May 30, 200521 yr The offense has been just putrid the last week, getting shut down by the Pirates is just unacceptable. We know first hand Mark Redman is no stopper and the Pirates didn't even send out their best bullpen arms today with the exception of Mike Gonzalez. Brian Meadows is terrible and Rick White isn't much better. How long does Mike Lowell continue to get a free ride for being Mike Lowell? I like the guy just as much as anyone but he's killing us. a .205 average from a guy we really were leaning on as a run producer this year is not acceptable. With Encarnacion and Lo Duca hitting a wall after their fast starts, Lowells lack of production is really starting to show. It's no coincidence Lo Duca is 0-24 and in that span we are 1-5. How much longer does Juan Encarnacion continue to leach off his hot start? He seems to have a newfound love affair with the popup and hasn't contributed in any RBI situations over the past couple weeks. In all honesty, you take away two swings and his stats look very ordinary -- one of those swings being a breakingball that even I could have hit out from Osuna. Pitchers aren't giving Miguel or Carlos anything to hit anymore, not that they really were to begin with, but at least Enc and Lo Duca were behind them and the offense didn't suffer. Now with those two slumping all our opposition needs to do is not let those two hurt them and they're golden. Jack needs to do something to jump-start the offense. Easley was a nice addition as a run producer, but his addition meant Castillo sits, who is our best run scorer with JP struggling. My suggestion would be to start playing/platooning Easley and Dillon with Lowell and let whichever of those three produces take the full-time gig. Easley at his age is probably not an everyday player, but as he showed subbing for Castillo he can be a quick-fix to help stop the bleeding. I also would put Niner in for Encarnacion in right for a while, not this one-two games BS Jack keeps doing with him. The one thing Conine has been his entire career is a consistent RBI machine and that's what we're in desperate need of right now. We have tons of streaky hitters in our lineup and Niner would add some stability and consistency. We'll lose some range defensively, but Conine will hold his own. Last but not least -- move Gonzalez up in the order. We all know he's got plenty of pop, but his new batting stance seems to have given him a quicker swing, which leads to less strikeouts and better strike-zone judgment. His average with RISP is over .400, but hasn't had alot of chances with guys like Lowell, Lo Duca and Encarnacion struggling ahead of him. When he has gotten chances he's come through. Gonzo is streaky, but why not ride him while he's hot? This would only be a temporary fix as I'd expect Alex to screw up his mechanics and go through his usual slumps. My lineup: JP Castillo Delgado Cabrera Conine Gonzalez Easley/Dillon Lo Duca Thoughts?
May 30, 200521 yr Author http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=43478 789645[/snapback] So wait -- if we win 6 of 7 one week, then lose 6 of 7 the next week, do you or anyone else believe that we're a playoff team? Give me a break, when you slump changes need to be made. Lowell's been consistently awful for two months -- how long do you wait before you do something about it?
May 31, 200521 yr LET DILLON PLAY! 789650[/snapback] I agree... I really want to see Dillon play What positions does Dillon play? I know 3B and LF!
May 31, 200521 yr http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=43478 That wasn't the point of my post He's perfectly fine in his thread. And the answer is..... The Hammer
May 31, 200521 yr http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=43478 789645[/snapback] So wait -- if we win 6 of 7 one week, then lose 6 of 7 the next week, do you or anyone else believe that we're a playoff team? Give me a break, when you slump changes need to be made. Lowell's been consistently awful for two months -- how long do you wait before you do something about it? 789647[/snapback] The season ends in October, 5 months away. The Marlins are 27-21. I rather go through hard times now than 3 months from now. If this team is to be successful it will have to play great down the stretch. How many teams run on all cylinders in May and June and end up playing great ball in Sept. and Oct. Point is the Marlins are winning more than they are losing. In the last 14 games they are 7-7. Hell the Marlins got swept by the Pirates in 2003 against the Pirates yet still won the World Series, hell they were 10 games under at this point and STILL won the World Series. With Lowell slumping, with JP slumping, the Marlins are still winning. This board has more mood swings than a lady pregnant with twins. When the Marlins win, they cant be stopped, when they lose, its OMG this team sucks we need changes lots and lots of changes.
May 31, 200521 yr Author http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=43478 789645[/snapback] So wait -- if we win 6 of 7 one week, then lose 6 of 7 the next week, do you or anyone else believe that we're a playoff team? Give me a break, when you slump changes need to be made. Lowell's been consistently awful for two months -- how long do you wait before you do something about it? 789647[/snapback] The season ends in October, 5 months away. The Marlins are 27-21. I rather go through hard times now than 3 months from now. If this team is to be successful it will have to play great down the stretch. How many teams run on all cylinders in May and June and end up playing great ball in Sept. and Oct. Point is the Marlins are winning more than they are losing. In the last 14 games they are 7-7. Hell the Marlins got swept by the Pirates in 2003 against the Pirates yet still won the World Series, hell they were 10 games under at this point and STILL won the World Series. With Lowell slumping, with JP slumping, the Marlins are still winning. This board has more mood swings than a lady pregnant with twins. When the Marlins win, they cant be stopped, when they lose, its OMG this team sucks we need changes lots and lots of changes. 789664[/snapback] My opinion and the rest of this community's opinions are completely different -- to try and judge them as one is just flat out idiotic. Yes, teams go through good stretches and bad ones, but if you bothered to read my post you'd realize my point is that this lineup we have is filled with too many streak hitters -- aside from a select few, guys like Encarnacion, Gonzalez, Lowell, even Lo Duca and Delgado are all or nothing players, they produce like they're the second coming of Hank Aaron or they do nothing at all. This lineup needs some stability and Jeff Conine would provide that from week to week. He's a consistent producer unlike most on this team Lowell's been awful all year long, so I don't see how our opinions on him have changed. I like him as a person and root for the guy to turn it around, but when is enough, enough? After the all start break? At the trade deadline? As much as I hate to admit it, we're losing games that we can't have back and will continue to do so unless he finds his stroke. He's been given a free ride thus far because he's Mike Lowell, but let me ask you this -- if it was Luis Castillo or Alex Gonzalez hitting .180-.200 in June, would they still be in the lineup? Simple answer is a resounding NO.
May 31, 200521 yr Author http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=43478 That wasn't the point of my post He's perfectly fine in his thread. And the answer is..... The Hammer 789659[/snapback] Willingham is crushing the ball in AAA -- but we need to give Niner a chance before we do him. One thing i guess we could do, is play Miguel at 3rd, Niner in right and Willingham in left. I'd really like to see what Dillon can do at the MLB level though, I really like his swing and he seems to have a good eye for the strike zone. We have a ton of options -- Jack/Beinfest need to start using them.
May 31, 200521 yr Baseball season is very long..... Some of you guys are crazy.There no need to panic at this time.
May 31, 200521 yr http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=43478 789645[/snapback] So wait -- if we win 6 of 7 one week, then lose 6 of 7 the next week, do you or anyone else believe that we're a playoff team? Give me a break, when you slump changes need to be made. Lowell's been consistently awful for two months -- how long do you wait before you do something about it? 789647[/snapback] The season ends in October, 5 months away. The Marlins are 27-21. I rather go through hard times now than 3 months from now. If this team is to be successful it will have to play great down the stretch. How many teams run on all cylinders in May and June and end up playing great ball in Sept. and Oct. Point is the Marlins are winning more than they are losing. In the last 14 games they are 7-7. Hell the Marlins got swept by the Pirates in 2003 against the Pirates yet still won the World Series, hell they were 10 games under at this point and STILL won the World Series. With Lowell slumping, with JP slumping, the Marlins are still winning. This board has more mood swings than a lady pregnant with twins. When the Marlins win, they cant be stopped, when they lose, its OMG this team sucks we need changes lots and lots of changes. 789664[/snapback] My opinion and the rest of this community's opinions are completely different -- to try and judge them as one is just flat out idiotic. Yes, teams go through good stretches and bad ones, but if you bothered to read my post you'd realize my point is that this lineup we have is filled with too many streak hitters -- aside from a select few, guys like Encarnacion, Gonzalez, Lowell, even Lo Duca and Delgado are all or nothing players, they produce like they're the second coming of Hank Aaron or they do nothing at all. This lineup needs some stability and Jeff Conine would provide that from week to week. He's a consistent producer unlike most on this team Lowell's been awful all year long, so I don't see how our opinions on him have changed. I like him as a person and root for the guy to turn it around, but when is enough, enough? After the all start break? At the trade deadline? As much as I hate to admit it, we're losing games that we can't have back and will continue to do so unless he finds his stroke. He's been given a free ride thus far because he's Mike Lowell, but let me ask you this -- if it was Luis Castillo or Alex Gonzalez hitting .180-.200 in June, would they still be in the lineup? Simple answer is a resounding NO. 789668[/snapback] I agree we have got to do something about Lowell. He has been in a slump for too long dating back to the second part of the last season. He seems to be have a phychological problem. I think he needs therapy. What do you think?
May 31, 200521 yr Niner is far from consistent. His numbers at the end of the year are usually about the same. He still is streaky though. Just look at last year. He was either hot or cold. I agree with you that something needs to be done, but I really don't know if Conine is the answer
May 31, 200521 yr Our hitters need to start getting more hits before there are two outs. No more stranding runners.
May 31, 200521 yr This board has more mood swings than a lady pregnant with twins. When the Marlins win, they cant be stopped, when they lose, its OMG this team sucks we need changes lots and lots of changes. 789664[/snapback] Seriously, has this board always been this way? Cause it feels like I'm watching games from a different dimension sometimes from some folks here.
May 31, 200521 yr This board has more mood swings than a lady pregnant with twins. When the Marlins win, they cant be stopped, when they lose, its OMG this team sucks we need changes lots and lots of changes. Seriously, has this board always been this way? Cause it feels like I'm watching games from a different dimension sometimes from some folks here.Since the beginning of 2004
May 31, 200521 yr Leiter was decent at least, that's the only positive about today's game. Gonzo turns that double play ball and we could have be singing another tune. No big deal, is a play he can make with his eyes close and he is human. I feel JP is killing us out there. Maybe trying to hard. He is not doing the job as our lead off man, 2 SO today? JP had a streak of 162 AB without a SO. He needs to be patient, make contact, and make pitchers work. His arm at CF is a big defensive liability. For JP to be worth it, he needs to bat at least .315, since there is no power on his swing. He is a great player, but consistency is needed here, he is either on fire batting .400 or crap batting .150. I wouldn't mind seeing JP batting 7th or 8th
May 31, 200521 yr How much longer does Juan Encarnacion continue to leach off his hot start? He seems to have a newfound love affair with the popup and hasn't contributed in any RBI situations over the past couple weeks. In all honesty, you take away two swings and his stats look very ordinary -- one of those swings being a breakingball that even I could have hit out from Osuna. 789643[/snapback] ENC is not the problem. It seems like he needs to have 2 hits every game for some of you to consider that he is not sucking. He is a streaky hitter, but he is solid at D and younger than Conine.
May 31, 200521 yr I'd suggest platooning Lowell and Dillon at 3B but with the finances involved and the potential for a trade you can't just take him off the field.
May 31, 200521 yr "This board has more mood swings than a lady pregnant with twins. " That describes the peanut gallery really well. First they hate Encarnacion, then they fall in love with him because he hits two slammies. Now they hate him because he is hitting .280. Well, that's what he is a .280 hitter. JP is a lifetime .300 hitter and Lowell a .275 they will get there before all is said and done. Can they have some sit downs? Sure. Let Conine and others play now and then. As long as the starters pitch well and dont get hurt the Marlins will be on top. 789910[/snapback] Enc has been great. For him.
May 31, 200521 yr The offense really has been bad, and JP is a big reason. He just isn't doing the job in the leadoff spot. We need to drop him down in the lineup until he heats up. The strikeouts should be a strong enough sign that he just isn't right. Meanwhile, Castillo makes a great leadoff hitter. He gets on base, right now, at a .429 clip compared to JP's .319. He won't steal much, but JP hasn't been doing that well at stealing, another sign something is wrong (maybe some nagging injuries?). Castilo's career OBP is a little higher than JP's, so this isn't a total fluke. I think an extra 110 points in OBP from the leadoff spot would help our offense dramaticaly. It is strange that some on this board criticize suggestions for lineup changes based on the belief that things will get better later. So what? You need a certain number of wins to get into the playoffs, or win the division, and the ones we get now count just as much as the ones we get in September. Losing now because your leadoff man or 3b isn't performing can come back to haunt you in the stretch. If JP, or Lowell, or anyone else is doing worse than the guy we have on the bench can do, he needs to sit for a while. Of course Lowell, JP, and others probably will get going, and the guys who are doing well will slump. But isn't that one of the reaons we have Conine, Easley, Dillon, Willingham? To fill in when a regular can't perform as expected?
May 31, 200521 yr Author "This board has more mood swings than a lady pregnant with twins. " That describes the peanut gallery really well. First they hate Encarnacion, then they fall in love with him because he hits two slammies. Now they hate him because he is hitting .280. Well, that's what he is a .280 hitter. JP is a lifetime .300 hitter and Lowell a .275 they will get there before all is said and done. Can they have some sit downs? Sure. Let Conine and others play now and then. As long as the starters pitch well and dont get hurt the Marlins will be on top. 789910[/snapback] Like I said before -- to try and generalize opinions as "this board" is idiotic and ignorant. I've never said a word about "loving Encarnacion" or believing he was the answer at RF -- I was always skeptical about his production and whether it would continue. Just so you don't confuse my opinion with the boards opinion, here's what else i'm skeptical about: Our closing situation -- Todd Jones has done well, but over the past five years has been nothing but an average to below-average reliever which leads me to believe this past couple months are nothing but an aberration. I expect him to hit a wall relativley soon. I don't trust Mota either, so if our pen ends up blowing leads late in games don't come at me trying to claim i "LOVED " Jones like the rest of the board does right now. I'm not very confident in Lowell breaking out of his slump, his bat speed seems to be gone and thats what made him such a great hitter. those inside pitches he used to drive a mile -- he's swinging through because he's late on the ball. I don't and never have thought Encarnacion is the answer in RF. As much as I'd like for him to continue -- I still wonder if Moehler will keep pitching the way he is pitching after teams see him a few times. That being said, he's starting to make me a believer. I think JP will be fine -- I hope Lowell turns it around but he just looks terrible. There's no harm in giving Dillon/Easley/Willingham a chance to play while Lowell scuffles.
May 31, 200521 yr This board has more mood swings than a lady pregnant with twins.? When the Marlins win, they cant be stopped, when they lose, its OMG this team sucks we need changes lots and lots of changes. 789664[/snapback] Seriously, has this board always been this way? Cause it feels like I'm watching games from a different dimension sometimes from some folks here. 789759[/snapback] seriously
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