And the injuries keep coming

by craig on Mar 19, 2008 7:09 AM EDT in News Comment 1 comment

The Marlins opening day starting lineup is starting to take shape, not because the players are proving themselves to be worthy of manning a position. But once again it comes down to attrition.

...indications are the starting catcher will be Matt Treanor.

Mike Rabelo will share the catching duties this season with Treanor, but there's a chance Rabelo won't be in the starting lineup March 31 because of a sprained left leg.

Rabelo injured his leg during a collision at home plate with Washington's Austin Kearns on Thursday in Viera. An MRI showed no major damage, but Rabelo said he might not return to action until March 29 when the Marlins host the Yankees at Dolphin Stadium in their final exhibition game.

"It's probably going to come down to maybe one game and then opening day,'' said Rabelo, who has appeared in nine spring games (6-for-23, .261). "I may go to the minor-league side (for rehab), but I'm anticipating being at the stadium on opening day. Whenever I come back, I'm going to be 100 percent."

Treanor also is resting a sore left calf muscle but he hopes to return to Grapefruit League action Saturday. He underwent an MRI that showed no major damage.

"Our catchers, they're banged up," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Rabelo may be a little longer."

Opening the season with Treanor behind the plate is just fine with me. However, should it be the case that Rabelo is still rehabbing when the season starts, it will mean that Hoover or Baker will be the backup catcher until Rabelo is good to go. And assuming one of them is the backup catcher at the start of the season, is the least of the Marlins worries.

Catcher isn't the only position that is having some injury problems.

Right fielder Jeremy Hermida has been out with a tight left hamstring, which he first felt Saturday against the Orioles in Jupiter. Hermida, who is hitting in the cage, said he's not sure how soon he can return to action but he expects to be ready for opening day.

It would really be interesting to see what Hermida can do, if he were healthy for a full season, and that is something we haven't seen yet. Hopefully his recent hamstring problems are not foreboding for the season to come.

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