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2014 After-Season Thread: Reflection


Michael

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Well ... it's not the postseason, but dammit, we tried.

 

This team ended up 77-85. In 2013, the Miami Marlins went 62-100, and only did "that well" by winning the final four games of the year. The 2014 Miami Marlins improved on the 2013 season by FIFTEEN GAMES. Think about that. It's the best record since 2010 [80-82]. We're going in the right direction.

 

This team was not expected to contend for a play-off spot. This team was expected to finish in last again, despite an overall better team. The Miami Marlins were expected to be content with their fourth consecutive basement-finishing year.

 

Yet ... for the first time in 5 years, this team had meaningful games. In SEPTEMBER. We were watching, we were cheering, we were hoping, we were scoreboard watching, and we were excited about even the slight possibility of a playoff spot. Through September 19th, we still had a numerical value in the elimination number column. That's after 153 games, we still had a chance at a playoff spot. Even with losing our ace early in the year.

 

It's going to be a very interesting off-season, already started by extending Red for another couple seasons. A couple more scouts brought in, all the coaches staying in place. The next step is signing a couple key free agents, locking up young talent and then Stanton for many years to come.

 

A 15 game improvement from 2013 to 2014 makes me excited for what could happen in 2015.

 

So, for now ... we say goodbye. But come April 6, 2015, we'll be loud and proud cheering for our Marlins.

 

LET'S GO FISH!

 

Just want to add - Giancarlo Stanton finished the season with a National League leading 37 home runs. The Marlins finally have a home run crown. Perhaps an MVP award. Would have been an RBI title, as well, if not for the injury.

 

 

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This team was better than 77-85. Fernandez going down early in the year and Stanton going down late contributed to a lot of losses that just as easily could've been wins. I think with those two healthy all year (or at least Stanton not going getting injured late) we could've been 82-80, so I won't look at that 77-85 record when talking about this team, but it feels misleading.

 

Team has a lot of work to go, and there are positional needs that need to be filled. But overall very positive year and lots to look forward to going into 2015.

 

 

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This team was better than 77-85. Fernandez going down early in the year and Stanton going down late contributed to a lot of losses that just as easily could've been wins. I think with those two healthy all year (or at least Stanton not going getting injured late) we could've been 82-80, so I won't look at that 77-85 record when talking about this team, but it feels misleading.

 

Team has a lot of work to go, and there are positional needs that need to be filled. But overall very positive year and lots to look forward to going into 2015.

 

I agree completely. I think having Fernandez the entire year [and Eovaldi maybe not dropping off as much], this team could have won another 10 games possibly.

 

Starting next year, if Nate can be at least decent up to the point when Jose returns mid-season, I'll like our chances. Assuming Jose comes back and does well. Not Jose 2013/what he did this year, but at least similar to what Strasburg did in 2012 [15-6, 3.16 ERA, 197 K in 160 innings].

 

If Cosart can give us what he gave us, Henderson the same, and Heaney can turn a corner or something. I'm expecting good things from this team in 2015.

 

 

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I think if JF and GS had stayed healthy all year we would have finished .500 or above.

 

The outfield is stellar. The rotation (Fernandez, Alvarez, Cozart, Eovaldi, Koehler) is good enough. The bullpen is good enough (Dunn is done). The infield is ...

 

Yeahhhhh ... will DD ever be forgiven. For all the Solano/Hech hate, they're better than Furcal/Valaika/Green/Polanco/Kotchman. If the FO means business, it needs to sign TWO STELLAR IFs, mainly at 2B and 1B. Hech isn't awful but he needs to spend the OS learning all about "base on balls". Casey isn't bad at all, just reverted as the season progressed. Salty .... sheesh. 2B by rota .... sheesh. Garrett Jones I hated from the off, then tried to like, then stopped trying to like. I like Bour, but don't think he has the plate discipline to be a MLer. Baker is fine. Johnson is slightly less fine. Realmuto should replace Mathis and Rob Brantley should be shot.

 

We're close. Hell, the Royals made it and they're shit. Two STELLAR IFs, maybe a decent starter and a decent bullpen arm, and postseason here we come.

 

I've loved this season. Due to the breakup of my marriage and MLB.TV (which sucks) I saw 160 out of 162 games. It was great.

 

My favourite moment was when AW gave the ball to the kid in a Marlins hat when his dad had screwed him over in favour of his bro.

 

Least ... the 7-year-old with the lift-shirt-pelvic-thrust dance. That was just wrong on so many levels.

 

 

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Hard to be upset about a 15 win improvement over last year. Yeah it's a shame we lost Jose so early and with him healthy, we could have finished a lot better.

 

That being said, I think barring any significant signings or trades, I don't know if we'll end up finishing any better in 2015. Stanton took a huge leap forward this year and put up MVP type numbers. I don't doubt he can do it again, but he still needs better protection behind him than Casey McGehee. And we won't get Jose back until June at the earliest either, so pitching is still up in the air. Eovaldi took a huge step backwards and I don't know what to expect from him anymore. Alvarez is going into next season as our ace, but we need to lock him up just as much as we do the OF.

 

2016 really seems like it could be the year. Assuming the outfield stays intact, Salty manages at least a .750 OPS, Jose and Alvarez are healthy, Heaney is at least a solid #3, possibly a Kolek call up if he's dominating......playoffs are a real possibility.

 

But fixing the infield is a huge task. I've begun to accept that Hech will stick at SS, but every other position is a huge ?

 

 

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2014 Season:

 

Not disappointed. After Fernandez injury and the fact this was just a testing season for most the players, the team showed good spirit (contrary to Hanley days) overall and showed resilience.

 

For me --

 

1b replacement needed

 

2b replacement needed

 

SS guess I can live with Hech (pssst...trade him now! His BA looks good even though we know better)

 

3b Mgee good enough while we focus on needs

 

OF - SET leave those 3 alone

 

C - back to shopping or get Salty a personal hitting coach

 

Pitchers - good

 

2014 Success because headed in right direction

 

 

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Hard to be upset about a 15 win improvement over last year. Yeah it's a shame we lost Jose so early and with him healthy, we could have finished a lot better.

 

That being said, I think barring any significant signings or trades, I don't know if we'll end up finishing any better in 2015. Stanton took a huge leap forward this year and put up MVP type numbers. I don't doubt he can do it again, but he still needs better protection behind him than Casey McGehee. And we won't get Jose back until June at the earliest either, so pitching is still up in the air. Eovaldi took a huge step backwards and I don't know what to expect from him anymore. Alvarez is going into next season as our ace, but we need to lock him up just as much as we do the OF.

 

2016 really seems like it could be the year. Assuming the outfield stays intact, Salty manages at least a .750 OPS, Jose and Alvarez are healthy, Heaney is at least a solid #3, possibly a Kolek call up if he's dominating......playoffs are a real possibility.

 

But fixing the infield is a huge task. I've begun to accept that Hech will stick at SS, but every other position is a huge ?

 

 

Kolek is a candidate for 2018/2019. We don't need to be discussing him for anything close to the immediate future.

 

 

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I will never accept Hech

 

 

I have accepted that Hech will be here for twenty years and the front office in 2033 will talk about Hech like the Yankees talk about Jeter. We will build a statue out in front of the stadium in likeness of Hechavarria and his number will be retired, all after posting a career WAR of negative 55.

 

 

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I have accepted that Hech will be here for twenty years and the front office in 2033 will talk about Hech like the Yankees talk about Jeter. We will build a statue out in front of the stadium in likeness of Hechavarria and his number will be retired, all after posting a career WAR of negative 55.

 

 

We need to build a statue of Hech now. And wheel it out for his ABs as it'll probably have a better OBP than him.

 

 

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Considering this team did anything with this infield its a freaking miracle.Upgrades are needed at all four spots or five if you count catcher!

 

The real question is can/will they? After the 2012 debacle I still see the team having difficulties attracting free agents and there are no viable replacements in the minors. I mean they signed free agents last year, but were those players highly sought after? So can they get good players to come here?

 

There were several highlights though the year, I would including starting pitching being a surprise and I think they should improve with another full season under their belt. The outfield should be entertaining for as long as they keep Stanton! Hopefully they're active in the off season!

 

 

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