cornfield

Am I daft? Sanabia ERA almost a full run less than Volstad. WHIP much lower. Opponents batting average much lower. Sanabia is a better pitcher with more room for improvement. Starting Volstad ahead of Sanabia is daft.

I've read a couple articles now that have discussed the fate of Sanabia for next season. Does he go in the bullpen or does he start in AAA? What I can't figure out is why Sanabia has been singled out for this discussion. Does Volstad do something ... anything ... that makes him more worthy of the rotation than Sanabia? Until Nolasco turns around his performance from last season, the rotation should feature Sanabia ahead of Ricky too.

The chubby one would seem a nice fit for the Marlins. Hits for power from both sides of the plate. Cheap. Perfect Marlin project!

He's only played RF, and Stanton will play every day. Also, he's pretty much the worst fielder of all time. No, you saw that last season in left field for the Marlins last season. Hawpe has limited range and a tremendous arm.

A free agent two time All Star with some lefthanded power. Marlins could use some lefty pop in the outfield if he can come back to form. Seems like an inexpensive experiment to me.

Vasquez' WHIP last year (walks plus hits divided by innings pitched) was as poor as that of Volstad last season, and significantly worse than Johnson, Nolasco, Sanchez and Sanabia. I do not know what is accomplished by signing him for a year.

The only benefit of this trade IMO is that the Marlins may be free to make a trade for a good outfielder by offering up Nolasco or Volstad. Vasquez doesn't project as any better than most of last year's starters.

When you consider that the Marlins have a starting rotation that can largely be relied upon as just five or six inning pitchers, the bullpen is extremely important. Given what I've seen in the fall off of A. Sanchez, Volstad, Nolasco, etc. once they hit the sixth inning, I want a deep reserve of quality relief. I don't worry too much about the loss of power in the Marlins lineup if it can be exchanged for better defense, more team speed, and, very importantly, fewer strikeouts. The high frequency whiffage of the Marlin lineup of the past few years has been discouraging.

Anyone familiar with Sanchez' ability as a catcher? His offensive production would make him an all-star catcher for years if he could handle the job at the major league level.

I find it impossible to believe that the Marlins would pay a declining Vasquez $8-10 million for a season. Beyond that, I wouldn't either. Give the spot to Villanueva and play some good defense behind him.

I prefer Coghlan at second base. If you are going to have Morrison at first base, there is a need for some major power bats in the outfield. Right now the Marlins have just Stanton.

"At least we got someone that can catch and hit?" Look at Buck's career numbers. He hits like a defensive catcher and is not known for having a good glove behind the plate! This deal will hurt for the next three years.

Three years and 18 million for John Buck would be at least double a reasonable amount for such a signing. Sickening. The Uggla trade seems far worse than the worst cast scenario I envisioned. I was getting a lefty starter like Cecil from Toronto at the minimum.

Sanabia excites the heck out of me. Most of that is based on improvement that just keeps on happening. While the other four starters have probably shown all that they are capable of, Sanabia is still climbing.

How about Mark Reynolds from the D-backs. Seems like he always hits against the Marlins. Despite the Mendoza BA last season and 200+ strikeouts, I would consider trading Uggla for him to save over $9 million in salary. Reynolds is three years younger than Uggla and just a year removed from 44 hrs and over 100 rbi. Reynolds at third base and batting about seventh in the order works for me. Coghlan then moves to second base and returns to the leadoff spot in the batting order.

I would bring back Miguel Olivo to catch. Like his power and durability and he has shown some productivity after leaving the Marlins a few years back. Seems to be a good guy too. He's a free agent. The best opportunity to get something for Uggla could be gone. I was excited about the rumors of getting Jonathan Sanchez for Uggla last off season. There is no way a team will give up that kind of talent just for the right to pay Uggla over $10 million to play second base now. However, I would at least target the Padres as a trade partner again. They could use power in their lineup and might be willing to give up a young pitcher (Latos?) in a package that included Uggla and maybe Volstad or even Nolasco. In any case, I would move Uggla at this point for the best deal out there ... even minor league prospects. A quality left starter would be nice ... and I would trade for as many of those prospects as possible. Sure don't want any more veteran Nate Robertsons just for the heck of it. I think Sanabia is going to be really good. Don't like Morrison in the outfield and I don't think he will ever show the power needed at first base. He might be decent trade bait. For the next couple years, Sanchez will supply better offense than Morrison.

I will be surprised if the Marlins get a serviceable player in return for Maybin ... more than likely it will be a longshot bullpen arm like we got for Miller. I think the Marlins will picking up a new centerfielder in another deal.

team management = F Don't even know where to start with the written evaluation. I felt they gave away the season by inserting Andrew Miller, who was finding no success in the minors, into the starting rotation. Sanabia rated a call-up at least a month before he got it. The team made no deals to help the team. I see no evidence that Morrison can play outfield in the major leagues or that he can hit with enough authority to play first. As a trade asset, he may have helped the Marlins get Jonathan Sanchez or another outstanding young pitcher before the season. I continue to wonder why in the world they give playing time to Cameron Maybin.

Morrison in the outfield is entirely unacceptable. I would try Gabby Sanchez at the third base and move Morrison to first ... although the thought of no power at all at first base is not pleasant either.

Thanks for sharing all your thoughts about why Stanton takes fastballs right down the middle for strike one in nearly every at bat.

Stanton. Two at bats. six pitches. four fast ball called strikes. two swings, two misses. two changeups well out of the strike zone.

If a hitter is not looking for a fastball right down the middle on the first pitch ... what is he looking for? How many times does Mike Stanton have to take a perfect first pitch for strike one before he swings the frigging bat? It just drives you nuts watching the same thing time after time. I don't care if he swings at nothing but a fastball down the middle ... but God, at least swing at that.

I'm on the Hensley bandwagon. I see Tim Hudson type of potential. He should spend the offseason getting ready for the rotation.

I'll take Mike Stanton, thank you. He's just a baby in the nest, but he's got IT. Within two years, barring injury, his jersey will be number one for not only the Marlins, but for MLB. As far as this fan is concerned, Hanley is wearing #2 for the Marlins for good reason.

Ramirez Coghlan Sanchez Stanton Uggla That's hitters 1-5. We'll get an idea about Morrison over the balance of this season. Cody just isn't looking like a threat at the plate anymore. Maybin does not appear to be an option. Paulino looks okay at times, but it would be nice to have a better bat there. Baker? We can't know. In Nolasco, Sanchez and JJohnson, the Marlins have three solid starters. The rest of the rotation will be a competition for the forseeable future. Ramirez belongs at the top of the order. He gets on base as much as anyone I believe and is much faster once he's there. It's nice to have some power in that spot too. I have already heard multiple references to the fact that Coghlan is an ideal two hitter ... leftiness a big plus. Sanchez is looking more and more like Edgar Martinez to me. He's a three hitter for the next five or ten years. Stanton is the team's superstar ... you can already see it. Folks like Uggla. He gives you pop at a position that most teams don't get it. However, if you are going to move him from second to third defensively, just get rid of him. While he is a great bat at second, he would rate as mediocre at third.