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Home My WebLink AboutJoe Namath_Post_03/21/2012 THE PALM BEACH POST REAL NEWS STARTS NERE • WEDNtSDAY, MARCH 21, 2012 �; � � �1�� r , • • • • �. J. cont�nues wlth a a�r� f reP s r�n p p g �� ..- �� __ � � ��t � The big yight-ha�dey hit 96 mph � ��' ��°� � � � * � -�� b � � _. ; q � � , �� ,� ��s�` ,, duying his�ve innings Tuesday. i � � �� '�'� � E�� ' �� r �, -- � � � ��' � ', � , � =� � F � � f „�� By JOF. CAPOZZI � � a � °�� ( � � � � � -"� _ Palm Beac)r Post Stajf u'riter ` � s� '� �' ' f F �,,`, �_'` '� �� s 'T �` ; , JUPITLR — Josh Johnson's healt:l� ; � • �>�� - might have been the biggest c�uestion i �� , • � �"' �,r � � � � when the Marlins opened spring train- � � �� ing last montll. With t�vo weeks until e ; �� '� r �,, �'� q+p€ �fi. �. openiiig day, the Marlins az•e thril:ed � �'�,a��= �� >� that his shoulder has been holding up �� :,, - � just fine. _� � Johnson hit 96 mph on his fastball � �� 1 '' " � Tuesday and pitched into the fifth in- � '$�� ;� � nin in his fourth Gra efruit Lea ue �; a �� ° g P g �� start. He' l l ma ke t wo more spring � � starts, then take the mound at IVIarlins .� : �� , ; � ��` t � �:;� � Park for the season openet• Apri14. . �` �� '� � , "He has been pitching well since �� the lirst day of spring training," man- � � E,: �� , � �� ' °�` ager Ozliz Uuillen said after �lie Ma�= � ,�, � � � � � � _ � , � �� - t��,, �+..� � . lins 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. _ _�—__._ —_ �<_._��,_.�_ __ _._._��._:.�.: �� ,. "Every day his progress is on the right track. Evei'y time the kid left the field ALLEN EYESTOIJE/Sta(f Photograpf�er or. a good note it's a positive thing." Tequesta's Joe Namath chats with Rays manager Joe Maddun before Tuestlay's game. The Johnson, who allo�ved t�,v runs on Hall of Fame quarterback was a guest of Maddon, who said he grew up idolizing Namath. four hits and struck out four in 4�'/� � innings, is 1-1 with a 2.31 ERA this Rays 3 Marlins 2 at Roger Dean Stadium as a guest of spring. Each of his starts has beeii un- ' Rays manager Joe Ma�idon, who idol- der the Marlins' microscope because • Austin Kearns, battling for an outf�eld ized the ,1ets quartez shoulder issues kept him off the field spot, went 1-for-3 antl drove in both Miami �7uillen watched Namath, who lives last year after May 16. runs. He leads the Marlins with six RBI this in lequesta, wallc onto the field with He was shut down with shoulder spring. Macidon and exchange the Rays' lineup discomfort and tried to return during ■ Marlins reliever Steve Cishek has a 1.93 card with Marlins coach Joe Espada. the season, but the s}ioulder never felt ERA this spring after allowing a run on "That's the way Joe Maddon rolls; right. three hits in P/: innings. He walks in with Joe Namath and I But the time off, and a busy off- ■ Rays pitcher Wade Davis nearl9 left the walk in with Joey Cora," Guillen said, season of rehabbing the shoulder, is game after getting hit in the right ankle by referring to the Mai•lins' bench coach. making Johnson loolc this spring like a hard grounder in the second inning. He Injury updates: Guillen said outfield- a pitcher who ciidn't miss any time off got the win, allowing a run on tliree hits ers Giancarlo Stanton (left knc:e) and last year. antl striking out five in five innings. Logan Marrison (right knee) could ""I'his is what tiappens when you are ' play in� mi�ior league games tl�►is healthy — you're going to perform on what of a rhythm, then it kind of went weekend as the designated hitter. Left- tbe field. It's hard when you are hurt,° away for the last three. I had to battle hander Randy Choate (right shoulder third baseman Hanley Ramirez said. and battle," he said. muscle strain) hopes to pitch in a mi- "He's healthy. Everybody knows he' ,JO�]I1S011 is scheduled to face the nor league game this weekend. one of the best pitchers in the big Rays again in his next start, Sunday Off day: The iYlarlins have ±heir leagues. He has worked hai•d to be in Yort Charlotte. After that, his final only off day of the spritig today. They back." spring start would be March 30 in Vi- resume action Thursday in Qrlando Johnson, a twatime Ail Sta�; said era against Washington: against the Atlanta T3raves. Ricky No- he had felt gs•eat this spring but that "He seems reallv strong, He seems lasco starts against Brandon Beachy. there's still lots of room for improve- crisp," catcher John Buck said. Jose Reyes, Omar ?nfante a1�c1 RamireZ ment. Broadway loe visits: Football legend are among r•egulars rnakir.g� the trip. "The first two innings I found some- Joe Namath sat in the Rays dugout OJoe_capozri@pbpost.com