Class clowns? Not these Marlins

By CLARK SPENCER

cspencer@herald.com

 

They're 49-46, one more win above the .500 mark than they were at this time last year. But the similarities between the 2002 Marlins -- who were 45-43 at the All-Star break -- and the current team end there.

 

Instead of purging players (and salaries) as they did during last year's break when outfielder Cliff Floyd and pitcher Ryan Dempster were pawned off, the Marlins have chosen a new tact in a bid to make a second-half run at the National League wild-card playoff spot.

 

The front office squashed rampant trade rumors involving Mike Lowell when it announced the All-Star third baseman wouldn't be dealt before the end of the season. And management worked out a deal to obtain Ugueth Urbina to shore up a flimsy bullpen.

 

Those positive notes aside, it's still going to take some doing for the Marlins to make the postseason. Assuming it will require no fewer than 94 wins, the Marlins would have to go 48-25 the rest of the way.

 

With the second half of Florida's season starting tonight, here's the report card on the first half:

 

STARTING PITCHING - B

Given the early-season injuries to three key members of the rotation -- A.J. Burnett, Josh Beckett and Mark Redman -- it's amazing the Marlins remain afloat at all.

 

OK, so nobody ever imagined Dontrelle Willis would descend from the clouds with life preserver in tow. When Willis was called up from Double A Carolina to make his first start May 9, the Marlins were 15-20 and on a seven-game losing streak. They're 31-23 since his arrival.

 

Coincidence? Hardly. Willis was credited with nine of those victories.

 

It's unreasonable to think Willis can continue at his insanely hot clip, requiring the rest of the staff to crank it up a notch. That means continued strong efforts from Redman, more consistently good outings from Brad Penny and Carl Pavano, and a healthy Beckett.

 

BULLPEN - C-

The front office figured it had alleviated the club's bullpen blues when it snatched right-handed set-up man Tim Spooneybarger in a three-way deal with the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies. It hasn't worked out that way, though.

 

Vladimir N??ez, who was considered a key member of the bullpen, flopped so miserably that he's back in the minors, and Spooneybarger went down with an elbow injury. That left closer Braden Looper as the only reliable member of the relief corps.

 

All in all, the bullpen ranks near the bottom of the pile in the NL. No wonder the Marlins traded for Urbina, giving up three top minor-league prospects in the process.

 

INFIELD - A

Few were happier than infield coach Perry Hill when the Marlins announced they were not going to trade Lowell. Hill is blessed with one of baseball's best infield foursomes, if not the best when factoring in both offense and defense.

 

Lowell and second baseman Luis Castillo have been All-Stars for two consecutive seasons, while shortstop Alex Gonz?lez might be the team's most pleasant surprise after spending most of last season on the disabled list.

 

First baseman Derrek Lee continues to suffer with the bat in his home park -- 15 of his 19 home runs have come on the road -- but there aren't many issues with the Marlins around the horn.

 

OUTFIELD - D

Take a look at the first-half statistics of the two sets of players below. The first represents the trio that manned the outfield until Floyd was traded and before Kevin Millar and Preston Wilson were sent packing during the offseason. The second is the bunch that has replaced them:

 

CATCHING - B+

It wasn't as if the Marlins were in dire need of catching when they signed Iv?n Rodr?guez to a $10 million deal during the offseason. Mike Redmond and Ram?n Castro seemed capable enough.

 

But the Marlins knew they were in trouble offensively when they examined their prospective lineup, so they coughed up the cash to get Pudge.

 

After a sluggish start, Rodr?guez came on strong before the break. His .402 average with runners in scoring position ranks third in the majors behind Toronto's Carlos Delgado (.433) and Colorado's Todd Helton (.404).

 

There have been lapses, but Rodr?guez has given the Marlins almost everything they wanted in what is likely to be his only season in South Florida.

 

MANAGING (Torborg C- / McKeon B+)

It's hard to pin blame on any manager when things go bad, just as it's hard to heap all the credit on one when times are good.

 

But there's no disputing the turnaround the Marlins have made since Jack McKeon replaced Jeff Torborg on May 11. They were 16-21 before the change. Since then, they have gone 33-25.

 

Go online to give the Marlins a grade so far this season. Go to www.herald.com/sports and click on Marlins to cast your vote.

Link:

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...rts/6329081.htm

I disagree with the outfield grade. Juan Pierre is batting 2.98 with 44 steals. And has also made some great diving catches during the 1st half. Juan Encarnacion is batting 2.83 with alot of steals. Miguel Cabrera is batting 2.33 with 4 homers. I'd say Cabrera is pretty good, and the reason why he doesn't have an awesome average is because, he came in like what, 2 or 3 weeks ago. :thumbdown

I don't think the OF is that bad either, just you have to include the lack of production from LF before Cabs was called up.

Does anyone notice that mathematical error in this article? How did it get past editing...

 

Seriously though, I think it is a very fair assessment of our team. I think we do have one of the better IF in baseball. Yes, including Lee. Our OF has been horribly average but you cant help but feel something is going to give. Pierre has been very good, and I think Encarnacion has yet to reach down into his potential. And if we can get Juan Gone, or improve our OF with another bat, that grade should go up a lot more. I think in a way, our SP has been better because of the injuries. It has given a lot of opportunity to guys who otherwise wouldnt have had any and that could go a long way into forming a team. Besides, Burnett would not be 9-1 right now...just wish Beckett and Penny could perform to their level of talent.

Does anyone notice that mathematical error in this article? How did it get past editing...

 

Seriously though, I think it is a very fair assessment of our team. I think we do have one of the better IF in baseball. Yes, including Lee. Our OF has been horribly average but you cant help but feel something is going to give. Pierre has been very good, and I think Encarnacion has yet to reach down into his potential. And if we can get Juan Gone, or improve our OF with another bat, that grade should go up a lot more. I think in a way, our SP has been better because of the injuries. It has given a lot of opportunity to guys who otherwise wouldnt have had any and that could go a long way into forming a team. Besides, Burnett would not be 9-1 right now...just wish Beckett and Penny could perform to their level of talent.

If your thinking maybe Dontrelle doesn't come up if AJ doesnt go down, he would have been up anyways to replace Beckett or Redman and would have been in the rotation instead of Phelps or Tejera.

no.

 

Dontrelle would not have come up if AJ was healthy

 

Bump or Snare would have definitely come up