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Matter Around the Water Cooler

Today SporTech was accepted as a blog to be included in Sportspyder. What is Sportspyder you might ask? SportSpyder makes it easy to find and subscribe to sports news for your favorite teams. Subscribe to your team’s feed, customize your news sources, or build your own team of players to keep track of. The content is displayed on www.sportspyder.com as well as being syndicated to other sites around the web. Stop over to Sportspyder and configure your own account today. Once your done stop at the water cooler for a cold cup and see what you missed today…

• Manager Fredi Gonzalez has apparently decided to go with Henry Owens as the Marlins’ closer. Owens, who closed in the minors, hasn’t allowed a run in eight innings this season and has held opponents to a .111 batting average.

“It is the role most relievers want, and I’m no different,” Owens said. “You have to believe that you can handle the challenge of coming in and shutting down a game.”

• Josh Johnson (elbow) remains pain-free after playing catch the past few weeks. Johnson is expected to begin throwing from a mound in the next week or so. The current timetable for his return is early June.

• Jeremy Hermida was able to take batting practice Wednesday for the first time since injuring his knee on March 23. The Marlins still don’t have a timetable for Hermida’s return. He will likely need at least a couple more weeks to get into playing shape and get his timing at the plate.

• Ricky Williams may have to wait until well after the NFL Draft to learn whether he’ll be reinstated. Williams’ medical history is subject to a review and evaluation process by the league. The NFL has 60 days before a decision must be made.

• Chris Quinn sprained his left ankle in the final moments of the third quarter on Wednesday and did not return. Quinn left the arena in a protective boot but is not sure of the severity of the injury. Luckily for the Heat, they got Gary Payton back last night who will serve as Jason Williams’ primary backup at point guard when the Heat face the Bulls in Round 1.

• By now you know of the comments made by members of the Chicago Bulls and how confident and excited they are to play the Heat in the first round. Well Dwyane Wade and the Heat are also aware of these comments…

”Chicago feels like they can beat us,” said Wade, who sat out Wednesday’s finale along with O’Neal and James Posey. “Kirk Hinrich came out and said it. We’ll find out. “It would be a great matchup. They have the opportunity now to be at home. They feel that’s the only reason we won last year, because we had home-court advantage. So the only thing you can do is throw the ball up and play.” After his team’s shootaround Wednesday, O’Neal offered a similar sentiment.

”I don’t care who they are or what they say, nobody wants to play us in a seven-game series,” O’Neal said. “And if they do, we’re coming.”

Added Mourning: “Be careful what you wish for.”

• A new QB on the Dolphin’s predraft radar? Whaaaaaaa?!?!! Yep! The Miami Sports Dude breaks it down.

• Mr. Joseph also gives to us his first part of his Dolphins mock draft over on The Phish Tank. See it here.

That’s it for today. I’m excited at the prospect of Henry Owens sliding into the closers role. Kid has great stuff. It was a toss up for me between him and Matt Lindstrom. Regardless we sure did make out like bandits on that Jason Vargas deal with the Mutts.

On a Heat note. I can’t help but think that this first round against Chicago is going to be one of the dirtiest playoff series we could see in a long time. Bad history between Posey and the rest of the Bulls. Alot of bitterness after the Heat took out the baby bulls last year. Heinrich is bound to hold onto Wade all series so it will be interesting to see how he handles all the pressure.

Check your Marlins/Mets preview after the jump…

New York Mets @ Florida Marlins (Game 2)

Next Game: Thu., April 19 @ 7:05 p.m. ET
TV: FSN-HD | Radio: WQAM 560, WQBA 1140 (Sp.)

Pitching Matchup

FLA: RHP Rick Vanden Hurk (0-0, 3.86)
A rainout last Saturday in Atlanta bumped the rookie back from a start on Monday in Houston until this game against the Mets. Vanden Hurk looked impressive in his Major League debut against the Brewers, although his day was halted because of a 49-minute rain delay with two outs in the fifth inning. Vanden Hurk’s line was one run on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three, throwing 84 pitches. The 22-year-old native of the Netherlands was promoted from Double-A Carolina, filling in the rotation spot vacated due to Ricky Nolasco’s elbow injury.

Dolphin Stadium

NYM: RHP Orlando Hernandez (1-1, 4.00)
After two effective starts, El Duque was battered by the Nationals his last time out. He was removed — by the home-plate umpire — four batters into the sixth, having allowed three home runs among eight hits. The last of his 98 pitches struck opposing pitcher Shawn Hill and prompted umpire Mike Winters to eject Hernandez. The Braves scored one run in six innings against him April 8.

New York Mets

Players to watch

David Wright had two hits Wednesday, extending his hitting streak to 13 straight this season and 25 dating back to a year ago. The 25 straight establishes a Mets record.