soflasports

Please tell me whoever started this thread has not seen a marlins game in the last two years. you have to be kidding me. Last year Hermida had more Homeruns, RBI, Hits, Doubles, Triples, Walks, and Stolen bases. He also hit for a higher Average had a higher On Base Percentage a higher Slugging Percentage and higher OPS. Now lets assume for the sake of argument that Hermida and Jacobs are equal defensively or even that Jacobs is a little bit better, who would you rather have? a 24 year old RF that hits for a higher average, more power, and drives in more runs OR a 27 year old 1B that plays below average defense and doesn't produce at the level of most 1st basemen? TOUGH CHOICE?!?!?! I'm the first person along with my friends that constantly question Hermida's passion and think he is an absolute bumb, but are u really serious with this question? Hermida has better numbers than Jacobs and probably doesn't even try half as hard. If a manager can ever untap Hermida's potential he could be a great player, IF NOT he'll still be a whole hell of a lot better than Mike Jacobs.

Like i said in my previous post im all for people to have some fun out there when they mammoth shots like that. But if it starts costing the Marlins a single instead of a double ala Manny then ima start getting upset.

Disclaimer: A lot if not most MLB players who are very good and hit homeruns showboat. With that out of the way, Hanley is far an away the Marlin's biggest showboater. I love Hanley and he is the best SS in the majors, but his time with Boston is coming out the way hes starting to look like Manny more and more. There's nothing wrong with a little TO and Chad Johnson and I actually like it as long as it doesn't cost the Marlins bases or games. But for you guys to say he doesn't showboat is hilarious. Here is a clip of one of his latest homerun. Watch the FSN replay. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/team/player...layer_id=434670 Under Multimedia its the 4th link from the top labeled "Ramirez's two-run homer Watch" Now the best part about the clip isnt Hanley's showboating is Tommy Hutton's excitement and then saying Hanley just "took a look". Thats hilarious considering a month or two ago he bashed Yunel Escobar for basically doing the same thing. Gotta love Tommy.

It's interesting how two weeks ago Fredi was managing the bullpen amazingly and everyone here was like ALL HAIL FREDI. This guy is a joke when it comes to in game decisions. He brings in Pinto to throw .1 of an inning and then puts in the straightest fastball thrower (next to Farnsworth) after he gave up a running to the 8-9-1 hitters last night. Then it takes 3 consecutive hits and walk for him to take him out because hes already exhausted the bullpen. Not to mention hes taken out starting pitchers multiple times after throwing less than 90 pitches, because they have thrown 5 innings. Can someone tell Fredi starters can go more than 5 innings. Off the top of my head, tonight with Badenhop, last start by Miller, and one start early in the year with Olsen (Olsen was in the 70s). What he's done with this club is amazing, and as a "manager" hes grown so much in a year. As an in game manager he makes me scratch my head nightly.

Of course, catcher's ERA is a very overlooked stat. The Marlins ERA when Rabelo plays is 4.21 as opposed to when Treanor plays. Lately if you've noticed, Treanor has been playing. Lately, if you've noticed, and actually posted on this forum for any reason but to plug your blog, you would have seen that there was a giant thread all about Treanor vs Rabelo and CERA. The common consensus is that it's a terrible stat. Utley having 9 RBI in the last two games is still "hitting" in my opinion. Both of those were in blowout games, were the pitching was beat up by everyone, to the tune of 35 runs. 6 of those RBIs were yesterday, which isn't usually isn't counted in power rankings of last week. His OPS this past week was .150 less than last year. That's not exactly "still hitting" despite his showing in batting practice Ya when you leave Arizona as the best team in the National League and go back home looking up after loosing 5 out of 7 including your "aces" going 0-3 that's falling back to earth. If the Marlins lost 5 out of their last 7 in this road trip this forum would be on fire as to how the Marlins are going to fall apart. They went 2-4 last week, just like the Phillies with the "still hitting" Utley. Not only was their terrible starters ERA 3.20 for the week (ALERT THE PRESSES!), pluss they got back two of their best starters from the DL, Randy Johnson and Doug Davis, who went 6 and 7 innings respectively, and each only allowed one run. The only game were a starter didn't get a quality start was Haren vs the Marlins, where he went 6.1 with 4ER. He also struck out 8 and didn't walk anyone. The Cardinals rotation is made up of a bunch of scraps similar to that of the Marlins. If by the All-Star game they still are pitching at high level theyll get more love. Not to mention their "closer" stepped down from his role. That's nevrer good. The closer "stepped down" for like a day, but he ended up with a lacerated hand and is on the DL. But then again, that was two weeks ago. In that, their "scraps" put up a 2.12 ERA this past week, including super "scrap" Adam Wainwright. In that, they also scored an average of 5 runs per game. And as far as "scraps" go, I've never been a fan of "Well, that pitcher is doing good, but hey, I have no idea who he is, so screw it, he'll be bad." Don't forget that 2 of those 5 helped the Cards win a World Series 2 years ago (one of them helped the Marlins win one in 2003). One other helped the Twins get there 3 times and the Phils once. As for the 'Stros, good call. Completely overlooked them. They'll be in there next time. Thanks for the criticism. And remember, Berkman is having the best month in the NL. Sorry if that was a little harsh, but I HATE power rankings. Most of the time they amass to "Well, the Rays not only have the best record in baseball, but are putting up some of the best offense, defense, and pitching in the league...but I like the Red Sox better!" In my opinion power rankings are essentially would you take this team over that team. Right now I would take the Red Sox in a 7 game series over any team. I can't see them loosing to any team in the majors in 7 games. Maybe I'm wrong, but thats what power rankings mean to me.

Why are the Red Sox 1, because they are the Red Sox? Is that why the Rays, with the best record in baseball, can't be 1? Did you actually cite Cather ERA is a reason for the Marlins success? Of course, catcher's ERA is a very overlooked stat. The Marlins ERA when Rabelo plays is 4.21 as opposed to when Treanor plays. Lately if you've noticed, Treanor has been playing. "Chase Utley keeps hitting"? He hit .174/.240/.348 2 weeks ago and hit .280/.367/.480 last week. Those aren't even close to Utley-like numbers, as he has been in a slump all month. Utley having 9 RBI in the last two games is still "hitting" in my opinion. Arizona has "fallen to earth"? Because they lost to another first place team and then to the team with the best home record in baseball? Ya when you leave Arizona as the best team in the National League and go back home looking up after loosing 5 out of 7 including your "aces" going 0-3 that's falling back to earth. If the Marlins lost 5 out of their last 7 in this road trip this forum would be on fire as to how the Marlins are going to fall apart. The 28-24 Phillies lost two of 3 against the 29-23 Astros. Guess which one you went with. The Cubs and the Cardinals were tied for the lead in their division at the end of the week. The Cubs, "ranked" 2, went 2-4 and the Cards, "ranked" 7, went 4-2. The Cardinals rotation is made up of a bunch of scraps similar to that of the Marlins. If by the All-Star game they still are pitching at high level theyll get more love. Not to mention their "closer" stepped down from his role. That's nevrer good. I think it bears mentioning once again that the Stros, with their 29-23 record, went 2-1 against the "#2" Cubs and 2-1 against the "#9" Phillies. As for the 'Stros, good call. Completely overlooked them. They'll be in there next time. Thanks for the criticism. All in all, that was one of the worst power rankings I have ever seen.

Hey guys I've put together some power rankings as of tonight's games. Let me know what you think. http://www.soflasports.com/index.php/sofla...r-rankings-527/

Our Marlins have been outstanding so far but they can improve so much yet Adding a healthy Anibal to the rotation will solidify this rotation tenfolds. Dallas McP looks like he is ready for a callup already Placing him at 3rd and putting Cantu in a platoon with Jake will be a defensive upgrade that will give a little more stability to both 1st and 3rd. CF still needs to work itself out either by the return of ADA or by giving Carroll a chance to take it over, or in best scenario Mayybin showing the maturity of a MLB player. I can't wait for Volsted and company to be called up in September Is there a reason why everyone in this forum thinks that Dallas McPherson is God's gift to 3rd base. That guy has never even come close to putting up numbers that Cantu put up a couple years ago. Also McPherson hasnt played 100 games in the majors in the 3 years he had been called up. Also the numbers He's putting up in AAA are similar to those of Cantu's and hes playing in the minors. Let McPherson hit 400 and slug 700 in Albuquerque then bring him up. Until then let him chill there and maybe we can use him next year, after we allow Cantu to walk.

I cannot argue that Fredi has become a far better player manager, especially with the clubhouse moves he made this offseason like the iPod thing. As a coach though, he's still subpar at best and is probably more suited to be an AL manager. He doesn't like to do double switches, he is constantly worried about the righty righy, lefty lefty situation to the point where he burns the pen. Take a look at last night, he used 7 relievers in 5 innings. I know you never coach for extra innings, but if Gregg blows that save last night, who do we bring in? An example of the double switch thing is how he brough Doug Waecther in the game last night. Waechter if my memory servers me right is a starting pitcher, yet he brings him in the 6th inning without a double switch knowing the 9th spot in the order was coming up. He still makes a lot of moves that make me scratch my head, but his player manager skills have improved vastly. Just a couple comments: 1) Fredi has used the double switch in 20 of 25 games this season. To me, that might actually be a little bit, but you can't say he doesn't like the double switch. 2) While I agree that he could have used the double switch yesterday with Waechter, he ended up making one with Kevin Gregg, who was a former starter and can go multiple innings. Behind him we still had the Hopper. 3) For all the things to talk about, you are saying he is misusing the bullpen. The bullpen who has been misused into being the 2nd best pen in the league. While I also thing he used a few too many relievers yesterday, if one of the lefties had given up a run to a righty, we would be talking about how Fredi should have brought a righty in to face him. Well a lefty did give up a run to a righty (Bill Hall) which doesn't bother me, you can't coach scared of the whole same handedness situation. And I am not saying he misuses the bullpen in way to harm them, he just mis manages the game when it comes down to double switches, pinch hitting, etc. Plus our arms in the pen are great, that's what makes our bullpen good. Don't think that Fredi because he uses his righty righty, lefty lefty coached the pen to the 2nd best ERA in the league. He also is more of a laid back let things happen manger as opposed to hitting and running and sending runner. This kind of bothers me, this is more of an to each his own type thing. I would love to see some more hit and runs, but at the same time we swing and miss more than any other team i assume (lots of ks). Although he did attempt the double steal yesterday.

I cannot argue that Fredi has become a far better player manager, especially with the clubhouse moves he made this offseason like the iPod thing. As a coach though, he's still subpar at best and is probably more suited to be an AL manager. He doesn't like to do double switches, he is constantly worried about the righty righy, lefty lefty situation to the point where he burns the pen. Take a look at last night, he used 7 relievers in 5 innings. I know you never coach for extra innings, but if Gregg blows that save last night, who do we bring in? An example of the double switch thing is how he brough Doug Waecther in the game last night. Waechter if my memory servers me right is a starting pitcher, yet he brings him in the 6th inning without a double switch knowing the 9th spot in the order was coming up. He still makes a lot of moves that make me scratch my head, but his player manager skills have improved vastly. im not sure if anyone else agrees with me but i believe the only reason he used 7 relievers in 5 innings is because we are off today So once again like I said, what would've happened in the 11th. Like i said above you never play to go to extra innings, but part of being a manger is keep atleast one pitcher back ther JUST IN CASE. And I definately disagree with you about the off day, Fredi is so anal about the lefy and righty thing thats hes taken out some of our best hitters in the middle of the game because of it, see Jeremy Hermida and Mike Jacobs. I dont care who the lefty is, you dont take your 3rd and 5th hitter out of the lineup because its lefty lefy.

I cannot argue that Fredi has become a far better player manager, especially with the clubhouse moves he made this offseason like the iPod thing. As a coach though, he's still subpar at best and is probably more suited to be an AL manager. He doesn't like to do double switches, he is constantly worried about the righty righy, lefty lefty situation to the point where he burns the pen. Take a look at last night, he used 7 relievers in 5 innings. I know you never coach for extra innings, but if Gregg blows that save last night, who do we bring in? An example of the double switch thing is how he brough Doug Waecther in the game last night. Waechter if my memory servers me right is a starting pitcher, yet he brings him in the 6th inning without a double switch knowing the 9th spot in the order was coming up. He still makes a lot of moves that make me scratch my head, but his player manager skills have improved vastly.

I don't see why its replacing the changeup. If he has a split added to his arsenal, why not also continue to incorporate changeups. The more pitches the better. I think because the splitter is almost the same speed as his changeup. They are too similar? That's correct, the split finger is a similar pitch to the changeup, and should actually be called a splitfinger change, as its a change of pace pitch. The fact that you are splitting your fingers accross the ball allows you to throw it with max effort yet the ball arrives to the plate 8-12 mph less than your fastball. He really needs to throw this more, and use it against righties too. Righties are sitting on the big curve. I also noticed Nolasco has come up with a second variation of his big loopy curve, which acts more like a slider. Tighter curve and more side to side motion.

Hey, All 6 divisions have now been broken down and articles are up. I have also written an in depth Florida Marlins preview. Part 1 is currently up and it focuses on pitching. Part 2 will be up before tomorrow's opening game. http://www.soflasports.com/index.php/mlb-p...marlins-part-1/ Enjoy

Hey guys this is my first post and I wanna say how awesome it has been hearing everyone's opinion about the marlins and baseball. I want to let you guys know of a website me and some friends have been putting together over the last week. It's a sports blogging website concentrating on south florida sports and will have tons of marlins info as the season gets rolling. Please don't think I'm spamming, as you can see on the right I have a link to this site as its definitely got some good marlins info on it and the forum is great. If you guys visit the site please let me know what you think, comments and suggestions are appreciated. www.soflasports.com