Jan. 21--Ricky Nolasco kept his arm in shape over the winter by playing catch at Founders Park in Aventura with former teammate Scott Olsen. If the stars align, Nolasco and Olsen could face each other April 6 -- Opening Day -- at Dolphin Stadium.
That's where the Marlins and Washington Nationals, Olsen's new club, will open their seasons. "We've laughed about it," Nolasco said.
The Marlins traded Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham to the Nationals in November. But they rewarded Nolasco on Tuesday with a one-year contract worth $2.4 million.
That makes Nolasco the club's highest-paid pitcher and, potentially, the leader of the staff. That role could translate to the Opening Day assignment for Nolasco, a 15-game winner last season.
"That's definitely been on my mind all offseason," Nolasco said.
His main challenger for that honor figures to be Josh Johnson.
Nolasco said his "main goal" is to get off to a better start than he did in 2008, when he opened the season in the Marlins' bullpen before joining the rotation April 11. He carried a 1-3 record and 6.10 earned-run average into his start May 9 against Washington. His victory that day against the Nationals triggered a stretch in which he won nine of 10 decisions.
"I want to get off to a fast start, not like last year," he said.
ANDINO IN LIMBO
Infielder Robert Andino doesn't know where he'll be Opening Day, though chances are strong it won't be with the Marlins or any of their minor-league affiliates. Andino is out of options and the Marlins have spent the winter trying to trade him.
Spring training could be, as Andino aptly put it Wednesday, a time to "showcase" his talents to other clubs. That's because he should see plenty of playing time at shortstop, what with Hanley Ramirez and Alfredo Amezaga participating in the World Baseball Classic.
"That's how I see it," Andino said. "I could be helping them [the Marlins] at the same time."
'RBI WORLD SERIES'
Nolasco, Andino and first baseman Gaby Sanchez were on hand Wednesday at Dolphin Stadium when it was announced that the 2009 RBI World Series would be held at the Marlins' spring training complex in Jupiter at Roger Dean Stadium.
The tournament, for teenage boys and girls, will be held Aug. 5-14.
RBI stands for "Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities" and is designed to increase youth participation in Baseball and softball.
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