The NL East is shaping up to be a very uncertain affair with the exception of
the doormat Nationals team. Four games are within five games of first. All of them
have good chances to be competitive.

That’s why the win over the Mets in the “rubber” game of the three game series
was big. The Marlins fought back from a deficit for the second straight night and overcome
another strong start by their ace Johan Santana. We can be grateful that they chose to
take him out so soon.

The fish have maintained their lead in the division despite suffering a seven game
losing streak. They now go to Chicago to take on a team with the best record in the
National League last year. Good performances will be needed to get wins up there.

Last night’s game should be forgotten just as soon as possible. Hanley Ramirez
was taken out by an inside pitch on his hand and a grand slam capped a six run
New york first inning off Anibal Sanchez. The Marlins only mustered two hits off
Mets pitchers all night.
 
 Despite the seven game losing streak, the clouds should have a silver lining.
X-rays of Hanley’s hand showed that nothing is broken, so he might be out shorter
than first expected. They actually still lead their close division. Sanchez pitched a solid
five innings after that terrible start. There is not a need to start panicking now.

 Tonight’s game will feature two struggling pitchers from each side. Nolasco and Hernandez
have both been hit quite hard in their latter starts. Let’s hope that the former of them
can rebound nicely.

There is no cause for panic at this point. They still lead their division. Noone expected them to be where they are now.

Still, it is troubling to lose five games in a row. They have now blown leads twice in a row at home. They have not gotten enough production from the key spots in the batting order, most notably leadoff.

The manager chose to switch closer in Saturday’s game. That may be called for because Lindstrom gave up six runs but hardly a way to inspire confidence in your staff. It might have been better to give him one more chance.

Florida went into the season with three “proven” names in their rotation. The back end was not
that clear and remains so despite the hot start to the season. The 8-0 loss to the Pirates
served to make things worse.

#4 pitcher Andrew Miller will now go on the 15 day DL with a strain. Most likely, some
of the names from the bullpen will take his spot. There is no real frontrunner for the vacant job.

It will be necessary to watch how much their bullpen is used as well. They did set a club record with 24 scoreless innings, but Kensing gave up that fatal grand slam in last night’s game. You don’t want to wear them out too early in the season.

You kind of feel that you have a momentum when you win ten of your first 11. How about two straight come from behind extra innings on the road? Things have been going the Marlins way so far in 2009.

When their usual top players are not at their best, others have come forward. Today Jeremy Hermida bailed Josh Johnson out of a bad start with six runs to the Nationals. Hermida hit dingers both in the 9th and again in the 11th.

Tomorrow is the final game of the three game series with the Nationals. With all the bullpen work
incurred by short starts and extra innings, it will be crucial that the starter can go deep
into the game. Let’s hope that Volstad can deliver.

A close game between two top teams finally broke wide open in the top of the ninth last night. Florida put a big five on the scoreboard to secure a 10-4 victory. Dan Uggla’s three RBI took him to a total of 12 which is second place in the National League.

The winning pitcher was Hayden Penn going to 1-0. The key was to get out of a Braves rally in the bottom of the fifth that knocked out starter Andrew Miller. The bullpen then kept Atlanta bats quiet the rest of the evening.

The Marlins record now stands at 7-1. It is a young season, and their lack of depth means that they need to stay healthy to remain competitive. The ride so far has been great.

 Johan Santana have not done much wrong in his first two starts for the Mets. In 12 2/3 innings pitched, he’s struck out 20 and only given up one earned run. One expects to have a perfect record when pitching like that.

 Still, he stands at 1-1 in the wins and losses columns. Much of the reason for that came from the hands of Josh Johnson today. The Marlin hurler dazzled the Mets hitters in the complete game 2-1 win. He didn’t give up a hit until the sixth and the lone run came in the final inning. He now stands at 2-0 with a 0.57 ERA for the season.

 Florida will now get a really tough challenge on their hands. They travel to Atlanta in a clash between the two hottest teams of the majors so far in the young season. That should make for some exciting baseball!!

Tomorrow’s games bring one of the first questions of how to handle a
staff to many of the managers in the big leagues. The Opening Day starter did
have four days of rest even though the team only played four games. Most
of the series in the opening week were three game matchups starting
Monday. Do you start your ace or do you let your #5 man take his turn
in the rotation? A decision will have to be made.

Looking at the probable matchups posted at various major sporting
sites, skippers were split evenly over the decision. Out of 18 teams
with the choice as defined above, nine will go with the top man and nine
with the bottom pitcher. The numbers are split half way in both leagues.

How would you do it? I don’t think that what is right for one staff
necessarily is right for another, and it obviously depends on how strong
your fifth guy is. It would still be interesting to see some opinions on it!!

Long time Cubs radio announcer Patrick Hughes once called the bases clearing double (or triple) the most exciting play in baseball. Anyone who’s ever seen one of them live would be inclined to agree with him. It’s like the whole diamond is in motion.

The bases clearing double was the difference between the Marlins and the Nationals in the third game of the season. Dan Uggla connected off Washington starter Daniel Cabrera to key a four run fifth frame. The final score was 6-4.

The Fish are now 3-0 for only the third time in franchise history. Oddly enough, the only two teams with three wins to start off the 2008 season were the Nationals and the Royals, who both went to have miserable seasons. Let’s hope that it is not a bad omen for Florida.

Florida’s 2008 infield was one of the best in the Majors last year. In fact, their power set a Major league record as all four of them hit at least 25 homers. They picked up right whee they left in 2009.

They had a total of 18 plate appearances in the 12-5 thrashing of the hapless Nationals. That was enough chances to reach base 10 times, deliver 3 homers and 10 RBI. One of them even had an inside the park home run in the Opening Day win.

Bonifacio, Uggla, Ramirez and Cantu. You might want to remember those names. Chances are that many National League pitchers can’t get them out of their minds after pitching to them.