Mike Jacobs is still day-to-day, though we won't see him playing first in the present series .

The chance of Mike Jacobs getting a start the rest of the Marlins' series at Cincinnati seems remote.

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On Tuesday, Gonzalez wasn't so optimistic about the next day or two.

"I don't feel comfortable yet starting him," Gonzalez said.

If Jake does get into the game as a pinch-hitter and reaches base, he will be replaced for a pinch-runner.

Gonzalez says he uses the starter from the previous night because if something should happen to them while running the bases, they would have four days to rest up.

Gonzalez added, if the need for a pinch-runner for Jacobs took place in, say, the ninth inning of a tight game, a position player would be used instead of a starting pitcher.

Hendrickson, bring your running shoes to the park today, you're up.

I can hear Andy Fox's instructions now:  "don't do anything stupid, like getting hurt".

In the meantime, Carroll and Andino waste away on the bench.  Exactly, why are they up with the club?  They never play.

The latest on Josh Willingham and Mike Jacobs.

First up: Josh Willingham .

Josh Willingham felt his back tighten up during batting practice Saturday and didn't swing Sunday. He traveled with the team to Cincinnati and likely will be sent to the minors for a rehabilitation stint in the coming days.

Next up: Mike Jacobs .

First baseman Mike Jacobs (tight quad) continues his running and regular pregame batting practice and fielding routine. Gonzalez said if his progress continues, he would likely miss another day or two. 

I guess we should expect to see Jacobs rejoining the team before Willingham.  While both are missed and we can't wait to get them back, there replacements are doing an ample job filling in for them.

As Jrsyeagle mentioned in the comments last night, the Marlins may be interested in Jacque Jones .

Cut loose by the Tigers on Monday, veteran outfielder Jacque Jones has attracted some interest from around the league.

A source confirmed on Tuesday that the Marlins have inquired about the 33-year-old.

Jones was designated for assignment on Monday. If the Marlins move in quickly on the outfielder, a deal could be worked out in the next day or two.

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The Marlins have told the South Florida media that they have no comment regarding Jones.

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Jones got off to a slow start with the Tigers, appearing in 24 games while batting .165 (13-for-79) with one home run, one triple, two doubles and five RBIs.

 

Slow start?  You think?

He can play all three outfield spots, and he is a candidate to lead off.

That's not the story I'm hearing around the campfire .

The Marlins are again discussing pursuing Jones (.285 for the Cubs last year), though some internally believe he is more of a left fielder than a center fielder at this stage of his career.

Left fielder?  He have one of those, granted he is on the DL but hopefully not for long.

Let's say Jones can play center, just for the sake of argument, and taking into account that I may be the only Marlins fan on the planet who isn't that concerned about center field at the moment. I can't see what he adds.  Well, other than it will allow the club to send Carroll down to the minors where he can play everyday and I guess also, it will give Gonzo someone to talk to on the bench once Willingham returns.

But getting back to the center field thing, it is doubtful he will be able to patrol the Bermuda Triangle as well as Alfredo or even Cody.  And the way he started out hitting this season, it will be hard to justify a spot for him in the lineup based on his bat alone.

Jones is on the backside of his career and I don't think he will add much, but then again, if someone needs to rot on the bench, I guess he will be as good as anyone.  That is assuming the Marlins don't have to pay next to any of his $3 million salary.  (Note: Jones is being paid $5 million for this season, but the Cubs are on the hook for $2 million of it.)

But if it were up to me, I would pass.

Just to keep you up to date on how the players on the DL are progressing .

The Marlins are hopeful that left fielder Josh Willingham will be ready for game action within the next week. Whether that is realistic remains to be seen.

More will be known in the next few days.

Willingham went on the disabled list on May 2, retroactive to April 28. The earliest he could be reinstated is May 13, the second of a four-game series at Cincinnati.

Willingham will travel with the team this weekend when it opens a three-game set at Washington before moving on to Cincinnati on Monday.

Since being scratched from the lineup last Tuesday, Willingham has not swung a bat.

Last night in the in-game interview, Josh did sound convincing that he would be ready to go on May 13.  But as I've had said many times over, the young guys lie.  So we will see.

In other walking wounded news

In other injury-related news, center fielder Alejandro De Aza (left ankle sprain) is doing some hitting, throwing and light jogging at the team's complex in Jupiter, Fla.

Reliever Lee Gardner (elbow) and starter Sergio Mitre (right forearm strain) are not yet throwing.

Right-handers Josh Johnson (Tommy John surgery) and Anibal Sanchez (shoulder surgery) each threw off the mound on Tuesday. Both were in Jupiter.

Johnson tossed live batting practice -- 20 pitches total -- and he will throw again on Friday. Sanchez tossed a bullpen session, and he remains hopeful of being ready around the All-Star Break.

I will be very surprised if Johnson pitches for the Marlins this season.  And if he does, it will at the very end of the season to see if he is up to speed.  More than likely, most of his pitching opportunities will be in minor league rehab.

Sanchez, if he pitches for the Marlins in 2008, will likely join the club closer to August.

As for De Aza, high ankle sprains are a.....uh, not good.  Alejandro is young enough that it shouldn't be a career ender but it will be a tough rehab.

Gardener and Mitre not throwing yet means we are at least a couple of months away before they could rejoin the team.

And that's today's walking wounded report.

This may not be good .

LF Josh Willingham landed on the disabled list (lower back strain) just in time to hear seven words most men in America would only dream about.

As Willingham emerged from the trainer's room Friday, a clubhouse attendant walked in and said, "Would you like to meet Jennifer Aniston?"

The actor arrived at Dolphin Stadium with fellow actor Owen Wilson to film scenes during the game for the movie "Marley & Me".

While the Marlins were in the process of dispatching the San Diego Padres, Willingham was in the tunnels of Dolphin Stadium shooting the breeze with Aniston.

"She said, 'So why aren't you out there playing?'" Willingham recalled. "I said I hurt myself a few days ago and I can't play for a while. So, you guys shooting a movie here?"

I can just see the logic now: "you mean if I go on the DL I get to meet an attractive female star?"  If that is the case, the whole team could end up faking injuries in the hopes of having such luck.  Not that the Hammer is faking -- his is for real, but the other guys, who knows if this gets out.

I really thought the Jennifer Aniston at the park was dead, but apparently not, given the U.S. media, it keeps going on and on...

[Update] Since we are getting so many visitors, the original story is here: Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson at a Marlins game .

Matt Lindstrom's back problems haven't eased, but there appears to be no major damage .

Right-hander Matt Lindstrom's back is acting up again, but an MRI on Thursday ruled out any serious injury.

There's still a chance he could end up on the disabled list if the discomfort persists. "Hopefully it'll be better by (today),'' the reliever said. "We'll just take it day by day.''

In order to get back to playing form Matt is going use every high-tech option available to him .

"I think we're just going to keep treating it to see how it goes,'' he said. ``We'll just take it day by day.''

Last season, Lindstrom also experienced back pain, which he alleviated by sleeping on a hard floor.

''I might have to go back to the floor again,'' he said. ``I'll try whatever.''

Hey, if it works or at least you think it works, give it a go.

The problem brewing with the Lindstrom, Willingham and Jacobs injuries is that Fredi is now having to manage a short-handed bench and bullpen.  And if they persist, someone is going on the DL, probably retroactive, but a 22 man team causes a disadvantage.  One of the main disadvantages being that the catcher not starting the game can't be used in that day's game unless he is needed to replace the starting catcher.

The two possible candidates for emergency catcher, should it come to that, are injured, and therefore Fredi can't take the chance to use the non-starter for anything but insurance.

So the team becomes basically 21 men each game while Willingham, Jacobs and Lindstrom are recovering.  They have a few days to get better or someone is DL bound.  Hopefully Josh and/or Jake will return tonight.

And it just keeps getting better and better.

First up is Matt Lindstrom .

Marlins reliever Matt Lindstrom was lifted in the eighth inning on Wednesday night with tightness in his lower back.

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Lindstrom said he will meet with the team doctors before Thursday's game to decide what, if any tests, will be performed.

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"This one is different because it is not on my muscle, and it was spasming," said Lindstrom, who didn't go on the disabled list in '07. "This is different because something is slipping in my spine, because I don't feel it in my muscle area. Yesterday it was bad."

Even though Lindstrom didn't pitch on Tuesday, he felt discomfort going through his regular routine. Just walking up on the mound, he felt his back slipping. He felt it pinch, and he tried to pitch through, but was unable.

"My back started aching about a week ago, and I've been getting treatment trying to stay on top of it," he said. "This time, it felt a little different."

Oh, that is just marvelous.  If Lindstrom ends up on the DL, look for Joe Nelson to take his place.

Second up: Josh Willingham.

Looking at the big picture, the Marlins are more interested in the long haul than the short run.

That's why there is no rush to get left fielder Josh Willingham into action. A late scratch on Tuesday night because of back stiffness, he also was held out of the lineup on Wednesday against the Dodgers at Dolphin Stadium.

The most realistic return day?

Willingham said Friday probably would be the day, even though manager Fredi Gonzalez hasn't ruled out Thursday's 12:10 p.m. ET start.

I doubt he will play today and if he does it will be as a pinch hitter.

Finally, Mike Jacobs.

First baseman Mike Jacobs had a cortisone shot on his right middle finger on Wednesday. The first baseman, who pinch-hit and struck out for the final out on Tuesday, remains day-to-day.

Another player I don't expect to see the starting lineup, maybe tomorrow.  But really who knows.

And that concludes today's walking wounded report.

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?