February 27, 200521 yr Q&A with Juan C. Rodriguez This offseason one has been debatedly the busiest one in Marlins history. Complete with departing players, and franchise record breaking free agent singings -- the Florida Marlins are a changed and revamped team for 2005. Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel took some time out to answer some questions for MarlinsBaseball.com. MarlinsBaseball.com: How well will Carlos Delgado adjust to the National League and to playing 81 games in Dolphins Stadium? Juan Rodriguez: Even the best players go through an adjustement period when they switch leagues. Pudge Rodriguez went through a pretty bad slump about a month into the season. Guys like Jim Thome and Shawn Green also saw their numbers decline during their first full seasons in the National League. That said, it shouldn't take Delgado long to get acclimated. He keeps detailed reports on pitchers and the more he sees the NL guys, the better he'll do. Because of interleague play and free agency, Delgado should have a pretty good working knowledge of plenty of guys he'll be facing. As far as Dolphins Stadium, the Marlins catalogued each of Delgado's 2004 home runs and determined just one would not have cleared the fences there. The way Delgado hits them, the Dolphins Stadium dimensions won't matter. MarlinsBaseball.com: Will Guillermo Mota be able to handle the closer's job and if he does falter who should take his place? Juan Rodriguez:New pitching coach Mark Wiley said all premier closers have one thing in common: They command their fastballs. Mota has excellent command of his, which leads Wiley to think that Mota should be fine. The only real question is whether he's mentally equipped to handle it. Mota has been teammates with Ugueth Urbina, Eric Gagne, and Armando Benitez and watched them excel in that role. He realizes the key is burying failures as quickly as possible. Should Mota explode, Antonio Alfonseca will likely start pitching the ninth. Though Alfonseca held a share of the single-season Marlins save record before Benitez broke it last season, he has not saved a game since 2002. MarlinsBaseball.com: The bullpen was a problem for the Marlins in 2004, how will the 2005 bullpen fare? Juan Rodriguez:Perhaps the Marlins top offseason priority was putting together a strong bullpen from the outset. Last season they had a couple key injuries early and spent much of the season shuffling young minor leaguers and journeymen through the relief staff. The Marlins assembled a group of veteran guys, all of whom have proved durable over their careers and want the ball. MarlinsBaseball.com: Who is due for a breakout season in 2005? Juan Rodriguez: Josh Beckett. A .500 career regular season pitcher, Beckett needs to stay healthy and show he can dominate over 34 starts the way he did in the 2003 postseason. Blisters and some other nagging things have precluded Beckett from making more than 26 starts in a season. For the Marlins to reach the postseason, they probably need Beckett to top the 15-win mark. MarlinsBaseball.com: Will Al Leiter be a suitable replacement in the rotation for Carl Pavano? Juan Rodriguez: No, but the Marlins didn't sign Leiter to replace Pavano, who is 10 years younger and in the prime of his career. What the Marlins need from Leiter, 39, is 175 innings, 12-15 wins, and a steadying influence for Beckett, A.J. Burnett, and Dontrelle Willis. The Marlins still need Leiter to win his share of games, but the responbsibility of replacing Pavano's numbers should fall on Beckett, Burnett, and Willis' collective shoulders. MarlinsBaseball.com: At the present time, how well do you feel the Marlins will perform this season? Juan Rodriguez: My take is it all hinges on Beckett and Burnett staying injurying free. If they can both log at least 30 starts, the numbers should be there. The other big question mark is Mota and whether he'll flourish in the closer's role, but it's easier to replace a closer than a starter who's expected to give you 15-18 wins. Offensively, this is probably the best lineup in franchise history. If everything works as it should, Miguel Cabrera, Delgado, and Mike Lowell all should be at around 30 homers and 100 RBI. Right now, I would say somewhere between 88-93 wins. Ask me again before Opening Day and I'll commit to one victory total. (Photo courtesy of Sun-Sentinel.com)
February 27, 200521 yr Crap questions Crap columnist Crap interviewer It was very well done, all things considered Just playing--I didn't even know you were getting the exclusive--but you picked the right questions. He kinda slapped you in the face with the 'Al Leiter' questions :whistle
February 27, 200521 yr Rumor has it a certain White Sox fan came up with the question regarding the Bullpen..... *end rumor* :shifty
February 27, 200521 yr Rumor has it a certain White Sox fan came up with the question regarding the Bullpen..... *end rumor* :shifty 696855[/snapback] They'd know. :lol Nice work, Admin (and Juan)!
February 28, 200521 yr Thanks Admin. Good interview, good format, good idea. Hope you are considering doing more. How about one with Roxy Bernstein? (our new radio voice) And if you can't do it, how about one of our Moderators (or others, e.g. CapeFish, Marlins2003, Maverick, and. Rferry could provide northern exposure.) Will take some initiative but can be done. A 2000 member Forum has clout. (And I recommend the weekly "Mail Bag" with Joe Frisario on "Official" Marlins site.)
February 28, 200521 yr Thanks Admin. Good interview, good format, good idea. Hope you are considering doing more. How about one with Roxy Bernstein? (our new radio voice) And if you can't do it, how about one of our Moderators (or others, e.g. CapeFish, Marlins2003, Maverick, and. Rferry could provide northern exposure.) Will take some initiative but can be done. A 2000 member Forum has clout. (And I recommend the weekly "Mail Bag" with Joe Frisario on "Official" Marlins site.) 697363[/snapback] RFerry would be perfect for a segment with Mike Berardino...those two would get along just fine!
February 28, 200521 yr what's up with the crystal ball questions? i can't wait for the season to begin just so i don't have to hear the same old crap over and over again.
February 28, 200521 yr juan again showing why he is a top notch reporter and a great asset to the media coverage of this team. as far as Admin's job, it was meh. I could of done better. :hat
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