Great Article here....

 

07/31/2003? 5:18 PM ET

Marlins decide to stand pat

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com? Get tickets

 

MIAMI -- Already in the thick of the N.L. Wild Card race, the Marlins have decided to go the rest of the way with the roster that put them in position to contend.

Thursday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver trade deadline passed with the Marlins staying pat on any possible moves.

 

Marlins general manager Admin Beinfest confirmed Thursday that there were some tempting offers, with the team weighing last Sunday a deal that would have brought in an unspecified veteran outfielder.

 

Those plans were scratched because of the improved play of rookie left fielder Miguel Cabrera.

 

"We talked about either adding a bat in the outfield or a pitcher," Beinfest said. "We weren't married to either position. We really wanted to move through the market and see what was out there in either place."

 

Beinfest said a key day was last Sunday when they could have consummated a deal for an every-day outfielder.

 

"At the same time, we talked about Miguel Cabrera," Beinfest said. "What he has done for this ball club and what he can do for this ball club. When we left the ballpark last Sunday night was not only has Miguel been terrific, but he is just going to get better. ... We feel Miguel Cabrera is not only going to be a great player in the future, but that he can help us now."

 

Since bringing Cabrera up from Double-A on June 20, the Marlins are 24-10 with him as their regular left fielder. He struggled in June, batting .158 (6-for-38). But in July, he raised his numbers to .318 (27-for-85) for the month.

 

Cabrera has hit safely in seven straight games, batting .379 over the streak.

 

At 59-49, the Marlins are one game behind the Phillies in the Wild Card chase.

 

Since being 19-29 on May 22, the Marlins are 40-20. Under new manager McKeon they are 43-27.

 

"I think if this past week or this past two months are any indication, I think the answer is yes," Beinfest said. "A lot of the teams we're facing are teams that are our competition for the Wild Card. Every indication on our evaluation is we can play with anybody."

 

The Marlins, off Thursday, are riding a six-game winning streak after sweeping Philadelphia and Arizona.

 

Just as the Marlins were settling on Cabrera remaining in left field, Beinfest was ready to pursue a first baseman after Derrek Lee suffered a shoulder injury making a diving play Monday night.

 

"Derrek Lee is a big part of our team," Beinfest said. "If the news was much different over the last couple of days, it would have been much different for us."

 

Lee, who didn't play Tuesday or Wednesday, is expected back Friday. Had he not been, finding a first baseman would have been the priority heading pushing toward Thursday's deadline.

 

For about a week, there were reports that deals were in the works for St. Louis's J.D. Drew, San Diego's Rondell White, Pittsburgh's Reggie Sanders and former Yankee Raul Mondesi, who was just traded to the Diamondbacks.

 

A few weeks back, the Marlins explored a trade with Baltimore to return Jeff Conine, known as Mr. Marlin in his previous days with the club, was headed back to South Florida.

 

Without naming names, Beinfest said the media reports were accurate on some rumors but off base on others.

 

Beinfest said he was entertaining deals for a relief pitcher up until the trade deadline, and he will explore upgrading the bullpen through the waiver wire if necessary.

 

While nothing happened Thursday, the Marlins certainly made a big splash on July 11 when they acquired reliever Ugueth Urbina.

 

"I think they've done quite well so far getting Urbina," manager Jack McKeon said. "To just do something for the sake of doing it is not going to do anything. I think it could hurt you more than help you."

 

Urbina, who has successfully filled the right-handed setup role, was a need at the time of the trade because the Marlins were hurting for consistent late-relief help.

 

The Marlins sent minor league first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, left-handed pitcher Ryan Snare and outfielder Will Smith to the Rangers for the animated and durable Urbina.

 

"At least with this club, you know what you've got," McKeon said. "If you had an injury or something, yeah. You'd like to improve pitching, but everybody would. What is out there that can help you? There are a lot of names out there, but are they better than what you've got? You got to weigh all that, and at what price."

 

The matter-of-fact McKeon makes it clear that bringing someone new in doesn't guarantee any increase in production.

 

For example, McKeon isn't sold that Mondesi is going to help Arizona.

 

"There is a club [the Yankees]that is in first place, moving their regular right fielder," McKeon said. "There has got to be reasons everybody moves."

 

c/o: Mlb.com

Good read

good s***

good sh!t.... i would of wanted

in the marlins for Juan... JD Drew is alot more clutch than Juan .. Juan only hit when it doesnt really matter

you cannot be serious?????

 

please tell me you are joking

How could you want Drew instead of Juan? Encarnacion will put up good numbers every year. He does it Quietly but he puts up soid numbers. In Defense Juan Is way better. In fact he has one of the best Arms in the NL...

you cannot be serious?????

 

please tell me you are joking

off course i wasnt... when Drew is not hurt he has ok arm is very clutch and get for power... Which Juan doesnt got that much arm , he not clutch and he has ok arm

from July(and Enc sucked this month)

7/6--Marlins vs Phillies--2/3, 3rbi..... Marlins win 6-3

7/11--Marlins vs Expos---3/5, 1 rbi(game winning rbi)

7/21---Marlins vs Expos---0/2, 1rbi, Marlins win 4-1

 

how about some other games this year?

 

4/11 Marlins vs Braves, 3rbi, Fish win 7-4

4/16 Marlins vs Phillies, 1rbi, Fish win 3-1

4/23 Marlins vs Brewers, 2rbi, Fish win 5-4

4/24 Marlins vs Brewers, 1rbi, Fish win 4-2

5/9 Marlins vs Rockies, 2rbim Fish win 5-4, oh and did i mention it was a walkoff HR?

 

thanks for playing, try again

you cannot be serious?????

 

please tell me you are joking

off course i wasnt... when Drew is not hurt he has ok arm is very clutch and get for power... Which Juan doesnt got that much arm , he not clutch and he has ok arm Are you ever serious?

he says he wasnt serious, and then rips Enc....

 

which is it?