FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ

Marlins feel buzz, Fins feel a draft, Canes feel the Madness

By BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

With the season eight days away, what are people inside baseball saying about the Marlins? Here's some feedback from three talent evaluators -- two longtime scouts who watched the Marlins this spring, and former Mets general manager Steve Phillips of ESPN:

• Pitching prospect Chris Volstad ''is the one there's a buzz about with scouts,'' the National League scout said. ''He's extremely impressive, and it's very tempting to keep him on the big-league team. He's got the whole package -- quality stuff, poise, and could be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter eventually.'' The scout for an American League team said, ``I like Volstad the best of their young guys.''

• Although starter Mark Hendrickson has had a mediocre career, the NL scout said this spring he was ``as good as I've ever seen him throw. Best curveball I've ever seen from him.''

• The scouts see Andrew Miller as a top-of-the-rotation-type talent, but his control raised concerns.

''Andrew Miller has great stuff,'' Phillips said. ``The big question is that delivery. He steps toward the first-base dugout and throws across his body to home plate. When you're that far across your body, it's harder to repeat your delivery and throw consistent strikes. . . . If he can, he has a chance to be dynamic.''

• All three love center fielder Cameron Maybin's skills but say he would be better served opening in the minors to work on hitting breaking balls. ''I'll be sorely disappointed if he's not a superstar,'' the AL scout said. ``He'll hit 20 homers initially, 30 eventually.''

Phillips said Maybin could be a ''perennial All-Star'' but he ``got to the major leagues probably too quickly. He swings and misses too much, doesn't have the kind of plate discipline . . . to hit for a high average.''

• If Maybin goes to the minors, the Marlins will use Cody Ross or Alejandro De Aza in center. ''You don't have to throw De Aza a lot of strikes,'' the NL scout said. ``He'll get himself out.''

• The AL scout said former Tigers prospect Burke Badenhop ''has been the surprise of camp'' -- his sinker has fooled hitters -- but projects him as a long reliever or end-of-the-rotation starter eventually.

• The NL scout said third baseman Jorge Cantu -- who has hit above .400 this spring -- ''has swung the bat like he did three years ago in Tampa. That's the best shape I've seen him.'' But the AL scout cautioned Cantu is ``well below average defensively.''

• The NL scout spoke of how much better the Marlins will be defensively at catcher with Mike Rabelo and incumbent Matt Treanor instead of heavy doses of Miguel Olivo, now with Kansas City: ``The Marlins are saying they've got catchers who take pride in calling a game. They are very studious and know how to attack hitters.''

• The NL scout said the Marlins ``could win 70 to 75 games. But you better take them seriously. There's a lot of talent.''

CHATTER

The Dolphins are interested in several Virginia Tech players and sent at least three officials to their Pro Day on Thursday -- more than the norm. Defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers studied four big linemen -- Barry Booker, Chris Ellis, Carlton Powell and Kory Robertson.

Receivers coach Karl Dorrell watched Eddie Royal, Justin Harper and Josh Morgan. There's also cornerback Brandon Flowers and linebacker Xavier Adibi (who, at 230, is smaller than the Dolphins' prototype at that position).

• Among second-round quarterback possibilities, Miami is showing the most interest in Michigan's Chad Henne. The Dolphins, who have a private workout with Henne on Tuesday, haven't scheduled one with Delaware's Joe Flacco.

• Virginia coach Al Groh -- who served as an assistant under Bill Parcells with the Giants, Patriots and Jets - said Friday one of the appealing things about Chris Long, whom Miami is considering for the No. 1 pick, is that he's ``very versatile physically and mentally. Teams likely would be able to do a number of different things with him. . . . Over the years, a majority of players turned out to be outstanding 3-4 linebackers in the NFL who were college defensive ends.''

So is Groh encouraging Parcells to draft Long? ''I don't think Bill needs any advice from me,'' Groh said, adding he's happy to provide ``insights.''

•  Pat Riley has compiled a list of qualities he wants in Heat offseason acquisitions and unlike last year, plans to stick to it. Among them: players who are so competitive that ''it hurts to lose,'' high-energy, high-percentage shooters with a high basketball ''IQ,'' and ''guys who are not'' prone to mistakes.

''I'm not sure the last three or four years I was looking for those qualities,'' he said. ''We're going back to the model where we selected Caron Butler and Dwyane Wade.'' And after that, Riley joked, ``We'll get back to the process of [bringing in] all the wounded veterans to screw it up again.''

NCAA HOOPS CHATTER

• UM people say president Donna Shalala wants to make sure Frank Haith is happy here, and expect he soon will be offered a raise and extension. He's due $900,000 next season and has three years left on his contract.

• UM point guard Lance Hurdle will have his toughest defensive test of the year Sunday in Texas' D.J. Augustin. The key with Hurdle is varying his speeds offensively and slowing down when needed. ''Even Jack [ McClinton] told me it's easier to guard [me] when I go at one speed,'' he said.

• An Eastern Conference scout said Saturday that McClinton, a junior, is rated as a pro prospect similar to what Guillermo Diaz and Robert Hite -- who had brief NBA stints -- were when they were at UM. He will need a strong senior season and at 6-1, probably will need to play point guard in the pros.

• The Madness is coming: AmericanAirlines Arena will play host to first- and second-round NCAA Tournament games on a Friday and Sunday next year.

• So which UM player is so smart that former Florida Gov. and ex-U.S. Senator Bob Graham recently asked him, on an airplane, to read the manuscript of Graham's new book on the unanswered questions of 9/11 and offer input?

Walk-on Jonathan Stratton, a fan favorite, who met Graham on a flight to Boston this year. So impressed, Graham said he is writing a recommendation for Stratton to Harvard Law School, where Graham attended.