Mar 19, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jacob Turner (33) throws during a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Jacob Turner got the locker tag today, the Marlins announced.  A lack of command and struggles keeping his pitches down in the zone means that the 21-year-old will start his season in AAA New Orleans.

All indicators at the start of camp pointed to Turner being a fixture in the rotation this season. But without the big-league level consistency that is necessary to be able to be effective for five and six innings, the Marlins didn’t have much choice.  Kevin Slowey is likely to step into his slot in the rotation while he works out the kinks in the minors.

Left-hander Dan Jennings was also optioned to the Zephyrs this morning. Giving up six earned runs in eight innings of work was too much to stay in camp.

The remaining roster moves were all reassigned to minor league camp.  Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff was in the running to be a utility guy, but with Polanco looking like he’ll bee hitting in the cleanup spot behind Stanton, Kooz’ window is apparently closed.  Nick Green was another potential utility infielder, but a .250/.318/.300 slash line wasn’t enough to seal the deal. Long shots Matt Downs  and Jordan Brown were also sent to the Minors this morning, also after a disappointing spring at the plate.

The only pitcher sent to minor league camp this morning was lefty Zach Phillips, who pitched 6 1/3 innings this spring, giving up nine hits and three earned runs.

There are 32 players left in camp as of this morning’s moves.  Look for some more late arrivals this week.

MLB Fan Cave Top 52 Marlins Fan, Andres Salgado, with fellow Die Hard Marlins fans.

This year I could see that there weren’t as many people at this event as years past, but the people in line with me were die-hard fans. Unlike in the past years when I would ask someone who your favorite player is, and he responded “Oh I don’t watch baseball, I’m just here cause it’s free.” The fans I met this year were amazing! They were nice, talkative, in good spirits, and really excited about this year’s team. Granted, there were fans who are still not happy with Mr. Loria, but I tried to stay away from those fans because I wasn’t going to let them bring me down. However, despite not having as many people as the past years, a good amount of people still showed up to the Winter Warm Up.

I got to see my old high school, Arch Bishop Edward A. McCarthy, play a game at the park (they won). There were plenty of vendors selling Marlins stuff. Yeah I spent a good chunk of money buying Marlins memorabilia that I’ve missed the 10 years I’ve lived in Orlando. All the games and music in the West Plaza created an exciting atmosphere. Although my favorite part of the whole Winter Warm Up was meeting the players and talking with fans!

My goal this Winter Warm Up was to thank in person all the players and fans who have supported me in my quest to make it onto MLB Fan Cave. I was on a mission! With the smaller crowd size the players were able to talk more with the fans as they got their pictures and autographs. I got to personally thank Tom Koehler, Chris Hatcher, Brad Hand, Dan Jennings, Steve Cishek, and Ryan Webb for their promotion of me on Twitter. But it wasn’t just a thank you and a hand shake. They actually took the time and had a conversation with me. At past Fan Fest it was hi, how you doing, thank you, here’s your autograph, and move on. This year the players really did take their time with everyone, and they seem to be really enjoying themselves as they met and talked to us. Tom Koehler was especially outgoing and friendly with the fans (watch this video to see what I mean). This year I felt the players really cared about us fans. I’m not saying that in years past they didn’t care but when you have a 2 hour long line and only 45 minutes to get through it, there’s not a lot of time to have a conversation. The players were just able to have more fun with everyone this year!

Moving onto the fans, that same video above with Tom Koehler also shows how excited the fans were yesterday. Not only were the fans who came up to me to congratulate me on making it to Top 52 awesome, but all fans who were around enjoy the event were awesome. They were all talking about who is going to start where, what farm system player is going to make it this year, how many homers is Stanton going to hit, I can’t wait to see Tino Martinez in a Marlins uniform, and so on. Though unlike news reporters, who may say those things with a hint of disdain  the fans were really excited to be talking about all those questions! I cannot say it enough how much fun it was to hang out with true Marlins fans and thank all the fans who supported me on my quest into the MLB Fan Cave!

I realize that I have said it countless times that the way the Marlins are going to get fans back is to start winning. But this Winter Warm Up wasn’t for those fans, it was for fans like me. These fans got to go around and get excited about this year, meet fellow fans like themselves, talk to players who are excited that the fans are here to support them, and most importantly to show that we do still care about baseball in Miami. The rest of the fans and I hope you will join us at the park this year (maybe not me because I really hope to be representing our Miami Marlins in the MLB Fan Cave!)

The Marlins decided to option outfielder Bryan Petersen and lefty reliever Dan Jennings. The Marlins will reinstate Austin Kearns from the disabled list and are likely to bring up another reliever. Juan C. Rodriguez suggested that lefty Michael Dunn will be the pitcher called up.

Probably Dunn. 7 scoreless innings over four outings with five hits, no walks and 11 Ks since demotion RT @iReedifer: chances it’s LeBlanc?

— Juan C. Rodriguez (@JCRMarlinsbeat) June 8, 2012

Though, Marlins.com beat writer, Joe Frisaro, suggested that Sandy Rosario will be the pitcher that the Marlins call up.

#Marlins likely calling up Sandy Rosario

— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) June 8, 2012

Austin Kearns will be making his return to the Marlins lineup Friday. (Image: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE)

The Marlins are clearly making the right move by bringing Austin Kearns back. Kearns was surprisingly one of the Marlins best hitters before he went down with his injury. Kearns posted a 375/.444/.646 (.470 wOBA)  line before going on the DL. I expect Kearns to get a majority of the time in left field until Gaby Sanchez is recalled.

But the Marlins did seem to make a mistake, as Michael Jong points out, with the player they decided to send down. Here is a quick comparison that Michael did between Chris Coghlan and Bryan Petersen:

Petersen has completely outplayed Coghlan this season, but if you felt like Coghlan has recently outplayed Petersen, the numbers suggest otherwise:

Petersen has been a much better player this season, just at the plate then Coghlan. There is no denying that. Then when you factor in the fact that Petersen is a plus defender in all three outfield positions, while Coghlan is an average defender in the corners, but a below average center fielder.

So why did the Marlins demote Petersen over Coghlan? The Marlins badly want Coghlan to return to his Rookie of the Year form. At this point, Coghlan re-reaching that level seems like a very long shot. The Marlins are mistaken if they truly believe that Coghlan can provide more value off of the bench then Petersen.

Here at Marlin Maniac, we wish BP the best of luck and hope he can make a quick return to the major leagues. Hopefully his Los Angeles Kings can win the Stanley Cup later tonight to make it up to him.

On another note, I have received a lot of questions about long until Gaby Sanchez will return to the Marlins. I have no idea right now, I expected him to be back already, but that’s partly because I expected him to start mashing the ball once he got to Triple-A. Sanchez is slumping down there right now. Sanchez owns a .275/.464/.412 line in the minors right now, but is not playing well as of late. Sanchez entered the game on a 6-for-28 skid. I still expect the Marlins to give Sanchez another shot in the big leagues, but I am also wondering what exactly the Marlins want from him.

Gaby Sanchez is still not back with the Marlins since his early season struggles. (Image: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE)

However, it is not a good thing when your manager feels like this, even after a win:

”There’s a lot going on,” Guillen said. ”We have a lot of concerns.”

The two biggest concerns for the Marlins remain, Josh Johnson and Heath Bell.

Josh Johnson struggled again in his start, this time failing to make it out of the third inning, after being handed a 5-0 lead after 1. (Image: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE)

Source: FanGraphs

The game started out perfectly for the Marlins. Jose Reyes got a lead off-single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, Emilio Bonifacio then walked, and Hanley Ramirez lined a three-run home run to left field. The Marlins were not in the first inning yet. After Greg Dobbs grounded out, Omar Infante beat out an infield single. Giancarlo Stanton came up next and blasted a two-run shot to deep center field.

Just like that, the Marlins had a 5-0 lead before their ace even took the mound. This felt like a game that the Marlins were going to win easily.

Josh Johnson was unable to hold that lead and it was very obvious early on that Johnson did not have his best stuff. In the first inning, after recording the first two outs fairly easily, Johnson allowed two singles and plunked Chase Headley to load the bases before striking out Orlando Hudson to end the inning.

The third inning was the inning that everything unraveled for the Marlins. After the Marlins first two hitters reached in the top of the inning, San Diego Padres pitcher Anthony Bass was able to retire the next three hitters to get out of the inning. Boy, do the Marlins wish they could have cashed in with that opportunity.

In the bottom of the third, Josh Johnson fell apart and did not even make it out of the inning. Johnson threw 36 of his 67 pitches in the third.

Johnson opened the inning by walking Will Venable. Johnson then got Mark Kotsay to pop out, but allowed a run-scoring double to Chase Headley. Johnson was then able to induce a ground ball out to retire Yonder Alonso for the second out of the inning. The Marlins and Johnson were looking poised to take a 5-1 lead into the fourth inning. Tragically, the Marlins did not leave the third inning with the lead or their ace.

Nick Hundley roped a double and Orlando Hudson made up for his first inning strikeout with a run-scoring single. All of a sudden, the Marlins lead shrunk to just 5-3. Hudson stole second base when Brett Hayes, starting in the place of John Buck, again, short hopped a throw to second. Johnson then walked former Marlin Cameron Maybin and Jason Bartlett to load the bases for Anthony Bass, the pitcher. Perfect chance to get out of the inning with the lead in tact?

No, Bass lined a base hit, one that should have been just a single, that got passed Stanton and cleared the bases. The young pitchers first Major League hit was a three-run triple. The Padres had a 6-5 lead. Johnson was immediately removed and Dan Jennings was brought in to make his second big league appearance.

Josh Johnson was not too happy with himself following the game:

“Physically, I feel good,” he said. “When you throw the ball in the middle of the plate, it’s going to get hit. If you look at all of them, right down the middle. I’m wearing my bullpen out, which kills me, especially today. We get the five runs early, and then just squander that lead like that. It’s unacceptable.”

The Marlins were able to tie the game back up in the top of the fourth inning, after Jose Reyes beat out a double and scored on a balk. Reyes, on third base, was able to put pressure on Bass with his speed and when he faked to steal home, Bass stepped off, causing the balk and the tie ball game.

Jose Reyes celebrates after scoring on a balk by pitcher Anthony Bass. (Image: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE)

The score remained the same until the bottom half of the fifth inning. Chad Gaudin was the pitcher for the Marlins.  A single by Mark Kotsay would score Bass to give the Padres a 7-6 lead.

Anthony Bass finished the game going six innings and Luke Gregorson replaced him in the top of the seventh inning. Gregorson walked Bonifacio with one out. With the Padres expecting Boni to steal, they decided to pitch out, the pitch got away from Gregorson, allowing Boni to take second. After Hanley popped out, Greg Dobbs lined a single to score Bonifacio, Dobbs alertly got to second base on the play, which set up nicely when Omar Infante picked up a base hit to score Dobbs. This gave the Marlins a 7-6 lead in the seventh.

Ryan Webb pitched the bottom of the seventh for the Marlins. After striking out the first two hitter, Webb allowed an infield single. Webb was done and Randy Choate was brought in. After two passed balls and a walk, the Padres had runners on the corners, trailing by just one. Choate was able to settle down and get Kotsay to ground out to end the inning.

The Marlins went down one-two-three in the eight inning, the only eventful play during that inning was when Reyes laid down a bunt, it seemed like he was going to beat it out, but he was running inside the base paths, so the umpires called him out on runners interference to end the inning. Choate was able to retire the Padres easily in the bottom of the inning and the Marlins went down without a fight in the top of the ninth.

This set up another save opportunity for struggling closer, Heath Bell.

The save opportunity did not start the way Bell wanted it to. Jesus Guzman lined a double down the right field line, and Cameron Maybin would tie up the game with his very own double. Barlett then put down a sac bunt to move Maybin to third base with one out. A game the Marlins lead 5-0 after one inning was looking like a game they would end up losing.

With one out, the Marlins opted to walk Andy Parrino to set up a double play. Bell was then able to strikeout Chris Denorfia before the Marlins decided to intentionally walk Kotsay to load the bases. Bell was then able to induce a ground ball to get out of the inning. The Marlins had successfully blown a 5-0 lead and a 8-7 lead to allow the game to go into extras.

No scoring opportunity action took place until the bottom of the eleventh. Former Marlin John Baker had a chance to drive in a former Marlin, Maybin, to win the game. Steve Cishek was able to get him to ground out to end the inning.

In the twelvth inning, Hanley Ramirez led the inning off with a walk. After Dobbs struck out, Omar Infante lined a double to the gap in left-center. Hanley Ramirez was able to score from first base on the play, and the Marlins had a 9-8 lead in extra innings. The Padres then walked Stanton to get Cishek to the plate, with no one available to pitch, Cishek hit for himself and laid down a beautiful sac bunt. Infante did not get a good jump and was thrown out at third. Brett Hayes struck out to end the inning.

Cishek was able to pitch out of a mini-jam in the ninth inning, his third inning of work, to ensure the Marlins with a 9-8 win, their fourth consecutive win.

The game lasted4 hours and 45 minutes and ended at 2:52 A.M. EDT. I was able to watch most of the game, but was falling asleep on my bed watching extra innings. I did catch Infante’s big hit, but I do not recall watching Cishek pitch at all. The Marlins won, so that is all that matters.

Apparently the reason for Cishek’s strong three inning, 52-pitch performance was gummy bears. This is what Cishek told Frank Forte after the game:

“Gummy Bears are Delicious”

Brett Hayes slips Steve Cishek a victory celebrating gummy bear. (Image: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE)

They certainly are Cishek, maybe give some to Heath Bell to help him?

Ozzie Guillen was noncommittal when it came to saying who was the Marlins closer after the game:

“Bell continues to struggle,” Guillen said. “We will recheck tomorrow what will be that situation, closing. We’ve got to do something about it. We can’t be waiting any more. Then we’ll figure out tomorrow. We might talk to him about it.

Tonight, Mark Buehrle will take the mound for the Marlins, looking to rebound from his struggles in his last start. He will be opposed by Clayton Richard for the Padres.

Prediction: The Marlins continue their winning streak behind a complete game shutout from Buehrle. The Marlins win the game 4-0.

You can ‘Like’ Marlin Maniac by clicking here. You can follow Marlin Maniac on Twitter @MarlinManiac and you can follow Ehsan Kassim on Twitter at @ehsank24.

Miami Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson exits after a rough outing. (Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE)

Source: FanGraphs

In what has to be one of the oddest performances of the season, Josh Johnson enjoyed a peripherally strong start. Unfortunately for him and his team, the Diamondbacks just kept hitting bloopers to where the defense was not. The only hard hit ball that I can recall hit off of Johnson was a double by Lyle Overbay in the fourth inning.

Josh Johnson, unlike in his earlier starts where he struggled this season, was able to generate swings and misses on his pitches. This was evident with his 8-strikeout performance. Johnson also limited his walks in this game to just two batters. Johnson was able to cause a lot of damage with a pitch that he had been missing with earlier this season, his slider.

Johnson threw 35 sliders, seven of those went for swinging strikes and only seven other pitches were even made contact with. Interestingly enough, five out of those seven whiffs came against left-handers. The slider is usually more effective against righties.

Johnson only allowed one extra base hit in his performance. Nine of his ten hits he allowed went for singles, none of which were hit particularly hard.

Johnson still has not been able to match the velocity he has in the past, and that could be something for cause of concern for Marlins fans, today’s start, on the other hand, not so much. The Diamondbacks were able to string together a bunch of soft hit bloopers to produce their runs. While the stat line was not pretty, Marlins fans should chalk this game up as more bad luck then a bad performance.

Mike Dunn entered the game after Johnson and was very ineffective. Dunn went 2/3′s of an inning, allowing three earned runs on two hits. Dunn also walked two hitters. The Marlins got Johnson out of the game before the game was out of hand, but unfortunately, Dunn made an ugly inning even uglier. At this point, the only thing the Marlins could do is try to break up Wade Miley‘s no hitter.

Dunn was sent down immediately after the game, along with Chris Coghlan, with the Marlins selecting the contracts of Bryan Petersen and Dan Jennings. More on that later.

And they successfully did so to start the seventh inning, when John Buck led the inning off with a double. He was stranded at second and the Marlins were unable to produce a run.

The good news that Marlins fans can take from this game is that half of my prediction came through on Sunday afternoon. Here is a look at my prediction from the game recap from Saturday evening’s game:

Prediction: The Marlins offense finally comes to life and Josh Johnson has a strong start. Giancarlo Stanton will go deep for the first time and the Marlins will win 6-1.

The Marlins offense obviously did not perform well, but Giancarlo Stanton was able to hit his first home run of the season. That is sort of a victory. Hopefully this means that he can turn things around at the plate and help the Marlins to start and score some runs. Here is a video of the home run:

The series will conclude Monday afternoon, before the Marlins travel to San Francisco to take on the Giants. The pitching match up in the game will be Mark Buehrle and Patrick Corbin. Buehlre will be making his first career start against the Diamondbacks and Corbin will be making his Major League debut. In his first four starts for Double-A Mobile, Corbin had a 1.67 ERA. He gets to pitch to an inept lineup to get his feet wet in the big leagues.

Prediction: The Marlins will salvage the series and win the game by the final score of 3-1. Buehrle will continue his strong start to the 2012 season and give the Marlins 8 strong innings. Heath Bell will close out the game and get the Marlins back in the win column.

 If the Marlins lose this game, I will start to pick against them to hopefully reverse our luck.

You can ‘Like’ Marlin Maniac by clicking here. You can follow Marlin Maniac on Twitter @MarlinManiac and you can follow Ehsan Kassim on Twitter at @ehsank24.