JUPITER, Fla. _ The loss of Jose Fernandez is impacting the Marlins in ways that go beyond the obvious. It goes beyond pitching. It goes beyond the energy he brought to the dugout.
It extends all the way _ of all places _ to the batter's box.
Because the Marlins intend to start the season with only four reserves on their bench _ one less than normal _ manager Don Mattingly said he'll be asking his pitchers to try their hand with the bat every now and then.
And Fernandez was the only one of the bunch who could swing one with any authority.
Would Fernandez have been Mattingly's go-to hitter in a pinch?
"Absolutely," Mattingly said. "No question."
Not counting Fernandez, Marlins pitchers were abominable at the plate last season, hitting just .097 as a group. Fernandez accounted for roughly a third of the pitching staff's 35 total hits. He hit .250.
With a short bench, Mattingly could have used him. On days Fernandez didn't start, Mattingly could have employed him as a pinch-hitter early in games while saving his skilled reserves _ Ichiro Suzuki, Miguel Rojas and Derek Dietrich _ for crunch-time situations later on.
(The fourth reserve, a backup catcher, would be used only in emergencies.)
As a result, Marlins pitchers are spending extra time in the batting cage this spring, working on their bunting and making contact with full swings.
"I really don't have pitchers that can hit, and that's one of the things we're working on this spring," Mattingly said.
Beyond Fernandez, the need for improvement by the Marlins' pitchers as hitters is even greater this season. Mattingly is expected to keep his starters on a short leash and go to his arsenal of long _ or "bridge" _ relievers earlier than he has in the past. That could mean the trio of Dustin McGowan, Jeff Locke and Jose Urena may stay in to hit.
"I really look at more of the long guys, the bridge-type guys, they may have to hit," Mattingly said. "A guy like McGowan, he's going to have to be able to bunt or handle the bat if we go to him in the fourth or fifth."
This much is certain: pitchers will be on constant alert. Gone are the days when they could lace up their sneakers and put on a sweat jacket to hide the fact they're not wearing a game jersey underneath.
"You don't normally sit with your jersey on, or with your cleats on," said staring pitcher Tom Koehler. "That might have to change. We have to be ready."
Like his fellow pitchers, Koehler can be seen walking around camp _ more so than in the past _ with a bat in his hands.
"I don't think they're going to ask us to go out there and hit .300," Koehler said. "But if we can get bunts down, put the ball in play and move runners _ not be an automatic strikeout _ I think that's what they're looking for. We better make sure that not only starters _ but also our relievers, can handle the bat.
