March 27, 200521 yr 2005 Florida Marlins Preview. Ok. Let?s do a little analysis. On paper the Marlins figure to be one of three contenders for the National League East, four if you count the Mets ( I don?t). As far as the Phillies and Braves, I don?t care about them. Let them do their thing. Catcher. The Marlins have one of the great leaders behind the plate in Paul LoDuca. A guy that worked his ass off for years in the Dodger system, a guy who epitomized the way it used to be with the Dodgers. And we stole him. Is Paul the best hitter? No. Is Paul the best defensive catcher? No. Does Paul have the best arm? No. So you say, who cares about Paul LoDuca and why does he mean so much? He is a leader. He knows his staff. He will make the pitchers better. A catcher?s primary job is still how he handles his staff. Few are better than Paul. Paul will give us a stellar first half before fading a bit in the second half, I mean trends are trends. But that wont matter, Paul will still find ways to contribute into September and beyond, and a pennant race might just supercharge him. In the backup situation, we have Matt Treanor and Mike DeFelice. Neither will do much of anything. DeFelice is more proven, Treanor is younger and may be hungrier. Whoever makes the team will play some here and there and hopefully will contribute when called upon. First base. Carlos Delgado. Great player. Underrated defensively, will bring a big bat. People talk about him ?losing? some in terms of power in Florida. He will still drive in a ton of runs. Carlos is an old school player where ribbies still means something. He will drive in over 130. Carlos could have over 50 doubles this year. He will anchor the middle of the lineup. Second base. Luis Castillo is still a great player. Brings a lot to table, good defender, tough out. If he could regain that speed he had a few years ago, the top of the Marlin order would be sickening. I have no doubts with Luis. Shortstop. Sea Bass. Dazzling in the field. Tends to make a couple of dumb mistakes every few games, but you live with them. Him and Luis have amazing chemistry up the middle and that goes a long ways. If he can find some way to hit .250 the Marlins are going to do backflips. Come to think of it, I?d like to see Jack do a back flip. Or a front flip for that matter. Third base. When you talk about third base for the Florida Marlins you talk about the greatest third baseman in Marlin history. Hulk will provide steady leadership and back in the 5 hole in the lineup where he is a better fit will pick up the ribbies the guys in front of him don?t get. Mikey will provide steady defense and a good solid bat. You can count on Hulk for 30 homers and 100 ribbies, I?ll take that any year. Left Field. Now that the Marlins have settled on a position for Miguel Cabrera we can watch him grow. Many compare him to Albert Pujols, which is a decent comparison, but so far, Miguel hasn?t provided the discipline that Pujols brings. And that?s ok. Could this be the year that Miguel ?breaks out? ? Maybe, and if it is?then the middle of the Marlin lineup is going to be in the top 5 in the game easily. If Miguel becomes more disciplined and selective at the plate he can contend for a triple crown. With the protection behind him there is no reason to think he wont get great pitches to hit. Its up to Miguel to attack the ball and make good solid contact. Center Field. Juan Pierre is like none other in the game. When he first arrived I had my doubts for sure. Juan has proven that he will get on base and be a gnat on the basepaths. He is highly durable (He will be playing on opening day) and can track down anything in center field, which is a good thing considering that center field in Florida is bigger than Russia. If there is any knock on Juan its that he doesn?t take as many walks as he could and has a weak arm. The first one you can work on..the second one you will just have to live with. Right Field. Juan Encarnacion and Jeff Conine will battle for this spot. Personally I?d love to see Jeff get this job and go out like the champion he is. I don?t know if that will happen, Encarnacion will determine what happens. Juan is an amazing defender, but major problems at the plate. He doenst know what a walk is and well he struggles when a pitcher is on. But he will destroy mistakes. Granted every major leaguer should do that. This may be the Marlins weakest spot in the lineup, but they will find a way to make it work. Bench. I really don?t care who is on the bench. I think Josh Willingham is overrated and isn?t ready, sure he can walk but he has had problems making contact and doing something other than trot to first. Lenny Harris is finished, but he will make the team. So Lenny beat Gagne last year. So what? Who cares. Now we are giving Lenny a job based on one swing of the bat. Isnt that nice? Starting Pitching. Josh, AJ and Dontrelle can all have career years this year. Josh looks ready to break out. AJ is pitching for money. Dontrelle is still working to become consistent every time out. If they all dominate the Marlins make the playoffs. Easily. Al Leiter will provide innings and will be a calming presence with the younger players. Ismael Valdez can goto hell. He, like Darren Oliver last year, only not as s***ty is garbage. Take him out of Chavez Ravine and he is horrible. Last year was an aberration and a product of him being lucky. The sooner the Marlins find a real fifth starter the happier I will be. Bullpen. This unit is much improved. Todd Jones, although he is old and has seen his best years will provide some valuable service to the team. John Riedling the team is very high on, hopefully he can prove to be a valuable 7th inning man. Six Fingers looks good this year from all reports. Hopefully he remembers what he picked up from Mazzone, that would be wise afterall. Jim Mecir will get out lefties, he has proven that time and again, I?m not worried about him. Perisho will probably vulture his way to a few more wins this year, hopefully he doesn?t suck when he isn?t the vulture. Nate Bump deserves a spot on this team, although I?m not sure where. Ben Howard I think could prove to be a valuable commodity, but that will depend on him learning to pitch well night in and night out. That brings us to Mota. I am scared. He reminds me too much of Octavio Dotel. And that?s scary. I hope Tim Spoonybarger is ready sooner rather than later. I feel that Mota like Dotel can implode with the ninth inning pressure. As much as ?some? think that closing is nothing different than any other time in the game, they are fooling themselves. A closer is one that has to have the closers mentality. I don?t know if he has it. I hope I?m wrong. It wouldn?t shock me though to see Jones and/or Alfonseca closing by Memorial Day :plain So there you have it. Das? Marlins preview. Enjoy and your comments are greatly welcomed.
March 27, 200521 yr Good preview. I like how you get to the point with everything... everything you write is logical. Good job.
March 27, 200521 yr "Lenny Harris is finished, but he will make the team. So Lenny beat Gagne last year. So what? Who cares. Now we are giving Lenny a job based on one swing of the bat. Isnt that nice? " Incredibly naive analysis...I expected a little more from a non-seam head like Das...otherwise well done. Das=President of the Ishmael Valdez Fan Club :thumbup
March 27, 200521 yr Author "Lenny Harris is finished, but he will make the team. So Lenny beat Gagne last year. So what? Who cares. Now we are giving Lenny a job based on one swing of the bat. Isnt that nice? " Incredibly naive analysis...I expected a little more from a non-seam head like Das...otherwise well done. Das=President of the Ishmael Valdez Fan Club :thumbup 721525[/snapback] Everyone points out Lenny's hit off Gagne as reason he should be on the team. Lenny provided a couple of hits here and there. He cant field and he cant run. At least we dont have two guys this year who cant really do anything like we did last year.
March 27, 200521 yr Come to think of it, I?d like to see Jack do a back flip. Or a front flip for that matter.. 721511[/snapback] Best line in that. Very well done Adam.
March 27, 200521 yr Come to think of it, I?d like to see Jack do a back flip.? Or a front flip for that matter.. 721511[/snapback] Best line in that. Very well done Adam. 721538[/snapback] Adam? :plain
March 27, 200521 yr Come to think of it, I?d like to see Jack do a back flip.? Or a front flip for that matter.. 721511[/snapback] Best line in that. Very well done Adam. 721538[/snapback] I concur, Admin.
March 27, 200521 yr Why Lenny pencil to make the 25 man roster.It will be a waste of roster spot to have him.
March 27, 200521 yr Believe it or not, his birth name is not Das. 721542[/snapback] I actually met someone named Das once. :plain
March 27, 200521 yr Im not a fan of Lo Duca but as long as he is solid I cant complain too much he just better tear up the first half if he is gonna blow in the 2nd half
March 27, 200521 yr Careful when saying Leiter will give you innings... he'll be 3-2 on everyone and drive you nuts... trust me on that one..... and this is coming from a Leiter fan... he's at times impossible to watch.. here's a typical Leiter at bat: Ball one.. Ball two inside..... foul ball- strike one... ball three inside.. foul ball strike two... foul ball... foul ball... pulled foul again... ripped foul... still 3-2.. throw to first... fouled again.. and either ball four (had 97 walks last year) or a ground out to third... painful.. d.
March 27, 200521 yr and just to add.... The reason that happens to al is this... He has his cutter.. and awesome pitch.. he burries it inside to righties.. however the old Al used to throw hard enough to get swings and misses.. His fastball used to range from 91-93.. at times years ago even hit 95,.. now his cutter is 85-88mph... instead of swings and misses he gets way more foul balls.. thus driving his pitch count up.... he still does get outs... but his loss of velocity his made him nibble more causing even MORE walks... he's the epitomy of a 5 inning guy... at least he was last year.... and judging on some spring performances.. that may not have changed.... d.
March 27, 200521 yr Willingham isn't overrated. The only one who overrates him is Ramp, who either is Josh Willingham or his gay lover.
March 27, 200521 yr Willingham isn't overrated. The only one who overrates him is Ramp, who either is Josh Willingham or his gay lover. 721802[/snapback] yawn
March 27, 200521 yr Al Leiter will provide innings and will be a calming presence with the younger players. :lolup
March 27, 200521 yr Al Leiter will provide innings and will be a calming presence with the younger players. :lolup 721951[/snapback] Yea, the innings thing.. we could be in trouble
March 27, 200521 yr Al Leiter will provide innings and will be a calming presence with the younger players. :lolup 721951[/snapback] Yea, the innings thing.. we could be in trouble 721965[/snapback] I'd laugh if Leiter ended up throwing like 180 innings. But I don't think that will be happening.
March 27, 200521 yr Al Leiter will provide innings and will be a calming presence with the younger players. :lolup 721951[/snapback] Well, if he doesn't have a good season, at least we didn't trade AJ Burnett to get him. :whistle
March 27, 200521 yr Al Leiter will provide innings and will be a calming presence with the younger players. :lolup 721951[/snapback] Well, if he doesn't have a good season, at least we didn't trade AJ Burnett to get him. :whistle 721977[/snapback] Nope we traded him for Pedro. I'm happy with that.
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