Anibal Sanchez had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder that will cause him to miss the remainder of the season.  Sanchez started 6 games this season for the Marlins before he was demoted to AAA for pitching poorly.  He was 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA and a 2.07 WHIP this season for the Marlins.  Sanchez threw 30 innings this season in the big leagues and he allowed 43 hits, walked 19 batters and whiffed 14.  This is a major blow to the Marlins who were depending on Sanchez to be a fixture in their rotation for this season and the future.

The Marlins lefty relievers have been awful so far this season.  Reynel Pinto and Taylor Tankersley have both been pitching batting practice so far this season.  Pinto has had control issues and that has hurt him this season.  In 29 games this season, Pinto is 0-3 with 1 save, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.  Pinto has thrown 30.2 innings this season and he’s allowed 29 hits, walked 17 batters and whiffed 31.  If he doesn’t start throwing strikes soon Pinto will be nothing more than a left handed mop up man.  Taylor Tankersley has pitched in 27 games for the Marlins so far this season and he’s 3-1 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP.  He has thrown 19.1 innings and he’s allowed 21 hits, 3 homers, has walked 13 batters and whiffed 13.  He also must start to pitch better because the Marlins need a lefty they can count on late in ballgames.

I could hear Marlins’ fans rejoice everywhere with the news that they wouldn’t have to see Reggie Abercrombie whiff and make horrid defensive plays in the outfield for awhile.  Abercrombie has played in 20 games for the Marlins so far this season and he’s 14 for 66 (.212 avg, .579 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 2 homers, 5 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.  Abercrombie needs to learn that he’s not a homerun hitter and that he should hit the ball on the ground and use his speed.  The 18 whiffs he had for the Marlins is unacceptable for a hitter of his type.  Hopefully he changes his style in AAA as a hitter before he gets another chance with the Marlins.

This is a move the Marlins should have made a couple of weeks ago.  They should just stick him in the lineup and play him everyday.  Many experts project him to be an “Eric Byrnes” type of player as he goes all out, all of the time.  He has played in 63 games in the minors this season and he is 65 for 226 (.288 avg, .874 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 9 homers and 40 RBIs. 

The Marlins have claimed 23 year old lefty Chris Seddon off of waivers from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  He has started 12 games in AA ball this season and he’s 3-4 with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.  He has thrown 71 innings in AA and he has allowed 71 hits, walked 23 batters and whiffed 40.  Don’t expect much from him if the Devil Rays gave up on him.