January 7, 200521 yr K, I know we had a lackluster offseason but let's not get into a pissing and moaning match here... Check your bitchy, smartass comments at the door please. Let's name some keys for our success for next year. In order of importance, here's what I've come up with.. share your thoughts please. 1. Burnett and Beckett staying healthy We know they're capable of being Cy Young caliber pitchers but it ALL depends on their health. We HAVE to keep them healthy and they need to approach 20 wins next year to contend for the division... because when healthy, there isn't a better 1-2 punch in baseball, and I truly beleive that. 2. No major 2nd half drop-offs from Lowell and LoDuca. We can expect a drop-off from LoDuca, but we have to hope for nothing major. Obviously, you can expect a drop-off from a catcher as it is common with most catchers around the league. We have to have Mikey playing up to par the whole year. Very important to our success. 3. Mota excelling in closer's role.. Spooneybarger returning to form. Look, we know Mota struggled at the end of last year. But when you look at his splits from the last 2 years, he has struggled in each September.. approximately at innings 70 through 100. From innings 1-70, he was unhittable. As a closer, his workload will only be roughly 60-70 IP.. so I think he will be fine. As for Spooney, we will find out. It is really important that he returns to form so we can have that nice 1-2 punch at the end of the game. 4. The rest of the bullpen: Alfonseca, Jones, Reidling, Bump I am up in the air on this group. This could turn out to be a solid bunch or an awful one. We'll need Alf to play like he did last year and not the year before. I'm up in the air on Jones.. he did look good in a game against us last year. Obviously he didn't fair well in Coors East (4.97 ERA, 25 IP) but did pretty decent in Cinci (3.79 ERA, 57 IP). Hopefully Riedling is a pleasant surprise. His first 4 years in the leagues were very solid (his 4th year, solid out of BP.. not as a starter) and was decent pre-all star break last year.. hopefully he can return to form. He might be a nice find. We'll need these guys to step up because as always, the bullpen is very important. 5. Gonzalez and Encarnacion not being completely awful. And by completely awful, I mean a batting average of .230. An average of around .260 and I will be satisfied. Hopefully they will magically learn some plate discipline over the offseason... and hopefully someone lights a fire under Enc's ass. Thoughts? What do you guys have?
January 7, 200521 yr Continued awesomeness from JP, Castillo, and Cabs is also required. Along with D-Train being more consistent and Valdez keeping the ERA under 5.00
January 7, 200521 yr If we can have a start like we had in 2004 and not crap out by June, then we'll be in a good spot.
January 7, 200521 yr If we can have a start like we had in 2004 and not crap out by June, then we'll be in a good spot. 649616[/snapback] And does anyone remember what happened at around the time we had a huge drop off and lost first place? When Beckett got his first blister... we were 30-20 at the time, and we went downhill after that. Let's keep Beckett and AJ healthy for an entire season, and you'll see us having a very good shot at the playoffs.
January 7, 200521 yr K, I know we had a lackluster offseason but let's not get into a pissing and moaning match here... Check your bitchy, smartass comments at the door please. Let's name some keys for our success for next year. In order of importance, here's what I've come up with.. share your thoughts please. 1. Burnett and Beckett staying healthy We know they're capable of being Cy Young caliber pitchers but it ALL depends on their health. We HAVE to keep them healthy and they need to approach 20 wins next year to contend for the division... because when healthy, there isn't a better 1-2 punch in baseball, and I truly beleive that. 2. No major 2nd half drop-offs from Lowell and LoDuca. We can expect a drop-off from LoDuca, but we have to hope for nothing major. Obviously, you can expect a drop-off from a catcher as it is common with most catchers around the league. We have to have Mikey playing up to par the whole year. Very important to our success. 3. Mota excelling in closer's role.. Spooneybarger returning to form. Look, we know Mota struggled at the end of last year. But when you look at his splits from the last 2 years, he has struggled in each September.. approximately at innings 70 through 100. From innings 1-70, he was unhittable. As a closer, his workload will only be roughly 60-70 IP.. so I think he will be fine. As for Spooney, we will find out. It is really important that he returns to form so we can have that nice 1-2 punch at the end of the game. 4. The rest of the bullpen: Alfonseca, Jones, Reidling, Bump I am up in the air on this group. This could turn out to be a solid bunch or an awful one. We'll need Alf to play like he did last year and not the year before. I'm up in the air on Jones.. he did look good in a game against us last year. Obviously he didn't fair well in Coors East (4.97 ERA, 25 IP) but did pretty decent in Cinci (3.79 ERA, 57 IP). Hopefully Riedling is a pleasant surprise. His first 4 years in the leagues were very solid (his 4th year, solid out of BP.. not as a starter) and was decent pre-all star break last year.. hopefully he can return to form. He might be a nice find. We'll need these guys to step up because as always, the bullpen is very important. 5. Gonzalez and Encarnacion not being completely awful. And by completely awful, I mean a batting average of .230.? An average of around .260 and I will be satisfied. Hopefully they will magically learn some plate discipline over the offseason... and hopefully someone lights a fire under Enc's ass. Thoughts? What do you guys have? 649582[/snapback] I agree. pretty good recap. In addition, we need maturity from Josh and AJ. No more temper tamtrums and calling member of the staff "jackass" in public. At least, if they are going to be aholes then back it up with solid years.
January 7, 200521 yr I'll add two: Staying focused during June/July This is when we really killed ourselves last year, we got the NL East lead and just slept on it. This is the job of the "captains," Lowell/Conine and Leiter for the pitchers. The continued maturation of Cabrera Unless we pull off a shocker and add some big-bat (no, a Choi reunion does not count) Cabrera will have to become the lineup force that makes Castillo and Pierre more effective because pitchers are focused on Cabrera, giving Castillo and Pierre more chances to work their magic.
January 7, 200521 yr We also need the egos of both Beckett and Burnett to be toned down a bit. These are the leaders on our pitching staff and if all they do is ***** and moan and complain about things, we are never going to get anywhere. Also, Mike Lowell needs to stay consistent all season long, as well as Lo Duca. :thumbup
January 7, 200521 yr Good work so far. Additions: Dontrelle Willis has to be much closer to his 2003 form than his 2004 form. Al Leiter needs to stay healthy, throw 175+ innings, and get 10-15 wins. Jeff Conine has to avoid another slow start and play like he did in the second half of 2004, not the first. Ismael Valdez has to be quietly productive: 10+ wins, an ERA under 4.5
January 7, 200521 yr Jeff Conine has to avoid another slow start and play like he did in the second half of 2004, not the first. 649729[/snapback] The first month of the year was his best month. What are you talking about? And the stats of his first two months are just a little better than his last two. Its in the middle where he got into trouble.
January 7, 200521 yr i don't really have a problem with burnett's attitude. he has the compeititive attitude, curt schilling style. beckett is just cocky.
January 7, 200521 yr If we can have a start like we had in 2004 and not crap out by June, then we'll be in a good spot. 649616[/snapback] And does anyone remember what happened at around the time we had a huge drop off and lost first place? When Beckett got his first blister... we were 30-20 at the time, and we went downhill after that. Let's keep Beckett and AJ healthy for an entire season, and you'll see us having a very good shot at the playoffs. 649645[/snapback] This is why we need (as I keep saying) a bonafide sixth starter available. By signing Valdez yesterday it will make it easier for the Marlins to find a sixth guy who can work out of the bullpen.
January 7, 200521 yr and beating last place teams is key too 649696[/snapback] Please, that was SO frustrating.
January 7, 200521 yr If we can have a start like we had in 2004 and not crap out by June, then we'll be in a good spot. 649616[/snapback] And does anyone remember what happened at around the time we had a huge drop off and lost first place? When Beckett got his first blister... we were 30-20 at the time, and we went downhill after that. Let's keep Beckett and AJ healthy for an entire season, and you'll see us having a very good shot at the playoffs. 649645[/snapback] This is why we need (as I keep saying) a bonafide sixth starter available. By signing Valdez yesterday it will make it easier for the Marlins to find a sixth guy who can work out of the bullpen. 649752[/snapback] It's going to be a journeyman then. That money we're still under budget (I believe it's about $6 million assuming Valdez didn't sign for more than $2 mil) should be at least offered to Delgado as the first year of a backloaded deal before we try to get a 6th starter (which is very important, though).
January 7, 200521 yr If we can have a start like we had in 2004 and not crap out by June, then we'll be in a good spot. 649616[/snapback] And does anyone remember what happened at around the time we had a huge drop off and lost first place? When Beckett got his first blister... we were 30-20 at the time, and we went downhill after that. Let's keep Beckett and AJ healthy for an entire season, and you'll see us having a very good shot at the playoffs. 649645[/snapback] This is why we need (as I keep saying) a bonafide sixth starter available. By signing Valdez yesterday it will make it easier for the Marlins to find a sixth guy who can work out of the bullpen. 649752[/snapback] It's going to be a journeyman then. That money we're still under budget (I believe it's about $6 million assuming Valdez didn't sign for more than $2 mil) should be at least offered to Delgado as the first year of a backloaded deal before we try to get a 6th starter (which is very important, though). 649986[/snapback] Delgado should be the special money we use... adding a bat like that puts us over the top, a la Pudge. More than puts over the top... he provides a bigger threat offensively.
January 7, 200521 yr possible delgado contract: 8 Mill 12 mill 14mill just speculation i think if we do the 5 things Iowa stated, w/o delgado, we could make it into the playoffs. And we all know what wins in the playoffs... delgado would really solidify our chances the way the team looks right now is not exciting
January 8, 200521 yr Jeff Conine has to avoid another slow start and play like he did in the second half of 2004, not the first. 649729[/snapback] The first month of the year was his best month. What are you talking about? And the stats of his first two months are just a little better than his last two. Its in the middle where he got into trouble. 649733[/snapback] By slow start I was referring to his pre All Star numbers of 6 HR's, a .387 SLG, and a .709 OPS that led Rob Neyer to refer to him at the time as one of the two worst LF's in baseball, along with Admin Bigbie (though he is now a 1B, his meager stats still apply). I was not specifically discussing his first month; I should have been more specific, I guess. Sorry. And Conine's July numbers were better than his August numbers too. So, as a necessary correction, Conine needs to avoid a first half like he had last year. Hopefully, though, Delgado comes aboard.
January 8, 200521 yr Much in the case with Lowell in his 'bad' second half, Conine hit for a high average. We need consistent efforts from Willis. He needs to get his heads into games and prevent coughing up leads. Despite flashes of brilliance, his last scoreless outing was in April and put undue strain on the bullpen by pitching into the 7th inning in just half of his starts. We also need good bench play. Pitching and defense kept us in nearly every game last year. Aside from a few remarkable performances from Lenny Harris and Matt Treanor our pinch-hitters failed miserably when asked to produce in these tight contests. BAvg - 16th NL 28th MLB OBP - 16th NL, 29th MLB SLG - 15th NL, 25th MLB OPS - 15th NL, 27th MLB K/PA - 9th NL
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