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MIAMI -- Reach .500 and take their chances.Marlins manager Jack McKeon isn't making any bold predictions regarding where the season is heading. But he makes it

clear that the team is pushing to reach the break-even point as soon as possible."Our biggest goal right now is to get to .500," McKeon said. "If we can get to .500,

it's the same thing I told the '03 team when they were 10 games under: Take it one game at a time. We can pick up a game or two a week. That's our goal. After we get

to .500, Authentic Stephen Strasburg Jersey we'll Andrew Bailey Jersey roll."That happened in '03. Whether it can happen again, who knows?"The odds and the math are working against the Marlins right now.In 2003, the Marlins

were 10 games under in May and they recovered to capture the National League Wild Card and eventually win the World Series.McKeon inherited that team in May.This year,

McKeon replaced Edwin Rodriguez on June 20. "We don't have as many games as we had in '03," McKeon said. "In '03, I came in May. This time, I'm in here in June. You're

talking about 30 games less to make up those 10 games. But we're still capable of doing it. We need some help."The Phillies and Braves are in a battle for first place

in the NL East, and catching either one will be difficult."The way the Braves are Phillies are playing, I don't know who is Michael Morse Jersey going to stop either one. "Now, you've got

two clubs that are neck and neck. I think the Wild Card, with the way things look, it will come out of the East. So we'll have to do some real hustling."Happy Hanley

showing off All-Star formMIAMI -- It's all smiles around Hanley Authentic Adam Lind Jersey Ramirez right now.Hitting at a .400 clip (24-for-60) since June 21, Ramirez is starting to energize his

season. When interim manager Jack McKeon replaced Edwin Rodriguez on June 19, he noticed that Ramirez didn't seem happy. So one of McKeon's first decisions was to put

his shortstop in the cleanup spot.Ramirez has the fourth-highest batting average in the Major Leagues since the day he was switched to cleanup. Only Jose Reyes (.438),

Michael Young (.415) and Nick Markakis (.403) have a higher average over that span."I'm happy when he's happy," McKeon said. For the season, Ramirez is batting .246

with eight homers and 35 RBIs. He has four homers and 18 RBIs since switching to cleanup.McKeon noted that certain guys respond differently. On the 2003 team, Luis

Castillo was given constant boosts of encouragement by McKeon.To keep Castillo pumped up, McKeon would embrace his former second baseman and say, "Louie, my man!" With

Ramirez, Ryan Zimmerman Jersey McKeon is trying to keep the shortstop happy."He's smiling now," McKeon said. "It looks like the world is Nationals Stephen Strasburg Jersey off his shoulders. He's happy. So he's more relaxed.

Before, I don't know."Certain guys react that way. Maybe he didn't feel someone liked him. I'm trying to help him."A good sign of how Ramirez is improving Athletics Andrew Bailey Jersey came in the

first inning of Friday's win over the Astros. Ramirez connected on a two-run homer to right-center. Showing power to right-center is a good sign for the three-time

All-Star."That means my timing is there," Ramirez said. "When you've got runners in scoring position, you've just got to Stephen Strasburg Jersey concentrate and try to drive those runners in.

That's the difference. That's what I've been doing. I'm concentrating more and trying to swing at strikes."With a history of production, Ramirez inevitably was going

to raise his average, which was .200 on June 20. Ramirez says he isn't sure if hitting fourth is the reason for the turnaround."I don't think about that. I don't know

what happened," Ramirez said. "But nothing lasts Adam Lind Jersey forever. When you go through [slumps], you've got to try and try to get out of it."Ramirez has also studied video of

his hitting during the past few years as he broke down his swing."I've been watching a lot of tape from '09 and '08, and trying to start early," Ramirez said. "I was

getting beaten by everything, even inside breaking balls. I was a different guy."Right now, I'm feeling I'm in my rhythm and slowing the game down. That's the key.

You've got to slow the game down. I think I was rushing things early in the season."Ex-teammate Choate praises Mr. 3,000 JeterMIAMI -- Derek Jeter making history in

New York certainly didn't go unnoticed in the Marlins' clubhouse. Jeter on Saturday afternoon reached the 3,000-hit plateau in storybook fashion. Two hits shy entering

the day, the Yankees shortstop went 5-for-5 with the game-winning hit. Hit No. 3,000 was a home run, an achievement done only one other time Authentic Andrew Bailey Jersey in baseball history (Wade

Boggs).Marlins reliever Randy Choate observed Jeter's afternoon from the clubhouse, where the Yankees' 5-4 win over the Rays was on television."I don't know what more

you could want," Choate said. "It couldn't happen to a better person. He's classy."Choate broke in with New York, and was a teammate of Jeter's from 2000-03."When

rookies get there, he takes them out for dinner to get to know them better," Choate said. "He's not one of those guys who is too good for anybody. He's a good

teammate. He's unselfish. I could never Nationals Ryan Zimmerman Jersey say a bad word about him."Choate noted that Jeter paid attention to the families of his teammates. And a couple of years after

Choate left the Yankees, Jeter continued to send his daughters Christmas cards."He pays attention to detail," the Florida lefty said. "He's just a really good dude,

and obviously a great player. He's done everything the right way. It was like he was born to play there. Congratulations to him. He's just one of the all-time

greats."Worth notingThe Marlins have not completely set their rotation coming out of the All-Star break. But Anibal Sanchez is slated to start on Thursday against the

Cubs at Wrigley Field, while Ricky Nolasco Nationals Michael Morse Jersey is lined up for Friday. After that, the rotation is up in the air. ... Emilio Bonifacio's wife gave birth to a baby boy on Authentic Ryan Zimmerman Jersey

Saturday. Bonifacio was back in the lineup, leading off Authentic Michael Morse Jersey and playing third. ... A few days ago, Josh Johnson began doing conditioning drills for his inflamed right

shoulder. But the right-hander has yet to start throwing. At the earliest, Johnson should be ready to pitch in August, but that remains tentative.