As you all know by now Josh Willingham didn't make the start yesterday and Mike Jacobs remains on the bench .

Marlins left fielder Josh Willingham was scratched from Tuesday's lineup after experiencing stiffness in his back during pregame warmups.

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Willingham has dealt with back issues in the past. He missed most of last September with a herniated disk.

Sometime in the future Willingham will require surgery on his back, the condition is just too chronic to avoid it.

Jacobs didn't make it back into the lineup on Tuesday as originally hoped, it's now looking like Thursday .

The sprained right middle finger that forced Jacobs from the lineup Sunday likely will keep him from starting until Thursday, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Jacobs felt a jolt during a sixth-inning at-bat Saturday at Milwaukee and left the game. X-rays taken after the game were negative.

Jacobs pinch-hit in the ninth inning Tuesday and struck out."In an emergency, he can play," Gonzalez said. "But we're trying to not irritate it more."

If for some reason Fredi doesn't want to start Helms at first while Jacobs is recovering, Gonzo is getting ready .

Veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez did some early work at first base before Tuesday's game just in case the Marlins need him to play there. Gonzalez said he had not played first in a game since he was with the Cubs early in his career, saying, ``It's like riding a bike, although

I haven't been on that bike in a long time.''

The biggest problem with Willingham and Jacobs out of the lineup, besides the team missing their bats, isn't Helms or Gonzo in the starting lineup, wherever they play, I'm sure they will do fine.  It is the fact that it leaves a very short bench for Fredi to work with.  On the other hand, I would enjoy seeing another late inning PH game winner from Andino.  He does that all the time.  Right?