Apparently the "it's early in the season" mantra isn't good enough anymore. It sure isn't flying for Jorge Julio (or as Anna Benson calls him: Julio Jorge), as it sounds increasingly like Julio's days as closer of the Marlins are numbered ... numbered in the low single-digits."We'll do what's best for the team, the organization and the individual," Gonzalez said Wednesday afternoon.Not exactly a ringing endorsement. In fact, it sounds more like a ringing kiss of death.
"If he wants to push me to like the sixth inning, and give a little break for me, I'll come back," said Julio, who has been standup to the media throughout his struggles.It's an eerily similar scenario to his time in New York, where even though he wasn't the closer, he bombed as a setup guy before being relegated to mop-up duty. Sounds like that's the same scenario that's playing out in Miami. With the Marlins losing two games on Wednesday (well, more like one and a half) and the Braves starting to build a little bit of a lead over them, Fredi Gonzalez can't afford to let Julio work out his mechanical problems in the ninth inning. Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom would be candidates to close if Gonzalez indeed pulls the trigger.Julio was reminded that he is a veteran, and he responded: "I know my role ... I'm staying focused, and I want to help this team. This team is good."
Previously on The Fanhouse:
Jorge Julio needs a Mechanic
Jorge Julio traded to Arizona
Julio Jorge ... I mean, Jorge Julio dissed by Anna Benson
