Josh Willingham won't be rejoining the team anytime soon .

Outfielder Josh Willingham said there is a chance he will seek another doctor's opinion for his injured back. Willingham, who is on the disabled list because of a strained lower back, said it could be late this month or June before he is able to return to action.

That's a ''best-case scenario,'' he said.

Another possibility is another epidural to relieve the pain. Worst case, he said, would be surgery.

'But no doctor has ever said to me, `You're a candidate for surgery,' '' he said.

Willingham said he aggravated the injury, which has kept him from playing since April 27, while taking batting practice Monday.

''I'm going to maybe see a doctor just to get another opinion,'' Willingham said. ``But I really think I just did too much on it too early because I really wanted to get back on the field.''

Definitely not good news.  If I had to bet, I put my money down on surgery some time in the future, but not necessarily this season.  The back problems have just been too chronic to avoid going under the knife at some point.  (Note: I am not a doctor nor ever went to medical school, but I did take a cat to the vet once.)

But whatever happens, Gonzo is the starting left fielder for the time being.  And that is mighty fine replacement in the short run.  However, I still want to see Carroll get some starts.

The Marlins players know what they are doing when it comes to making fans in out of market areas .

I got a phone call late Tuesday that one of the Florida Marlins players was needing one of the items I sell for work. (Super Stoked). I was to call the team trainer in the morning and he would be able to get Carson and I in the locker room, dugout, and onto the field during batting practice. A once in a lifetime chance. I got to meet a bunch of their stars including Hanley Ramirez (about to sign a 6 year $70 MILLION extension), Luis Gonzalez, and Josh Willingham.

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A few of the guys messed with Carson. He ened up with 8 or 9 balls. Pretty cool. We got seats right behind the 3rd base dugout and several of the players remembered Carson being on the field and threw him balls as they went into the dugout. What a blast.

You betcha.  The home team supplies the baseballs for the game and the visiting team thinks nothing about tossing them into the stands.  It used to be more pronounced in the past than it is today, when the home team would be judicious with game balls since they collected them for practice.  The visiting team couldn't care less.

Commenter Kristin asked the question that I am curious about:

So, what do you sell for work? I'm curious. :)

Click on the link to see the pictures of Hanley and Gonzo.  Also there are a couple of the young Mr. Carson.

Speaking of Marlins who are skilled at tossing balls into the stands, look no further than Cody.

I thought I saved the link to story, but I can't find it now.  Basically what happen was: when Cody was in the minors he caught the final out of a no-hitter thrown by the pitcher and was so excited he threw the ball into the stands.  Needless to say, the pitcher was none too thrilled.

Luis Gonzalez said something that really peaked my interest .

Luis Gonzalez, the 40-year-old veteran, has started 12 consecutive games in left field because of Josh Willingham's stiff back, and he has responded by hitting .364. He has hit safely in nine of the 12 games.

"It is a matter of repetitions," Gonzalez said. "I've been able to get my rhythm and maintain it better this way than coming off the bench. I hope this stretch will make it easier when Hammer is ready to go again."

Gonzalez had two hits in 12 at-bats with a homer and two RBI as a pinch hitter, a new role for him.

"I had too many strikeouts [six]," Gonzalez said. "I want these people to know they got what they wanted with me. I want to be valuable enough to them that I don't become a bargaining chip later in the season when teams are looking for veteran hitter."

The role of being a pinch hitter is probably one of the hardest to adapt to in all of baseball.  You sit on the bench maybe game after game and then you finally get your chance at the plate.  You come in cold and if you're lucky you may see one good pitch to hit.  Veterans are better at adjusting to pinch hitting, though not all can.  But I'm pretty sure Gonzo can but given the way the injuries are going and how well he is hitting, he may only see limited time in the pinch hitting role.

Which brings up the question again: Why in the world are Brett Carroll and Robert Andino being used as solely pinch hitters?  Shouldn't they be playing everyday somewhere?  The kids are starters -- they are not bench players.  I hope they aren't being evaluated by their performance off the bench batting once every four days as to whether they could be major league players -- because that wouldn't be fair.

Luis Gonzalez has the attention of the younger the players .

(Note: I'm having to put some post together very quickly due to time constraints.  Sorry.  And this is one.)

''He's been a huge part of the next step to us becoming a complete team,'' said catcher Matt Treanor, whose three-run homer Thursday night sealed a 7-2 victory that ended a nine-game homestand with a three-game sweep of Milwaukee. ``It's instant credibility. I call him E.F. Hutton, because when he speaks, everybody listens.''

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'Our leader,'' Jorge Cantu puts it simply.

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Gonzalez has seen a difference in the team he met this spring and the one trying to prove itself a playoff contender. He doesn't take much credit. But he should.

'I've seen a change in guys' attitudes, the way they approach games. Their preparation,'' he said. ``I see more guys staying later after games, sticking around, watching other games on TV, talking baseball. That's what fosters teamwork.''

That isn't something you find in a box score.

It is too big to put a number on.

Read the whole story, if you have time.  It really is pretty well done.

Luis Gonzalez is enjoying mentoring the young Marlins so much, that he is thinking about his life after his playing days are over .

But Gonzalez said he was open to working with young players and even said he was thinking about becoming a minor league roving instructor after retiring as a player so he could "show them old-school baseball."

"I think a lot of guys are pampered too much these days," he added.

For now, Gonzalez is making $2 million from the Marlins, playing some right field and even beginning to take ground balls at first base -- all with a smile on his face.

"He's always happy, so we're happy," Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez said. "They (the Dodgers) got a lot of talent, but sometimes it's what you have inside the clubhouse. We're together."

I'm not exactly sure where Gonzo makes his home now.  I know he was born in Tampa and his mother still lives there, but Arizona would seem to be the most likely place he calls home today.  I really should know this but I don't.

Even if he lives in Arizona, the Marlins should consider adding him on as a roving instructor once his playing days are over.  Everything he has shown thus far when being around and teaching the young guys has been nothing but positive.

And anyway, East Coast girls are hip , what that has do with anything, I don't know, but for some reason the song ran through my mind.

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?

Luis Gonzalez continues on his veteran leadership ways spearheading a gift for the Marlins PR director, Matt Roebuck .

The gift was almost as big as Matt Roebuck, whose face was as red as his hair Wednesday, when the Marlins presented him with a huge trophy for running in the Boston Marathon.

Roebuck, the team's director of media relations, was sponsored in the race by outfielderLuis Gonzalez and wore a shirt that read ``Team Gonzo.''

It was Gonzalez who called ahead to Atlanta to get the wheels in motion for the trophy. Give Braves clubhouse manager John Holland a big assist for getting the trophy on such short notice. All the Marlins chipped in to pay for it.

Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez called the entire team out to the dugout at 4:40 p.m. for what he called a ''special presentation,'' and Roebuck was stunned. The trophy even had the Boston Marathon emblem -- and Roebuck's time: 4 hours, 56 minutes, 44 seconds. 

Of course, Gonzo couldn't leave it at just arranging Roebeck's trophy .

"Take a lap around the field," outfielder Luis Gonzalez said.

Still stiff, Roebuck quipped: "I can barely walk."

Gonzalez actually sponsored Roebuck, helping him with some expenses to cover his trip to Boston.

And I wouldn't want to leave out that Mr. Roebeck finished the event behind Curt Schilling's wife.

Schilling's wife, Shonda, also competed at the Marathon, and her time was about six minutes ahead of Roebuck.

Not sure what that adds to the story, but I found it interesting.

Luckily for Matt, Gonzo has become his default endurance event planner, whether he wants him to or not.

Gonzalez on Wednesday tried to engage Roebuck in another endurance test: the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim in California.

Gonzo said he would sponsor the event. Roebuck declined.

I don't know how many home runs, RBI, doubles or singles Gonzalez will hit this season, but I can say this without a doubt:  he is one interesting guy to have on the team.