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-Marlins Notebook: Ricky Nolasco pitches well in opening-day loss | www.palmbeachpost.com
Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper can be brash and arrogant, but the reigning National League Rookie of the Year was humble and polite Monday when praising Miami Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco. Harper said he felt fortunate to have hit two home runs off Nolasco in Washington’s 2-0 win. “Nolasco’s a great pitcher,’’ said Harper, 20, who became the youngest player to hit two opening day home runs.
Here are some 2013 Miami predictions.
-WASHINGTON: Justin Ruggiano OK with Miami Marlins’ platoon plan - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com
Despite hitting .313 while serving as the Marlins’ full-time center fielder for much of last season, Justin Ruggiano isn’t complaining about sharing the position with Chris Coghlan. “I’m on board for whatever they think is best for the team,” Ruggiano said. “I don’t think I’ve done enough in this game to say I deserve to be playing every day.”
A path back to the Marlins opened up for catcher Miguel Olivo when Jeff Mathis was injured, and he’s hoping to stick around. “I have pop, and I’m here,” said the 34-year-old native of the Dominican Republic and veteran of 11 big-league seasons. “I’m very happy the Marlins gave that opportunity again.”
Owner Jeffrey Loria declined to harbor a guess on Monday’s attendance for the Marlins’ home opener. Loria is challenging Marlins fans to give the young players a chance. “People will look back in two years from now and say, ‘They did the right thing.’ Period. Give these guys a chance. Give us a chance. Watch them mature because they’re quality," Loria said.
-Miami Marlins on cusp of baseball history for ineptitude | Fish Bytes
The Marlins wake up this morning on the brink of baseball history. They haven't just lost their first two games. They've been blanked in both. And, according to Baseball-Reference.com, no team since 1916 has started a season by coming up completely empty in its first three games.
-Casey Kotchman to go on DL as first base woes continue for Marlins | Fish Bytes
It's the 75th anniversary of Abbott and Costello's famous "Who's on First?" comedy skit. But the first base situation for the Marlins is no laughing matter. Manager Mike Redmond said Casey Kotchman, who strained his left hamstring, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list. "Usually first base, it doesn't seem like it's a tough position to fill," Redmond said. "You think of all the positions, you usually have a ton of first basemen. I don't know if I've ever been around a team that hasn't had multiple first basemen. So it's odd that we're sitting here talking about three injured first baseman already this spring. It's definitely been a challenge."
-Redmond excited about influx of young players | marlins.com: News
The next generation of standout young talent is already making an impact, and Mike Redmond is having fun watching the passing of the torch. The Marlins were the victim of a couple of them on Opening Day, when Washington's Bryce Harper belted two solo homers and Stephen Strasburg threw seven shutout innings. But the Marlins have their own rising star in Giancarlo Stanton. "That's the new crop of great young players, the great young talented players," Redmond said. "You've kind of had a changeover over the last few years. Some of the older guys, who had been around for a long time, they're retiring, like Chipper Jones. The new guys are coming in, and they're exciting. It's good for the game of baseball to see the young guys to come up and have success. Hopefully, they don't have too much success against us."
-Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals - April 4, 2013 | MLB.com Preview
Wade LeBlanc is hoping to quickly settle into his newfound full-time starting role. He made nine starts and 16 relief appearances in his first season with the Marlins, in 2012, after spending the previous four years in the Padres organization, bouncing between the bullpen and the rotation and even the Minor Leagues. "It's been such a long road to get to this point that it doesn't matter when I'm throwing," said LeBlanc, who went 1-4 with a 4.18 ERA in his nine starts last year. "As long as they think I'm one of the 12 best [pitchers] they have, it doesn't matter where they put me. It feels pretty good."
-Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals - April 4, 2013 | MLB.com Preview
Wade LeBlanc is hoping to quickly settle into his newfound full-time starting role. He made nine starts and 16 relief appearances in his first season with the Marlins, in 2012, after spending the previous four years in the Padres organization, bouncing between the bullpen and the rotation and even the Minor Leagues. "It's been such a long road to get to this point that it doesn't matter when I'm throwing," said LeBlanc, who went 1-4 with a 4.18 ERA in his nine starts last year. "As long as they think I'm one of the 12 best [pitchers] they have, it doesn't matter where they put me. It feels pretty good."
-Fernandez throws sim game to prep for debut | marlins.com: News
As a tuneup for his Major League debut, Jose Fernandez spent the off-day on Tuesday throwing in a simulated game at Nationals Park."It took me three at-bats before I made contact," said Redmond, who retired as a player in 2010. "But I figured that was pretty good, because I hadn't had an at-bat in three years. It was fun. We had a good time. We made the most of it, coming in on an off-day. Tino got in there, and he had a couple of good at-bats against the kid."
Around The League
-Prospects on Top 100 list ready to show off skills | MLB.com: News
With Minor League action getting under way on Thursday, fans have the opportunity to see what the players on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list have to offer this season.
-Angels brace for Hamilton's return to Texas | angels.com: News
Josh Hamilton's return to Texas is going to get a lot of media attention this weekend, with a news conference already scheduled for Friday morning, FOX airing the Saturday game and the finale being featured on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.
-Tigers sign Jose Valverde to Minor League deal | MLB.com: News
The Tigers announced Thursday they have agreed to terms with Jose Valverde on a Minor League contract that includes an opt-out clause if he isn't in the big leagues by May 5.
-Texas Rangers, Elvis Andrus complete eight-year contract extension | MLB.com: News
The Rangers formally announced Thursday that they have signed shortstop Elvis Andrus to an eight-year contract extension through 2022 with a vesting option for 2023.
At Fish Stripes
Gorkys Hernandez, Zack Cox, and Scott Maine have returned from waiver limbo and are still Marlins. Hernandez and Cox should not have been put on waivers in the first place and their returns are victories in and of themselves.
-Miami Marlins News: Double-A outfield all injured, beginning season on disabled list - Fish Stripes
The Miami Marlins have a trio of valuable outfielders in Double-A in Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Jake Marisnick. Now they have a trio of valuable injured outfielders, as all three will begin the season on the disabled list.
-Analyzing Kevin Slowey's first start for the Miami Marlins - Fish Stripes
The Miami Marlins might have lost 3-0 yesterday versus the Washington Nationals, but it was hard to fault Kevin Slowey, who put up a surprisingly good performance.
The Miami Marlins finally scored their first run of the 2013 season on a Justin Ruggiano solo home run, but the pitching staff failed this time en route to a 6-1 loss to the Washington Nationals.