On paper the Marlins are one of the most rounded teams in baseball, we are solid in just about every area like pitchin, hitting, bullpen etc. So why has this team underacheived for most of the season, and even last season. Recently we have been playin better, and are right now on the battle for the wildcard. But for early in the season the team was inconsistant, i believe at one point the team hadnt won 3 games in a row. So what was the main cuase for the inconsitancy? Was it hitting, starting pitchin, bullpen, coachin etc? It seems to me like our offense is very inconsistant, one day they put up alot of runs and the next day it doesnt show up. Why is that? Starting pitchin has been solid, bullpen iffy.

Every player goes through hot and cold streaks, but I'd say the offense has had the wildest swings.

But perhaps that is our minds playing tricks on us. The same members of the offense are out there every single day and we expect a consistent effort that we can define them by. We don't see the same members of the pitching staff the same way, we don't view the rotation as a whole the same way as we do the lineup. We can isolate one or more starter from the group. How often do you hear fans say 'we desperately need to improve that 5th starter spot!'? Exactly. The relief pitchers never enter at consistent pattern so we tend not expect the same consistency night after night as we do from either the offense or a starter who starts the game at 0-0 in the first.

I'd say it was mostly due to Lowell & JP struggling mightly at the plate as well as injuries to the bullpen (pre-discovering Todd Jones as our savior).

The consumate failures offensively of both Mike Lowell and Juan Pierre are the primary reasons for our offensive swings and inconsistency as a ballclub.

i think it has to do with the offense and with jp.

 

jp and castillo are the spart plugs of the team. when they get on base, the marlins win. simple as that. that being said, if you remember in 2003, the marlins went to the ballpark expecting to win. and that wasn't really the case for last year and most of this year. but winning is contagious. i think since the trading deadline has passed you have seen the team focusing on issues on the field and they've been playing much better baseball. winning brings a team together, and you can feel the team coming together. in a half hour the team will take the field going for their 9th win on the homestand. like i said, they know its crunch time, and they're making it happen, i think they're believing in themselves and tahts why we've seen the good games, the good crowds and the electricity in the stands.

Young Peter Griffin: "Why did the dinosaurs die?"

 

Museum Guide: "Because you touch yourself at night!"

FERNANDO ALONSO !!!

 

 

you rule ... whatever your name is

 

:thumbup

oh nice pic in the monaco course

I think that it was too much locker room stuff. Not to mention, I think that Jack was trying to get these players to follow HIS own strategy and since then has backed off and let them play as they have been accustomed to over the years. Example, Castillo and Pierre are running even reckless at times like they used to. Also, when was the last time Pierre has been sat down to rest? I guess that was abondoned too. And let's address the McKeon comments about players bunting "on their own." I think his backing off is a big contributor to the winning.

 

In addition, The Lowell and JP theory is understandable, but they are still struggling and the fish are turning things around any way. Most teams have 1 or 2 guys that underperform every year, but they don't underachieve as a whole because of them. When an entire team underachieves and most of the guys are performing as expected, you need to look beyond the underperforming players if it's only a couple here and there. Remember, it's a 25 man roster, not a 10-15 man roster.

I think that it was too much locker room stuff. Not to mention, I think that Jack was trying to get these players to follow HIS own strategy and since then has backed off and let them play as they have been accustomed to over the years. Example, Castillo and Pierre are running even reckless at times like they used to. Also, when was the last time Pierre has been sat down to rest? I guess that was abondoned too. And let's address the McKeon comments about players bunting "on their own." I think his backing off is a big contributor to the winning.

 

 

Based on the comments from Leiter, it does not appear McKeon has much to do in the locker room. Leiter indicated that McKeon puts peoples names on the line up card and expects them to perform. He will talk to players individually as well when needed although it appears he takes the stance " they are professionals and know what they need to do"

 

The only strategy is to WIN games.

 

In 2003, the motto was to play and win as a team. The players got the credit, not the coaching staff. Pierre did not sit in 2003 or 2004 so sitting him down for a rest proves what!