Not surprising the Marlins would view Sanchez as expendable, even though most in Marlins Nation would have put him at third base in place of Emilio Bonifacio three weeks ago. They have Logan Morrison at first at Double-A, a level behind Sanchez. Whatever the Marlins do trade-wise won't involve Morrison, Michael Stanton or Sean West. That leaves Sanchez as probably the most attractive chip they'd slide across the table.

I'm looking forward to seeing Gaby in the majors, whether with the Marlins or elsewhere. I think he'll hit. The question is whether right now he has more value to the Marlins as a trade chip or a mideseason replacement? Considering he's not already up here, it would seem the Marlins already have the answer.

Even though his real issue should be with Larry Beinfest and Michael Hill, and not with me, for the Marlins sticking with Bonifacio, he does a nice job that's worth sharing with you guys.

Here is a Marlins midseason report he put together.

We had a conversation going in the clubhouse a few days ago about whether Hanley might return to the leadoff spot in the National League lineup. After checking out the NL roster, I don't think that will be necessary considering Carlos Beltran definitely and Raul Ibanez possibly won't be able to play due to injuries. Both were voted in as starting outfielders.

That opens the door for outfield reserves Justin Upton and Brad Hawpe to start. If those two are in, here's my NL lineup:

Upton CF, Chase Utley 2B, Hanley SS, Albert Pujols 1B, Ryan Braun, LF; David Wright, 3B; Hawpe RF; Yadier Molina, C; Tim Lincecum SP

If Ibanez goes on a rehab assignment next week and he could ready in time for the July 14 game in St. Louis. If available to start, I'd hit him fifth between Pujols and Braun.

Not surprised to see Dan Meyer start the ninth tonight because left-handed hitting outfielder Garrett Jones, who already had one home run, led off. Yet with two righties following, righty Leo Nunez was not prepping.

He had a good reason. Nunez woke up with a stiff neck Friday and was unavailable for either of the first two games of the series. Nunez said after the game he wasn't sure about his status for Sunday's rubber game. It would depend on how he felt when he woke up.

Even without Nunez, great effort from the 'pen in the 5-3 Marlins win. Brian Sanches entered with two out and the tying run on first in the seventh, and struck out pinch-hitter Brandon Moss. Sanches struck out the first two batters in the eighth before yielding to Renyel Pinto with the tying run on second. Pinto struck out Adam LaRoche and Meyer pitched a perfect nine for the save.

The left-handed hitting Chris Coghlan got a day off and Fredi Gonzalez batted Emilio Bonifacio and Jeremy Hermida atop the lineup. Bonifacio went 4 for 4 with a triple and a pair of bunt singles, and Hermida walked twice.

Lefty killers Brett Carroll and Ronny Paulino also started and went a combined 0 for 7 with a walk.

This is the first time ever the Marlins have been in first place (tied or outright) after July 1. Prior to today, the latest the Marlins had ever held at least a share of first place was in 2004, when they were tied for first thru June 30, before losing on July 1. The latest the Marlins have ever held sole possession of first place was thru June 27 in 2004.

Now the trick is staying there.

Hanley Ramirez certainly has done his part to get the Marlins back into this position. Tonight he will try to extend his RBI streak to 11 consecutive games. For those of you who missed it in today's paper, I put together a chart with some Baseball Prospectus numbers illustrating just how much better an RBI man Ramirez has become since last season.

RBI man

How good an RBI man is Hanley Ramirez this season? According to Baseball Prospectus, the second best in baseball (min. 300 plate appearances) behind Todd Helton in terms of percentage of baserunners driven in, excluding himself via home run. Here’s a look at the top five in baseball in addition to Ramirez’s year-by-year numbers:

Player; Team; PA-ROB; ROB; OBI; OBI %

Todd Helton; Rockies; 144; 190; 44; 23.16%

Hanley Ramirez; MARLINS; 151; 199; 45; 22.61%

Albert Pujols; Cardinals; 161; 219; 47; 21.46%

Prince Fielder; Brewers; 177; 252; 54; 21.43%

Bobby Abreu; Angels; 144; 188; 40; 21.28%

Year; PA-ROB; ROB; OBI; OBI % (NL rank min. 600 pa)

2008; 228; 318; 34; 10.69% (44^th of 45)

2007; 268; 350; 52; 14.86% (33^rd of 49)

2006; 214; 280; 42; 15% (29^th of 41)

Stats glossary

PA-ROB: Plate appearances with runners on base

ROB: Runners on base during batter’s plate appearances

OBI: RBI minus the batter driving himself in via a home run

OBI%: Percentage of baserunners driven in during a batter’s plate appearances, excluding himself via home run

What should theMarlins do with Cameron Maybin? He went 3 for 4 Tuesday for Triple-A New Orleans, raising his batting average to .331 since his demotion. Over his last 10 games, Maybin is hitting at a .417 clip. The on-base percentage is .422. His .883 on-base plus slugging in 139 at-bats with theZephyrs is 294 points higher than what he totaled in 84 turns with the Marlins.

Do the Marlins need him right now since they're winning? Is he better served continuing to rake at Triple-A and coming back in September?

It's not as simple a question as whether the Maybin is ready for another go at it. Howdo the Marlins accommodate him? When Maybin returns Cody Ross has to move to left or right. Chris Coghlan has done nothing to merit a change in his situation, so that would leave right field for Ross.

Where does Jeremy Hermida fit in a scenario that includes Maybin? He went 0 for 3 Tuesday, making him 2 for his last 33. Brett Carroll is getting the bulk of the playing time against left-handers now. You guys ready to make Hermida a bench player to give Maybin another shot?

I know the popular solution among Marlins fans is to remove Emilio Bonifacio from third, bring in Coghlan to play there and create the outfield opening for Maybin that way. Coghlan did play 11 games at third for New Orleans this season, but he only made 10 starts there in Double-A in 2008.

Is a Coghlan, LF; Maybin CF; Ramirez, SS; Cantu, 1B; Uggla, 2B; Baker, C; Ross RF; Bonifacio, 3B lineup better than what they're currently running out there?

Also, Hanley Ramirez continues to play like the MVP. The average is back up to .339 after his third three-hit game in five days. He knocked in another run, giving him at least one RBI in a franchise record-tying eight straight games (18 RBI over that span). He's leading baseball hitting with runners in scoring position. Anybody else get the feeling if Ramirez doesn't win his first MVP this season he's looking like a pretty good bet for runner up to Albert Pujols?

To Bonifacio...for all the buzz about Gaby Sanchez moving from first to third at Triple-A New Orleans, it's looking less and less likely Bonifacio is going anywhere. Are the overall numbers still disappointing? Yes. Even aftera 1-for-3 performance with a triple and sacrifice fly that knocked in the deciding run in the eighth, Bonifacio's OPS remains .601. His on-base percentage (.298) has been south of .300 since May 22. He's been error-prone at third, a position he hadn't played before this spring.

Yet for all that, I thought manager Fredi Gonzalez had a telling quote about him afterthe game: " Boni, even through all the stuff he's been going through, at the beginning of the year and hitting .900 and people expecting him to hit .970, he comes every day to work and he's getting better. He's got a nice little hitting streak going. He's hitting a little over .300 from the right side...He's doing fine. He's one of those guys you characterize as a winner because he'll find something to do during the course of a game to help you win a ballgame."

Can't really disagree with Gonzalez here. We haven't seen many games from Bonifacio like he had that first week, but for all his shortcomings -- and he has his share -- he does seem to do at least one thing a game that makes you say, 'Ok, let's keep him in there a little longer and see what he can do.' If nothing else, I'm impressed by the fact he's shown no signs of being a "me" player.

Monday, he extended his hitting streak to a season-high seven games, matching his personal best, and is batting .346 (9 for 26) over that stretch. This might not be saying much, but for the second time this season he's gone three straight games without a strikeout. Overall, the strikeouts are diminishing. He whiffed once every 3.9 at-bats in April. That figure has climbed to 5.0 in May and 5.5 in June.

Would the Marlins be a better team with Mark DeRosa starting at third every day? Probably, but this notion that the only reason Bonifacio is still here is so the Marlins can justify the trade that sent Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham to the Nationals is absurd. If that was the case, why isn't Cameron Maybin here to justify the Miguel Cabrera trade? Come on.

I know Bonifacio's fan base has dwindled to next to nothing since his flashy first week, but if I were a Marlin fan I'd get used to him being in lineup in some capacity. It doesn't look like he's going anywhere.

If the Marlins continue performing like they have the last three weeks, I don’t think Uggla is going anywhere until after the season. He may not be Roberto Alomar at second, but his bat is way too important to this offense as constituted.

Costales suggested Uggla alone wouldn’t be enough to get a decent reliever. Not sure I agree. Remember, the Marlins did get a talented, up and coming reliever in Leo Nunez from the Royals for Mike Jacobs straight up. Uggla already is a two-time All-Star, a proven 30 homer, 90 RBI guy and perhaps most attractive is he’s not a rental player. Though he’s already making big a salary ($5.35 million) after one go ‘round in arbitration, any team that trades for him would have him under control through 2011.

Some numbers to chew on...

Since dropping to a season-low six games under .500 on May 23, the Marlins are 19-11 and can boast the most wins of any National League East team. They are also back to .500 at home (20-20)

Over the last seven games, the starters are 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA. Andrew Miller, Ricky Nolasco and Sean West combined to hold the Orioles to one earned run in 20 innings.

The Marlins committed five errors over their last 12 games. The dozen before that: 10. The dozen before that: 18.

The Marlins batted .353 (42 for 119) with 14 extra-base hits (six homers) against the Orioles. That includes going 13 for 35 (.371) with runners in scoring position.

Hanley Ramirez has hit safely in seven straight and 11 of his last 12 at a .400 clip (18 for 45). He's hit three homers, including two grand slams, and has 13 RBI in his last four games.

Cody Ross is batting .478 (11 for 23) during his six-game hitting streak and hit three home runs during the six-game homestand.

Dan Uggla has three straight multi-hit games and has four homers in his last seven games.

West: "We're going to definitely make an impact here the next couple of weeks."

Can't think of many reasons to doubt him.