Dan Uggla didn't like the feel of the pink bat he used in his first plate appearance Sunday afternoon, going back to his regular model for the remainder of the game.
Renyel Pinto is a different person on the mound than he is in the comfort of the Marlins' clubhouse. The reliever takes his job seriously, coming into games with a glare and a nasty changeup, and he's a big reason the Marlins' bullpen is one of the best in the league.
In the midst of a winning streak on and off the field, the Marlins are making another major commitment to their future. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has agreed in principal to a six-year contract worth $70 million with the Marlins, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. Ramirez, who would have been arbitration-eligible after this season, will be locked in with the Marlins and, barring a trade or injury, will start Opening Day of 2011 when the team hopes to open its planned stadium at the Orange...
FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
F redi Gonzalez, who has said managers make a difference in only five games or so a year, assuredly knows the Marlins are winning more because of his players.
Mark Hendrickson never heard the knock. Even if he had, he wouldn't have remembered it. He was 5 months old, asleep in his room, when the news was delivered to his mother on a November morning in 1974.
MARLINS 11, NATIONALS 0
Andrew Miller gave the Marlins his best start Saturday night since coming over from Detroit, but the way the Florida bats warmed up the cool evening air, it truly wasn't needed.
As manager of the Nationals, Manny Acta gets to see Marlins' shortstop Hanley Ramirez more than he would like. Ramirez, who came into Saturday's game hitting .343 with 10 home runs and 22 RBI in 42 career games against the Nationals, is should see plenty of Washington pitching over the years once he signs his new six-year contract with Florida.
IN MY OPINION
Amazing things are swirling around the local baseball franchise. Miami began to behave like a major-league city by finally approving funding for a new stadium after years of starts, stalls and stops.
Ricky Nolasco was off to an outstanding start for the Marlins on Friday night, but with two outs in the fourth, the wheels came dangerously close to flying off.
First baseman Mike Jacobs was out of the Florida lineup for the second consecutive game with tightness in his left quadriceps, an injury that came during Wednesday's game against Milwaukee.
Members of the Marlins ownership group, front office and players partied with more than 100 sponsors and season-ticket holders at a hotel in the nation's capital Friday night.
MARLINS 7, BREWERS 2
The last time the Marlins were in first place this late in the season was 2002, and players stars such as Josh Beckett, Derrek Lee and Mike Lowell were leading the charge to the top of the National League East standings.
He looks like a coach. He might be a younger player's dad. He has been doing this -- demonstrating big-league baseball done right -- since most of his Marlins teammates were in grade school.
Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs, who hurt his left quadriceps Wednesday, was not in the starting lineup against the Brewers on Thursday night, but was available to pinch-hit.
MARLINS 6, BREWERS 2
Who was the best player the Marlins received in the whopper trade that sent Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit for six prospects?
How far can Scott Olsen go? The Marlins aren't sure, but Olsen's pitch limit appears to be right around 120 pitches. Olsen set a career high with 120 pitches April 9 against Washington in a 7 2/3-inning outing, and he used 121 pitches to go 8 2/3 innings Tuesday. Olsen left the game with two outs in the ninth with the bases loaded.
MARLINS 3, BREWERS 0
The Marlins had just beaten the Brewers 3-0 and Scott Olsen was walking into the clubhouse when he spotted a group of reporters. ''So close,'' Olsen said.
BASEBALL
Scott Olsen settles onto the home dugout bench at Dolphin Stadium, shades and ballcap on, both legs fidgeting, staring straight ahead at a field beginning to stir with pregame activity.
MARLINS | MIKE RABELO
Mike Rabelo arrives in the clubhouse every day, looks at the lineup card -- and only then finds out if he'll be starting. That's life -- at least Rabelo's version -- as a Marlins catcher. But, on most days, the 28-year-old from New Port Richey has another element to his routine:
Outfielder Brett Carroll has been with the Marlins since Friday afternoon, having been called up from Triple A Albuquerque (N.M.) before Florida's game against San Diego.
