Results tagged ‘ Tim Wood ’
Wood gets recalled
The Marlins made a move in the bullpen for the Cardinals series.
Right-handed reliever Tim Wood was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans, while right-handed reliever Chris Leroux was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain.
Wood has already appeared in eight games for the Marlins. Leroux has 14 appearances, and 15 innings.
– Joe Frisaro
Hensley reinstated, Wood optioned
The Marlins on Tuesday reinstated reliever Clay Hensley off the bereavement list, and optioned reliever Tim Wood to Triple-A New Orleans.
Hensley, 30, learned after last Friday’s loss to the Nationals that his father had passed away. The right-hander went on the bereavement list, and he returns after missing the required three days.
By rule, players on bereavement must miss a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven days. The Marlins were off on Monday, before opening a three-game set with the Giants on Tuesday.
In his last two appearances, Hensley has been on a roll. He has struck out 13 in five scoreless innings. The right-hander has thrown 12 2/3 innings this season, and he’s struck out 21, while walking five.
Wood has appeared in eight games, with his last outing on April 27 against the Padres.
– Joe Frisaro
Sanchez wins first base job
Second time around, Gaby Sanchez secured the spot.
The 26-year-old will be the Marlins starting first baseman.
The path was cleared for Sanchez on Monday when prospect Logan Morrison was reassigned to Minor League camp. Most likely, Morrison will open the season at Triple-A New Orleans, while Sanchez will experience his first Opening Day at the big league level.
A year ago, Sanchez was in a similar situation. The Miami native entered the 2009 Spring Training with an inside track to win the job. But he had an injury-plagued and inconsistent spring, and opened in Triple-A New Orleans.
That was then. With another year of Minor League seasoning under his belt, Sanchez has enjoyed a strong Spring Training.
In Grapefruit League play, Sanchez has stood out. Heading into Monday, he was batting .409 with two home runs and five RBIs in 44 at-bats. Morrison, meanwhile, finished his Grapefruit League stint with a .209 average and six RBIs in 43 at-bats.
In another roster move on Monday, the reliever Scott Strickland was reassigned to Minor League camp. The right-hander will head to New Orleans.
With Strickland out of camp, the Marlins final bullpen spot may wind up going to Seth McClung or Tim Wood. Rick VandenHurk is another possibility. But chances are VandenHurk will remain a starting pitcher, not a reliever. He will be able to do that at New Orleans.
The question the team will ask is whether to stay with the experience of McClung or the youth of Wood. Weighing in Wood’s favor is the fact he’s on the 40-man roster. Wood hasn’t hurt his chances either, as he’s enjoyed a strong spring. In fact, he’s throwing better than McClung.
McClung, in camp on a Minor League contract, has a clause to opt out of his deal on April 1. McClung also gives flexibility because he has been a starter, long reliever, and he’s even closed in the big leagues. He is more of a multi-innings option than Wood.
Hayden Penn, who was out of options, was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Monday.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez hinted on Sunday that Sanchez could win the first base job. Gonzalez noted that Sanchez was a catcher at the University of Miami, and for a short while in the Minor Leagues.
Sanchez could be the emergency third catcher, which means the Marlins would consider using either Ronny Paulino or John Baker as a pinch-hitter. Typically, teams shy away from using their backup catcher as a pinch-hitter.
Sanchez now provides roster flexibility.
Sanchez batted .289 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs at New Orleans last year. He also appeared in 21 games with the Marlins, and he has 26 games of big league experience the last two years.
– 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
Ayala and bullpen alternatives
Relief help is on its way for the Marlins.
The bullpen has been heavily taxed the past two games, combining to throw 13 2/3 innings, including 7 1/3 innings in Friday’s 9-5 loss to the Padres.
After the game, Chris Volstad was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans, along with infielder Gaby Sanchez. The Marlins have yet to announce who will get called up. Reliever Luis Ayala, who last pitched an inning on Wednesday, is expected to be recalled from New Orleans.
Ayala has thrown multiple innings, but the Malrins are in need of long relief, because both Cristhian Martinez and Brian Sanches each have thrown more than two innings the past two days.
Tim Wood could be an option. The right-hander threw an inning on Thursday, and two more on Tuesday.
In the past two games, Anibal Sanchez and Volstad each combined to throw 5 1/3 innings for Florida, creating a tough situation for the bullpen.
Rosters expand on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and the Marlins will then be in position to better pick up their relievers.
Burke Badenhop could help the team right now, but on Friday, he threw 3 1/3 innings in a rehab assignment for Class A Jupiter. Badenhop is a possibility to replace Volstad in the rotation. So is Rick VandenHurk, who tossed six innings at New Orleans on Thursday.
Lefty Andrew Miller is pitching rehab games in the Gulf Coast League.
Before Friday’s game, manager Fredi Gonzalez said Miller and VandenHurk are likely candidates to pitch out of the bullpen when rosters expand. They may be counted on to start, if necessary.
The Marlins also are pursuing Brad Penny, who is expected to clear waivers and become a free agent on Monday. Penny, released by the Red Sox, also is drawing interest from the Giants.
– Joe Frisaro
Leroux recalled from Double-A
Before facing the Astros on Thursday, the Marlins announced right-handed reliever Chris Leroux has been recalled from Double-A Jacksonville.
The hard-throwing reliever fills the roster spot vacated by Tim Wood, who was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans on Wednesday.
Leroux has appeared in 36 games for Jacksonville, posting a 4-2 record and a 2.96 ERA. He has logged 48 2/3 innings.
Leroux spent some time earlier with the Marlins, appearing in four games and throwing 5 2/3 innings. He last pitched for Florida on July 3, and he went on the disabled list after that appearance with a right-shoulder injury.
– Joe Frisaro
Wood optioned, Marlins interested in Smoltz
With the bullpen being so heavily used in the first three games of the series, the Marlins made a roster move following their 14-6 loss to the Astros on Wednesday night.
Right-hander Tim Wood was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans. The team on Thursday will announce who will be called up.
The Marlins are exploring the waiver wires for possible relief help. A big name on Florida’s radar is veteran John Smoltz, recently released by the Red Sox. A source said the Marlins are interested in the right-hander.
Choices are Chris Leroux and Cristhian Martinez. Both are at Double-A Jacksonville. Another right-hander to keep an eye on is veteran Esteban Yan, who has signed a Minor League deal and he was assigned to Triple-A New Orleans. Yan last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2006.
Yan is not on the 40-man roster, but Leroux and Martinez are.
The Marlins bullpen has pitched 16 1/3 innings in the first three games with Houston, with the series finale on Thursday night.
– Joe Frisaro

Recent Comments