DoTheFish

If the Giants want to give us Matt Cain for Uggla, we'll think about that one The Giants GM dude has already said that Cain and Lincecum are "untouchables". But they are looking for power and would be interested in Uggla. http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_10595619

Guys, the writing's on the wall. Uggla will probably be traded (to save $$, if nothing else). Putting Coghlan at 2B might not improve the defense at 2B, but what we'll get for Uggla will improve the defense as a whole whether it be in the outfield or behind the plate. Coghlan brings the offensive tools that Beinfest is talking about.

Here's an article from today's Herald along the same lines: Florida Marlins hope addition by subtraction improves team By GREG COTE The Marlins are about to do something smart even if it might not seem like it: Take a bright young team -- one that didn't miss the playoffs by much -- and shake it up.For a sweet change, this won't be the kind of shake-up that has twice before followed Marlins success -- a fire sale to drastically cut player payroll. That is the one benefit of being last in the majors in payroll: Tough to drastically cut what barely exists. No, this time the shake-up will be to transform the Marlins from a power-hitting team whose home runs could not disguise its flaws into one better rooted in pitching, speed and defense. The transformation might also serve to help limit the payroll increase, much to the delight of the club's cheap ownership, because several players set for big raises in arbitration won't be back. But this time the changes will improve the team. The biggest surprise in the Marlins finishing 84-77 (a 13-win improvement) is they did it having batters who struck out 171, 138, 122, 119, 116 and 111 times. A seventh hitter -- that's most of the lineup -- also was on pace to top 100 if not injured. Category 2 hurricanes create less wind than the Marlins did fanning in 2008. Add clunky defense, little speed and an erratic bullpen and 84 wins seems a Biblical miracle. The record alone, third best in the club's 16 years, might have justified a stand-pat approach. The Marlins, though, unlike the Dolphins, are not retooling from desperation. The Dolphins began their reconstruction from a cracked foundation of weakness, detonating a 1-15 team bereft of talent. The Marlins are reconfiguring from a position of strength, augmenting what's good, reducing what's bad. DOUBLE DOWN? An embarrassing player payroll that hovered just above $20 million this year needs urgent remedy, of course, no matter how the team evolves. The long-awaited and finally approved new ballpark came with an assurance from owner Jeffrey Loria of greatly increased spending. We look forward to Loria keeping his word, and trust he won't dare wait until 2011, when the new park opens. It is estimated, with 16 Marlins set for arbitration, that it would take a doubled payroll to keep this '08 team intact. The thing is, that wouldn't be smart. I don't mean the doubled payroll. That would be. I mean spending it to keep together the same free-swinging squad that at times played like a Sunday men's softball team, a parade of giant uppercuts aimed at fences. The Marlins need to swap some power for more of a contact-hitting club that has the speed to manufacture runs when needed. Second baseman Dan Uggla could be traded in the makeover (call it likely), because he has value, and because the Marlins can do without his 171 strikeouts. For Uggla they might get in return a solid starting corner outfielder with speed, because chances are slim both Josh Willingham and Jeremy Hermida will return. Mike Jacobs also is headed for the exit, personifying the type of team Florida wants to stop being: Power, but low average, mega-strikeouts, no speed, bad defense. To quote Barack Obama and John McCain in a Marlins context: We need change. And change is coming. Fleet Cameron Maybin seems ready to take over in center, based on his hitting as a late season call-up and the fact he covers almost as much ground as the green grass. Gaby Sanchez also is ready to burst free of his minor-league shackles and take over for Jacobs at first. Fast-rising minor-league star Chris Coghlan looks almost ready to take over for Uggla at second if needed. If he requires a bit more seasoning, well, Jorge Cantu played second in Tampa Bay and could play there until Coghlan was ready. Cantu, playing mostly third base this year, probably should have beaten habit-selection Hanley Ramirez as team MVP. Cantu should return if only in an infield utility role, with minor-league slugger Dallas McPherson promoted to take over at third. (McPherson, a homers/strikeouts guy, is counter to the planned makeover, but his bat would help compensate for the departure of Jacobs, Hermida, perhaps Willingham and maybe even Uggla. Once Coghlan is ready at second, there would be the option of moving Cantu back to third and trading McPherson. Change also is coming behind the plate, where John Baker has proved himself ready to be the Marlins' best offensive catcher since Pudge Rodriguez. DEEP ROTATION Pitching? Closer Kevin Gregg won't return, and the sound you hear is much of South Florida chorusing a ''Hallelujah!'' Matt Lindstrom, of the 100 mph fastball but with better control than Gregg, is poised to take over. Scott Olsen might not be back in the starting rotation because he could be too pricey. There would be no greater commitment to increased spending than if Loria approved re-signing Olsen. But, if not, he has enough trade value to bring a needed piece in return, such as a quality corner outfielder with speed and a strong glove. Even without Olsen, the Marlins would be solid with a returning rotation led by Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad -- all 25 or younger. When the makeover is done, the Marlins will have managed to do what seems impossible: Lose power, but somehow get stronger. I really don't like the idea of putting Cantu back at 2nd.

"That by no means takes away from the four infielders and what they've done in scoring runs, but you'd like to be able to manufacture, put the ball in play, put a little more speed in the lineup, kind of go back to the model that was successful for us a few years back." = Coghlan He cant play D at all though and even though i thin hanley will improve your 2nd basemen cant be making around 20 erros along with your ss 13 or so. What about Raynor. Coghlan's D is no worse than Uggla's when he came into the league. And he'll only improve. And as I've said before, Andino is a fine late inning defensive replacement if Coghlan is that bad. I know the article is about improving D but that paragraph screams Coghlan.

"That by no means takes away from the four infielders and what they've done in scoring runs, but you'd like to be able to manufacture, put the ball in play, put a little more speed in the lineup, kind of go back to the model that was successful for us a few years back." = Coghlan

Uggla, Jake, Gregg, and Hammer are all definitely gone (the money is much better spent on the starters IMO). If some team wows us with an offer for Anibal, he goes. If not, Olsen goes. I'd be fine with either as the #5. I'm not sure if Hermida stays. I can see him included in a deal for an elite OF prospect. I have no idea about the bullpen.

The Good: Andino's walkoff HR against the Mets for the first W of the year. Volstad against the Dodgers on the road. The Bad: Seeing the Braves come from behind in late innings TWICE (in person). One was the Escobar walk off HR and the other was the Escobar single with sh*t for brains going to cover 2nd on a steal :banghead .

I still think we can lure away at least one of those young Texas catchers within a Jacobs trade (they wouldn't need Uggla because of Kinsler) I've said this before, but the Cardinals need a 2B, and have 2 good catchers (Molina/prospect Bryan Anderson) who can't be swapped around at C/1B/DH like the Rangers can with theirs. I definitely think Uggla is gone, and St. Louis is where he ends up. I also think Olsen, Jacobs and Hammer are gone, probably for pitching prospects.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first season in franchise history where we'll finish with a better record than the Braves, which is nice.

The only way it would hurt for us to miss the playoffs at this point (IMO) would be if we lost a 1 game playoff to the Mets. That would suck.

This would be interesting if Baker proves to be the everyday catcher for next year (I'm not ready to crown him yet). Mostly because I always thought our big trade involving Uggla/Hammer/Olsen/Jacobs would be for a stud catcher. With those guys still likely to get traded, what are we looking for? Bullpen help? Everything else seems pretty set.

next year's outfield could be Raynor Maybin Hermida With Ross as a reserve/starter the Future, however... Raynor, Maybin, Stanton Dominguez, Ramirez, Coghlen, Morrison Skipworth I like it I'm a bit concerned about the pitching depth though. All the best pitching is already in the MLB. we still got Sean West and Aaron Tompson and Anyone we can get in the Uggla Jacobs Olsen trades Plus Sinkbeil kinda owned in the playoffs, not sayin he'll be anything special, but it was still a good sign.

So whats the general opinion on where Hanley will bat next year? 1st or 3rd? Im guessing if he bats 3rd then Maybin has the tools to hit leadoff Raynor is probably the only true leadoff hitter we have. I think Maybin will bat somewhere in the 6-8 part of the lineup.

Let's go Mississippi Braves! The sooner the Mudcat season is over,the more we will get to see of Maybin, Sanchez, and hopefully Coghlan. bite your tounge this is the championship series....win or lose those guys will be up after it Yeah, I'd much rather have this core of players (Maybin, Coghlan, Sanchez, Raynor, Tucker, etc.) come together and win a championship. I don't even really care if they come up this season.

Whats the over/under for trade speculation threads in the offseason?

errors are nothing That's all I got. I don't know where to find the .RZR, OOZ, etc. for minor league players. I even googled for defensive stats, and basically...all I got were the errors on the Carolina Mudcats roster page. Regardless, if he's doing well, defensively...he must be showing Chase Utley type range defensively b/c 23 errors is a whole lot. Even if his D is awful I like Andino as a late inning defensive replacement.

Was Looper ever that good for us? Wasn't he the reason we got Urbina?

yep JP and Luis are 1 of the greatest 1-2 combos out there That's why I'm hoping we have Raynor/Coghlan 1-2 next year. It'd be a return to that style of baseball. Not saying they'll be as good as Pierre/Castillo '03 right away, but it'd be a step in the right direction.

Dunno what it is, but I've never been a fan of the power hitting 2B. I'm more of a fan of Luis Castillo circa 2000-type numbers: Avg: .334 OBP: .418 Runs: 101 Steals: 62 BB: 78 Only 2 HR, 17 RBI, but who cares. Smallball guy? That said, Luis could never give us the offensive numbers that Uggla gave us, but he was awesome. Also, that .334 AVG and .418 OBP was really a one time thing. His OBP as a Marlin is .370. .293/.370/.400 are his Marlins career numbers, btw. Yes to smallball. And IMO Castillo was a better fielder than Dan is a hitter. And also a better hitter than Dan is a fielder. If that makes sense.

Dunno what it is, but I've never been a fan of the power hitting 2B. I'm more of a fan of Luis Castillo circa 2000-type numbers: Avg: .334 OBP: .418 Runs: 101 Steals: 62 BB: 78 Only 2 HR, 17 RBI, but who cares.

:notworthy This team is gonna be ridiculous!

I meant he's worth that much more for the Marlins. Uggla is replaceable and catcher is our biggest need. I don't really want a prospect catcher next year (there'll be enough inexperience on the field) and the FA catchers are either scrubs or past their prime. Y. Molina would be perfect until Skipworth is ready.

1. Raynor LF (OBP, steals) 2. Coghlan 2B (Contact, steals) 3. Ramirez SS 4. Cantu 3B 5. Sanchez 1B 6. Maybin CF 7. Y. Molina C (For Uggla/Olsen/DMac) 8. Hermida RF 9. Nolasco P Bryan Anderson from the Cards is a more likely scenario at C, but a man can dream. Think of how weird it will be to be able to steal bases again!!! Yadier Molina for Uggla Olsen and McPherson? Really? That would be a dumba** trade imo. We can get Yadier for Uggla and a low level minor leaguer, no offense but we would be giving up more than we would need to in that kind of trade I think it would take at least Uggla and Olsen mostly b/c I don't think the Cards aren't looking to trade him. He's 26, entering the prime of his career, very good defensively, starting to hit, and he has a WS ring (with some clutch playoff moments). The only reason why I think we might be able to get him is because they have Anderson in the minors, and could use a 2B and SP. That's way too much. Uggla is one of the top 3 2B in the league. If people really think that we can get Yadier for Uggla straight up (or with some scrub prospects) than this should be a no brainer. Yadier @ $3.25 mil >>>> Uggla @ $5 mil or more Yadier is EXACTLY what we need for the next 3-4 years at catcher.

1. Raynor LF (OBP, steals) 2. Coghlan 2B (Contact, steals) 3. Ramirez SS 4. Cantu 3B 5. Sanchez 1B 6. Maybin CF 7. Y. Molina C (For Uggla/Olsen/DMac) 8. Hermida RF 9. Nolasco P Bryan Anderson from the Cards is a more likely scenario at C, but a man can dream. Think of how weird it will be to be able to steal bases again!!! Yadier Molina for Uggla Olsen and McPherson? Really? That would be a dumba** trade imo. We can get Yadier for Uggla and a low level minor leaguer, no offense but we would be giving up more than we would need to in that kind of trade I think it would take at least Uggla and Olsen mostly b/c I don't think the Cards aren't looking to trade him. He's 26, entering the prime of his career, very good defensively, starting to hit, and he has a WS ring (with some clutch playoff moments). The only reason why I think we might be able to get him is because they have Anderson in the minors, and could use a 2B and SP.

1. Raynor LF (OBP, steals) 2. Coghlan 2B (Contact, steals) 3. Ramirez SS 4. Cantu 3B 5. Sanchez 1B 6. Maybin CF 7. Y. Molina C (For Uggla/Olsen/DMac) 8. Hermida RF 9. Nolasco P Bryan Anderson from the Cards is a more likely scenario at C, but a man can dream. Think of how weird it will be to be able to steal bases again!!!