jsprt05

There is only one reason I would like to keep Juan Pierre, and that is his song that yplays when he comes to the plate...."We Ready"

I just thought it was another article written by the group of haters around the country that refuse to show any respect towards the teams in South Florida. Can't you just let the Marlins be?? We won it in 2003 because we were the hottest team in the last 5 months of the season, not because Pudge was passing around steroids in the locker room. People don't realize that the 2003 team was horrible during April and early May, they didn't step it up becuase the performance enhancers, but because they were a talented squad.

Vegas Schmegas

As a result of his recent trade from the Florida Marlins to the Boston Red Sox, I decided to look at the recent career ?power numbers? of Mike Lowell. This is what I saw: Mike Lowell Season Plate Appearances Homeruns Slugging Percentage 2000 582 22 .474 2001 614 18 .448 2002 677 24 .471 2003 557 32 .530 2004 671 27 .505 2005 558 8 .360 There are three trends that standout here. First, from 2000 through 2002, Lowell was in the range of about 20 homers per season with a slugging percentage in the range of .470 per year. Then, in 2003, Lowell jumped up to a higher range in the homerun and slugging percentage departments ? more to the tune of 30/.500 than 20/.470. And, he stayed there in 2004. Lastly, in 2005, Lowell?s ?power? at the plate completely disappeared. At first blush, one could write this off to a player?s performance simply peaking and then dropping off ? it happens all the time. But, coincidently, when looking at Lowell?s numbers, I also happened to look at the numbers for the man who played to Lowell?s direct left ? the Marlins? shortstop Alex Gonzalez. And, this is what I saw: Alex Gonzalez Season Plate Appearances Homeruns Slugging Percentage 1999 591 14 .430 2000 407 7 .319 2001 561 9 .377 2002 172 2 .325 2003 582 18 .443 2004 599 23 .419 2005 478 5 .368 And, here, with Gonzalez, we see a pattern somewhat like with Lowell. From 1999 through 2002, Alex Gonzalez hit homeruns at a pace of about 10 per season (if you prorate his production to a full year across the board). Then, all of a sudden in 2003, he jumps up into the 20 homer range. And, Alex stays there for 2004. However, in 2005, like Lowell, his "new" power disappears. Seeing this, I was curious if there were any other Marlins players with this pattern. And, I found Juan Pierre ? note his stats below: Juan Pierre Season Plate Appearances Batting Average On Base Average Slugging Percentage 2001 683 .327 .378 .415 2002 640 .287 .332 .343 2003 746 .305 .361 .373 2004 748 .326 .374 .407 2005 718 .276 .326 .354 With Pierre, you need to adjust for the fact that he played in the extreme-hitter-friendly-confines of Colorado during 2001 and 2002 ? and then moved to the pitcher-friendly park in Miami (where the Marlins play). Perhaps a better way to look at Pierre is comparing his Runs Created Above Average (RCAA) each season ? which adjusts for the different playing conditions. Here, we see the following: Juan Pierre Season RCAA 2001 -7 2002 -29 2003 7 2004 10 2005 -10 Once again, we see the pattern of ?numbers jumping up in 2003, staying there in 2004, and then dropping down badly in 2005.? It makes you wonder what was so special for these Marlins players in 2003 and 2005. Was it something about the ballpark in Florida? Did something there change over the years? Well, according to the Bill James Baseball Handbooks from 2003 through 2006, the Marlins' park ?power? index was about the same each year - in that it's always been a below average park for homeruns: Florida Marlins ? Dolphins Stadium HR Index Season HR Index 2002 80 2003 77 2004 97 2005 78 As stated before herein, the ballpark in Miami is a ?pitcher?s park? ? in terms of preventing long balls. And, it?s been that way for the last four years in a row. Lowell, Gonzalez and Pierre cannot claim it was their field in Miami that brought cause for the change in their numbers. Every year, since 2002, it's been a below average park for homeruns. What about the National League as a whole? Was ?power? down in general? Is that the reason for these players to see their slugging production drop in 2005? It (power in general in the N.L.) has not trended downward since 2003 ? at least not a lot. Below is the National League homerun percentage from 2003 through 2005 ? hitters only (with pitchers excluded): National League Homerun Percentage Season HR% 2003 3.21 2004 3.37 2005 3.08 One thing that did happen during 2003 in Miami was that Ivan ?Pudge? Rodriguez joined the Florida Marlins. Why is this significant? Well, it is interesting because Rodriguez was named in Jose Canseco?s book ?Juiced? as being someone who was interested in, and who used, performance enhancing drugs. And, while many like to scoff at Canseco?s book-generated finger pointing, they must also admit that Jose now seems to have been on the mark in naming people like Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Jason Giambi. In fact, Canseco, in the book, claims that he (Jose) taught Pudge how to properly administer such drugs. Is it possible that Ivan Rodriguez passed along some of these performance enhancing ?tips? to some of his teammates in Florida when he joined the team in 2003? This could be a clue behind the aforementioned increases in production for those in question. But, what about their offensive decreases in 2005? Ironically, it was the 2005 season where the use of performance enhancing substances became banned - and baseball players began to be tested to determine if they were using them. Yes, the same season where we see the decline for Lowell, Gonzalez and Pierre. And, it?s significant to note that Ivan Rodriguez (who moved on to the Detroit Tigers following his 2003 season in Florida) lost 20-somewhat pounds during the off-season between 2004 and 2005 ? and saw his relative offensive production drop considerably in 2005 from his 2003-04 rates. Is this the key to seeing the drop in 2005 for Lowell, Gonzalez, and Pierre ? the fact that Major League Baseball began testing for performance enhancers last season? And, perhaps more importantly, looking at the bigger picture here, were the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins a team that was aided by a cadre of batters who were using performance enhancing drugs? This is an interesting question ? but, that?s all that it is. Basically, it?s one fan having an Oliver Stone moment and connecting sundry hand-picked dots that perhaps no one was willing to connect out loud before this time. This supposition is 100% conjecture and not based on any hard evidence. If Roger Murtaugh were to read this, he would probably say ?Pretty thin, huh?? and Martin Riggs would surely answer ?Anorexic.? Still, it is some attention-grabbing speculation to debate over the hot stove this baseball off-season. And, if this hypothesis should ever be found to be true through some retrospective disclosure by a party privy to the situation, this ?study? will stand testament to the fact that at least one baseball fan?s wild imagination is not all that fanciful. http://www.netshrine.com/2003Marlins.html

Beckett wont be making any more money in the coming years than Dontrelle and Miguel will, and he has just as much upside as they do. You might as well trade everyone...

I don't rely very much on what "writers" say. I'd rather go with the opinion of a real scout. I could just as well be a writer and go watch these guys play ball and then write up a "top 50 prospect list." True Dat

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now You've got to credit Beinfest and the FO for this as well. Remember they had the opportunity to turn Lowell's contract into a 1 year deal last year. And this was after he already had an abysmal 2nd half of 2004. The FO should have seen this coming? The thought signing Lowell long term and acquiring Delgado would create enough good will to complete the stadium deal. Obviously it didn't work. So I look at is as several factors that resulted in Lowell and Beckett being shipped out together. I could be wrong, but I thought Lowell was the one who decided what to do with his contract last year, not the FO. Lowell screwed us over... Get over it, man... He is not the sole reason that this firesale is happening. Lowell having a good season last year would not have equated into double ticket sales. It would not have wiped out the lease we have at JRS. It wouldn't have swayed the local government into working with the Marlins to get a new stadium. The guy had one bad year. You forget he was a 3 time all star. The fact that this "firesale" is happening the same year he had an off season, is purely bad timing. It's getting so annoying seeing you people rip on guys like Lowell and Pierre for having a bad year. It happens. I will always be thankful for all the good they gave this franchise. Lowell was basically given the title "Mr. Marlin" until Niner came back. How easily people forget that. I'm praying that Lowell comes back with a 40+ homer season.... Im not even talking about the early 2000s...I am just mentioning one thing which is isn't even debatable. Josh Beckett would still be with the Marlins if Mike Lowell wasn't so pathetic last year.

Even is Pierre raises his On-Base % close to .400, he is still a defensive liability. JUAN PIERRE HAS NO ARM!!!

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now You've got to credit Beinfest and the FO for this as well. Remember they had the opportunity to turn Lowell's contract into a 1 year deal last year. And this was after he already had an abysmal 2nd half of 2004. The FO should have seen this coming? The thought signing Lowell long term and acquiring Delgado would create enough good will to complete the stadium deal. Obviously it didn't work. So I look at is as several factors that resulted in Lowell and Beckett being shipped out together. I could be wrong, but I thought Lowell was the one who decided what to do with his contract last year, not the FO. Lowell screwed us over...

I think about we have alot of peaple who can be a starting pitcher in our bull pen will help us out in A way Anyone care to translate this? hahaha

Fact or Fiction: Mike Lowell is THE reason that Josh Beckett is in a Red Sox uniform right now

Nice little article.... The first of many "lame-duck" seasons in South Florida...way to stay optimistic!!

I really want to root for you Mikey, but I just cant. Your offensive struggles are a big reason for this semi-firesale and I cannot be happy for you and your wish to revitalize your career. All you had to do is play like a 7.5 million dollar player, hell I would've taken a 2 million dollar player. Instead you decided to not show up to a season that had so much promise and didn't need you to be the offensive man, but just a steady complement. Mike Lowell should take a lot of blame for the 2005 team never amounting to much, as well as Josh Beckett now calling Boston home. Beckett was part of the future for this organization, but because of him and his ridiculous contract, we had to ship him away... Thank you Mike Lowell for everything....the 30 home run seasons. the World Championships, and the major assist in getting out Texas flamethrower traded away. Do me a favor and play even worse for the BoSox next year, they don't deserve the Mike Lowell of the early 2000s, not after they took advantage of a small market team!!!

The list will be totally revamped for the 2006 season...

I think when you have young guys on your team, they're always exciting to watch... Hermida, Cabrera, Jacobs are going to be an amazing 3-4-5!!!

Jimmy Rollins plays SS, trade Juan Pierre to someone for an outfield prospect...keep Castillo and LoDuca

On the Marlins website, it says HanRam will wear # 60

This team is going to be successful in a few years, I honeslty don't care where they are playing, just don't mention the "C" word!!

Miguel Cabrera may be the slowest 22 year old in the majors...

Fact or Fiction: The Marlins will have the 2006 Rookie of the Year?

The Marlins will go 78-84 and Dontrelle will win 18 games...

Personally, I have been to about 10 home games and 3 or 4 away games each of the past 10 years. I actually am quite excited about this team starting over and re-building for a championship contending team in a few years. This is the first season that I will get season tickets, 81 games or 40 games is still up in the air...

Dontrelle Vargas Johnson Petit (You can do it!!!) Olsen/Moehler

Gonzalez to Castillo to Lee.... The smoothest 6-4-3 of all time!!!

Hooray for Venezuela!!