"One time in his life he couldn't do it. Ricky Nolasco couldn't throw strikes.

Fresh out of middle school, Nolasco joined the summer ball team at Rialto (Calif.) High School. He transferred there and was earmarked to play for the varsity team as a freshman.

"I was a little stressed out about that," said Nolasco, who will make his 2010 debut Wednesday night against the Mets. "I remember that summer walking a ton of guys. That was the only time in my life I walked guys and had that taste of it. I hated it."

Still does. Nolasco berated himself after his final Grapefruit League outing. He walked the last hitter he faced after getting ahead 0-2. It was the first and only batter that saw four balls from Nolasco in 25 1/3 innings. He added another five innings without a walk in Friday's exhibition game at Double-A Jacksonville.

In 2008, Nolasco walked 42 in 212 1/3 innings. The only Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! starter to total fewer bases on balls while amassing 200-plus innings was Kevin Brown in 1996 (33 in 233 innings). Brown won't own that distinction much longer if Nolasco accomplishes his 2010 goal.

"Obviously, I want to be as low as possible, but walks are going to happen," he said. "It's part of the game, part of being a pitcher. My goal is no more than 25 walks. I want to throw over 200 innings. I think 25 is a good number to be at."

Two pitchers in the last decade have totaled 25 walks or less and completed 200 or more innings. David Wells (20 in 213 innings) did it for the 2003 Yankees and Brad Radke in 2005 for the Twins walked 23 in 200 2/3 innings. Six pitchers have achieved the feat eight times since 1980. Greg Maddux and Bob Tewksbury did it twice each."