January 15, 200521 yr Dillon powers comeback in Mexico Prospect now healthy, turning heads with his hitting By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com Over the past year, Joe Dillon has compiled impressive statistics at every level. The Mexican Pacific League season is no different. Dillon is following up his 2004 minor league All-Star season with stellar stats for the Mazatlan Deer, who have reached the postseason. In his first five playoff games, Dillon was hitting .333 (4- for-12) with one double, one home run and five RBIs. The 28-year-old infielder, who is playing mostly third and first for the Deer, hit .328 (43-for-131) in 34 regular-season Winter League games, collecting nine doubles, two triples, five home runs and 25 RBIs. "He's doing very well hitting in the middle of their lineup," said Jim Fleming, the Marlins' vice president of player development and scouting. Dillon's comeback is intriguing. After breaking into the Royals system in the mid-1990s, Dillon never made it to the Major Leagues. While in the Twins organization, he aggravated a recurring back problem and was released. In 2003, Dillon was a volunteer coach at Texas Tech, where he underwent back surgery. Now healthy, he is posting head-turning power numbers. After tearing up Double-A Carolina last season, Dillon was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque, where he hit .325 with 30 home runs and 86 RBIs in 108 games. He was honored as a minor league All-Star. Overall, Dillon smacked 39 homers in 2004. "He's always been a pretty good hitter, but the back injury set him back," Fleming said. "His back healing up has allowed the power to emerge. He's always had some power, but never showed the power he did last year. He's now pain free." On the Marlins' 40-man roster, Dillon will get a shot to make the club as a backup in Spring Training. Primarily a third baseman and second baseman, Dillon likely will see action this spring at third and first. At the request of the Marlins, Dillon was tested in left field last summer at Albuquerque, but he still needs some polish in the outfield. As Dillon continues to impress in Mexico, Marlins All-Star left fielder Miguel Cabrera remains a force while playing for the Aragua Tigers in his native country of Venezuela. His club is in the Venezuelan playoffs, and Cabrera is one of the reasons. In 12 playoff games, Cabrera is batting .333 (14-for-42) with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs. He has walked 11 times and with eight strikeouts. Marlins promising pitching prospect Yorman Bazardo is also enjoying a promising season with Aragua. The lanky right-hander, who is expected to open the season in Double-A Carolina, is 1-1 with a 3.23 ERA. While the Marlins see Bazardo as a starter who could compete for a rotation spot in 2006, he has been used exclusively in relief by the Tigers. Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Link Call him a late bloomer or whatever, but it looks like Dillon could be a very nice addition to the bench......certainly an upgrade over Mordecai or Harris. I'm anxious to see him in ST.
January 15, 200521 yr Enough with all this talk....give the guy a chance already! He deserved one last year. I think he would be great off the bench.
January 15, 200521 yr ok look who are the definites for the bench so far....? Easley certainly Backup catcher, but don't know who that is yet... Aguila's a good bet but only because we have no other outfielders. Maybe Willingham? Who else am I missing? Maybe Dillon will have a shot.
January 15, 200521 yr ok look who are the definites for the bench so far....? Easley certainly Backup catcher, but don't know who that is yet... Aguila's a good bet but only because we have no other outfielders. Maybe Willingham? Who else am I missing? Maybe Dillon will have a shot. 655943[/snapback] as of right now I'd say it's like this: Treanor Easley Aguila Wilson Delgado or Josh Wilson Dillon or Willingham It'd be nice to have Willingham on the bench just for the simple fact that he can play catcher, and that would be important for extra inning games. If we sign Delgado I think he should be on our bench and try to shop him around come trade deadline time (as much as it pains me to say that we just wouldn't have any place to put him), but if we don't sign Delgado I'd probably send him to AAA until we need him so he can get plenty of at-bats, and have Dillon start the year with us.
January 15, 200521 yr Lenny the Pimp... 655962[/snapback] I forgot about him. I hope the Marlins FO finally comes to their senses and not waste a roster space on Lenny again in 2005.
January 15, 200521 yr Lenny the Pimp... 655962[/snapback] I forgot about him. I hope the Marlins FO finally comes to their senses and not waste a roster space on Lenny again in 2005. 656001[/snapback] You people are ridiculous who say he's a wasted roster spot.....Get off the man already, He's a veteran this team needs and is the all-time PH leader.
January 15, 200521 yr Lenny the Pimp... 655962[/snapback] I forgot about him. I hope the Marlins FO finally comes to their senses and not waste a roster space on Lenny again in 2005. 656001[/snapback] You people are ridiculous who say he's a wasted roster spot.....Get off the man already, He's a veteran this team needs and is the all-time PH leader. 656014[/snapback] So you're willing to go into next season with only 1 backup outfielder or 1 backup infielder? I don't think we can afford to do that.
January 15, 200521 yr Lenny the Pimp... 655962[/snapback] I forgot about him. I hope the Marlins FO finally comes to their senses and not waste a roster space on Lenny again in 2005. 656001[/snapback] You people are ridiculous who say he's a wasted roster spot.....Get off the man already, He's a veteran this team needs and is the all-time PH leader. 656014[/snapback] But he can barely play in the field anymore. He's got his ring, it's time to hang them up. And the notion that this team needs veterans is starting to get ridiculous. We've got Lo Duca, Lowell, Conine, Pierre, Gonzalez, Castillo and Encarnacion...none of those guys are exactly rookies. And for the rotation we've got Valdez and Leiter. Enough of getting a guy because he gives "veteran leadership" at this point it's who gives us the best chance to win...Lenny's skills are no better than any of our AAA guys.
January 15, 200521 yr Lenny the Pimp... 655962[/snapback] I forgot about him. I hope the Marlins FO finally comes to their senses and not waste a roster space on Lenny again in 2005. 656001[/snapback] You people are ridiculous who say he's a wasted roster spot.....Get off the man already, He's a veteran this team needs and is the all-time PH leader. 656014[/snapback] But he can barely play in the field anymore. He's got his ring, it's time to hang them up. And the notion that this team needs veterans is starting to get ridiculous. We've got Lo Duca, Lowell, Conine, Pierre, Gonzalez, Castillo and Encarnacion...none of those guys are exactly rookies. And for the rotation we've got Valdez and Leiter. Enough of getting a guy because he gives "veteran leadership" at this point it's who gives us the best chance to win...Lenny's skills are no better than any of our AAA guys. 656073[/snapback] Lenny is Proven, he deserved to be on this team for 2005. He can still hit and he proved it last year.
January 15, 200521 yr Lenny the Pimp... 655962[/snapback] I forgot about him. I hope the Marlins FO finally comes to their senses and not waste a roster space on Lenny again in 2005. 656001[/snapback] You people are ridiculous who say he's a wasted roster spot.....Get off the man already, He's a veteran this team needs and is the all-time PH leader. 656014[/snapback] But he can barely play in the field anymore. He's got his ring, it's time to hang them up. And the notion that this team needs veterans is starting to get ridiculous. We've got Lo Duca, Lowell, Conine, Pierre, Gonzalez, Castillo and Encarnacion...none of those guys are exactly rookies. And for the rotation we've got Valdez and Leiter. Enough of getting a guy because he gives "veteran leadership" at this point it's who gives us the best chance to win...Lenny's skills are no better than any of our AAA guys. 656073[/snapback] Lenny is Proven, he deserved to be on this team for 2005. He can still hit and he proved it last year. 656096[/snapback] Aside from that lucky hit off Gagne, how did he prove it?
January 15, 200521 yr thank you TSwift. one more comment about this team needing a veteran or a leader and I'm gonna puke. Leaving Lenny on the bench you're making a spot for a bench player who is no good as a defensive replacement, is no good for pinch-running, has no power.... Call it already. I love the guy but it's time. If it came down to Harris or Dillon, c'mon....
January 15, 200521 yr We have some decent depth in the infield. Easely (anywhere) and some hot-shot prospects. Then there's Willingham at 1B. And if Lowell gets injured, Cabs is ready for 3B. I could add more back-up names but WHAT IS BOTHERING ME is what do we do with Dillon? Right now he's playing 1B and 3B. Apparently didn't do well in LF last season. I want to see him on the team (along with Willingham and Eric Reed... and I think Aguila should also get another chance.) And what happens if Jason Stokes consistently hits it out of the park? I fear these guys I like are "tradeable." We lost Mordy (but he'll be back late this year to qualify for his ten year tenure.) So that's one open roster spot. Lenny would be another one. (He's almost old enough for Jack to accept him as a coach. Maybe hitting coach.) ST stakes are high. And I don't want to lose any of these young guys (and none of them "need" more minor league experience.)
January 15, 200521 yr I hope this guy gets a fair shot in SP cause man this guy can hit... Lenny wont make the team this year....
January 15, 200521 yr Author Harris choked in key situations last year more than any other player I can think of. Sure he's the all time pinch hit leader....because he is the all-time bench warmer. It was so frustrating to watch Jack continue to call for Lenny to be the first off the bench. Even Gonzalez was a much better hitter with RISP. Time to give the younger guys a chance.
January 15, 200521 yr Lenny is Proven, he deserved to be on this team for 2005. He can still hit and he proved it last year. 656096[/snapback] Last year there was an open competition for the second infield reserve job (Mordecai had a guaranteed major league contract and the other spot). Wilson Valdez, then our 26yo AAA shortstop, out-hit (do I even have to mention fileding and baserunning?) Lenny Harris throughout March. When it came time to make the final cuts, Lenny made the team and Valdez sent back to Albuquerque where he took out his frustrations on Lenny and the rest of the big league Marlins in an exhibition game right before the season. Jeff Conine's my favorite player in the world. But come on, I don't want him hanging around until he's 45 just to watch him stink it up from the bench. Let it go, Lenny.
January 16, 200521 yr I say we give Dillon a shot next season. I think he really deserves it. Besides, we need a little more power off the bench. Wilson delgado isn't exactly a big home run threat.
January 16, 200521 yr Personally, I love Lenny, but I think its time for him to step down. Hopefully he will make the tough call before the FO has to do it.
January 16, 200521 yr I would rather have him on the bench than have 3 different catchers. I think he would be very useful as a backup.
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