Wes Helms News

Jorge Jiminez may be the next ex-Spinner to make the Major Leagues. To order this photo please visit our MyCapture site.

Wednesday's trade of Matt Lindstrom might yield big league fruit sooner than expected.

He was a solid defensive first baseman, an unusually good pinch-hitter, and dwelt in the appropriate price range.

Neither one of them was on the roster when the Marlins opened Spring Training in 2009.

Share + Oct 15, 2009 1:50 pm US/Eastern Click to enlarge 1 of 1 Third base umpire Jerry Meals makes the safe call as the Mets' Jose Reyes beats the tag from Wes Helms of the Florida Marlins for a first-inning triple on April 29, 2009.

Asked about the Marlins finishing the season with the third-best record in franchise history, manager Fredi Gonzalez said Sunday: "You know what - 87 wins, in this division, that's not too shabby." But it might not be enough for him to keep his job because owner Jeffrey Loria was angry that his club didn't make the playoffs.

Chris Coghlan will go hunting in Kansas in a few days. His teammates hopes he bags a bigger trophy in November - the National League Rookie of the Year award.

Get your Marlins Tickets now! organization that went from a major league-low $21.8 million Opening Day payroll in 2008 to a still league-low $36.8 million Opening Day payroll in 2009 is unsatisfactory for owner Jeffrey Loria .

Improving the Marlins defensively was on Larry Beinfest's ''to do'' list this offseason.

The Marlins fell short of the playoffs despite a winning season, which is causing conflicting thoughts for second baseman Dan Uggla: He can't wait to see how they fare next year, but he knows he might not return.

After playing most of Wednesday's game as if it were a must-whiff rather than must-win situation, the Braves staged a dramatic ninth-inning rally that sent a jolt of electricity and hope through Turner Field.

Gastonia's Wes Helms was honored Monday by the South Florida chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Ross Gload did not want to leave any of the first three cities in which he played.

Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Mets coupled with the Phillies ' win eliminated the Marlins from contention in the National League East.

Record breaker: Ross Gload delivered his 20th pinch hit, a single off Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth, setting a new single-season team record.

Wes Helms was on the Phillies team that made up seven games on the Mets with 17 to play in 2007.

Marlins infielder Ross Gload took forever to get to his locker after the game on Saturday.

A welcoming party greeted Burke Badenhop inside the Marlins dugout in the seventh inning Sunday after he was ejected for drilling Orlando Hudson with a pitch.

"You always got to pitch to stay up here," said Volstad, 22, who was sent down Aug.

In winning five of their past six and improving to 36-32 on the road, the Marlins averaged 7.5 runs.