--RHP Anibal Sanchez struggled with his control but allowed one unearned run on three walks and three hits in two innings in his Grapefruit League debut. "The key right now is my shoulder feels good," said Sanchez, who missed most of last spring recovering from shoulder surgery.

--LHP Renyel Pinto was held out of action for two days because of a stomach virus. He threw a side session on Thursday.

--2B Chris Coghlan is ready for the majors, team officials say, but he'll open the year at Class AAA New Orleans. His obstacle: Dan Uggla. But Coghlan could end up making his debut -- whether in April or later this year -- at third base, where he has been playing so far this spring.

--RHP Rick VandenHurk, who's expected to open the season at Class AAA New Orleans, will work with fellow Dutchman Bert Blyleven in the World Baseball Classic. Blyleven is pitching coach for The Netherlands, and VandenHurk is on the pitching staff.

"It's an honor. It's awesome. I mean, he's going to be a Hall of Famer. He's got so much experience. Just to work with him and pick his brain, you can't get any better than that," VandenHurk said.

BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Errors by the Marlins in their Grapefruit League opener. Florida's 117 errors in 2008 were second most in the NL.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I have faced him once before, at Double-A in Portland, but I think he's gotten a lot better since then." -- RHP Matt Lindstrom (USA), on the prospect of facing teammate Hanley Ramirez (Dominican Republic) in the World Baseball Classic.