Few decisions facing Marlins
Roster pretty much set as games near
JUPITER – The best news for the Marlins so far this spring is that there has been so little news (on the field, anyway). And, health-pending, it might stay that way for most of the five-plus weeks until Opening Day.
The Marlins today play their first Grapefruit League game of what could be an unusually quiet camp against the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. And with exhibitions starting, manager Don Mattingly and Miami’s other decision-makers have few decisions to make as far as the 25-man roster and lineup are concerned.
“You kind of go in with a plan every spring with what you think your club looks like,” Mattingly said. “But then guys go do crazy stuff. They have big success, or guys get banged up or hurt, and things change quickly.”
There isn’t much room this spring for “crazy stuff ” to make a difference. The only roster jobs up for grabs are the fifth slot in the rotation and the last two bullpen spots — three roles likely to go to Dan Straily, Jeff Locke and Jose Urena, in whatever combination.
Every spring across baseball a handful of prospects or non-roster invitees have impressive showings during exhibition games and practically force management’s hand into awarding them a roster spot. For the 2017 Marlins, it’s hard to imagine that happening.
Even if a Yefri Perez or a Brian Anderson hits .600 or a Drew Steckenrider throws a perfect inning in all of his Grapefruit League appearances, the Marlins are unlikely to accommodate the hot hand. All three of those players in particular could see time in the big leagues at some point this season, but not out of the gate.
“You’re always careful because spring scares you,” Mattingly said. “Spring [and] September are the two months where the evaluation is tough.”
The kink in this spring’s schedule is the World Baseball Classic, which starts March 6. The Marlins have Edinson Volquez, Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Martin Prado and A.J. Ellis — as well as two minor leaguers — participating. Mattingly said WBC implications on the Marlins’ ramping-up activities will be minor.
Volquez, for example, is starting the opener Saturday and is expected to have three outings before leaving to join his Dominican teammates. And Mattingly anticipates getting Stanton, Yelich, Prado and Ellis in there more often than normal in an effort to get them more at-bats preWBC.
The rest will settle into a routine. Games are here, and even though they don’t count, it’s something to be excited about.
“You see live [batting practice], see BP, whatever we’re doing. You start to see things on the field always changes — it’s always another level [in games],” Mattingly said. “You get to see your pitchers in action. Are they holding runners? Are they over amped? Different things like that. See how our hitters react, if they’re going to the right spots. Just a lot of little stuff you get a chance to see.
“I’m always excited when we get to the games, get to a little bit more of a regular routine.”
Left-hander who is battling what the team is calling bicep tendinitis, had an MRI on Thursday after not feeling great during a throwing session. Mattingly did not have the test results Friday morning.
The Marlins still don’t believe it to be serious, but are in no hurry to rush Locke at this time of year.
“We got plenty of time,” Mattingly said. “We want to make sure he’s 100 percent. Right now, he’ll be on a slower process.”