Hanley Ramirez, as of last night, is still nursing his sore shoulder.

Hanley Ramirez doesn't believe his shoulder injury is serious, but he said he might not be able to play Friday when the Marlins open an important series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

''It's hard, but I'm not going to rush myself,'' Ramirez said.

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Ramirez winced in pain as he pulled on an undershirt while speaking to reporters, and he said it bothers him at the plate.

I'm guessing he won't start again tonight, and there is no need to rush him.  The magic is either going to happen or it won't where the playoffs are concerned.   And there is no reason to mess with the shoulder he had surgically repaired during the offseason.

When he is feeling up to it, he will return.  In the meantime, Alfredo plays a mean defensive short stop and it is interesting seeing Maybin adjusting to JRS in the outfield.  Not to mention the two of them are doing pretty good at the plate.  And by pretty good, I mean really good the last two nights.

As expected the September call ups are here for their cup of coffee, but not much else.

Center fielder Cameron Maybin, first baseman Gaby Sanchez and pitchers Ryan Tucker and Jesus Delgado -- all from the Double A Carolina Mudcats -- arrived Tuesday, but none was in the starting lineup.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he would use the new players when he could, but insisted the Marlins were still in the race for the NL East title, and he would manage the team that way.

''We're playing to win this thing,'' said Gonzalez, whose team is 5 ½ games behind the Phillies in the NL East race and 5 ½ in back of the Mets in the race for the NL wild card.

``We will use them where we see it can help us, pinch-run, pinch-hit. The best-case scenario is we win it, and we give them a start here or there..''

Huh, Fredi, the Marlins are only 5 games back in the NL wild card.  But be that as it may the Marlins still have three games each against the Phillies and the Mets after the Astros leave town.  And as close as the NL East and the NL wild card races are it is incumbent on the Marlins to field the best team possible, even if they fall out of the race.

That falling out of the race stuff isn't something I'm willing to entertain at the moment.  Since the Marlins are on a roll, the starting pitching is looking good, the bats are starting to come alive and the bullpen is holding their own.  Not saying it is going to happen, but Colorado did it last season -- so we know it can be done.

But all of this means is that the young guys up from the minors, will see very limited action.  You know, kinda what happens every year.

The Marlins are going to have to wait at least day for some of the September call ups and for some of the others, who knows how long.

Left-hander Andrew Miller (right knee tendinitis) was back in uniform Sunday and will be activated for today's series opener against the Braves. Miller will work out of the bullpen, primarily as a long man. His first eight big-league appearances in 2006 were in relief.

"I'm not completely out of the woods, but I'm in good shape to control it right now," Miller said. "It's manageable." ...

With roster expansion starting today, the Marlins' reinforcements will start trickling in. Infielders Robert Andino and Dallas McPherson are good bets to join the club after Triple-A Albuquerque concludes its season today. Center fielder Cameron Maybin and right-handerRyan Tucker could arrive once Double-A Carolina is eliminated from the Southern League playoffs.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez anticipated the Marlins promoting about six to eight players.

The bullpen needs some help which maybe Miller can provide in left-handed relief  since Rhodes is being held out as a possible closer.  Tucker will also be useful out of the pen whenever his season ends.  Should he rejoin the team.

Most of the position players will be pinch hitters and see limited time in the field.  You know, the usual.  The pitchers will work out of the pen since all of the starter slots are full.

I guess the story here is that the expanded roster won't happen all at once and it may take some time before everyone gets the call.  And once they do, they will have a marginal effect on the team's play.  But then again, you never know.  Maybe one of them will shine and improve their chances at being a big leaguer in the future.

It's cup of coffee time.

We have an update on two of the minor leaguers.

First up: Taylor Tankersley.

An MRI on Triple-A reliever Taylor Tankersley showed simple inflammation in his left (throwing) elbow. He will be shut down for a week to 10 days before being reevaluated. If there are no further issues, he could rejoin the Marlins' big-league bullpen for the final three weeks of the regular season

I doubt the Marlins will take the chance of adding his bum shoulder to the bullpen.  But he is on the 40-man roster, so you never know.

Second in the order: Cameron Maybin.

Center-field prospect Cameron Maybin was back in the starting lineup for Double-A Carolina on Wednesday. Maybin suffered from a staph infection on his left cheek, which may have been the result of a spider bite (he wasn't exactly sure). Maybin had been out since Aug. 21...

I suspect if at all possible Maybin will get the call.  Especially seeing how the trade with the Tigers looks like a complete bust for this season.  Of course, the trade was about the future and never intended to add much to the team immediately.  However, the front office does have egos, we all do, and they would like, if possible, to have someone they traded for with the team at the end of the regular season.

Which is understandable.  Now, that doesn't mean they will see much action.  But they will be with the team.

And concludes this update on the Walking Wounded Report.

It is time for another Walking Wounded Report -- Minor League edition.

First up:  Taylor Tankersley.

Triple-A lefty Taylor Tankersley, who has spent three stints in the majors this year, also was back in Jupiter. The former first-rounder underwent an MRI Tuesday after experiencing pain in his throwing elbow in his last outing on Aug. 17.

"It's not real severe, we don't think,"Marlins Assistant GM Jim Flemingsaid. "It's more precautionary than anything else."

Second in the order: Rick VandenHurk.

VandenHurk is out for the year after breaking his thumb on Aug. 17 while attempting to bunt.

Neither Tankersley or VandenHurk will be available as September call ups.

Batting third: Cameron Maybin.

Cameron Maybin, the Marlins' top prospect, had not played since Thursday after suffering a serious reaction to a spider bite on his lip.

Maybin, the center fielder at Double-A Carolina, suffered the bite while sleeping at his apartment, according to Mudcats General Manager Joe Kremer.

Depending on the type of spider and the reaction to the bite, he may not be available in September either.  These things can get rather serious in a hurry.

And that concludes to today's Walking Wounded Report -- Minor League edition.

It's time for a quick edition of the Walking Wounded Report - minus Matt Treanor who got his own story.

First up is Andrew Miller.

Andrew Miller said he is probably about two to three weeks from being healthy enough to pitch for the Marlins. But Miller, who is on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right knee, might not find his spot in the rotation waiting for him because of the return of Anibal Sanchez. Miller is scheduled to pitch in an extended spring training game Sunday.

Next up is Cameron Maybin.

Cameron Maybin returned to the lineup for Double A Carolina on Monday for the first time since July 3, when he went on the DL with a rib muscle injury. Maybin went 0 for 3 in his return and his now hitting .262. Once considered a possible midseason call-up, it now appears a September call-up would be Maybin's best chance of appearing with the Marlins this season.

I don't really look for either player to rejoin, or in the case of Maybin, join the club until September.

Assuming Anibal is anywhere close to his old form and Johnson and Volstad keep pitching the way they are going now, there will be no room at the Inn.  And Miller doesn't seem a likely candidate for bullpen work since in most of his starts he stunk in the first couple of innings.

But it could be different if he was coming out of the bullpen, you never know.  But I wouldn't count on it.

As for Maybin, he just isn't ready.  He will be one day, but that day isn't now.  If he does join the big club in September, he should see some playing time.  The only possibility he won't is that if the Marlins are fighting tooth and nail trying to get into the playoffs and Fredi doesn't want to mess with the lineup.

And that concludes today's Walking Wounded Report.

Cameron Maybin's 2008 Bowman, Gold Signature, baseball card is up for sale.

2008 Bowman Gold Signature Card 

The starting bid is $0.99 but you can avoid the stress of the bid process and take it home for $1.49.

I don't know whether this is a good deal or not, but the auction ends today.  So if you're interested in obtaining the card, you need to act quickly.