Marlins Finalize Rotation

Marlins end speculation, finalize rotation
03/27/2008 2:42 PM ET
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

JUPITER, Fla. -- All the arms are finally aligned.

The Marlins put to rest any further speculation regarding their starting rotation on Thursday by formally announcing what had been expected over the past few days.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez tabbed Rick VandenHurk as the second-game starter, and Andrew Miller will take the mound in the third game, completing a youthful rotation.

With two early off-days, the Marlins are going with a four-man rotation until April 13, when a fifth starter will be added.

The Marlins open on Monday against the Mets at Dolphin Stadium.

In the three games of that series, the Marlins will throw Mark Hendrickson on Opening Day. VandenHurk will follow on Tuesday, and Miller completes the series on Wednesday.

"Rick has done a terrific job," Gonzalez said. "He deserves to go No. 2, and by doing this, it splits up the lefties."

The Marlins now will go with a lefty-righty-lefty trio in their first series.

The Marlins will be throwing, in order, Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez.

Florida is off on April 3, and Scott Olsen will be the starter on April 4 against the Pirates. Pittsburgh will be throwing Matt Morris against Olsen.

Of the four Florida starters, three are left-handers. VandenHurk, the 22-year-old from the Netherlands, is the lone right-hander in the rotation at the moment.

Ricky Nolasco will begin the season with the Marlins as a long reliever. The right-hander may wind up being the fifth starter on April 13. For now, though, Gonzalez isn't saying who will throw that day, because something may change along the way.

If for any reason, one of the first four can't make a start before April 13, Nolasco would be a candidate to fill that spot.

The Marlins haven't set their 25-man roster yet, and a number of players still in camp will travel to Miami and be available for the final spring exhibitions against the Yankees on Friday and Saturday.

Prospect Chris Volstad is slated to start against the Yankees on Saturday. The 21-year-old will get the experience of pitching in a Major League park over the weekend, but he likely will open the season at Double-A Carolina.

On Friday, Miller will get the start against the Yankees.

The Yankees will start Mike Mussina on Friday and Phil Hughes on Saturday.

The Marlins will carry 12 pitchers. They are expected to be: Nolasco, Kevin Gregg, Justin Miller, Taylor Tankersley, Renyel Pinto, Matt Lindstrom, Lee Gardner and Logan Kensing.

Doug Waechter and Joe Nelson, still on the roster, will open the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

The rest of the roster, however, is being put on hold until more is known on a few position players who are resting minor ailments.

Center fielder Cody Ross and right fielder Jeremy Hermida each played in a Minor League game on Thursday. They also will play in Minor League games in Jupiter on Friday and Saturday before joining the Marlins for their workout at Dolphin Stadium on Sunday.

Ross has a bone bruise on the side of his left knee. Hermida has been hampered by a tight left hamstring.

Catcher Mike Rabelo, out with a left knee sprain, appears to be headed to the disabled list to open the season. Rabelo has yet to play in game situations.

He likely will be on the DL, retroactive to March 21, making him eligible to return on April 5.

Matt Treanor is expected to be the Opening Day catcher, and Paul Hoover has a strong chance to begin the season on the roster because of Rabelo's injury.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

SoulRat wrote:

the Marlins are going with a four-man rotation...

Soul wrote:

....until April 13, when a fifth starter will be added.

LOL why does adding a 5th starter make you ??

SoulRat wrote:

LOL why does adding a 5th starter make you ??

Why do teams need a 5th? They didn't used to use 5 starters and guys pitched CGs, too. Don't say they wore out at an early age - guys pitched into their 40s then, too. Are we not as tough as we used to be?

No... duh :haha: I don't care as long as Miller is in that 4 and not starting opening day.

If they stick with a 4 man rotation you'll see Miller 40.5 times instead of 32.4 times. That's 8.1 extra chances to see his.... umm...legs

ummm.... legs......

That's IF he continues to pitch well enough to keep his job.. of course... it IS the Marlins we're talking about

SoulRat wrote:

ummm.... legs......

He's got what, 2...3 of them now?
EDIT: It's 2 I think

Soul wrote:

That's IF he continues to pitch well enough to keep his job.. of course... it IS the Marlins we're talking about

Yeah, they aren't exactly...well..good

no about it... although, they have done okay this spring.

Spring doesn't mean much but I suppose it's a start. Was I right about his number of lets

catbox_9 wrote:

Spring doesn't mean much but I suppose it's a start. Was I right about his number of lets

For the Tiger's sake, let's

You mean his number of LEGS? :haha:

SoulRat wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

Spring doesn't mean much but I suppose it's a start. Was I right about his number of lets

For the Tiger's sake, let's

You mean his number of LEGS? :haha:

Yeah, legs. Sorry, I can't ever type several words correctly "legs" is one of them. I can't ever type a ? correctly either - I always get / Also, whenever I try to type probable (as in probable pitchers) I always type probably.

I knew he had 2 lets legs though!

:haha: I have words I can't spell correctly either. I also can't seem to only capitalize the Y whenever I have to use you at the beginning of a sentence, it always ends up YOu

Good guess on the legs thing

Hey, I type YOu as well

It sucks how certain letters require capitalization. Wouldn't it be easier if all letters were lowercase....

Code:

this is a sentence. this is another sentence. i'm not using capital letters. can you understand what this says. i hope that you, karen, are able to read this. sure, the english is correct, but i am not using proper capitalization. how confusing! go tigers! to spark you interest i'll say the words "andrew miller".

^Hmm....that was impossible to read

Andrew Miller starts for the Marlins vs. Mets Wed. 4/2/08!

New York Mets at Florida Marlins

TV: SNY | Radio: WFAN 660, WADO 1280

7:10 pm ET

Dolphin Stadium

Marlins: One of the centerpieces in the trade with the Tigers
for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, the 22-year-old Miller threw
64 innings with the Tigers a year ago. A first-round pick in the 2005
Draft, Miller may have the most overall talent in the rotation. The
lefty, however, still is refining his skills, but he projects to be a
frontline starter for years to come.

vs

Mets: Oliver Perez enters this season with a hefty contract --
and some hefty expectations. After winning his arbitration case in
February and nearly tripling his salary to $6.5 million, Perez embarked
on a spring that was quite typical of his career to date. Half the
time, he was unhittable. The other half, he was anything but.

Maaaan, I'll tell you what.... after watching these guys the past few days.... wow.... I thought I was worried about Detroit's pitching this year. Holy crap these guys are.... not good

We will not discuss this start

SoulRat wrote:

We will not discuss this start

So...How'd Miller do?

What did I say?

Actually, he didn't do all that BAD, those Mets just lit him up tonight, he k'd 5 in 4 innings but man they beat the crap out of him.