Sanchez, Morrison eye spot on Marlins

JUPITER, Fla. -- The year was 2006. The location was close to the Marlins' Spring Training site. Gaby Sanchez was rehabbing from an injury sustained while playing for Class A Greensboro, so he roomed with a fellow first baseman in a nearby apartment for a couple of weeks.

That man was Logan Morrison.

"He took me around in his car and everything," said Morrison, who at that point was in his first Minor League season for the rookie Gulf Coast League Marlins after being selected in the 22nd round in 2005. "We went to, like, the mall, the movies and stuff like that. So it was cool. We were good friends, for sure."

Both dreamed of being in the big leagues, but neither really gave much thought to the fact that their ultimate goal would one day hinge on a spring competition between the two.

But here they are, on a collision course that will seemingly end with one of them being the Opening Day first baseman against the Mets at Citi Field on April 5, and the other one getting set for another year in the Minor Leagues.

Speaking after workouts Thursday at the Roger Dean Stadium complex, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez kept the possibility open for a "dark horse" corner-infield starter -- perhaps Jorge Jimenez could impress to the point where he starts at third base and Jorge Cantu moves to first -- but make no mistake about it: It's Morrison vs. Sanchez, even if neither of them sees it that way.

"I want to definitely try to avoid [looking at it as a competition], because I can't worry about what he's doing; or him the same, he can't worry about what I'm doing," said Sanchez, who pointed out that there is no bad blood between the two. "Once we start doing that, then we're going to struggle. If we go into a competition like, 'Oh, he went 2-for-2, I need to go 3-for-3,' then you're never going to do it."

Sanchez is speaking like a new man these days. And in many ways, he is.

Physically, he's slimmer. The 26-year-old Miami product said he's lost 24 pounds simply by cutting out greasy foods, like pizza, from his diet.
Sanchez also has a new mentality. He admitted he stressed too much last spring, when he was the front-runner to be the starting first baseman, only to suffer a left knee injury and eventually lose the everyday role to Emilio Bonifacio, who ended up starting at third base.

"I definitely don't have the same mentality [as 2009]," Sanchez said. "Last year, I don't think I put pressure on myself, but when I did not do what I wanted to do, it made me want to go out and maybe work more or work too hard and think about things more than I should've, rather than just going out there and just playing."

Sanchez had a rough spring and appeared in 21 games for the Marlins in 2009, batting .238 (5-for-21) with two homers. But one year after being named Southern League Most Valuable Player while playing for Double-A Carolina, Sanchez continued to produce in the Minors, finishing his stint with Triple-A New Orleans batting .290 with 16 homers and 55 RBIs in 84 games.

Since then, Sanchez has spoken with veterans like Andre Dawson, Tony Perez and Jeff Conine -- all Marlins special assistants. And they've all told him the same thing: Have fun, just like you do in the Minor Leagues.

"When we see you playing in Triple-A, we all see the same thing -- you're enjoying it, you're having fun," Sanchez said, recounting their advice. "You have to take the same mentality when you're coming into Spring Training, or when you're playing in the big leagues. You know you can play, you're good, you can hit -- so just trust in yourself and just enjoy it, because it goes by quick."

It has come pretty quick for Morrison.

The 22-year-old has batted .289 with a .375 on-base percentage in his four years in the Minors, and is attending his second Major League Spring Training -- only this is the first time he has a realistic shot at making the club.

"I think it's exciting, for sure," said Morrison, who was limited to 79 Double-A games last year because of a thumb injury. "As far as all the other stuff, I'm just going to go out there and do what I usually do, and put up numbers and leave it up to them to make a tough decision."

Morrison is sure to make it one.

MLB.com ranked Morrison the 25th-best prospect in the Major Leagues recently. So far, he's been in the same hitting group as veteran corner infielder Wes Helms, who he can learn a lot from.

"I think I've been put there for a reason," Morrison said. "I'm happy they've done that, because I need to learn everything I can. I think we're maybe the same hitters. The fact that we always stay inside the ball, go up the middle, and if we pull it's because we're early."

Offseason rumors that the Marlins may be interested in bringing in Russell Branyan or Carlos Delgado were denied. And while Florida's front office has been in talks to acquire Hank Blalock, he would only come in for a reserve role.

So, barring something drastic, it's going to be Sanchez or Morrison at first base.

May the best man win.

"I really don't want one guy to fail," Gonzalez said. "I wish both of them the best -- they both go out and hit .370 for the spring and let us make that decision. It would be a tough one, but let us make that decision."



(mlb.com)