Hopefully everyone read Russ101 fan post yesterday about the Marlins acquiring Arthur Rhodes. If you didn't, you should have. And even if you didn't you probably already know he is with the team.
Adding a second left-handed reliever, the Marlins acquired Arthur Rhodes from Seattle in a trade for minor league righty Gaby Hernandez. Rhodes, 38, will complement Renyel Pinto in the bullpen. Rhodes, a veteran of 16 seasons, missed all of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery. He is 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 36 games this season. Rhodes is especially effective against left-handed hitters, who have hit .195 against him this year. "He has pitched in the postseason. He will be a plus for this team," baseball operations president Larry Beinfest said. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he watched highlights late Wednesday of Rhodes' final game for Seattle. Rhodes was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. "Good for him," Gonzalez said. "I like his spunkiness." I actually watch his final game with Seattle where he walked the bases loaded and eventually took the loss. In all fairness to Rhodes, I couldn't figure out where the strike zone was as called by home plate umpire, Paul Nauert. Rhodes tries to paint the black, that is his style of pitching, and Nauert was calling quality pitches on the edges balls after all-night calling pitches a foot off the plate strikes. What it amounted to was if Rhodes wanted a strike called, he had to throw down the middle of the plate. Eventually, with bases loaded he threw a breaking ball over the plate that Michael Young was able to hit for a sacrifice fly. And then, the fireworks started. As I was watching game I couldn't blame Rhodes for being upset, it probably wasn't the classiest move, but it was completely understandable. He should fit in just fine. Gaby Hernandez is a good young arm, but these trades happen all the time where a C prospect is traded for a reliever. In order to make room for Rhodes on the 25-man roster, rock-paper-scissors champ, Robert Andino, was sent to Albuquerque. In the few times Andino actually got to play, he did pretty well. Should the Marlins have an injury by an infielder or an outfielder, he will be back. But in the meantime, it is good he will get to play everyday. In other transaction news, the Marlins moved Badenhop to the 60-day DL, which I'm guessing was to make room for Rhodes on the 40-man.