padres, the only team hitting worse than the Marlins right now...

Ricky Nolasco did not have to try that hard this afternoon...

The Marlins swept the Padres in San Diego, getting a road trip started on a positive note. After watching Rick VandenHurk and Chris Volstad cruise through Adrian Gonzalez and the Replacement Level Hitters, Ricky Nolasco went 6 and 1/3 scoreless for the win on getaway day. Thanks to whoever informed the team that the All-Star Break was over a week ago...


AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi via ESPN

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Honkbal !!!

(Henricus VandenHurk learns it is better to be on the outside of a celebratory dogpile, rather than being the foundation.)

Note to Dominican Republic: This is what you get for wanting and getting A-Rod on your team (even if he didn't get a single at-bat). Now that's two prohibitive favorites he has ruined with his bad karma in two World Baseball Classics.

On to the Netherlands, I find it rather remarkable they can win any game when their most feared hitter is the legendary Randall Simon. We Marlins fans probably remember Simon mostly from his 2-run homer in the 2003 NLCS that helped the Cubs win game three, but thankfully not the series. Other people will remember him from Sausage-gate. I've actually warmed up to him while watching these few games because he looks like the goofy clubhouse character of the team and also playing the role of veteran leader. Also, i just love his swing. It is the most violent hack you can imagine which looks downright ugly when he's striking out (which happens often with free swingers like himself), but when he connects, it has a violent beauty to it which is amusing.

The Dutch pitching has been phenomenal though. After VandenHurk's 3 2/3 scoreless on Monday, I thought there would be a significant dropoff, but there hasn't. They have only allowed 6 runs in 29 innings of play. Hopefully VandenHurk is recruiting some of the pitchers in the Dutch league to come to South Florida. Pittsburgh is starting to dominate the market for Indian (And I mean, India, not Cleveland) pitchers so we should be locking down the Netherlands hurlers.

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Marlins Pitchers Dominating Early

Rick VandenHurk pitched 3 and a third scoreless innings for the upstart Dutch squad against Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic yesterday, scattering 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2. The Holland Hammer (we have got to get a better nickname for Henricus) has been working with Dutch pitching coach Bert Blyleven during the WBC, and word is Bert is teaching him how to throw a knee-buckling curve. That can't be too bad for ol' Henricus. Puerto Rico ended up winning, so the Netherlands face a rematch with the Dominican Republic tonight in an elimination game -- might we see Rick enter the game in relief to face Hanley Ramirez? Hopefully not, since he pitched yesterday, and Hanley would likely destroy Henricus and shatter his confidence.

Not to be outdone, Tall, Dark and Mormon Josh Johnson pitched 5 scoreless innings on 73 pitches against the Tigers last night, giving up 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 HBP. I've got high hopes for Josh this year. He only pitched 87 innings in 2008, so he likely won't experience the arm fatigue common to young pitchers still getting used to the long season. I'm taking last night's start as a good sign, even if half the Tigers were absent due to the WBC...

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