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07-17-2002, 10:42 AM
NEW YORK -- Marlins outfielder Eric Owens is caught in a dreaded "numbers" game.
He has played well enough (.285, 3 HR, 27 RBIs, 18 stolen bases) to warrant more than the two starts that he has received over the last two weeks, but there are three outfielders ahead of him that manager Jeff Torborg needs to play right now.
Despite the fact that he is only batting .241, Preston Wilson is the team's starting center fielder. The Marlins just acquired Juan Encarnacion, whom Torborg describes as a five-tool player, and had a solid season with the Reds before moving to Florida.
"You don't make a trade and sit somebody," Torborg said. "You just don't. It's tough enough to fit into a new team, but you don't sit the guy."
Owens had two hits in his start on Sunday against the Cubs in Chicago, but he has was back on the bench for both games against the Mets on Monday and Tuesday. Torborg looked at thnumbers and decided to go with Kevin Millar as his third outfielder.
"He's a very valuable member of this club," Torborg said of Owens. "The problem is he has two hits in Chicago and normally I would have played him yesterday, but Millar had two hits against (Mike) Bacsik (Monday's starter) the last time he faced him, so that's why he was in there. The reason EBO (Eric Blake Owens) was not in there against Al Leiter (Tuesday's starter) is that he is 3-for-33.
"You try to look at matchups when you give a guy a rest. We're trying to get Kevin out of his funk. Normally, I would have played EBO yesterday. I checked with the coaches and said, 'What do we do here?' Well, look what happened. Kevin hit two home runs. He has four hits in two games against this guy, so what happens is that EBO is caught in a tough spot."
Torborg had toyed with the idea of playing Millar at either first or third, giving Derrek Lee or Mike Lowell a rest every once and a while. But Lowell is having an All-Star season and Lee is much better defensively at first base, which is what Torborg said he'd rather see in his lineup.
According to Marlins media relations director Steve Copses, the uniforms that Marlins are wearing in Viagra's Triumphant Glory Series against the Mets are from the 1982 Single-A Miami Marlins, not the 1956 Miami Marlins, as reported on Monday.
Encarnacion found himself batting seventh against Leiter on Tuesday, one day after he was batting second. "I told him not to read anything into this," Torborg said. "We're struggling to score runs right now, so we'll try anything."
Mike Redmond got the start behind the plate against Leiter due to his .579 career average against the Mets' left-hander. Torborg said that Redmond will get the start on Thursday due to his career (.606, 20-for-33) success against Atlanta's Tom Glavine. "Redmond is a much better hitter than I thought he was," Torborg said. "I never saw him play. I never realized how good he was. This guy is a good hitter."
Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations, met with Torborg prior to Tuesday's game to discuss rules and regulations. Torborg said that Watson tries to meet with each visiting manager when their team plays in New York.
Justin Wayne, who was acquired from the Expos in the Cliff Floyd trade, made his first start for Double-A Portland on Monday night and registered his first win for the Sea Dogs. He allowed two earned runs over six innings in Portland's 10-8 win over Erie.
FANTASY EDGE: A.J. Burnett will get the start on Wednesday against the Braves in Florida. Burnett is 3-4 with a 2.86 ERA in seven starts against Atlanta.
Owner Jeffrey Loria arrived in New York on Monday with two presents from his recent trip to Rome for Luis Castillo in honor of his recent 35-game hitting streak. Loria presented with a picture of the Virgin Mary and a necklace with a medallion of Jesus. Castillo said on Tuesday that he wore the necklace for both games of the series against the Mets, but he gave it back to Loria following Tuesday's 10-5 loss because the Marlins' owner wanted to get the medallion engraved. "I think it's nice," Castillo said. "It was a surprise when he gave (the gifts) to me." The picture and a piece of the necklace were blessed by the Pope, according to Copses.
He has played well enough (.285, 3 HR, 27 RBIs, 18 stolen bases) to warrant more than the two starts that he has received over the last two weeks, but there are three outfielders ahead of him that manager Jeff Torborg needs to play right now.
Despite the fact that he is only batting .241, Preston Wilson is the team's starting center fielder. The Marlins just acquired Juan Encarnacion, whom Torborg describes as a five-tool player, and had a solid season with the Reds before moving to Florida.
"You don't make a trade and sit somebody," Torborg said. "You just don't. It's tough enough to fit into a new team, but you don't sit the guy."
Owens had two hits in his start on Sunday against the Cubs in Chicago, but he has was back on the bench for both games against the Mets on Monday and Tuesday. Torborg looked at thnumbers and decided to go with Kevin Millar as his third outfielder.
"He's a very valuable member of this club," Torborg said of Owens. "The problem is he has two hits in Chicago and normally I would have played him yesterday, but Millar had two hits against (Mike) Bacsik (Monday's starter) the last time he faced him, so that's why he was in there. The reason EBO (Eric Blake Owens) was not in there against Al Leiter (Tuesday's starter) is that he is 3-for-33.
"You try to look at matchups when you give a guy a rest. We're trying to get Kevin out of his funk. Normally, I would have played EBO yesterday. I checked with the coaches and said, 'What do we do here?' Well, look what happened. Kevin hit two home runs. He has four hits in two games against this guy, so what happens is that EBO is caught in a tough spot."
Torborg had toyed with the idea of playing Millar at either first or third, giving Derrek Lee or Mike Lowell a rest every once and a while. But Lowell is having an All-Star season and Lee is much better defensively at first base, which is what Torborg said he'd rather see in his lineup.
According to Marlins media relations director Steve Copses, the uniforms that Marlins are wearing in Viagra's Triumphant Glory Series against the Mets are from the 1982 Single-A Miami Marlins, not the 1956 Miami Marlins, as reported on Monday.
Encarnacion found himself batting seventh against Leiter on Tuesday, one day after he was batting second. "I told him not to read anything into this," Torborg said. "We're struggling to score runs right now, so we'll try anything."
Mike Redmond got the start behind the plate against Leiter due to his .579 career average against the Mets' left-hander. Torborg said that Redmond will get the start on Thursday due to his career (.606, 20-for-33) success against Atlanta's Tom Glavine. "Redmond is a much better hitter than I thought he was," Torborg said. "I never saw him play. I never realized how good he was. This guy is a good hitter."
Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations, met with Torborg prior to Tuesday's game to discuss rules and regulations. Torborg said that Watson tries to meet with each visiting manager when their team plays in New York.
Justin Wayne, who was acquired from the Expos in the Cliff Floyd trade, made his first start for Double-A Portland on Monday night and registered his first win for the Sea Dogs. He allowed two earned runs over six innings in Portland's 10-8 win over Erie.
FANTASY EDGE: A.J. Burnett will get the start on Wednesday against the Braves in Florida. Burnett is 3-4 with a 2.86 ERA in seven starts against Atlanta.
Owner Jeffrey Loria arrived in New York on Monday with two presents from his recent trip to Rome for Luis Castillo in honor of his recent 35-game hitting streak. Loria presented with a picture of the Virgin Mary and a necklace with a medallion of Jesus. Castillo said on Tuesday that he wore the necklace for both games of the series against the Mets, but he gave it back to Loria following Tuesday's 10-5 loss because the Marlins' owner wanted to get the medallion engraved. "I think it's nice," Castillo said. "It was a surprise when he gave (the gifts) to me." The picture and a piece of the necklace were blessed by the Pope, according to Copses.