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New names, new manager, new players, new stadium: your 2012 Miami Marlins.
As you may have heard, things aren't going so smoothly to start their season. More significantly than Ozzie's suspension, the team isn't really playing very well. They have 7 wins but five of them were at home against the Cubs and Astros and they are 13th in the NL in runs scored. Their new ballpark is...interesting. We'll table discussion of that until the Mets visit there in May.
Pitching matchups:
Tuesday: Josh Johnson (R) v. Johan Santana
Johnson was supposed to start on Sunday but the Marlins got rained out in Washington. Johnson missed most of 2011 with shoulder inflammation (he also had Tommy John surgery several years ago). Incidentally, Johnson's last start of 2011 was against the Mets, on a rainy night when it was discovered that David Wright's back was broken, the Mets tried unsuccessfully to have the game rained-out, Jon Niese hit a pinch-hit triple in the 11th inning, Carlos Beltran and Willie Harris made great defensive plays...and the Mets lost. Ah, nostalgia of 2011.
Anyway, Johnson had two bad starts this year before a good start against the Cubs last week. When he's healthy (jury still out), Johnson is one of the 2 or 3 best pitchers in the division, if not the National League.
Johnson has a long history against the Mets. He used to own a long winning streak against them before that was broken on opening day 2010. Johnson has faced Santana a number of times before, including (unsurprisingly), several pitching duels that ended in disaster for the Mets. You may recall Daniel Murphy dropping a fly-ball in left field. There was also the walk-off wild pitch from Fernando Nieve. Or just your garden variety blown save from JJ Putz with Cody Ross content.
Wednesday: Mark Buehrle (L) v. R.A. Dickey
Buehrle is new to the National League this season after twelve seasons with the White Sox. He has never faced the Mets. Fun Buehrle facts: He's had eleven straight seasons of at least 30 starts; has two no-hitters (one of which was a perfect game caught by our old friend Ramon Castro); he is known for working quickly and contributing to short game times. He's 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA and has pitched well in each of his three starts this year.
Dickey was supposed to have a book signing and Q&A prior to this game, before the rainout changed the pitching schedule; no word yet as to whether this is being rescheduled.
Thursday: Ricky Nolasco (R) v. Jon Niese
The Mets have faced Nolasco about 5,000 times (conservative estimate) over the past few years, most recently an August 2011 game where Dillon Gee outpitched him. 2-0, 3.93 ERA to start the year but he still gives up plenty of hits and walks. Expect Gary Cohen (or perhaps Ron) to tell us again about how Nolasco has great stuff but just has never quite turned the corner to become a star.
Marlins starters:
C - John Buck (R) Off to a slow start.
1B - Gaby Sanchez (R) Off to a slower start.
2B - Omar Infante (R) has a strained groin. He's been hot: (.325/.341/.775). Donnie Murphy (R) plays if Infante is hurt. This D. Murphy can't hit.
3B - Hanley Ramirez (R) (formerly the shortstop) has 4 homers already (.263/.364/.509) and is off to a much better season than his awful (.712 OPS) 2011.
SS - You all know who is playing here and leading off. He's started slow (.294 OBP); 7 of his 14 hits were for extra bases however, and he's 4-6 for steals and has 5 errors at short.
LF - Logan Morrison (L) He of the famous twitter account is hitting .325 with a .383 OBP to start the year but with no power.
CF - Emilio Bonifacio (S). Emilio had a pretty decent 2011 (.360 OBP; 40 steals) and is off to a hot start this year (.403 OBP; 9 steals without being caught).
RF - Gincarlo (formerly "Mike") Stanton (R) has been bothered by knee issues and hasn't homered yet this year. Still an incredibly dangerous hitter and probably the most power of any player in the majors. I believe he hit the single-longest home run at Citi Field last year, well beyond the apple in dead-center.
Bullpen:
New closer Heath Bell (R) (the other Ex-Met on this team) has a 7.20 ERA and two losses already this year. Recorded uneventful saves in his two most recent appearances.
Steve Cishek and Edward Mujica (both righties) are the top set-up guys.
Randy Choate is the situational lefty.
Ex-Marlins:
None
Misc.
Jorge Arangue Jr. had a nice article on the return of Reyes to New York.
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