Results tagged ‘ Brian Sanches ’
Marlins-Phillies lineups
The Marlins strive to avoid being swept on Wednesday, but it will be a daunting task.
The Phillies are sending Roy Halladay to the mound, while the Marlins are countering with Jorge Sosa, who will start for the first time since 2007 when he was with the Mets. Reliever Brian Sanches likely will throw multiple innings in relief of Sosa, who may only go three or four innings.
1) Shane Victorino, CF
2) Placido Polanco, 3B
3) Chase Utley, 2B
4) Ryan Howard, 1B
5) Jayson Werth, RF
6) Raul Ibanez, LF
7) Carlos Ruiz, C
8) Wilson Valdez, SS
9) Roy Halladay, P
1) Emilio Bonifacio, CF
2) Logan Morrison, LF
3) Hanley Ramirez, SS
4) Dan Uggla, 2B
5) Gaby Sanchez, 1B
6) Chad Tracy, 3B
7) Scott Cousins, RF
8) Brad Davis, C
9) Jorge Sosa, P
– Joe Frisaro
Sanches injury update
In his mind, he has a target date of when to return.
Marlins reliever Brian Sanches is eyeing when the Marlins are in Houston rom April 20-22.
A more realistic return, however, may be April 23-25, when Florida travels to Colorado.
“I’d like to be back for Houston, but Colorado may be more likely,” Sanches said on Sunday morning. “It’s all tentative.”
Sanches is on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring. He did some running on Sunday morning, and he threw off flat ground at 120 feet. His next step is to throw off the mound on Monday and Wednesday. By next weekend, the setup reliever could be pitching in Minor League rehab assignment games.
Sanches is expected to be one of the Marlins prime right-handed setup relievers. But on April 2 he injured his hamstring while throwing a warmup pitch before an exhibition against Double-A Jacksonville.
– Joe Frisaro
Bullpen shaping up
Perhaps there is just one bullpen spot left to fill at Marlins camp.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez shed some light on some of the relievers who are moving closer to winning spots on the Opening Day roster.
The Marlins anticipate carrying 12 relievers, and Leo Nunez is locked in as the closer. The team anticipates carrying two lefties. They are expected to be Renyel Pinto and Dan Meyer. Both are out of options.
Also strong possibilities to make the team are right-handers Brian Sanches and Jose Veras, in camp on a Minor League contract. Burke Badenhop is a frontrunner to be the long reliever.
“This can change,” said Gonzalez, noting that other candidates may pop across the waiver wire.
If these five hold true, there will be one reliever spot open.
Candidates include Mike MacDougal, Seth McClung, Tim Wood, Chris Leroux and Scott Strickland.
The team may also decide to keep someone like Clay Hensley, who is in the mix for a rotation spot. If Hensley isn’t in the rotation, he could be an option in relief. The same would hold true for Rick VandenHurk and Hayden Penn, who are currently being used as starters.
– Joe Frisaro
Marlins out of options
Who is out of options factors into finalizing every big league roster.
A year ago, because shortstop Robert Andino was out of options, he became a primary trade target because he was blocked by All-Star Hanley Ramirez. So late in Spring Training 2009, Andino was dealt to the Orioles for right-hander Hayden Penn, who also was without options.
The Marlins currently have seven players who are out of options, which means they have to be on the 25-man roster, or the club risks losing them.
When a player has options, he can be sent up and down to the Minor Leagues all season.
Here are the seven Marlins without options for 2010: Penn, Dan Meyer, Renyel Pinto, Brian Sanches, Wes Helms, Cody Ross and Leo Nunez.
Rule 5 addition Jorge Jimenez also must make the 25-man roster, or he will have to be offered back to Boston.
– Joe Frisaro
Nunez uncharacteristically wild
Some tension surfaced before Leo Nunez locked down his 22nd save of the season on Wednesday at St. Louis.
In the Marlins’ 5-2 win over the Cardinals, Nunez was uncharacteristically wild, hitting Ryan Ludwick and Albert Pujols with pitches before Matt Holliday bounced into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Entering the ninth inning with a four-run lead, the Marlins went with reliever Brian Sanches, who retired Julio Lugo on a groundball to open the frame.
From there, the plot thickened when pinch-hitter Jason LaRue drew a walk after a 10-pitch showdown. Mark DeRosa’s double put runners on second and third, brining in Nunez.
Nunez’s first pitch was a fastball that plunked Ludwick on the hand, bringing up Pujols, who was promptly clipped by a changeup, drawing boos and jeers from the crowd.
“I tried to throw a fastball inside and it got away,” Nunez said through a translator. “The changeup to Pujols also went too far inside, but thank God everything came out well and I got a double play.”
Holliday bounced a fastball away to Dan Uggla at second base. The double play was turned easily, prompting Nunez to make an exuberant fist pump and point to the sky. Again, the crowd booed Nunez.
“We were trying to go in with a fastball on Ludwick,” said catcher John Baker, who noted he almost threw his shoulder out while celebrating the final outs. “We went too far in. We were trying to throw a changeup to Albert.”
In his first 68 appearances, Nunez only hit two batters. So striking two straight — back-to-back — was uncharacteristic.
“It’s probably more of a fluke than anything,” Baker said. “We’re not trying to hit Albert in that situation. We’re not trying to hit Ryan Ludwick to get to Albert Pujols with the bases loaded in the ninth inning with a four run lead. Common sense says that’s not we were trying to do. I think even Albert knew.”
– Joe Frisaro
Ayala, Wood recalled
A depleted bullpen picked up two fresh arms on Saturday, as the Marlins recalled from Triple-A New Orleans relievers Luis Ayala and Tim Wood.
The two right-handers were added to help preserve a bullpen that has picked up 12 2/3 innings the past two games.
Ayala and Wood were added to fill the roster spots of Chris Volstad and Gaby Sanchez. Both were optioned to Triple-A on Friday night.
Both Wood and Ayala have split time this year with the Marlins and Triple-A.
Wood has a 1-2 record with a 3.18 ERA in 31 games with New Orleans. He last threw an inning on Thursday.
Ayala has made nine appearances with New Orleans, and he last threw on Wednesday.
Rosters expand on Tuesday, and the Marlins are hoping to preserve their bullpen until then.
The Marlins are shying away from their two primary long relievers, Cristhian Martinez and Brian Sanches.
Sanches threw 2 1/3 innings on Friday, and Martinez tossed 3 1/3 innings on Thursday.
Asked who was available for long relief on Saturday against the Padres, manager Fredi Gonzalez quipped: “Don’t ask me that.”
The Marlins are hopeful starter Ricky Nolasco can go deep into the game. However, if there is a need for a reliever to throw multiple innings, both Ayala and Wood are candidates.
Gonzalez said he is hoping to avoid using Sanches the rest of the weekend.
– Joe Frisaro
– Joe Frisaro
Sanches quietly delivering
Unsung no more.
Marlins reliever Brian Sanches has been a major part of a heavily-used bullpen, and he’s quietly approaching a team record.
After tossing two shutout innings on Thursday night against the Astros, Sanches ran his scoreless streak at Land Shark Stadium to 24 1/3 straight innings. That’s the third longest stretch in club history. The only strings longer are by former Florida starters. Dontrelle Willis logged 31 straight without a run in 2003, and A.J. Burnett had a run of 26 innings in 2005.
Sanches, 31, is 2-0 with that 0.00 ERA at home. Overall, his numbers are impressive — 3-0 record with a 1.01 ERA in 30 games. In 35 2/3 innings, he has struck out 34, while walking 15.
A versatile right-hander, Sanches opened the season at Triple-A New Orleans, where he had four saves. He had his contract selected on May 18, and he’s been used in setup situations as well as long relief.
The Marlins are firmly in the playoff race, and the role of the bullpen will be huge down the stretch.
“Obviously, the bullpen is a really strong part of the team,” Sanches said. “That’s what we’re looking for, to make sure guys are ready and are taking precautions, preparing their bodies for the work that is coming up.”
Through the years, the Marlins have had a knack for finding relievers with some big league experience who are looking to resurrect their careers. A year ago, Joe Nelson and Doug Waechter fit the mold. They found success with Florida before moving to other teams.
Sanches and Kiko Calero are two of the bargains this year. And Dan Meyer was claimed off waivers, providing a lefty who has stepped up after having a change of scenery.
“The organization does a very good job. They had Joe Nelson and Doug Waechter last year,” Sanches said. “They had guys like me who have been up and down in the big leagues, and they come in and produce. I think it is a reflection of their scouting, and the character of the guys.
“You also have to give credit to the staff up here, because obviously, they’re doing something to change either the mental approach or they make a physical tweak that helps them produce. That’s what I was looking for, an opportunity. What I needed was a chance. They actually approached me early in the free agent process. It helps when you’re in a situation where they want you.”
– Joe Frisaro
Calero day-to-day
In the eighth inning of Florida’s 12-3 win over Philadelphia, Marlins reliever Kiko Calero was lifted with pain in his right knee.
Appearing for the first time since Aug. 4 at Washington, Calero exited after issuing a two-out walk to Chase Utley.
Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez and trainer Sean Cunningham came to the mound, and the veteran right-hander was replaced without even testing the knee with a warmup pitch.
Afterwards, Calero said he feld discomfort in the muscle area above the kneecap.
“It felt weak today,” said Calero, who has appeared in 47 games this season. “On Friday, I started feeling it. But today, there were two pitches [to Utley] where my knee felt weak. I’m fine.”
Calero is listed as day-to-day.
In 2003, he had surgery to repair a torn right patella.
Gonzalez said before of his past history with the knee area, the team is being extra cautious.
Calero was on the disabled list from June 21-July 9 with right shoulder inflammation.
The Marlins were hoping to avoid using Renyel Pinto on Sunday, but the lefty replaced Calero, and he retired Ryan Howard on a fly ball to right field.
Calero has been used in a late-inning relief role. Matt Lindstrom, Brendan Donnelly, Brian Sanches and Tim Wood are right-handed setup options. Leo Nunez has been used as closer.
– Joe Frisaro
Lindstrom on disabled list
The Marlins on Wednesday afternoon placed right-hander Matt Lindstrom on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow sprain.
The hard-throwing right-hander is on a no-throw status for four weeks. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the team would mix and match the closer spot. Leo Nunez, Dan Meyer and Brian Sanches are closer options.
Replacing Lindstrom is right-hander Chris Leroux, who was called up from Double-A Jacksonville.
Late after Tuesday night’s 7-6 win in 12 innings over the Orioles, Lindstrom said he felt soreness in his forearm area, and it affected the command of his slider. Lindstrom was throwing 98 mph.
Lindstrom struggled in the ninth inning on Tuesday. He entered with Florida ahead, 6-3, but with two outs and no one on, he allowed four straight singles. Lindstrom was relieved by Sanches, who allowed the game-tying single.
Nunez also is dealing with a sprained ankle, but he said on Wednesday that he is ready to pitch.
– Joe Frisaro
The Fish Pond
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