Reese isn't as good as Castillo, but he can turn em. HanRam is the big question mark. We haven't even seen him play before. That being said, I doubt he can make as many errors as Alex (but at the same time he can't make as many great plays either!).....Cabrera 'will' be a gold glove 3rd baseman. From what I've seen in his limited time at 3B, he is a great fielder. Jacobs should be better than Conine/Delgado.

No one would ever confuse me with a fan of Nate Bump but I do wonder how long he was injured and what affect it had on his performance last season and perhaps in 2004. Pitchers are notorious for hiding their maladies (see AJ Burnett) believing they can still perform even if ailing.

 

Unfortunately none of us know the backstory here and there's some chance that the kid will come back better than we've seen him in some time.

 

Call it wishful thinking if you want, but I'm willing to wait and see what he brings to the table when he starts throwing in spring training. While a torn labrum, with or without reconstructive surgery has ended many careers, there are still a number of successful pitchers who have come back or learned to deal with it, notably Eddie Guardado and of course Pedro Martinez.

4.68 career ERA, 1.534 career WHIP.......in one of the best pitchers parks in baseball. You do the math. Anyway you cut it.......it stinks!

 

You know what you get with the guy, he will give up a lot of hits, but with a decent defence behind him he will also get a lot of ground balls, hence double plays and with the upgraded defence up the middle we shall likely have and better range at third you have to like a ground ball pitcher. (I know it isn't ideal for a ground ball pitcher out of the bullpen, but who would you like to give the ball to with a couple of men on base with a double play getting you out of the inning?) If he cuts down the walks this year he will be an important part of the 'pen.

 

How is the defense upgrading in the infield? You had three dominant presences with Lowell, Gonzalez and Castillo who played with each other for years. I like Cabrera, Hanley, and Pokey, but you have got to be kidding that you think this team's infield defense will be an upgrade and pitchers like Bump will thrive off of it. FWIW, Cabrera had a lower zone rating then Lowell at 3B last year. I don't think you can arbitrarily say he will cover more ground. Mike was a fantastic fielding 3B.

 

If Bump makes the squad, he should never pitch besides extreme mop up. They need to give the innings to Bowyer, Resop, Messenger, Kensing, Tankersly, and other guys who can help this team for a few years.

Upgrade because of the injuries to both Gonzalez and Castillo (I know he still played great), Jacobs will likely be better than Delgado and from watching Cabrera, not just defensive rating appears to cover more ground and also has a much stronger arm. Then again we shall have to see, plus given that Easley played a lot of games for the fish because of the injuries, over 162 games yes i think it will be an upgrade. But we can agree to disagree and see what happens in the coming season.

Upgrade because of the injuries to both Gonzalez and Castillo (I know he still played great), Jacobs will likely be better than Delgado and from watching Cabrera, not just defensive rating appears to cover more ground and also has a much stronger arm. Then again we shall have to see, plus given that Easley played a lot of games for the fish because of the injuries, over 162 games yes i think it will be an upgrade. But we can agree to disagree and see what happens in the coming season.

 

 

Jacobs is a converted catcher and never seriously played 1B. When did he become better then Delgado? I don't think the new infield will be a defensive liability, but that is some serious wishful thinking believing this team is defensively going to be an upgrade.

Reese isn't as good as Castillo, but he can turn em. HanRam is the big question mark. We haven't even seen him play before. That being said, I doubt he can make as many errors as Alex (but at the same time he can't make as many great plays either!).....Cabrera 'will' be a gold glove 3rd baseman. From what I've seen in his limited time at 3B, he is a great fielder. Jacobs should be better than Conine/Delgado.

 

 

Jacobs is not going to be better than any of those guys. Offensively he is going to be better than Niner, but not than Delgado. Now, defensively, which is the issue that brought us here, there is now way that Jacobs will be better than Niner. In my mind, out of all first basemen that the marlins have had in recent history, if not in all of their existence, you have D. Lee and then Niner. I see Jacobs as being as bad as Delgado in defense, and that is just some hopeful thinking.