SB Nation - John Baker

MLB Trade Rumors: Josh Johnson for Justin Smoak and Neftali Perez??

raygu — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:00:23 -0000

by Wilfredo Lee - AP

3 months ago: Florida Marlins starter Josh Johnson winds up as he delivers a pitch during the first inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia PhilliesTuesday, Sept. 22, 2009 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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I was surprised to read that the Texas Rangers offered their two best prospects, Justin Smoak and Neftali Perez for the Marlins ace pitcher Josh Johnson. I am not sure any other team could top that offer of prospects for 2 years of JJ.

Here is what ESPN's Keith Law had to say on the offer:

"As good as Johnson is, that seems like too much to offer given the remaining years of control and the fact that Smoak and Feliz are two of the top 10 prospects in the game and two players Texas' front office prizes very highly. Smoak is a switch-hitting first baseman with patience & power from both sides, and Feliz has already shown what he can do in relief with a chance that he can still start due to his easy velocity."

The Marlins are in a semi-rebuilding mode after dealing Jeremy Hermida, and on the verge of dealing second baseman Dan Uggla. I say semi-rebuilding because they are a young team that is about to get younger once prospects Logan Morrison and Michael Stanton make it to the big league club in the next year or so.

I can't see why they rejected the Rangers solid offer. Should they have pulled the trigger on that deal, they could feature a lineup in 2010-2011 as follows:

Logan Morrison-LF

Michael Stanton-RF

Justin Smoak-1B

This team would be tough to beat on paper come 2011. If the Marlins feel they can compete in 2010, then you have to keep Josh Johnson. But, come July 31st and they are 10 games out, they should re-kindle these talks.

Poll

Should the Marlins have pulled the trigger on the Rangers offer?

Uh Yeah!!!

184 votes

No, Johnson is an ace already, you can't deal him

48 votes

232 votes | Poll has closed

John Baker out with a bruised hand

craig — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:29:24 -0000

John Baker, with a whole lot of help, bruised his hand in the yesterday's first game.

Marlins catcher John Baker left Tuesday's first game after the sixth inning with a contusion on his left hand as a result of a nasty collision with Ryan Howard at first base.

Baker struck out on a wild pitch and beat the throw to first, but as he crossed the bag, the 6-foot-4, 259-pound Howard reached for the ball and inadvertently smacked Baker in the face with his glove hand. Baker threw up his left hand in defense.

Baker is listed as day-to-day.

Baker while not really young in baseball years, 28 years-old, is finally living his dream and if he says he good to go, I wouldn't trust that in the least. There are only 10 games left in the regular season and there is no doubt he is going to do everything he can to be in the lineup, including lying through his teeth.

Baker's catching hand is the one that is injured and going down the stretch it is really important that whomever is catching be able to hold onto the ball. If it is all works out properly, he shouldn't be out for very long and in the meantime Paulino can handle the pitchers with Hayes as the backup. Yes, that is right, Brett Hayes is still on the team.

Turns out 5 days is one too many. Reds blow lead in the 9th and lose 4-3.

Slyde — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:33:12 -0000

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

Hit the showers, Coco. I guess we should be happy that it took so long for the Reds to lose a game that they led going into the 9th.

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Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Homer Bailey. 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Seriously, who else should it be? Dude deserved the win.

Key Plays

With two outs in the 3rd inning, Drew Stubbs singled and stole 2nd base. Drew Sutton followed with a single to drive in Stubbs, which drew applause from the crowd.
Other than that, the game was quiet until the Reds 8th inning. Sutton led off the inning with a triple and the scored on a base hit by Joey Votto, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead.
Dusty Baker felt it wise to bring in Francisco Cordero for the 5th day in a row. Not surprisingly, it wasn't. Chris Coghlan led off the inning with a low line drive to left field that Wladimir Balentien lost in the lights, allowing Coghlan to reach first. After a Nick Johnson line out, Hanley Ramirez singled and Jorge Cantu doubled, scoring Coghlan. A ground out by Dan Uggla pushed the tying run across the plate with 2 outs.
The bleeding didn't stop though. John Baker singled to drive in Cantu. Cody Ross followed with another bloop single and Cordero's night was mercifully over. Brett Carroll doubled off of Jared Burton to drive in the 4th run of the inning, a run that ended up being the most important one.
Juan Francisco ate his first major league sized child with his first career home run in the 9th inning, but the Reds went meekly in the 9th after that as Kevin Barker and Jay Bruce both struck out and Drew Stubbs lined out to right field.

via FanGraphs

I hate graphs that look like that.

Other Notes

The loss is the first loss by the Reds this season in a game in which they took the lead into the 9th inning. They were previously 57-0 in those games.
The loss ended the Reds 8-game home winning streak and 4-game overall winning streak.
You can use vinegar and baking soda to get that musty smell out of towels. Don't use laundry detergent or fabric softener.
Juan Francisco is the 7th Reds player to hit his first major league home run this season. Name the other six.
The Reds reach 80 losses for the 9th consecutive season. They must win 13 of their last 14 to not have their 9th straight losing season.
This was Homer Bailey's 6th straight start with 114 or more pitches.

First It Rains, Then It Pours, Washington Nationals Whipped, 11-3 By Florida Marlins.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:52:48 -0000

More photos » by Wilfredo Lee - AP

3 months ago: Washington Nationals' Marco Estrada delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Florida Marlins on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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A three hour and ten minute game after a two hour and thirty-minute rain delay is enough to test any fan's patience, and an 11-3 loss that featured the end-of-'09 Syracuse Chiefs' bullpen marching out to the mound to get pounded one after another got old real quick. The difference early was that the Marlins were cashing in on the runners Marco Estrada let on, or at least Jorge Cantu was. Hanley Ramirez K’d looking and hit into a force in his first two RBI chances tonight and Cantu followed Ramirez with a 3-run HR in the first after a leadoff single by Chris Coghlan and a walk to Nick Johnson, and a two-run double in the third for a 5-1 lead that chased Estrada after the right-hander gave up back to back walks to Coghlan and Johnson to start the frame. Estrada's out with one down in the third, having thrown 61 pitches, 35 for strikes and allowed 3 hits and 5 ER.

The Nationals, however, when it was still a game, came up short in several opportunities. Ian Desmond walked his way on in the first and Ryan Zimmerman singled, but Adam Dunn followed with his 159th K of '09, and Josh Willingham struck out to let Marlins' starter Anibal Sanchez off the hook on a first and second, no-out chance. Ian Desmond doubled to start the third, but only got within 90ft of home before he was stranded. In the fifth, after Ryan Zimmerman hit into a double play with Willie Harris on second and Ian Desmond at first, Adam Dunn finally cashed one in, scoring Harris from third with an RBI double to make it 5-2. By the end of the sixth though, once Logan Kensing had given up 3 runs on a solo home run, a single and a two-run blast before he recorded an out, the game was completely out of reach, then Victor Garate, who allowed a solo HR and a two-out double in his DC debut gave up an RBI double and a sac fly to score two in the seventh and Zack Segovia, who gave up a grand slam in his first appearance with Washington, surrendered a leadoff triple, a walk and a sac fly to start the eighth before retiring the next two Marlins in order.

Marlins win, 11-3 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Stuck With It...

Check Out The SB Nation's Florida Marlins Blog: FishStripes - Open Thread And Ichthyomancy.

"Game 142: Another Fun Collapse" - by Doghouse

BACKPAGE:

• Maxwell And Desmond Get It Done.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 49-93. (Countdown To 100 Losses Stands At...7.)

• Maxwell And Desmond Get It Done.

The Nationals’ one early run comes on a big opposite field blast by Justin Maxwell, his first of the season, and it goes out to deeeep right to leadoff the second, and Maxwell comes back with his second of the year on a second-deck job to left in the the eighth when the Nationals are already down 10-2. Ian Desmond was 4 for 4 with a walk tonight, and two games into his MLB career, the 23-year-old rookie shortstop is 6 for 8 with 3 doubles, 1 HR and 4 RBI's, and he also made slick play on a grounder from Hanley Ramirez with runners on first and second in the third, sliding to his right side to field a sharp grounder and throwing from his back to get a force at third. Ryan Zimmerman goes 1 for 5 with 2 K's and the Nationals' third baseman strands 6, grounding into two double plays for 22 GIDP in '09, good for 4th in the NL behind Kevin Kouzmanoff (25), Yadier Molina (26) and Miguel Tejada (28).

GAME REPORT:

Florida Marlins At Washington Nationals. Game 142 Of 162.

Anibal Sanchez gets Willie Harris looking to start the first, then issues a one-out walk to Ian Desmond, who’s starting at short tonight in Florida. Ryan Zimmerman moves Desmond up with a single to right. Adam Dunn K’s chasing a 2-2 fastball outside for out number two. Two on, two out for Josh Willingham. The Hammer gets a two-strike change and K’s way out in front...Marco Estrada, the DC right-hander making his debut as a starter, gives up a leadoff single to Chris Coghlan who snaps a grounder through second. Nick Johnson doesn’t see anything he likes, and the ump agrees. Single and a walk to put two on for Hanley Ramirez. Estrada gets squeezed on the inside corner when he "misses" with a 2-2 heater, but he hits the outside edge to get Hanley Ramirez looking with two on and no one out, uh, before the K, that is. Jorge Cantu battles and finally gets a fastball up that goes out in a hurry for a 3-0 Marlins’ lead early. The Mustachioed John Baker takes a two-strike fastball. Dan Uggla doesn’t see the 1-2 curve coming and it’s 3-0 Fish after one.

Justin Maxwell starts the second with a fly, ball, to, right and GONE!!! J-Max hits one all the way the other way into the second deck in right. 3-1 ballgame. Josh Bard grounds out to second, but Alberto Gonzalez gets one through the middle of the infield for a one-out single. Marco Estrada gets down a good enough bunt for Gonzalez to move up. Willie Harris pops out to third to end the Nationals’ second...Cody Ross rips a low liner to third, but that’s where Zimmerman plays. Brett Carroll pops out to second. Marco Estrada gets the opposing pitcher swinging.

Ian Desmond doubles off the old-timey scoreboard in left, sliding in headfirst ahead of Coghlan’s throw. Ryan Zimmerman K’s chasing an 0-2 heater outside. Adam Dunn hits a weak grounder toward third to at least move Desmond up. Josh Willingham walks in front of Justin Maxwell. J-Max flies out to Brett Carroll in short right...Chris Coghlan walks to start the Marlins’ third. Nick Johnson takes the second straight walk. Hanley Ramirez grounds to short, Ian Desmond makes a sliding play and throw to third for the force from his back. Jorge Cantu knocks Estrada out with a two-run double to the left-center gap for a 5-1 Florida lead. John Baker grounds back to the mound as DC righty Saul Rivera settles things down. Ian Desmond can’t barehand a weak grounder up the middle by Dan Uggla, but Cantu almost gets nailed going to far around third. Cody Ross up with runners on first and third. Ross swings through a two-strike change.

Josh Bard grounds out to start the fourth. Alberto Gonzalez hits a low liner to Uggla at second. Pinch hitter Jesus Flores flies deeep to right, but Cody Ross robs him with a catch as he hits the wall...Ross Detwiler gets back into the action for the first time since his September call-up. Detwiler vs Brett Carroll. Carroll grounds out to Desmond at short to start the bottom of the fourth. Detwiler walks Anibal Sanchez. Chris Coghlan pops out over the mound. Nick Johnson grounds out to Dunn to end the fourth.

Willie Harris walks to start the fifth and moves up a base when Ian Desmond smacks a single through second. Ryan Zimmerman grounds to short, Hanley Ramirez to Dan Uggla to Nick Johnson double play. Adam Dunn lines a single up the middle to score Harris from third, 5-2 Marlins. Josh Willingham vs Anibal Sanchez. Hammer walks and Sanchez is out. Tim Wood gets Justin Maxwell to chase strike three to end the DC fifth...Hanley Ramirez takes a leadoff walk in front of Cantu. Cantu flies out to Willie Harris in straight center. John Baker goes the other way with a line drive out to left. Dan Uggla shatters his bat lining out to first.

Josh Bard starts the sixth at the plate. Fly ball to left for the first out. Tim Wood gets a ground ball to second for Dan Uggla to handle. Jorge Padilla K’s in a pinch hit appearance...Logan Kensing takes over for DC and gives up a HR to left to Cody Ross for a 6-2 lead in the sixth. Brett Carroll hits a single to center. Gaby Sanchez gets hold of a hanging slider over the middle and he hits it real far, two-run HR, 8-2 Marlins. Chris Coghlan grounds out to first. Willie Harris hits the wall hard while catching Nick Johnson’s deep fly. Logan Kensing gets a line drive to short from Hanley Ramirez to end the sixth.

Brendan Donnelly gets Willie Harris to drill one straight down for the catcher to handle. Ian Desmond rips a one-out double to left on a line drive. Zimmerman swings through a two-strike fastball inside. Adam Dunn will not swing at the fastball outside, even with two strikes...Victor Garate takes over for the Nationals against Jorge Cantu. Leadoff walk. John Baker gets hit by a pitch. Dan Uggla flies out to left. Cody Ross doubles off the wall in left center to score one. 9-2. Brett Carroll flies out to center to score Baker. 10-2. Pinch hitter Wes Helms flies to left to end the seventh.

Josh Willingham K’s to start the eighth. J-Max hits a flat-out bomb off Matt Lindstrom!!! Deeeeep to left and into the upper deck!! One to each side tonight. 10-3 Florida. Josh Bard flies out to left. Alberto Gonzalez lines to center to end the Nationals’ eighth...Zack Segovia takes over for DC. Chris Coghlan triples to the wall in center, and probably could’ve scored on an error on a throw in. Nick Johnson walks and is replaced by Andy Gonzalez. Hanley Ramirez hits a sac fly to center. 11-3 Marlins. Jorge Cantu takes strike three. John Baker grounds out to first to end the eighth.

Renyel Pinto’s on to end it. Pinch Hittin’ Pete Orr singles through short to start the ninth. Willie Harris flies out to left. Ian Desmond singles on a short fly to right that drops in front of Brett Carroll. Ryan Zimmerman grounds to second, Dan Uggla tags Desmond and throws to first, double play to end it. 11-3 Marlins win.

Nationals now 49-93.

John Baker standing in line for a video game?

craig — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:26:03 -0000

Now granted John Baker may not start tonight since the expected Mets starter is left-handed, but still.

Count C John Baker among the throngs who will purchase a copy of "The Beatles: Rock Band" when the computer game is released Wednesday.

"I'm a huge Beatles fan. And the game's fun to play," he said. "Two years ago for my birthday we had a 'Rock Band' party. We had a bunch of guitars. We dressed as rock stars and we all played that game. It's almost like karaoke taken to the next level."

It has been awhile since I've played a computer game, time does not permit. Could someone clue me into what he is getting up early for and fighting the masses? Just curious, since he will back in Florida in two days.

Washington Nationals Drop Eight Straight, 9-5 To The Florida Marlins.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:23:56 -0000

More photos » by Luis Alvarez - AP

3 months ago: Washington Nationals' Livan Hernandez pitches against the Florida Marlins during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, the Washington Nationals best the two seven-game losing streaks they've strung together already this season by dropping eight-in-a-row with tonight's 9-5 loss to Florida. The Marlins' batters come in with a plan and settle back in the batter's box to get a good look at Livan Hernandez's slow junk and the home plate umpire, Tim McClelland, decides to squeeze the 34-year-old veteran forcing Livan to throw 107 pitches, 58 of them strikes in 5.0 innings on the mound over which he allows 8 hits, 1 HR, 6 ER and 5 walks while striking out 6. Down 3-0 after one inning, the Nationals load the bases against Florida starter Josh Johnson with no one out in the second and get an RBI single from Pete Orr to make it 3-1, but Wil Nieves K's swinging and Livan grounds into a rally-killing DP to end the threat. Washington goes hitless through the next four innings before adding three runs in the seventh on a single by Wil Nieves and a two-run double by Josh Bard, and they add a run in the ninth when Justin Maxwell doubles and scores on Mike Morse's single, but 9-5 is as close as Washington can get. Josh Johnson wins his 14th, Livan loses his 10th and the Nationals drop #90...Oh, and the Marlins improve to 11-3 against DC in '09...

Marlins win, 9-5 final.

BACKPAGE:

• Victor Garate Is One Of Us...

• Saturday Night In the Minors.

For The Completists, Full Game Report (Currently Unedited) After The JUMP...

Nationals now 46-90.

BACKPAGE:

• Victor Garate Is One Of Us...

Victor Garate entered tonight's game in the sixth, pitching for the first time above Double-AA ball, and the 24-year-old left-hander allowe...before I tell you what happened, if you don't already know, let me take you back a few posts to a conversation that took place in the comments section here the other day, where I asked, when Garate was officially added to the 25-man roster, what would happen when he made his DC debut:

Let's see:

A) Home run by first batter he faces?
B) Walks the first batter he faces?
C) Comes on with bases loaded to face a lefty, walks in run?
D) Successful first appearance, retires batter in a Lefty vs Lefty matchup?
E) Not even going to pitch?

Which would you have chosen? If you selected option "A) Home run by the first batter he faces?", you would've been correct, what's even worse is that it came on an 0-2 pitch down low in the zone to Marlins' pinch hitter Brett Hayes. Garate started Hayes with two fastballs, up high and down the middle at 86 for a called strike, and outside and high at 87 for a swinging strike two, but then Garate tried to waste a slider low and outside and Hayes reached down and lifted it up and out of the park into the first row of seats in left center. Garate now joins DC left-hander Sean Burnett, (who gave up a HR to these same Marlins in his DC debut back on July 1st) as another reliever who is clearly and instantly one of us...One of us...One of us...

• Saturday Night In the Minors.

The Syracuse Chiefs (Triple A) dropped an 8-2 decision to the Pawtucket Red Sox Saturday night, to fall 5.5 games behind the International League's North Division winners, the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees. Daryle Ward went deep for the Chiefs, and Ian Desmond finished the night 2 for 4 with a .345 AVG...The Harrisburg Senators (Double-AA) lost 7-1 and 5-2 to the Bowie Baysox, the Baltimore Orioles' Double-AA affiliate, in a double-header Saturday night that saw the Senators held to just 1 hit, a solo HR by Ricardo Nanita, in Game 1 before the Bay Sox took Game 2 5-2 later in the evening. Nanita went deep in Game 2 too...The Potomac Nationals (Class-A) shut the Kinston Indians out Saturday night, with Tom Milone improving to 12-5 in '09 with an 8.0 inning, 4-hit shutout that saw Tim Pahuta smack his 8th HR of the year while Danny Espinosa hit his 18th...The Hagerstown Suns (Class-A) got a walk-off win when third baseman James Keithley singled to left with two down and a runner on third after a walk, stolen base and a throwing error by Lake County Captains' catcher Adam Abraham. Left-hander Jack McGeary gave up 4 hits, 3 walks and 8 R, 3 earned in over 1.2 IP in an 11-2 Vermont Lake Monsters' loss to the Staten Island Yankees on Saturday. Destin Hood was in right field for the Lake Monsters, going 1 for 3 and collecting his 23rd RBI in 37 games...That's your Saturday in the Nationals' system...

GAME REPORT:

Florida Marlins At Washington Nationals. Game 126 Of 162.

Chris Coghlan drops the second pitch of the game into short right center for a leadoff single. DC righty Livan Hernandez gets help from his catcher, Wil Nieves, who throws out Chris Coghlan trying to take second. Hernandez issues a one-out walk to Cameron Maybin to put one on for Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez gets a free pass from Livan. Jorge Cantu waits on a slow slow curve and lifts it to the left field corner for a double, and a 1-0 lead. John Baker stares strike three all the way in. Dan Uggla walks with two down to load the bases. Cody Ross comes up and rips a single up the middle, two runs score, 3-0 Nationals. Wes Helms gets the two-strike slow curve in at 64 mph for a swinging K...Willie Harris walks to start the Nationals’ half of the first. Cristian Guzman flies out to left for the first out. Ryan Zimmerman grounds to third, Wes Helms to Uggla to Jorge Cantu, double play.

Josh Johnson grounds to Pete Orr at second for the first out of the inning. Chris Coghlan singles to right one hop in front of Elijah Dukes. Cameron Maybin’s called out on strikes as Livan evens out the evening’s K/BB ratio. Hanley Ramirez comes up just short of the left field wall, Josh Willingham’s catch ends the top of the second...Adam Dunn rips the cover off the ball, singling through the dramatic shift. Josh Willngham works the count full and walks. Elijah Dukes takes the second-straight walk and loads’em up for Pete Orr. Orr hits the first pitch from Johnson through second to score Dunn, 3-1 Marlins. Wil Nieves takes ball three for another full count, but K’s chasing a heater upstairs. Livan Hernandez grounds to third, Wes Helms to Uggla to Cantu, double play.

Jorge Cantu isn’t looking for the slow bender this time, swinging K. John Baker walks with one down. Livan drops the slow two-strike junk on Dan Uggla. Pete Orr sprints behind first in foul territory to catch Cody Ross’ pop out...Willie Harris grounds to short, Hanley Ramirez makes the throw to first. Cristian Guzman gets robbed by Cameron Maybin, who makes a diving play in left center, and Cody Ross runs into the wall in right to grab Ryan Zimmerman’s deep fly.

Wes Helms hits a high chopper over the mound and Cristian Guzman drops it as he pulls it out of his glove. Josh Johnson gets a successful sac bunt down. Chris Coghlan slaps a "fastball" from Livan out to left for another single. Cameron Maybin lifts a low liner to right, Dukes misjudges it, makes the catch and has his throw hit Adam Dunn at first as the run scores, 4-1 Florida. Hanley Ramirez leaves the yard in a hurry with a line drive HR to left, 6-1 Fish. John Baker lines out to center and it’s 6-1 in the middle of the fourth...Adam Dunn grounds into the dramatic shift. Josh Willingham pops up behind second. Elijah Dukes does the same to end the fourth.

Dan Uggla starts the fifth with a backwards K on a low fastball right down the pipe. Cody Ross grounds back to the mound. Elijah Dukes closes his glove on a fly ball to right from Wes Helms that ends the third...Pete Orr grounds to second and almost beats the throw to first, almost. Wil Nieves lines right back to Josh Johnson who makes the self-defense catch near his noggin. Jorge Padilla has hit bat shattered as he grounds out to short.

Victor Garate, the left-hander acquired in the Ronnie Belliard-to-LA deal, will make his DC debut right now-ish. Garate gets up two strikes and throws a low 0-2 slider to pinch hitter Brett Hayes that gets jacked out to left and into the first row for a solo HR. 7-1 Marlins. Garate gets a fly ball to left from Chris Coghlan and then walks Cameron Maybin with one down. Garate pops up Hanley Ramirez. Jorge Cantu takes a hanging curve that comes in chest high to left and to the wall for an RBI double and an 8-1 lead. John Baker grounds out to second to end the top of the sixth...Christhian Martinez takes over on the mound for the Marlins. Willie Harris gets a two-strike change and K’s swinging. Cristian Guzman flies out to Cody Ross in right. Ryan Zimmerman grounds to third, and Wes Helms thro...Wes Helms sails it, and Zimmerman takes second. Adam Dunn pops a 3-1 pitch out to left to end the sixth.

Dan Uggla doubles to left off Jorge Sosa to lead off the seventh. Cristian Guzman throws to first to get Cody Ross on a productive groundout. Ryan Zimmerman drops a liner from Wes Helms, but throws him out at first. Cristhian Martinez gets an AB and grounds out to second to end the top of the frame...Josh Willingham flies out to center to start DC’s seventh. Elijah Dukes lines one off the wall in center and slides in headfirst at third with a one-out triple. Pete Orr walks. Wil Nieves knocks Dukes in with a single to center. 8-2 Marlins. Josh Bard hits a fly ball to right that a diving Cody Ross can’t come up with, Orr and Nieves score, 8-4 Fish. Martinez out, Dan Meyer’s on in relief. Justin Maxwell K’s swinging through a fastball up high. Cristian Guzman pops out to end the inning.

Ron Villone’s on the mound in the top of the eighth. Chris Coghlan hits a one hop blooper to short for Cristian Guzman. Cameron Maybin drops a pop fly into short right in front of the outfielders. Hanley Ramirez goes with a pitch outside and lines to right for a double that scores Maybin. 9-4 Marlins. Ron Villone gives Cantu the intentionals. John Baker flies out to Willingham in left. Jason Bergmann comes on to face Dan Uggla, who grounds into a force at third...Ryan Zimmerman faces Dan Meyer in the Nationals’ half of the eighth. Zimmerman flies out to right, Cody Ross makes the grab. Adam Dunn hits a one-out liner to right in front of Josh Willingham. Ronny Paulino comes on to catch Brian Sanches. Josh Willingham singles through short to put two on for Elijah Dukes. Dukes K’s swinging through a 90 mph fastball up at the letters. Pete Orr flies out to Cody Ross in right to end the frame.

Bergmann vs Ross to start the ninth. Swinging K at a bender in the dirt. Bergmann pops up Wes Helms. Ronny Paulino takes a two-out walk. Chris Coghlan flies out to left to end the Marlins’ ninth...Wil Nieves grounds out to second. Alberto Gonzalez flies out to right. Justin Maxwell lines to left and Chris Coghlan flat misses it, J-Max safe at second. Mike Morse lines to right to score Maxwell from second. 9-5. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to Ross in right to end the game.

Nationals now 46-89.

Washington Nationals Drop 10th Of 13 To The Florida Marlins In '09, 9-6 Final.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:55:04 -0000

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

3 months ago: Florida Marlins' Cameron Maybin, right, scores on a hit by teammate Nick Johnson during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Browse more photos »

Three hours and forty-five minutes after it started, the Washington Nationals had dropped their seventh-straight overall and the 10th out of 13 games played between DC and their NL East "rivals", the Florida Marlins so far in 2009. About two hours and forty-five minutes before the game ended, DC starter Garrett Mock was pulled from the mound after having allowed 7 hits, 2 HR and 6 ER in just 3.0 innings pitched in which he threw a total of 81 pitches, just 50 of them for strikes. After having scored a total of 4 runs in their last 4 games, the Nationals manage to force 6 runs across against Florida starter Sean West and the Marlins' bullpen. 3 through 6 in the order, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham and Elijah Dukes are a combined 9 for 16, with 4 walks and 5 runs scored between them, but Josh Bard, batting seventh strands 10...seriously...Bard strands 10 runners and the Nationals fail to cash in on several opportunities to tie it. The Marlins continue their inexplicable domination of the Nationals...16,364 fans watch it live...at least that's more than the Fish get in Florida...

Marlins win, 9-6 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

Check Out The SB Nation's Florida Marlins Blog: FishStripes' Open Thread And Ichthyomancy.

"Game 135: Hope and FAIL" - Doghouse.

BACKPAGE:

• Part With Dukes? Why? Why? Why?

• Jesus Flores Returns. Sorta?

• MiLB.com's Jonathan Mayo Tweets About Storen.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 46-89. (Countdown To 100 Losses Stands At...11)

BACKPAGE:

• Part With Dukes? Why? Why? Why?

Just yesterday in the latest edition of MLB.com's Bill Ladson's "Inbox: Who will the Nats keep around", Mr. Ladson responded to a question about the makeup of the 2010 outfield and Roger Bernadina's place in it, by speculating that, "...if the Nationals are not happy with Elijah Dukes, I could see Bernadina getting at chance in right field. I would like to see Bernadina get a chance to play every day because he can catch the ball." In the comments section of a post today at the Nationals Journal by Washington Post writer Chico Harlan entitled, "What To Watch For In September", Mr. Harlan responds to someone who adds watching what happens with Elijah Dukes the rest of the way to Mr. Harlan's list of reasons to tune in, by writing (and I assume it's him, and not a fake "chicoharlan" commenting on his own board):

"Good call on Dukes. I agree that he's playing himself off the roster. September is critical for him."

This is a topic that's been discussed here at Federal Baseball, in the comments sections, gamethreads, and in a recent FANPOST by "Potomac Fan" entitled, "Is Elijah Dukes the long-term answer in RF?", and the prevailing sentiment, if I was to sum it up, would seem to be that all of DC is waiting for Dukes to claim right field, but he has yet to do so...The question I'd ask...Who else in the Nationals' system is going to provide more in right? I've openly stated that I expected more from Dukes, so I'm really wondering if anyone sees Bernandina as a better option? Justin Maxwell in right? What's the thinking out there?

Dukes was 2 for 3 tonight with a run scored and 2 walks, and after 85 games played and 287 AB's, the Nationals' 25-year-old outfielder is hitting for a .254 AVG with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 8 HR's and 52 RBI's. Dukes has posted a .328 OBP, a .415 SLG and a .733 OPS for the Nationals. Is Elijah Dukes your 2010 DC RF?

• Jesus Flores Returns. Sorta?

Before tonight's game started, Washington Post writer Chico Harlan noted in an article entitled, "Flores Activated, Strasburg Works Out, And Other Notes", that the Nationals' catcher of the future, Jesus Flores was off the DL and available for some pinch hitting the rest of the way, though chances are the DC Faithful won't see Jesus Flores behind the plate again until 2010. Flores was not used in tonight's game, even though there were several opportunities to do so...Let's hope the Nationals can just let Flores rest up for next season. Why risk anything now?

• MiLB.com's Jonathan Mayo Tweets About Storen.

In a tweet sent out early this morning, MiLB.com's Jonathan Mayo draws the baseball world's attention to the Washington Nationals' 2nd 1st Round pick, reliever Drew Storen:

"Just a note that @drewstoren still hasn't given up a run in Double-A ball. 12 1/3 IP and counting. Can't wait to see him throw in the AFL."

In 11 games and 14 IP at Class-A Hagerstown, the Nationals' 22-year-old right-handed reliever was (0-1) with a 3.68 ERA, 26 K's and not one walk allowed. In 7games with the Class-A Advanced Potomac Nationals, Storen was (1-0) with a 1.80 ERA in 10.0 IP, over which he recorded his first 2 professional saves. After the P-Nats, Storen jumped to Double-AA Harrisburg, where he's saved 9 games, pitched 12.1 innings, and given up just 3 hits, 0 ER as Mr. Mayo mentions, and allowed 6 walks while striking out 12 and holding opponents to a .077 BAA. Next up, unless he makes a surprise appearance in DC, will be the Arizona Fall League where he'll join his fellow '09 1st Round pick Stephen Straburg on the roster of the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

GAME REPORT:

Florida Marlins At Washington Nationals. Game 135 Of 162. (currently unedited)...

Chris Coghlan drops a bloop single into short right to start the first of three for the Florida Marlins in DC. Washington right-hander Garrett Mock gets a weak grounder to first from Nick Johnson for the first out. Hanley Ramirez sends a sharp grounder through short and Coghlan beats Josh Willingham’s throw home. 1-0 Marlins. Jorge Cantu destroys an 0-2 fastball that clears the left field wall for a two-run HR and a 3-0 Marlins’ lead. John Baker K’s swinging over a curve. Dan Uggla slices a line drive to right on one hop to Elijah Dukes. Cody Ross finally ends the first with a fly ball to right...Justin Maxwell rolls a bunt toward third that somehow rolls fair, and Maxwell’s on to start the Nationals’ first. Cristian Guzman grounds to second, Uggla to Ramirez to Nick Johnson, double play. Ryan Zimmerman grounds to short, Ramirez fields and throws.

Cameron Maybin doubles off the out-of-town scoreboard and takes third when Elijah Dukes and Justin Maxwell fumble with it. Mock gets Sean West swinging with his trademark two-strike bender. Adam Dunn stabs a grounder from Chris Coghlan. Nick Johnson hits a jam shot over short for a Trademark RBI single™. 4-0 Fish when Maybin scores. Hanley Ramirez pops out to short...Adam Dunn starts the DC second with a sliced single to left. Josh Willingham flies out to Coghlan in left. Elijah Dukes grounds weakly toward third, and Sean West’s throw to first pulls Nick Johnson off the bag. Josh Bard K’s swinging over a two-strike change. Sean West throws a change up high and Alberto Gonzalez triples off the left center wall to score Dunn and Dukes and make it 4-2 Fish. Garret Mock K’s to end the second.

Mock walks Jorge Cantu to start the third. John Baker takes a high fastball off the outside edge to deeep left and just over the wall. Two-run HR, 6-2 Fish. Dan Uggla goes down looking after an epic 10-pitch battle. Cody Ross flies out to right. Cameron Maybin flies to deeeep center, but Justin Maxwell gets there to make a catch at the wall...Justin Maxwell K’s swinging to start the DC third. Cristian Guzman grounds to Cantu at third. Ryan Zimmerman triples off the center field wall to give Adam Dunn a two-out RBI opp. Dunn rips a grounder to first and off Nick Johnson’s glove, Zimmerman scores. 6-3 Marlins. Josh Willingham tears into a fastball and launches it over the visitor’s bullpen in left. Two-run HR, 6-5 Marlins. Elijah Dukes uses his Discerning Eye to draw a two-out walk. A wild West pitch moves Dukes to second. Josh Bard K’s to end the third.

Saul Rivera on for Mock, and he gets a groundout from pinch hitter Brett Hayes to start the fourth. Chris Coghlan K’s swinging at a fastball outside. Nick Johnson breaks his bat grounding out to second...Burke Badenhop takes over for the Fish. Alberto Gonzalez grounds out to Hanley Ramirez at short. Saul Rivera grounds out. Justin Maxwell K’s looking to end the frame.

Hanley Ramirez battles Saul Rivera to a full count and ends up doubling by Justin Maxwell in center. Adam Dunn knocks down a grounder from Cantu and tosses to Rivera covering. John Baker singles up the middle under a diving Alberto Gonzalez for an RBI hit. 7-5 Fish. Saul Rivera walks Dan Uggla. Cody Ross sends a weak liner to short. Cameron Maybin grounds to third, Zimmerman fields and throws...Cristian Guzman grounds out to short. Ryan Zimmerman works a one-out walk off of Badenhop. Adam Dunn grounds back to the mound off the pitcher’s glove for an infield single to put two on for the Hammer. Nick Johnson drops a grounder from WIllingham and the bases are loaded for Dukes with one down. Dukes K’s chasing an 0-2 slider outside. Josh Bard grounds sharply to first, some guy named Nick Johnson makes a diving play and a toss to the pitcher covering.

Burke Badenhop lines out to first. Chris Coghlan singles to center with one down. Nick Johnson hits a weak line drive over second. Hanley Ramirez flies out to Dukes in right to score Coghlan. 8-5 Marlins. Nick Johnson goes first to third on a line drive single by Jorge Cantu. John Baker scores Johnson with a single up the middle. 9-5 Marlins. Jason Bergmann on to face Dan Uggla. Bergmann throws a high fastball by Uggla for a swinging K to end the top of the sixth...Alberto Gonzalez grounds out to short. Mike Morse flies out to Maybin in center. Justin Maxwell grounds back to the mound to end the sixth.

Jorge Sosa gets a fly ball to center from Cody Ross. Cameron Maybin grounds out to short. Pinch hitter Andy Gonzalez grounds to Guzman and Jorge Sosa’s got a scoreless frame...Kiko Calero vs Cristian Guzman to start the seventh. Guzman K’s looking at a low strike three. Ryan Zimmerman takes a 2-2 two-seam fastball for a called strike three. Adam Dunn takes a two-out walk. Josh Willingham singles to center in front of a sliding Cameron Maybin to move Dunn to third. Elijah Dukes works the count full and takes a two-out walk to load the bases. Josh Bard K’s trying to check his swing on a pitch in the dirt.

Jorge Sosa vs Chris Coghlan to start the eighth. Nick Johnson grounds by Dunn, but Alberto Gonzalez gets it and throws to Sosa covering. Coghlan to second. Jorge Cantu takes a two-strike slider for a called strike three. John Baker’s gonna face Tyler Clippard. Baker flies to right to end the Marlins’ eighth...Alberto Gonzalez shoots a line drive single to right off Marlins’ right-hander Matt Lindstrom. Willie Harris hits for the pitcher. TAWH singles to right to put two on. "Pinch Hittin’" Pete Orr grounds back to the mound and into a force at second. Cristian Guzman flies out unproductively to center. Ryan Zimmerman grounds up the middle, Uggla gets there, and drops it, Zim safe. Alberto Gonzalez scores from third. 9-6. Lindstrom’s out. Adam Dunn vs Renyel Pinto. Dunn K’s swinging to end the eighth.

Mike MacDougal vs Dan Uggla. Uggla walks to start the ninth. Cody Ross flies out to center. Cameron Maybin goes down swinging. Wes Helms K’s chasing to end the top of the ninth...Leo Nunez comes on to close it. Josh Willingham K’s swinging to start the frame. Elijah Dukes pulls a single to left with one down. Josh Bard pops out foul of third. Alberto Gonzalez pops out foul of first to end it....

Marlins win, 9-6 final.

John Baker getting better?

craig — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:37:44 -0000

John Baker gives his two cents about his back.

Catcher John Baker was not in the lineup Wednesday, one night after being removed from Tuesday's game because of a stiff back. He is hopeful he can play in today's 1:30 p.m. matinee.

Baker said he felt the pain - which is in the left side of his lower back - two weeks ago but it "started acting up" Tuesday.

"We're just being smart," he said.

Why in the world would you have him catching in a day game, assuming he is good to go, just like I would believe anything he has to say about being physically able, when the next off-day isn't until September 7? Sure catching a night game and followed up by a day game isn't going to be easy on Paulino but re-tweaking the back will land Baker on the DL.

Nick Johnson on the DL - John Baker day-to-day

craig — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:20:47 -0000

The Marlins finally placed Nick Johnson on the DL.

First baseman Nick Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday retroactive to Aug. 17.

Johnson, who has not played since injuring his right hamstring Aug. 16 against Colorado, cut short a jogging session Tuesday after feeling pain in his leg.

Why it took the front office so long to make this move I cannot say. I mean really, what in his past lead anyone to believe he would recover quickly and be able to contribute to the team. So finally the Marlins were forced into the move thanks to the rules (A player who is placed retroactively on the DL must spend at least five days on the DL.) Of course even if the rule wasn't in place the team would've placed him on the DL since John Baker tweaked his back.

Baker departed from yesterday's game with a stiff back and is considered day-to-day. Now here comes the fun part, should Baker not be available for at least a day, the Marlins have to call up a catcher. Read Brett Hayes. No team in their right mind goes with only one catcher and the sad thing is they have to hold him in reverse in case the starting catcher gets injured during the game. In other words the short bench will continue and Bonifacio will roam the outfield.

The good news is that the Marlins probably won't pull another Nick Johnson and place Baker on the DL rather quickly if he is unable to go.

Should Baker be all better today, look for an outfielder to get the call, probably Brett Carroll.

I wonder if the Marlins are going to "screw over" the Zephyrs the way the Astros did when New Orleans was the Triple-A franchise of Houston. This, almost, exact thing happened to Houston and they flew in a catcher and an outfielder from the farm club. They activated the catcher first and told the outfielder to hang in the hotel until further notice and activated him a day later. In the meantime the farm teams were scrambling for players.

Rockies visit "Land Shark" for the first time

Poseidon's Fist — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:00:13 -0000

More photos » by Tom Mihalek - AP

Rookie Chris Coghlan, who was first called up this season before the Rox-Fish series at Coors in May, has really jumpstarted the Marlins' lineup.

Browse more photos »

What a squirrely team. There's no other way to say it really. The Marlins have been all over the map this season, leading the NL East by 5 games with an 11-1 record, then being outscored by 44 on their way to a 3-13 record. They went a franchise record 20 games without a starting pitcher earning a win. And now?

Florida is a sizzling 15-9 since the All-Star Break, yet have been swept twice. That stretch includes yet another franchise record - coming into this series, the Marlins have recorded at least ten hits in 10 straight games, obliterating their previous record of six from 2000. The Yankees have such a streak of seven games, and five teams have managed streaks of six, but no one else has been close to this type of offensive productivity.

And yet...Florida has lost four of those ten games, meaning they lost ground to half their divisional foes and made up no ground in the wild card during the historic streak. Squirrely.

The Marlins' 32-27 mark at home is hardly intimidating for a contender, especially considering it's just a half game better than the Rockies' 32-28 road mark. They may have hot bats, but they are vulnerable, and the Rockies definitely have a chance to issue redemption for the series the Marlins took at Coors in May. But who knows. The Marlins are weird.

I have found the Marlins' fans to be quite friendly at FishStripes

Florida Marlins (61-54, W1, 2nd & 4.5 GB Div, 3rd & 3.0 GB WC)

Friday-Sunday : 3-game series at Land Shark Stadium

The Bats: B

Florida wasted a lot of at-bats on underperformers early in the season. Emilio Bonifacio, he of the miserable .276 wOBA, still leads the team in ABs. Brett Carroll and Cameron Maybin also brought down the offense by disappointing in the outfield. As a result, the squirreliness continues. Only one hitter in the lineup is below average (by both Fangraphs' wOBA and OPS+), yet the team team wOBA is below league average. Whatever. That's an indicator to give less credence to team-wide stats. The lineup Fredi Gonzalez fields now is not only capable, but they're so hot right now:

LINEUP	Avg	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG	wOBA
Chris Coghlan - LF	.287	6	29	.369	.416	.351
Nick Johnson - 1B	.296	7	48	.418	.406	.368
Hanley Ramirez - SS	.351	17	71	.413	.563	.421
Jorge Cantu - 3B	.275	11	63	.336	.428	.334
John Baker - C	.280	8	37	.352	.443	.346
Dan Uggla - 2B	.240	20	60	.353	.448	.350
Cody Ross - CF	.264	20	64	.321	.483	.346
Jeremy Hermida - RF	.255	11	44	.344	.383	.323

That's a solid lineup all the way down. By wOBA metrics, the it features one hitter performing at a Superstar level (Ramirez), five solidly above average bats (Coghlan, Johnson, Baker, Uggla, Ross), one average hitter (Cantu), and one slightly below average hitter (Hermida). That spread of wOBA across those ranges is quite reminiscent to the Rockies, but Florida does it in a pitcher's park.

The aforementioned ousted Bonifacio (.249, 1, 24) is listed as a bench infielder, but with only three outfielders on the roster total, Emilio logs innings in the outfield as well as being the only potential reserve middle infielder, though Coghlan could slide in from left if necessary. Ross Gload (.267, 4, 19) and Wes Helms (.268, 2, 23) serve as corner infield pinch hit LR platoon types, and Ronny Paulino (.267, 5, 17) fills in as the reserve backstop.

I'm going to ignore the below average OPS+ and wOBA and give the offense a B. The additions of Johnson and Coghlan have squelched two huge problem areas and legitimized the whole lineup. Their depth is a threat, though the lineup is also atypically erratic. They are capable of scoring 14 runs one night, then turning around and scoring one the next two games. The fact that the young lineup is overflowing with confidence must be taken into account.

Hop after the jump for the scouting report on the arms, the D, the pitching matchups and the hot/cold players.

The Arms: C

The Rockies draw the Marlins' ace tonight, an underrated 25yo who is sixth in ESPN's Cy Young Predictor. The other two starting pitchers are not quite as scary. Chris Volstad has taken two large steps back from last year despite practically identical BABIPs, and Rick VandenHurk is no one to worry about particularly. The staff has a very average 4.35 ERA (17th), with an ERA/FIP/tRA split for the rotation of 4.67/4.27/4.86. For the bullpen, it's 3.79/3.95/4.42. Nothing too fantastic.

25yo and former Royal Leo Nunez has replaced Matt Lindstrom as the closer.

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Leo Nunez	3-4	4.01	1.24	47	20

Renyel Pinto and Dan Meyer are Fredi Gonzalez' lefties. Former closer Matt Lindstrom is back from injury, and he's joined on the right side by Kiko Calero, former replacement play Brendan Donnelly, Chris LeRoux, and Brian Sanches. Calero has been the greatest asset out of the pen.

The D: D

Florida's 73 errors are 8th in MLB, while their UZR/150 is below average, yet those numbers have the benefit of positive defensive play by Bonifacio and Maybin that the Marlins just aren't getting now. Hanley Ramirez is a decent fielding shortstop these days, and Nick Johnson is an asset at first. Otherwise, it isn't pretty. The starting outfield has very poor range and defensive values off the board, and let's just say Dan Uggla's performance in the All-Star Game last year wasn't as much of an anomaly as he'd like you to think.

The Ballpark: Moderate Pitcher's Park

Land Shark Stadium (formerly Dolphin Stadium) has a park factor of 97 this year, though it is 99 in the multi-year spectrum. It strongly limits home runs but has a soft spot for triples.

Probable Pitchers:

Tonight, 5:10 pm MDT

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Jason Hammel	7-6	4.66	1.52	81	25

W-L ERA WHIP K BB

2009 - Jason Hammel 7-6 4.66 1.52 81 25

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Josh Johnson	11-2	2.92	1.10	129	37

Hammel's ERA on the road is still under 3, has quietly won consecutive starts to push him over .500, impressive for a fifth starter, especially considering his competition of late. He's faced the ace or #2 pitcher in every game of the second half - Kevin Correia, Matt Cain, Johan Santana, (Jamie Moyer), and now Josh Johnson. The .363 BABIP he is allowing is 75 points higher than last year in Tampa. Often, a starter with an ERA under 3.00 is a bit lucky. Not Johnson - his FIP is 2.99. He has tossed quality starts in 18 of 20 and allows HR at the 9th lowest MLB rate by inducing the 8th-most ground balls. His big weapon is that 95mph fastball, though his slider and change are well above average too. Favors: MARLINS strongly

Saturday, August 8, 4:10 pm MDT

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Aaron Cook	10-4	3.93	1.41	73	41

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Rick VandenHurk	2-1	4.15	1.38	24	10

W-L ERA WHIP K BB

2009 - Aaron Cook 10-4 3.93 1.41 73 41

W-L ERA WHIP K BB

2009 - Rick VandenHurk 2-1 4.15 1.38 24 10

Cook is coming off a toe injury, hopefully the cause of the atypical 3 HR he allowed in the last two games. In his last start, he lost for the first time in 11 games, helped in part by a career-high strikeout rate. His Dutch counterpart will strike guys out very well, which could be a problem for the Rockies' lineup, but he walks a fair amount and has a tendency to allow the big fly, which of course, play to strengths of the Rox. His FIP and tRA suggest an extremely fortunate first five starts this season. If Cook remains healthy and we don't see Adam Eaton...
Favors: ROCKIES moderately

Sunday, August 16, 3:05 pm MDT

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Jorge De La Rosa	10-8	4.78	1.38	131	54

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Chris Volstad	8-9	4.71	1.32	96	44

W-L ERA WHIP K BB

2009 - Jorge De La Rosa 10-8 4.78 1.38 131 54

W-L ERA WHIP K BB

2009 - Chris Volstad 8-9 4.71 1.32 96 44

Jorge has now thrown 130 IP the last three years each, on the nose. The first out he records will be a career high, and he can set a career mark with his 11th win as well. He has been the pitcher of record in 15 straight starts, winning 10 of his last 12, so there's a good trend there. Volstad has talent but has struggled this season more than anyone expected. Part of the reason is that he's allowed 23 HR, third most in the NL, disturbing in the HR squelching environment of Land Shark. Other than his HR/FB, peripherals show no regression from his rookie year. BABIPs and GB rate are in line, walks have decreased and strikeouts have increased. He has a lot of talent though....Favors: ROCKIES slightly

In the last ten games, Hanley Ramirez is hitting .429, Chris Coghlan is at .438, and Dan Uggla is a respectable .394. Coghlan has a 12-game hit streak, which started with nine straight multi-hit games. Nick Johnson is hitting .308 with a .500 OBP since joining the Marlins. The team is hitting .315 with an .887 OPS in August. Pinto, Donnelly, Sanches, and Calero all have ERA's under 2.0 since the ASB.

Jorge Cantu is the big name struggling through the August streak, hitting .196 (10-for-51). Cody Ross is hitting just .212 since the All-Star Break, though he leads the team with 6 HR in that span. Dan Meyer has been scored upon on half of his last 4, and Chris Volstad has allowed 6 HR and 21 ER in 34 IP since the break.

Anibal Sanchez (shoulder - 6/3), Alfredo Amezaga (knee - 5/17), and Scott Proctor (elbow - 3/27) are on the 60-day DL. Burke Badenhop (trapezius - 8/2) is on the 15-day.

Poll

Who wins?

The Rockies in a sweep: Florida is vulnerable at home and can't win games with hot bats....it only gets worse for them against good pitching

19 votes

The Rockies 2-1: The Marlins continue their BABIP streak while still managing to lose games.

141 votes

The Marlins 1-2: Tonight's game is a tall task, and Florida is a hot confident team. Winning a series would be tough.

51 votes

The Marlins in a sweep: All three Rockies pitchers are slight question marks due to recent starts. The Marlins will pummel them

14 votes

225 votes | Poll has closed