Notes: Moehler nears return

07/20/2006
MIAMI -- Tossing a simulated game on Thursday afternoon was step one in getting Brian Moehler off the disabled list and activated before the end of the month.
The plan is for Moehler, on the DL with a sore right big toe, to next pitch in a Gulf Coast League game on Monday. With a doubleheader slated for July 30 at Philadelphia, manager Joe Girardi said the right-hander is targeted to start one of those games.
In the simulated game, Moehler threw 40 pitches, facing batters for the first time since he was lifted in the first inning against the Red Sox on July 1.
The injury is troublesome because it is to the foot that he uses to push off the rubber.
Moehler has yet to test his foot running, which he hopes to do on Saturday.
"I felt pretty good," Moehler said of facing batters. "I felt better than the last time I was on the mound."
Moehler is 5-7 with a 6.84 ERA in 15 starts. He's logged 77 2/3 innings.
Girardi says it is too early to determine how Moehler will be used when he comes back.
"We'll evaluate at that time," Girardi said. "We'll see how he goes. We have to keep him healthy."
Since Moehler went on the DL July 2, Anibal Sanchez has stepped into the rotation, and the rookie is 3-0.
Moehler is aware he is in a numbers situation.
"We have five guys going great," Moehler said. "Whatever they want to do with me is fine."
Moehler has pitched out of the bullpen in the past, and if that is where he is needed, he will accept that role.
Moehler also may find himself a candidate to be traded. The non-waiver deadline is July 31, the day after his planned start.
While Moehler is getting closer to returning, Sergio Mitre remains a ways away from getting back in action. On the 60-day DL with a shoulder strain, Mitre threw a bullpen session on Wednesday, and he is tossing off the mound every two or three days.
"It's taking a while," Mitre said.
A more likely return date for Mitre is mid-August, at the earliest.
Sanchez sensational: If not for a bout with shoulder tendinitis, Sanchez may have been on the Opening Day roster instead of starting off at Double-A Carolina.
Girardi said Sanchez would have received strong consideration to make the rotation heading into the season.
As circumstances had it, Sanchez made the most of his tenure pitching at Carolina. Although his record was 3-6 in 15 starts, his ERA was a respectable 3.15. More than the numbers, the 22-year-old from Venezuela was able to log innings. He compiled 85 2/3, allowing 82 hits.
Since being called up on June 25 to pitch the second game of the doubleheader at New York against the Yankees, Sanchez has solidified a rotation spot.
"When I pitched in Yankee Stadium, they told me I was just coming for just that game," said Sanchez, who tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings in that game. "I didn't know if I would be here."
Sanchez has made four appearances, and three starts, in the big leagues. As a starter, he is 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA, including a string of 18 1/3 scoreless innings. More impressive is the fact that he's given up just three hits over his last 15 innings.
Looking back, Sanchez said pitching in Double-A was a big benefit.
"I had tendinitis in Spring Training, and I think going to Double-A helped me, because I was able to throw a lot of innings," Sanchez said. "When I came here, I didn't have to make adjustments. I think that helped me so much."
Sanchez's success stems from spotting his fastball, which reaches 93 mph. He mixes in a slider and curveball, and he threw one changeup (which recorded an out) in Wednesday's win against Washington.
His fastball has a lot of movement, and some scouts say it sometimes resembles a cutter because it spins away from right-handed hitters. Conversely, it drifts in on lefty batters.
Sanchez says he doesn't intentionally throw a cutter, it just moves that way sometimes.
Ross rebounds: Cody Ross had been in an 0-for-19 slide before connecting on a second-inning home run on Wednesday, which proved to be the lone run in Florida's 1-0 victory.
Getting that blast and adding a single in a 2-for-3 game was a nice bounce-back performance for Ross. Used primarily as a fourth outfielder and late-inning defensive replacement, Ross had been seeing regular action before being slowed by a groin injury.
"I was playing there every day for a while," he said. "I was playing well, and then I got hurt. My swing didn't feel the same when I got back. I went through an 0-fer spell. It's nice to get away from that and get a win."
Deal for campers: The roughly 15,000 campers who were at Wednesday's 1-0 win over Washington are being offered a deal to attend a home game later this season.
By showing their ticket stubs for that game, campers can get a free ticket to a game later this season with the purchase of two adult tickets. Those transactions must take place the day of the future game.

Source: http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/