Marlin

Uggla = 3 wins Willingham = 2 wins 1 win = a lot because the Marlins figure to compete this year, and 1 win can be the difference of making the playoffs or not. And I don't think Coghlan would have first shot at 2B if Uggla were to depart. I don't think the organization sees Coghlan as a major league 2B.

Uggla figures to be a 3 win player, where Willingham is closer to a 2 win player. Marginal wins are more valuable to a competing team.

Nolasco is a beast. His 2008 was amazing and he finished strong last year. I don't think much will separate him and JJ going forward.

Take everybody's suggestion (you have plenty of them now), and collaborate with another member or two (looks like there's some legitimate candidates in this very thread), and filter the list down to the very best 3-5. The idea is to keep only the very best (the smaller the list the better) and weed out all the average/below average ones. Once you're comfortable with a final list, reveal the nominations and hold a single vote (majority wins). I'd keep the poll up for a long time though (3-4 weeks?), and reference it several times to generate as many votes as possible. I think this whole process would generate more interest from the community (people will want to see if their suggestion got nominated), and it will eliminate everybody from simply voting on their own suggestion. It will also allow the owners of the site/board to infuse their own preference/personality into the slogan -- which, ultimately, will be representing their site.

Some of the more creative/interesting/witty slogans got flushed out over the rounds. "Breaking new ground" is terribly generic.

Although he doesn't have the long term security of a multi-year contract, Uggla is certainly doing alright for himself, as a guy selected from the Rule V Draft. Thats true, not too many other Rule V guys are taking home almost 8 MIL a year. And its not like Uggla will have trouble getting another contract next year, with the fish or not. He's falling off defensively (-9 @ 2B last year). And he's getting older which doesn't really bode well for a defensive resurgence. I hope the Marlins can cash in on him before he's no longer able to play 2B (hopefully by the trade deadline).

I'm looking forward to the new ballpark as much as anybody, and I'm hoping revenues & payroll increase substantially. But if it doesn't, there's no reason (unless it's Hanley or Pujols) to allocate to any one single player, 30% of the entire payroll. Especially a pitcher who has already blown out his elbow once. The only way this team is going to win/contend each season, is by having a handful of very good major leaguers (4 win players), while they're in their first three years of service time (making the league minimum).

I'm looking forward to the new ballpark as much as anybody, and I'm hoping revenues & payroll increase substantially. But if it doesn't, there's no reason (unless it's Hanley or Pujols) to allocate to any one single player, 30% of the entire payroll. Especially a pitcher who has already blown out his elbow once. The only way this team is going to win/contend each season, is by having a handful of very good major leaguers (4 win players), while they're in their first three years of service time (making the league minimum).

Ideally, he stays healthy enough to increase his market value the next two seasons, then we unload him for a Beckett/Cabrera-esque haul -- right before he starts making $13.5M

Ideally, he stays healthy enough to increase his market value the next two seasons, then we unload him for a Beckett/Cabrera-esque haul -- right before he starts making $13.5M

.320 OBP would be a pretty dissapointing year for anyone else. Our expectations are that low for Boner. I'd be ecstatic if he posted that number. I don't know why you would be ecstatic...the major projection systems all see Bonifacio putting up a .320 OBP next season. The best one out right now "CHONE" sees him putting up a .324 OBP in 2010. CHONE takes into account a players last 4 pro seasons (weighting the very last season the heaviest) and makes an adjustment for age amongst other factors. It's up there with PECOTA & ZiPS in terms of accuracy.

Yes, but when you have say, $100M to work with, $13.5M/year is only 13.5% of your payroll. When you have a $40M to work with, $13.5M is 30% of your payroll. Obviously the Marlins with their $40-50M payroll is taking the larger risk than a team with over twice the payroll.

Yes, but when you have say, $100M to work with, $13.5M/year is only 13.5% of your payroll. When you have a $40M to work with, $13.5M is 30% of your payroll. Obviously the Marlins with their $40-50M payroll is taking the larger risk than a team with over twice the payroll.

I don't think you give the Marlins front office enough credit. Finding players like Uggla, Baker, Meyer, Cantu, Ross, etc. -- valuable pieces under team control for 6 yrs, who make the league minimum -- is essential to having any chance competing with teams spending twice as much in the NL East. Other GMs find maybe one or two of these guys their entire careers, the Marlins find these guys seemingly every season. The Marlins front office is the envy of the league. Also, Bonifacio was signed by the Diamondbacks back in 2003, and wasn't traded until 2008 to Washington. From 2004-2007 the Diamondbacks had one of the most loaded systems in baseball perennially.

Position players get injuries like players in other sports (accidents, cramps, strains, etc.) A pitcher on the other hand -- because human bodies weren't made to put the kind of torque pitchers put on their arms -- is very taxing on the elbow and shoulder. Regardless of how talented certain pitchers are, sometimes they can never overcome the injury nexus. That's why you hear/read about T.I.N.S.T.A.P.P. That's why the Marlins never guarantee a pitcher more than 3 yrs. JJ already blew out his elbow, so he's already shown vulnerability to the act of pitching. He's pitched 1 healthy full season in the last 3 yrs. The Marlins work within a budget that leaves absolutely no margin for error. I like watching the Marlins go down to the last month competing for a playoff spot. There's almost ZERO chance of that happening if JJ blows out his arm again, while eating up $40M over the next 4 yrs.

Position players get injuries like players in other sports (accidents, cramps, strains, etc.) A pitcher on the other hand -- because human bodies weren't made to put the kind of torque pitchers put on their arms -- is very taxing on the elbow and shoulder. Regardless of how talented certain pitchers are, sometimes they can never overcome the injury nexus. That's why you hear/read about T.I.N.S.T.A.P.P. That's why the Marlins never guarantee a pitcher more than 3 yrs. JJ already blew out his elbow, so he's already shown vulnerability to the act of pitching. He's pitched 1 healthy full season in the last 3 yrs. The Marlins work within a budget that leaves absolutely no margin for error. I like watching the Marlins go down to the last month competing for a playoff spot. There's almost ZERO chance of that happening if JJ blows out his arm again, while eating up $40M over the next 4 yrs.

He was very good in 2006, 2007, & 2008. And scouts love his speed and defensive upside. He was batting over .300 and stealing tons of bases while being young relative to his competition in the upper levels of the minors. He was rated the best defensive infielder and baserunner in the Diamondback's system during the last year he qualified as a prospect, in 2007. This was a system full of rangy/speedy athletes as well. I think he never got the recognition as a prospect because he didn't start coming on strong until he reached high A, and was in a crowded system for the majority of his minor league career. I have a lot of faith in the Marlins' scouting dept. and when they traded for him -- it confirmed that some of the finest scouts in baseball see a player with a major league future. When I read articles late into the off-season (like now) that team officials see him as an everyday player going forward, it only cements that belief.

I think a "break out" year is when a player produces significantly better than his established baseline performance. If Bonifacio bats .270/.320/.350 for instance, while improving his defense and baserunning, he would be a valuable piece to the team. I'd certainly call that a breakout. The great part is, that all of this is tangible/realistic.

I think we're all a bit spoiled with amazing offensive 2B play over recent years. A .320 OBP with other skills is not at all uncommon for a 2B.

All Jose Reyes jokes aside -- a SS who can hit 30 HRs, get on base over 40% and steal 50 bases while playing almost every single game -- if that isn't electric, well then, I don't know what is.

All Jose Reyes jokes aside -- a SS who can hit 30 HRs, get on base over 40% and steal 50 bases while playing almost every single game -- if that isn't electric, well then, I don't know what is.

No. When I heard we locked up Hanley for a couple of his free agent seasons, I was doing the Macarena. He has a complete clean bill of health -- he's a position player (less volatile/injury prone than pitchers), and one of the most electric and most valuable players in baseball.

No. When I heard we locked up Hanley for a couple of his free agent seasons, I was doing the Macarena. He has a complete clean bill of health -- he's a position player (less volatile/injury prone than pitchers), and one of the most electric and most valuable players in baseball.

Every contract comes with risks of injury, etc. Exactly. Every contract is a "risk". Yes, some bigger than others, of course.

Every contract comes with risks of injury, etc. Exactly. Every contract is a "risk". Yes, some bigger than others, of course.