Florida Marlins’ Larry Beinfest says it’s time for starting pitchers to `step up’

This is usually the point where I scream at WFANgool…“STEPPING UP DOESN’T EXIST!”

For all the hype about the starting pitching staff, only Josh Johnson was consistently good in 2009, and the starters’ 4.57 ERA ranked 10th among 16 National League teams.

``We’ve been patient. It’s time for them as a group to step up,’’ Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said. ``The league has made some adjustment to them, so now they’re going to have to readjust. For us to be legitimate playoff contenders, we need to be in the top half [of starters’ ERA]. They have the ability, they’ve all been relatively heralded, but talk is cheap. They have to do it. We don’t want to see one good start and two bad.’’

Johnson and Ricky Nolasco will be in the rotation, with Chris Volstad, Anibal Sanchez, Andrew Miller, Sean West and Rick VandenHurk competing for three other slots. (Volstad and Sanchez are favorites if they pitch well this spring.)

``VandenHurk, more than anyone in September, improved his stock,’’ Beinfest said.