THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JUPITER - Trying to work out a winter's worth of kinks, Florida Marlins left-hander Scott Olsen broke off a 58-foot curve that bounced in front of the plate and over the backstop.
Midseason form? The Marlins hope not. Starting pitching was their downfall last season, and the first day of spring training Monday offered a fresh start for a revamped rotation.
Whether the Marlins pitch better this year will likely determine whether they climb out of last place in the National League East.
"Good starting pitching sets the tone for everything," second-year manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
And bad starting pitching dooms a team. Eleven Florida starters combined in 2007 to go 42-63 with a 5.58 ERA, the worst in the majors.
A year ago, the Marlins opened camp thinking their rotation was set, but by May injuries had claimed three starters - Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco.
Now the situation is much less settled. Dontrelle Willis departed to Detroit in a trade, leaving the opening-day job vacant. Olsen is the front-runner to claim it even though he was a disappointing 10-15 last year with a 5.81 ERA, the highest of any pitcher in the NL with at least 162 innings.
The first day of drills was notable primarily for who will be missing this spring. Willis and slugger Miguel Cabrera, also dealt to the Tigers, were the lone remaining players from the 2003 World Series championship team.
"It's just quieter now," said Olsen, standing at his locker after the first workout. "I'm used to Dontrelle sitting here and making a big scene. We've got a good group of guys in here, and we have confidence in ourselves, and I don't think those two guys are going to make or break a team. We just need to step up in other ways."
Expected to join Olsen in the rotation are right-handers Sergio Mitre and two left-handed newcomers, veteran Mark Hendrickson and touted prospect Andrew Miller. Right-handers Nolasco and Rick VandenHurk are expected to compete for the fifth starting spot.
Johnson will sit out the season recovering from elbow surgery last August. Sanchez wants to rejoin the rotation by the All-Star break, but he recently halted his throwing program temporarily because of discomfort in his surgically repaired right shoulder.
Sanchez said he hopes to resume tossing later this week.
Though expectations for this season are modest, camp began with some cause for long-term optimism. City and county officials in Miami are to meet Thursday to discuss a financial agreement that would give the Marlins a new ballpark on the site of the Orange Bowl.
"That's great," said Gonzalez, who grew up in Miami. "It would be a good thing for the community and the organization."
For now, the Marlins remain at Dolphin Stadium, where poor attendance has prompted ownership to keep the budget tight. The latest payroll purge led to the departures of Willis and Cabrera, making Florida even more of an underdog than usual this season.
The Marlins are again expected to have the lowest payroll in the NL, with closer Kevin Gregg their top-paid player at $2.5 million.
"Nobody is ever going to give us any credit," second baseman Dan Uggla said. "They are going to say we're a bunch of no-name guys. Who cares? It doesn't bother us."
Uggla was among position players reporting early. The first full-squad workout is Thursday, with the first exhibition game on Feb. 26 against the University of Miami.
"It's exciting to get back with the guys," Gregg said. "We live for this day. The season ends, and a week later everybody in this room is saying, 'I'm ready to start again.'
"We've been counting down to this day for a couple of months, and it's go time. We're excited to be here."
