2013 Jacob Turner has entirely different repertoire opposed to his fastball/curveball 2012 self. He has become more of a sinker-ball pitcher.
-Jose Fernandez feeling stronger as his season winds down | Fish Bytes
These may be the dog days of August, but Jose Fernandez is feeling anything but pooped. To the contrary. The 21-year-old rookie, after shutting down the Kansas City Royals, says he feels like a million bucks.
-Giancarlo Stanton calls struggles "mind-blowing" | Fish Bytes
Giancarlo Stanton is at a loss to explain his subpar season, only to say that it's been "mind-blowing." "I usually like growing experiences, but this one I don't like," said Stanton, who was left out of the lineup Wednesday for the second time on the road trip. "When I look back at this as annoying -- as every negative word you can find for this time -- hopefully this time is the only time it'll be this long, and in this fashion."
-KANSAS CITY, Mo.: Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton lacks pop on the road - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com
Giancarlo Stanton has gone cold on the road. Stanton, who once awed crowds from Colorado to California with gargantuan blasts, can’t explain where the firepower has gone when the Marlins are away from home. "I have no clue," Stanton said. "It’s unexplainable."
-Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan begins rehab assignment -- at third base | marlins.com: News
About three weeks remain in the Florida State League season, but Wednesday night felt like Spring Training all over again for Chris Coghlan. In his first rehab assignment game for Class A Jupiter, Coghlan played four innings at third base and he had a single in two at-bats against Charlotte before calling it a night at Roger Dean Stadium. How did the 28-year-old feel? "Sore," Coghlan said. "I feel like I've just played my first Spring Training game."
-Prospect Del Orbe to have surgery for skull fractures | marlins.com: News
Marlins pitching prospect Ramon Del Orbe, who sustained two skull fractures after being struck by a line drive on Tuesday, is scheduled to undergo surgery on Thursday afternoon. Initially, doctors were planning to wait to see how the 21-year-old responded. But Del Orbe has a concussion and is dealing with bleeding in his brain, so the procedure was recommended.
-Deep Marlins system has arms ready, if needed | marlins.com: News
The Marlins are rebuilding around a core of quality young pitchers, and the final weeks of the season will be a chance to look at some Minor League arms who are big league-ready. Brad Hand and No. 10 prospect Brian Flynn are a couple of Triple-A left-handers who are candidates to get the call in September to add rotation depth, and so is right-hander Sam Dyson. Hand and Dyson already are on the 40-man roster.
Triple-A lefty Brian Flynn saw his run of 21 2/3 scoreless innings snapped Monday in Las Vegas. Flynn gave up a pair of first-inning runs and five over his five-inning outing, but he still earned the win. Acquired from the Tigers as part of the Anibal Sanchez/Omar Infante trade last season, Flynn has taken a huge step forward.
Midway through the season's fifth month, the Marlins have yet to find any continuity in that spot. The two-hole isn't the club's lone area of deficiency, but manager Mike Redmond on the recently completed nine-game road trip used four different hitters there: Solano, Ed Lucas, Adeiny Hechavarria and even Jake Marisnick.
-Miami Marlis: Struggling slugger Giancarlo Stanton sits again - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Positive contributions, offensive or defensive, from Stanton have been sporadic, which is why manager Mike Redmond sat him Wednesday for the second time in five days. With Thursday's day off, the hope is the extended break will help clear his head.
Actually, it was career hit 192, and it will always be special because it ended a painful and mentally crippling 0-for-42 skid. Ruggiano endured 30 games, not all of which he played, without as much as a seeing-eye single. "It became more of a mental issue that I wouldn't wish on anyone," Ruggiano said. "It was terrible. Every at-bat grounding out or popping out, it got to the point where I wasn't even making solid contact. I had no one to blame but myself. I'm just glad it's over with and I can start getting back to doing what I do."
Around The League
-MLB Commissioner Bud Selig: No second-guessing Alex Rodriguez's 211-game suspension | MLB.com: News
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig knows there's a perception that the 211-game suspension handed to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has a personal element to it. Selig also knows there's nothing he can do about that.
-Molina returns from DL stint, will have scheduled rest | cardinals.com: News
After sitting on the disabled list for 15 days while inflammation in his right knee subsided, Yadier Molina returned to the field on Thursday trying to jump-start a team that has skidded without him. The Cardinals have devised a playing time plan for Molina in hopes that more frequent rest will help the wear and tear on his knee.
Commissioner Bud Selig, speaking to reporters on Wednesday at the quarterly Owners Meetings, said he is considering assigning someone from his office to become directly involved with what he called the "stalled" negotiations to build a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays.
-Major League Baseball plans to expand instant replay in 2014 | MLB.com: News
Major League Baseball took a giant step toward expanded instant replay Thursday on the final day of the quarterly Owners Meetings, and there will be a formal vote on the issue in November.
At Fish Stripes
-Miami Marlins rumors: Marlins may pursue Cuban free agent Jose Abreu - Fish Stripes
Elite Cuban free agent Jose Abreu will eventually make it to United States shores, but it may be too early to tell if the Miami Marlins will be suitors for the slugger.
-Miami Marlins Daily Minor League Report: August 13 - Fish Stripes
Jordan Brown had three hits in Las Vegas, Anthony DeSciafani and Arquimedes Caminero were lights-out for Jacksonville, Josh Hodges pitched six one-hit innings in Jupiter, and Colin Moran drove in three runs for Greensboro.
-Jose Abreu rumors: The Marlins, Logan Morrison, and chasing superstars - Fish Stripes
The Miami Marlins have an incumbent first baseman in Logan Morrison, but should that stop them from pursuing prized Cuban free agent Jose Dariel Abreu when he becomes a free agent in the coming months?
The Miami Marlins may consider trading from their pitching depth in the minors to acquire position players of need. However, four Marlins starters currently in their rotation are "untouchable." Are these players really that worthy?
-This Day In Marlins History: Marlins claw back to top Brewers, stay in race - Fish Stripes
On this day in team history, the Marlins' bats wake up just in time against the Milwaukee Brewers. Florida scores in the 8th and 9th innings to force extras, and Damion Easley's pinch-hit double in the 10th sends the team to a 5-3 win in 2004.