cornfield

If Maybin isn't moved to the two spot, I'd certainly favor the concept of batting the pitcher 8th and moving Maybin to nine.

Let's be manager for a minute. We've talked about adding speed to the lineup ... and then put the blazing wheels of Maybin in the eighth spot, where he will rarely be called upon to steal a bag because he's on base first with the pitcher at the plate. If you are going to lead off with EB, you have to go with Maybin second. Maybin will see more fastballs when Bonifacio is on base and he won't negate Hanley's speed by clogging the bases in front of him (Baker is slow). This is the only thing I'm seeing that really bothers me.

Let's see, last year the leadoff hitter was Hanley Ramirez, an MVP candidate and one of the very best young players in the game. He was destined to be replaced in that role by Cameron Maybin, one of the brightest prospects in all of baseball. Instead, it is Emilio Bonafacio, a player rejected by the Washington Nationals and who brings promise of having perhaps the lowest on base percentage of any leadoff hitter in major league baseball this season. Yep, that's depressing.

added concern .... strikeouts. Seems like the old problem is a current problem. I'm guessing that the Marlins lead all of baseball in spring whiffage. Uggla, Bonafacio, Ross, Hermida, Paulino, Cantu, etc. An awful lot of no contact. Sometimes the tradeoff for K's is HR's ... but none of that for the Marlins this spring either.

If the Marlins traded for Gload, why did I see Jenkins in today's lineup for the Marlins?

Take Calero out of that average and the rest of the pen is putrid. Unfortunately, Calero can't pitch all the bullpen innings. Things could get really ugly in the sixth and seventh innning, starting on Monday.

Frankly, the Marlins were looking a whole lot better a few weeks ago. My list of concerns heading into this season: 1) Bullpen ... seriously bad. I mean really bad. When a starter leaves the game with a two-run lead after six innings, we are not going to feel that a win is on the horizon, or even a possibility. What a way to go into a season. 2) Top of the order. The Marlins are actually going to hand more at bats to Emilio Bonafacio and John Baker each game than any other player??? Is that a misprint? Didn't Maybin get on base every other at bat in the leadoff spot last September?? Doesn't he have to be our leadoff hitter? 3) Defense. While I like Maybin in center and Ross in right, what's the track record for Bonafacio at third base? He has none. Never played there before. Is someone expecting this to represent a defensive upgrade at the hot corner? 4) Even the starting pitching ... A Miller is finally improving and Nolasco has been steady, but Johnson and Volstad have been teed up most recently.

Okay, here's the million dollar question: Would you ever start Hermida in left field against a lefthanded starting pitcher if you had Carroll available as an alternative??? Obviously, the manager does start Hermida against lefties but I just don't get it.

Boy, are you folks optimists! I wouldn't dream of putting Pinto into a ML game right now unless the team is already down a dozen runs. You are looking at walks and wild pitches galore because the young man is simply out of control. I would not put Pinto on the ML roster until he proves he can pitch without walking people ... in the minors.

And Mungo serves up news of the sobering reality: Paulino has fallen severely out of favor the last couple of years and wasn't looking good this spring. Taking on a catcher that no one else sees potential in at this point was a reach for the Marlins, and reflects how badly they felt about their options.

The two hole is a very weak spot in the lineup for the Marlins. I don't like Baker there ... he just ended up there by default last season. Since McPherson and Sanchez have shown nothing this spring, I guess Bonafacio plays third and bats second. I don't feel particularly good about that scenario, but what are you going to do? Maybin has to lead off over Bonafacio based on what the spring is telling us. Maybin is getting on base more often.

Cry me a river, Hanley. Games aren't played just on the radio.

Personally, I have to be a little worried about Hanley. He hasn't hit for the DR or the Marlins thus far. The team sure doesn't need a slow start from the number three hitter. The starting pitching could be pretty good this year, but the jury is definitely way out there so far. I am less worried about the pen than most. I have developed some faith in Calero, Meyer, Kensing and Nunez this spring. A lot of the spring damage came from guys who won't be with the club come opening day. Pinto is still of matter of huge concern to me.

As has been said here a couple times ... Bonafacio's rise is mostly attributable to the failures of McPherson and Sanchez to impress even a little. I'm not a big fan of a Chone Figgins style of third baseman, but if Hanley or Uggla have any injury problems, Emilio could be particularly valuable. I'm good with Cantu at third and Logan Morrison at first if no one else wants the job.

What am I missing here? It seems both Koronka and Meyer have been solid out of the pen this spring. Why wouldn't both of them be good fits in the pen. Actually, Pinto scares me the most because he is capable of entering a game and walking a bunch of people.

Correction on NL vs. AL hitting. I believe the NL scored more runs than the AL last season.

My twelve pitchers: the five starters, Kensing, Pinto, Meyer, Koronka, Nunez, Calero and Lindstrom. If Lindstrom and/or Miller don't start with the main squad, I'm guessing a pitcher viewed as a long reliever would be added. Don't know how you keep Calero off the roster. Also, I like Koronka for a third lefty relief pitcher.

Actually, Volstad, Nolasco and Johnson are all looking like excellent options. Thing is, right now you feel like you have a great chance of winning when any of those three take the mound. Problem is, you feel like you have an excellent chance of losing when Sanchez or Miller take the mound. If the top three maintain and the bottom two improve significantly, it will be a very good year for the Marlins.

I'm pleased at how Hermida has been doing at the plate this spring, but let's face it, he's coming off a really poor season. I'm hoping for the best, but tempering that with last season in mind.

His strikeout totals are low thus far.

Does anyone else believe that this should be a place to discuss the Florida Marlins baseball team and not the individual insecurity issues of some fans?

The '09 Marlins will likely go as far as the starting pitching takes the team, so how do you believe it is shaping up? Everyone has to be happy with the top two, Nolasco and Johnson, at this point. Unfortunately, that's just 40% of a rotation. Volstad and Sanchez are proving to be pretty hittable thus far ... a little too hittable to breed confidence. Miller doesn't even seem to be an option for the rotation, based on what we have seen thus far. So, where does the pitching coming from if, three weeks from now, the staff is still two deep?

I'm reading that both Bonafacio and Andino could make the roster due to Amezaga's injury. Ouch. I don't want to see either of those names on the major league roster this season.

I would lean toward De Aza, although I like Carroll as well. Nice players. However, my first choice would be starting Stanton, Maybin and Hermida all 162 games this season.

It might also be noted that Andino's homer did not come off a pitcher that throws at the major league level.