Hudson vs. Nolasco: Great Matchup

There's a lot at stake tonight, and it rests in the hands of two excellent pitchers.

The Marlins will put forth the ace of their staff, Ricky Nolasco, but he'll have to outperform Tim Hudson. Hudson has done well in his career against the Fish, but the Marlins did get to him once this year.

It's worth noting that the Marlins offense has been slumping of late. Pitching has been winning the last few games, with a few home runs sprinkled in (such as last night, when the Marlins amounted 4 hits, essentially silenced except for Mike Jacobs' 3-run bomb). The Marlins will need a stronger showing to beat Hudson.

A Rotation Without Clasps

Nolasco. Miller. Olsen. Johnson. Volstad. Not a weak link among them. Shake it, slam it against a wall, strike at any point...it still holds strong.

That's how I feel about the current state of things. For the first time, Marlins fans can feel confident in their starter, no matter the day or game. Each one has demonstrated an ability to pitch well, especially of late.

From now on, opponents will glance ahead at the Marlins series and think: "I don't feel good about any of these matchups."

What a Difference a Day Makes...

Following the 3rd game of the Marlins-Rockies series, it felt as though things were starting to come apart. Our starting rotation, with Ryan Tucker and Mark Hendrickson, couldn't get out of the 4th inning of a game and was looking extremely hittable. The Marlins blew a 9-run lead, and closer Kevin Gregg blew consecutive saves. The Marlins fell to 3.5 games back and were falling fast.

Turn the page to game 4 on Sunday. Chris Volstad gets called up from Carolina and enters the game down 4-3. Two scoreless, well pitched innings later, the Marlins have the lead, Volstad goes on to get the win and is promptly inserted into the starting rotation. Kevin Gregg pitched a solid inning Sunday, albeit with a 5-run lead. We also learn that Josh Johnson will be joining Volstad in the starting five. Johnson gets the start Thursday, Volstad on Friday.

Now, we come to tonight's game in San Diego. Emerging staff ace Ricky Nolasco pitches an 8 inning gem, giving up just 5 hits and 1 run. Due to the way the batting order fell in the top of the 9th, Nolasco came up just an inning short of the Marlins first complete game in 264 games. Kevin Gregg comes in and retires the Padres in order, recording the save.

Just to touch on it, the umpiring call made on Hanley's potential RBI double in the 7th was questionable, at best, although if you were listening to the Padres radio crew, they saw it as "the crew coming together, and they got the call right." Even the Marlins crew thought it was the right call, but it was more of an issue of overturning the original call. No one had a better view than the 3rd base ump who made the call.

Anyways, we'll never know what was said in the umpire conference, or who said they saw what, but whether it was fair or foul turned out to be a non-issue, thanks to Nolasco and Gregg. Nolasco threw like the staff veteran he is (despite being just 25, he is currently the oldest starting pitcher on the Marlins). He bested Greg Maddux, who still has not won since his 350th win came May 10th. With the new rotation, hopes are high. And thanks to the floundering Phillies, the Marlins are now just 1.5 games back of the division lead.

What a difference a day makes...

All-Star Projections: Hanley, Uggla Are Locks

The grand "Selection Show" for the MLB All-Star Game is Sunday at 2PM EST. Needless to say, this hardly carries the excitement of other selection shows, namely the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Still, I'm looking forward to hearing Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla announced. Hanley has an excellent chance of being the starter at shortstop. According to the last voting figures, the undeserving Miguel Tejada would need a strong push to match him in votes.

Uggla will be a reserve, barring injury to Chase Utley (whether you think Uggla is better than Utley or not, their numbers are comparable enough that we can't be upset). It's amazing how productive the Marlins' middle infield really is.

As for others...very little chance. Jorge Cantu and Kevin Gregg have the slimmest of chances. They would have to be manager's picks, and as far as I know, neither is all that close with Clint Hurdle. Ricky Nolasco has built a solid case, but not strong enough. At 9-4, 3.94 ERA, Nolasco is putting together a superb season, but he would have needed the ERA at least a run lower to get serious consideration.

So Hanley should start, Uggla a reserve, the rest get a nice break. Two All-Stars isn't bad, especially when they're both so good.

Nolasco a Pleasure to Watch

I just got back from the Marlins game, which I begrudgingly attended after four straight gruesome losses. Then I remembered Ricky Nolasco was on the mound...perfect!

For whatever reason, the Marlins seem to play well against the Nationals, Brewers, and Diamondbacks, while sucking against the Reds and Rays. Go figure. Fortunately, the Diamondbacks are in town, so this means wins over Owings, Webb, and Haren again?

So far, the Fish are 1 for 3. Tonight's win was not only wonderful in that it stopped the bleeding, but it was truly a quality win. Nolasco was superb, baffling hitters with alternating speeds and pinpoint control. He went 8 innings, surrendering only 1 run.

Yes, the Marlins have been sliding, but 41-38 is still pretty good. The better news? The Phillies are still just 1 game ahead.

Quick Notes

I'm going to try and do this once or twice a week. These are just a few observations:


-Jamie Moyer has become so bad late in his career, that he is good. If only Roger Clemens could have learned from him...

-The Braves have signed Jorge Julio. Did the Braves decide that this was cheaper than holding a press conference to concede the season?

-Uggla has looked Uggla since that Walk-Off Granny...(Of course, as I write this, he hits an RBI single.)

-I know it's still early, but looking at the division and Wild Card standings, it is going to be a real fight for the Fish to get a playoff spot.

-Is there anything more boring that off-season football discussion? I'm sorry, but it's the heart of baseball season, and the NBA finals have been extremely entertaining. Save the talk about the Bengals backup OT.

-This weekend's wild ride of a U.S. Open marked the first time I watched golf for more than 30 seconds in a row. I salute Tiger Woods.

-I realize that it is all about the money, but Staples Center turning into the Academy Awards has hurt the team, the "fans" don't even seem to know when to cheer.

-Back to the NBA and money. Is it a bad sign when scouting reports are now telling us how, and in favor of what team, will each game be officiated?

-One more time. How many people are going to have to sue Clay Bennett before people realize what an injustice the Sonics' situation is?

-What the hell, here's another. David Stern is slowly becoming one of the shadiest commissioners in the history of sports. I realize Donaghy is a scumbag, but these officiating rumors, joined with the Seattle situation, ave really got me wondering about this guy.

-Neither KG or Kobe has impressed me at all this series. Paul Pierce is the only "star" who is significantly adding to his legacy.

-Ricky Nolasco's Drug-Free commercial is nothing but high comedy.

-Forget it, I'm mad at the NBA. Oklahoma City? Really?

-I'm almost positive that one of Derek Fisher's three-pointers hit the roof of the Staples Center.

-Having Willingham for interleague play would've been nice. Maybe I just don't like Wes Helms...

-Ryan Tucker looks like he should be on the 90210 remake.

-What happened to Hendrickson? Do the effects of Lasik only last a couple of months?

-Most exciting game, in any sport, that I've watched all week? Turkey vs Cezch Republic in the Euro Cup.

-I've had no complaints with Fredi Gonzalez, but he needs to find a way to manage pitch count better. Every pitcher we have seems overworked.


-Was I the only one hoping for a "Yankees Wang Hurt" headline? I was? Oh well...

Nolasco Splendid

Ricky Nolasco is becoming the Marlins' definitive ace. He was superb today, going 8 2/3 innings on route to his seventh victory. It was a shame he couldn't get the complete game, but Fredi had no choice but to take him out after 130+ pitches.

The Marlins are 2-3 in their last five games, but the rotation (usually the weak point) held its end of the bargain. Miller and Nolasco were phenomenal in their wins, while Scott Olsen pitched extremely well and Hendrickson was adequate in losing efforts. Only Ryan Tucker performed poorly, and he settled down after a shaky start to the game.

With the next three games in Seattle against the struggling Mariners, I like the Marlins' chances of regaining some lost momentum. Look for strong showings from Miller and Olsen in the next two, with a bounce back game from Ryan Tucker on Wednesday.

Ricky Nolasco vs. Edwin Jackson

There's no way the Marlins can give their father fans another loss, right? Not on Father's Day!

Today's matchup is an interesting one. The Fish have had success against Edwin Jackson in the past, but there's a quick lesson to be learned; all previous impressions of the Rays go out the window. Jackson has had a productive year, mixing in his dominant stuff with more poise and maturity. He also seems to perform best at home and in day games (Fish Stripes tells us)...yikes.

Fortunately, the sparkling-of-late Ricky Nolasco will combat him. Nolasco needs to be a streak-stopper here. Win today and the series is salvaged, at least to some degree. Get swept and the Marlins are in a whirl of trouble.

Look for Dan Uggla, who recently became a father for the second time, to pull out of his slump today. Just a gut instinct.

Marlins Get Crucial Win

I know it's a little early to call this a must-win game but it certainly felt that way. It's early June, but the Phillies are white hot. They've won 12 of 14 and 15 of their last 19 games. Meanwhile, the Marlins have been tailing, going 4-9 over their last 13 games. The Fish have fallen to 5 over .500 (34-29) after having been in 1st place with a record of 30-20 not too long ago...and they are suddenly 4 whole games behind those fighten' Phils. With Nolasco on the Mound against a struggling Brett Myers, you figure the Marlins should take it.

And they did...as I watched from my 3rd-base seats. It was a thrilling 5-4 game filled with home runs, errors, and strikeouts. There were 5 shots hit by the two powerful clubs. For the Marlins it was Hanley, Cantu, and Jacobs, and for the Phillies, Rollins, and Burrel. Then, Kevin Gregg entered in the 8th and earned a 4-out save, stranding a runner on 2nd in the 9th.

What to take from this game?

Three things jumped out at me.

Firstly, it would appear that everyone's favorite Ramirez is back on track. Hanley hit another HR and is batting .304 now on the year. He must be at full potential if the Marlins are to make a legitimate run at the playoffs this season.

Secondly, I am absolutely delighted with the play of Jorge Cantu. The guy is really on a tear. He's making out to be a very sufficient #3 hitter. Today he went 2-4 and pushed his average up to .289. That's pretty good...atleast for what was expected of him prior to the season. Contrast that with Miguel Cabrera's .278 batting average. Some loss, huh?

Lastly, Ricky Nolasco was stellar. He pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 runs, none of them having been earned. He allowed two bombs to Phillies hitters, but only after getting rattled by horrendous errors by Hanley and Luis Gonzalez.

So here are the NL East standings up to date:

Philadelphia 39-27
Florida 35-29
Atlanta 32-33
NY Mets 30-33
Washington 26-40

Let's not underestimate the Mets and Braves. Just because they may have fallen now, doesn't at all mean that they won't come back. It's important that these teams continue to climb into a bigger hole. If you're are Marlins fan, do not hesitate to root against them.

Most Dependable Starter? Ricky Nolasco

Tonight, Ricky Nolasco will battle Braves somewhat-sensation Jair Jurrjens for Game 4 of the series. As I'm sure you all know, the Braves lead the series 2-1, despite each team blowing a late lead in all three games.

The first three games may have been screwy, coming down to fluky bullpen mishaps, but I expect tonight's game to play out more traditionally. Ricky Nolasco has been very solid lately, regaining his pre-injury 2006 form (remember, he beat Brandon Webb). It's a rotating circus, but he leads my current list of most dependable Marlins starters. Here it is:

1. Ricky Nolasco
2. Scott Olsen
3. Andrew Miller
4. Mark Hendrickson
5. Burke Badenhop

Scott Olsen is barely hanging on to the second spot, but a solid performance Monday gave him some breathing room. Andrew Miller seems fine when he can get past the first couple innings, but that's a big if. Hendrickson was mediocre yesterday, but that was after three bad starts in a row. And Badenhop? He was never good enough to earn confidence, though he could very well ascend after a couple more starts.

Putting it bluntly, the Marlins rotation is consistently inconsistent, excellently mediocre, and erratic as a sugar-high toddler. And maybe that's beautiful; on any given night, they can be Sandy Koufax...or Anthony Young.

Either way, I like the ball in the hands of Nolasco tonight.

2-4 Road Trip Not So Bad

How am I going to put a positive spin on a 2-4 road trip against NL East rivals? It's difficult, but it could be a lot worse.

So they lost two series. On the road, they were almost supposed to lose, and they had the lead in a couple games...imagine if they hadn't squandered those. They could easily have been 4-2 for the trip.

Salvation lies in Atlanta, where I like their chances. The pitching matchups are favorable, Hanley seems to have emerged from his slump (at least partially), and Nolasco and Miller have become dependable starters. Don't forget that post-April Cody Ross is a hitting machine!

There's plenty of good to scrape up from this weekend's carnage, and it just might show itself over the next four games.

Marlins On Top of the World

There are so many positive things to say about this week's shocking series sweep of the Diamondbacks. I'm almost at a loss for words...but I found a few. Here are 10 things to be excited about if you're a Marlins fan:

1. The combined record of the three Diamondbacks pitchers (Owings, Webb, and Haren) was 19-3 coming into the series. Now? 19-6. Wow!

2. At 8 over .500, the Marlins have regained their stride after showing signs of decline.

3. The Marlins won all three games, despite missing Scott Olsen. He goes tonight.

4. Andrew Miller is becoming fantastic. I know, it's amazing. He's throwing fireballs out there and is being referred to as "the ace of the staff" by some.

5. The national media is fully on board now. While many doubt the Marlins' ability to stay the course, they've become, as Tim Kurkjian said, "the most exciting story in the National League."

6. Ricky Nolasco is molding into that solid third starter the Fish have desperately needed...oh wait, fourth starter if Andrew Miller's suddenly the ace.

7. You'll never hear anything again about the Marlins beating up on bad teams.

8. All this was done without Josh Willingham, who was having an All-star level season.

9. It happened with Hanley Ramirez in one of the worst slumps of his career.

10. A torrid Matt Treanor is now the starter...thankfully!

Is Nolasco Becoming Good Again?

It's a question I have to ask. We all remember Nolasco as the guy who showed flashes of brilliance in the 2006 season, only to fall victim to injuries and ineffectiveness in 2007. Is he finally back?

I think he is. He was throwing some professional stuff last night, working the fastball very effectively with the rest of his arsenal. The key thing for him, much like Olsen and Miller, is the ability to throw strikes. He seems to have regained a lot of that control, which allows him to challenge the hitters from a higher vantage point.

Olsen and Hendrickson have been terrific so far, but the Fish need a third guy to step up to stay in contention. I'm beginning to believe Nolasco is that guy.

For the record, he's allowed just four runs in his last three starts (one was 4.2 innings, though). The resurgence of Nolasco could be critical to the Marlins' success...more than people realize.

Marlins Take Down Webb!!!

The Marlins handed Brandon Webb his first loss of the season. Yes, the Brandon Webb who was 9-0 in 9 appearances. Undefeated no more!

It was a perfectly executed 3-1 win, with a little bit of everything. Matt Treanor laid down a superb bunt for a suicide squeeze, Cody Ross homered, and Luis Gonzalez singled home the insurance run.

Major credit must go to Ricky Nolasco, who turned in a spectacular start. He allowed just 1 run in 7 innings, leading the Marlins to one of their best wins of the season.

Brandon Webb: 9-1, and fish fried.

Nolasco vs. Webb...Yikes

It's a good thing the Marlins eeked out the win last night, because tonight's pitching matchup is not a good one.

Ricky Nolasco will face reigning Cy Young winner Brandon Webb. Let's look at the stat comparison (avert your eyes if it's too much to handle):

Nolasco: 2-3, 5.18 ERA
Webb: 9-0, 2.56 ERA

There's also a bit of history here, as Webb will try to become the second pitcher since 1919 to start a season 10-0 (thanks for the info, Fish Stripes). This is a mismatch of epic proportions.

Now for the silver lining:

In their last 2 starts, here are the totals:

Nolasco: 1-0, 2.53 ERA
Webb: 2-0, 2.76 ERA

Of course, Webb also went many more innings and had big leads. Still, at least there's some cause for optimism.

The "Bad," "Ill," and "No!" Games

We've had copious discussions here at The South Florida Fan about the disparity in the Marlins rotation. Scott Olsen and Mark Hendrickson have excelled, collectively boasting a 9-2 record, while the unholy trinity of Burke Badenhop, Andrew Miller, and Ricky Nolasco account for 4-7.

Considering how poorly the bottom three have pitched, 4-7 is pretty startling. Here are their ERAs:

Badenhop: 6.31
Miller: 7.96
Nolasco: 6.10

Those are unacceptable numbers for any starting pitcher in the Major Leagues, let alone three on the same team!

So how have the Fish managed to work around it? You could argue timely hitting, but the real answer is through inconsistency. Badenhop, Miller, and Nolasco have essentially been good or terrible, with little in between. The games where they racked up the high ERA points, they blew the game wide open. In their other starts, they gave up only 2-3 runs.

Whenever the Marlins win when these guys pitch (such as last night, when Badenhop pitched extremely well), it almost feels like an extra win. DSponge and I have been speculating that the Marlins need to win the Olsen and Hendrickson starts and then one of the bottom three each week to stay in contention. That's not going to last forever, so ultimately one of these bottom three will have to join the ranks of respectability.

Nickname Note: These games will from heretoforth be referred to as the "Bad, Ill, and No" games (for BADenhop, MIller, NOlasco). This constitutes the second coined nickname from The South Florida Fan:

The South Florida Fan Record Book:
1. Coined The Great Andino for Robert Andino.
2. Coined "The Bad, Ill, and No" games.

We encourage all fellow Marlins bloggers to follow our lead.

Marlins Fail to Overshadow Dolphins

This may have been the Dolphins' day, but the Marlins also played. It was a disappointing 4-3 loss, decided by a late Prince Fielder home run. The Marlins wasted a good start from Hendrickson while exhibiting an uncharacteristic sloppiness throughout.

A win tomorrow would really further the Marlins' cause as legitimate contenders. They need to demonstrate that they can win a series against a decent team like Milwaukee, especially on the road. 15-10 would sound nice too.

With Nolasco vs. Parra, it's basically a toss-up. It's time to stop hiding in obscurity and show the town who's best. Which Nolasco will show up?

Interesting Pitching Matchups in Marlins - Brewers Series

For the Marlins, this weekend features a series against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Each game in the series could go either way due to the even pitching matchups:

Friday:
FLA: Olsen (3-0, 2.60 ERA)
MIL: Gallardo (0-0, 1.29 ERA)

Saturday:
FLA: Hendrickson (4-1, 3.82 ERA)
MIL: Villanueva (1-2, 5.09 ERA)

Sunday:
FLA: Nolasco (1-2, 5.91 ERA)
MIL: Parra (1-1, 5.40 ERA)

Normally I would say that the Marlins must win the Olsen game and the Hendrickson game to take the series. But as you can see, the Marlins have a great chance on Sunday even though Nolasco's on the mound. There is potential for a Florida sweep, whether it be in or out of our favor.

Marlins Taste Their Own Medecine

Last night's 3-2 heartbreaking loss to the Pirates was reminiscent of several Marlins wins this year. It was bound to happen, but it doesn't make me any less bitter...I mean angry (bitter doesn't seem to be a good word choice these days).

I'm convinced that Hanley Ramirez was safe on the infield hit that should have tied the game 3-3 in the 7th. The fact that the Pirates' broadcast refused to air the replay should tell you all you need to know. To lose that way stings, and yet it's just one game. The Marlins are still in first place at a very respectable 12-8.

More good? How about Ricky Nolasco finally pitching well. That's a welcome improvement, and a sign of better things to come.

As for that rotten call...I suspect I'm not the only one fuming.

At the Broom Closet Again

This is getting tiresome. Am I really going for the broom again? It appears so, as the Marlins prepare themselves for another sweep. Could it also be possible that our dear friend Imber's interest might be augmenting a bit too? We'll have to hear an answer from him about that.

As I said yesterday, the Marlins are good. Will it last? The South Florida Daily Blog took notice of our statement, so I think we'll have to live and die by it. Now my credibility is on the line, though perhaps his is too for giving us the platform. Either way, we very much appreciate the link. Brown-nosing works on us too.

A sweep tonight would mark a savory end to a torrid 15-game stretch. Win and the Marlins are on pace for a 108-54 season. It's not going to be easy though, with John Smoltz taking the mound for Atlanta against the anything-but-certain Ricky Nolasco. Then again, the Marlins have rocked the last two aces they've faced (Oswalt and Hudson). Let's see them go for it again.