MIAMI – In the end it was Casey McGehee’s experience that convinced Mike Redmond to bat the veteran third baseman cleanup.
“Casey seemed like a natural fit,” Redmond said. “He’s been through the battles. The key is to try to get Giancarlo (Stanton) as many good pitches to hit as he can.”
Garrett Jones will hit cleanup against right-handers, but against lefties like Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa, Redmond was to get better protection for No. 3 hitter Stanton with a right-handed batter.
Redmond then recalled last season’s opening day lineup when Placido Polanco was hitting cleanup. Polanco is out of baseball. The Marlins had 13 players with at least one at bat from the cleanup spot. They hit .265 with just 17 home runs.
“I think that’s an upgrade for us for sure,” he said about this year’s candidates.
Of McGehee’s 2,041 plate appearances, just 112 have been in the cleanup spot. Most of his time in the big leagues has been as a No. 5 hitter. He has a career .218 average with three home runs hitting cleanup (22-for-101).
McGehee, who played in Japan last season, compares hitting behind Stanton to when he hit behind Prince Fielder in Milwaukee.
“I no longer get my feelings hurt when the pitch around him,” he said. “The key is to have an at bat, make sure the guy at least has to work.”
Furcal return uncertain
Do not expect Rafael Furcal to make his Marlins debut for at least two week.
The second baseman took the weekend off and will take ground balls and hit this week as he continues to test his hamstring. Although he said he is “feeling much better” he also said he does not want to rush back and the Marlins want his hamstring to be completely healed before he starts playing in minor league games.
Furcal said he believes he needs to play in five or six games rehab games.
It appears the earliest he’ll return is April 14, the first game back home after Miami’s six game road trip next week.
“We haven’t put a definitely time line on it,” president of baseball operations Mike Hill said.
Furcal strained the hamstring March 10. He is eligible to return from the DL this weekend.
Jeff Baker and Derek Dietrich both will see action at second in Furcal’s absence, Baker against left-handers and Dietrich against righties.
Red Sox ring Salty
The Red Sox asked Jarrod Saltalamacchia if he’d like to be a part of Friday’s ring ceremony but the Marlins catcher could not get back to Miami until after 6 p.m. The Marlins have a 7:10 game against San Diego.
Saltalamacchia also was invited to Tuesday’s White House visit but had to decline because of the Marlins 7:10 game against the Rockies.
Saltalamacchia, who spent the last 3 ½ years in Boston, is not sure when he will get his ring. When asked if it will arrive at his doorstep one via the postal services, Salty said: “I don’t think that will happen.”
Saltalamacchia, who starred at Royal Palm Beach High School and lives in Wellington, is making his Marlins debut after signing a three-year, $21 million contract. His family is at the game, including his parents, John and Jeri, who has seen their son play just once before on opening day.
Today’s lineups
MARLINS
LF Yelich
2B Baker
RF Stanton
3B McGehee
1B Jones
C Salty
CF Ozuna
SS Hechavarria
RHP Fernandez
ROCKIES
CF Blackmon
RF Cuddyer
LF Gonzalez
SS Tulowitzki
1B Morneau
C Rosario
3B Arenado
2B LeMahieu
LHP De La Rosa
