Taylor Tankersley back up

As Matt Wilson reported yesterday and Jrsyeagle expounded on in the comments, Taylor Tankersley is back up and Eulogio De La Cruz was sent down.

An industry source said Taylor Tankersley will be recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, after the 25-year-old former University of Alabama standout compiled a 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 innings at the Minor League level.

Tankersley, who opened the season with the Marlins, will take the roster spot of right-hander Eulogio De La Cruz, who was optioned to Albuquerque after Florida beat the Nationals, 4-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Dolphin Stadium.

If Tank is ready, and it looks like he is, he will be welcomed addition to the Marlins pen.  The Marlins definitely need an another left-handed pitcher in the pen and Tankersley fits the bill.

De La Cruz was a starter in Triple-A and it was probably too much to ask that he all of a sudden convert to a reliever.  Staring pitchers and long relievers are different animals, though one can adjust to becoming the other over time.  De La Cruz is only 24 years-old and he needs to be pitching with more regularity than he was seeing with the big club.