Lowell: Marlins set to compete in 2005

By David Fox

 

Thursday, December 30, 2004

 

JUPITER ? Don't tell Mike Lowell the Marlins won't be contenders next season.

 

Despite losing All-Star teammates Carl Pavano and Armando Benitez, the Florida third baseman doesn't buy that the Marlins' 2005 outlook is bleak.

 

While signing autographs, posing for photographs and talking with about 200 area Little Leaguers on Wednesday at the Tommy Hutton Baseball Academy at Roger Dean Stadium, Lowell discussed the Marlins' future.

 

With spring training two months away, the Marlins still need a fifth starter and a left-hander in the bullpen. Lowell, though, is comfortable with the top four starters ?right-handers Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett and lefties Dontrelle Willis and Al Leiter.

 

"I don't think you can tell me there's a staff that has four better guys than what we're throwing at them," Lowell said. "I think most teams would die for those four. They're as good as anyone."

 

But that top four might dwindle to three.

 

Burnett, who went 7-6 with a 3.68 ERA last season after returning from Tommy John surgery, was the subject of trade rumors during the winter meetings this month.

 

From Lowell's point of view, a Burnett trade wouldn't be a white flag from the Marlins with names like the Yankees' Javier Vazquez mentioned.

 

"It's not like you're getting nothing and giving up everything," Lowell said. "If A.J.'s with us, he can be a huge part of our team. If he's not, I've got to believe we're going to get something big in return because of his talent."

 

As for free agency, it's tough for Lowell to fault Pavano for bolting for The Bronx.

 

Pavano signed a $40 million contract to play for the Yankees.

 

"If you're going to be on team that's in the playoffs every year, they'll pay you well and you're closer to home, that's a tough thing to pass up," Lowell said.

 

While the pitching staff has some question marks, the lineup remains settled from last year.

 

If the season started today, the starting eight would be identical to the group that ended last season, with Miguel Cabrera's 33 home runs and Lowell's 27 leading the way.

 

The Marlins also will have a full year at catcher from Paul LoDuca, whom Florida acquired along with reliever Guillermo Mota and outfielder Juan Encarnacion from the Dodgers.

 

"Our offense and defense is basically intact," Lowell said. "We saw a nice jump in our cohesiveness after we made those trades right around the All-Star break."

 

What is the sum of all that?

 

For Lowell, the expectations haven't changed from the past two seasons.

 

"We still have a good chance to win the division or go to the wild card," Lowell said. "I don't feel this is a rebuilding year at all."

 

Nice to see Mike taking on more of a role of ambassador. We need him to be more of a clubhouse leader this year, and this article suggests he is willing to step into the role.

 

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Good article, nice to see some optimism

You know Mikey doesnt really believe that....someone in the organization probably told him to say that.

Given his crankiness last year up to mid-November, you're probably right FFinPA, but if this means Lowell is supportive his teammates and excited about the new year it is very good news for the Marlins.

It was an impromptu interview, so I tend to believe Mike's comments were genuine and candid. The club has now made a long-term commitment to him, so I'm sure his outlook has improved.

 

At any rate, it's nice to see the positive change.

He was representing the team at that venue, it's unlikely he'd bash the team there and in front of little kids.

It's amazing how friggin cynical some people can be here... To say that he was told to say that by the front office, or that he just didn't want to speak the truth in front of little kids... I'm with PBMarlin.. The rest of you are friggin Debbie Downers, trying to find a negative spin on anything. I'll bet you're the kind of people who would focus on how much money you'd have to pay in taxes if you won the lottery, vs how much you've actually won... Absolutely amazing...

 

Why is it so hard to believe that Mike really does feel this way? I tend to agree with him. A bunch of teams would kill to have a top four of Burnett, Beckett, Leiter, and Willis....

It's amazing how friggin cynical some people can be here... To say that he was told to say that by the front office, or that he just didn't want to speak the truth in front of little kids... I'm with PBMarlin.. The rest of you are friggin Debbie Downers, trying to find a negative spin on anything. I'll bet you're the kind of people who would focus on how much money you'd have to pay in taxes if you won the lottery, vs how much you've actually won... Absolutely amazing...

 

Why is it so hard to believe that Mike really does feel this way? I tend to agree with him. A bunch of teams would kill to have a top four of Burnett, Beckett, Leiter, and Willis....

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I totally agree with you... some people are just so damn cynical. Our pitching staff (starting rotation and bullpen) is very, very good. And our offense is pretty good too... the hurricanes did us in at the end of last year, but there was a period before the storms hit where the team was scoring well. We have a good shot at the division and the wild card. Go Marlins!

Why is it so hard to believe that Mike really does feel this way?

 

All the whining last season leaps to mind...

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First off, I don't remember hearing him whine as much as people say. Everyone said A.J wanted out of Florida, until I heard him say that's not the case.

 

Second, even if he did "whine" at some point throughout the year, is it so difficult to believe he's changed his attitude a bit? God forbid someone change their mind.

how can you not like this guy?

Big news! Did anyone expect Lowell to say anything different? Although it contradicts with what he said earlier about competitive teams being able to hold on to the "Pavanos and Benitezes". Oh, well... we can cross that one out of our Christmas list :blink:

There's reason to dislike Lowell for complaining about his teammates and the front office (even if true, you're part of a team and you don't publically dismiss the effort and/or ability of the guy next to you), but to suggest hitting .270 with an OPS over .760 for the final half of the season is somehow disappointing is ludicrous. Absolutly no one is consistent on this team. Cabrera, who is certainly due a contract similar to Lowell's soon, struggled with his swing half the year resulting in more groundouts than expected. Conine had no power in his bat for the first few months. The results of the entire pitching staff speak for themselves. LoDuca, Gonzalez, Pierre. And so on. Baseball is a game of slumps and hot streaks played over 162 games and 6 months. The better players find a way to have more of the latter than the former. I'd certainly say that Lowell belongs in that class, .268 career second-half average and deminishing power down the stretch or not.

Meh, did anyone really expect him to say we will suck this year?

Its disappointing when you consider what he is being paid. Is it "respectable" independent of salary - of course.

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Then there's a hell of a lot of disappointing contracts out there.

No doubt why Cardinals fans hate Scott Rolen... Yankees fans Derek Jeter... Phillies fans Jim Thome...

Perhaps the standard needs to be adjusted to the current realities of the market.