As he prepares for his first workouts as Marlins manager this week, Joe Girardi can't understand people approaching and saying, ``I feel bad for you. They took your club away.''

 

Responds Girardi: ``Feel bad? How can you feel bad when I have one of 30 jobs in the world? I'm pretty blessed.''

 

Girardi shared several thoughts as he begins his maiden voyage:

 

? He wants to play an aggressive style: ``I love speed. I love little ball. I love creating runs. I will put as much pressure on the other club as I possibly can.''

 

That's one reason Eric Reed (40 steals in AA and AAA last year) and Reggie Abercrombie (25 in A and AA) will have a chance to win OF jobs. Jeremy Hermida (23 steals at AA) and Hanley Ramirez (26 steals at AA) also can run.

 

? Girardi's considering four leadoff options: Reed (if he's the CF), Ramirez (if he wins the SS job) or the 2B (Pokey Reese or Dan Uggla.)

 

? Girardi prefers to bat Miguel Cabrera third ``because you want him to hit in the first inning.''

 

? One hundred. That's how many times he was asked: ''Were you told the team would be dismantled?'' He insists he was told there would be ''pretty drastic'' changes without a new stadium.

 

? He prefers not to platoon 1B front-runner Mike Jacobs with Wes Helms. ``I want my first baseman to play every day.''

 

? Bench coach Gary Tuck, who helped develop Jorge Posada, and Girardi will work on Josh Willingham's defense at catcher. ''He's an exciting player to me because I don't think his potential has been tapped,'' Girardi said. Willingham will play LF if Miguel Olivo wins the catcher's job.

 

? Girardi sees impact-player potential in Abercrombie, who once rejected scholarship offers to be a QB at Georgia or Auburn. ``From a physical standpoint, he's pretty special. He's going to get every opportunity because when you have an athlete, there's a huge upside.''

 

? Here's what he will tell Dontrelle Willis and Cabrera: 'It's your job to walk along these [young] guys, put your arms around them and say, `You're going to get through it' and offer all the knowledge you have.''

 

? He ''never thought'' he should ''wait a year, two years'' to see if the Cubs or Yankees managerial jobs came open. ''I don't believe you can live your life'' that way.

 

 

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/13906058.htm

 

Couple interesting quotes in there paticularly the platoon thing at 1B

I believe! Let's have some fun before 2006 is done!

"I love speed. I love little ball. I love creating runs. I will put as much pressure on the other club as I possibly can."

I believe! Let's have some fun before 2006 is done!

 

 

HELL YEA! It almost that time ladies and gents!

this just lifted my spirit about this year.

no doubt, Girardi is the right man for this job

I like that he's going to be aggressive and doesn't want to platoon Jacobs.

? Girardi prefers to bat Miguel Cabrera third ``because you want him to hit in the first inning.''

 

i'd rather have hermida hit third, cabrera fourth, jacobs fifth

 

this provides protection for a young player and also gives you a lefty, righty, lefty in the 3-5 spots.

 

also, if Reed bats first, hanley second, and willy 6th, then in the 1-6 spots alternate lefty, righty

? Girardi prefers to bat Miguel Cabrera third ``because you want him to hit in the first inning.''

 

i'd rather have hermida hit third, cabrera fourth, jacobs fifth

 

this provides protection for a young player and also gives you a lefty, righty, lefty in the 3-5 spots.

 

also, if Reed bats first, hanley second, and willy 6th, then in the 1-6 spots alternate lefty, righty

I happen to agree with you but obviously Giradi has another vision.

 

Perhaps he's planning on hitting Hermida 2nd, Cabs 3rd and Jacobs (or Willingham) cleanup.

 

Time will tell.

? Girardi prefers to bat Miguel Cabrera third ``because you want him to hit in the first inning.''

 

i'd rather have hermida hit third, cabrera fourth, jacobs fifth

 

this provides protection for a young player and also gives you a lefty, righty, lefty in the 3-5 spots.

 

also, if Reed bats first, hanley second, and willy 6th, then in the 1-6 spots alternate lefty, righty

I happen to agree with you but obviously Giradi has another vision.

 

Perhaps he's planning on hitting Hermida 2nd, Cabs 3rd and Jacobs (or Willingham) cleanup.

 

Time will tell.

 

Yeah, Hermida 2, Cabs 3, Jacobs 4 has been what I was expecting all along. Hermida will eventually be a #3 hitter, but I think he's best suited in the 2 spot this season.

yeah my thinking was Hermida third and Cabrera fourth because Hermida walks and gets on base more, and can get on to set the table for Cabby. It could go either way though.

 

is it Spring Training yet????? aahhhh! :banghead

? Girardi prefers to bat Miguel Cabrera third ``because you want him to hit in the first inning.''

 

i'd rather have hermida hit third, cabrera fourth, jacobs fifth

 

this provides protection for a young player and also gives you a lefty, righty, lefty in the 3-5 spots.

 

also, if Reed bats first, hanley second, and willy 6th, then in the 1-6 spots alternate lefty, righty

i think L/R/L/R lineup is a moot point...who cares if it works it works....those things only matter late in the game when you bring in bullpen specialists...and just because the opposing team brings in a specialist doesnt mean that miggy won't be able to hit off them...1-6 ourt lineup is talented enough to hit anyone IMO

every time I read about Girardi I get excited about this season.

I happen to agree that Hermida should be the two spot hitter this year. He has the speed, the knowledge of the strike zone, and the ability to hit to be a perfect two hole hitter this year. I remember that Rich and Tommy were talking about how he would be a possible two hole hitter for this year.

I happen to agree that Hermida should be the two spot hitter this year. He has the speed, the knowledge of the strike zone, and the ability to hit to be a perfect two hole hitter this year. I remember that Rich and Tommy were talking about how he would be a possible two hole hitter for this year.

 

 

That is probably the best option at this point, especially if we don't trade for an OF to fill the leadoff spot. It seems Reed is the most likely candidate for that spot right now. We need some player in the one or two spot to get on base and get something started. Any combo of Reed and Aguila, Reed and Reese or Reed and Ramirez (any combo of two of these three players, for that matter) would be detrimental.

every time I read about Girardi I get excited about this season.

 

Ditto....countin down the days!

Weren't the majority of people here ready to tar and feather Girardi about a week ago?

 

To me, the most intriguing news is that Willingham is absolutely guaranteed regular AB's with Girardi, be it at catcher or left-field.

- Girardi to Beinfest regarding Willingham, Treanor & Olivo: "Let my people go"

 

I'm glad Joe wants 3 catchers.

I happen to agree that Hermida should be the two spot hitter this year. He has the speed, the knowledge of the strike zone, and the ability to hit to be a perfect two hole hitter this year. I remember that Rich and Tommy were talking about how he would be a possible two hole hitter for this year.

 

 

That is probably the best option at this point, especially if we don't trade for an OF to fill the leadoff spot. It seems Reed is the most likely candidate for that spot right now. We need some player in the one or two spot to get on base and get something started. Any combo of Reed and Aguila, Reed and Reese or Reed and Ramirez (any combo of two of these three players, for that matter) would be detrimental.

 

Good point. I hope Ramirez shows up and does real well for us and he can lead off. That would be outstanding speed 1-2. Although, the guy I am really pulling for simply because of his athleticism is Reggie Abercrombie.

 

I can see this lineup:

 

1. Ramirez

2. Hermida

3. Miggy

4. Jakey

5. Willy

6. Uggla

7. Abercrombie/Reed/Aguila

8. Olivo

i see a lineup of 1.

1. reed/abercrombie

2. hermida

3. Cabs

4. Jacobs

5. Willy

6. Uggla

7. Aguila/Reese

8. Olivo/treanor...

 

it just really depends on who wins jobs

i see a lineup of 1.

1. reed/abercrombie

2. hermida

3. Cabs

4. Jacobs

5. Willy

6. Uggla

7. Aguila/Reese

8. Olivo/treanor...

 

it just really depends on who wins jobs

 

you only have one second baseman there

 

and no chance Reggie leads off.... although I would love him to get the starting spot

I'm pretty damn excited to see how things pan out.

To me, the most intriguing news is that Willingham is absolutely guaranteed regular AB's with Girardi, be it at catcher or left-field.

 

And this is news to you? Swifty, the organization has been talking about Willingham playing in OF if he isn't the starting catcher since (or before) Olivo was signed. From virtually every press report, JW has an opening day lineup spot sewn up if he doesn't blow his chances in spring training.

 

I'm also heartened to read he doesn't plan on platooning Mike Jacobs with any regularity in '06. In the case of Hee Seop Choi, the Marlins were contending and as such didn't have the luxury of letting the kid learn from experience. But with 2006 being an audition for the rest of the decade, the more ABs Jacobs gets the better.

I'm also heartened to read he doesn't plan on platooning Mike Jacobs with any regularity in '06. In the case of Hee Seop Choi, the Marlins were contending and as such didn't have the luxury of letting the kid learn from experience. But with 2006 being an audition for the rest of the decade, the more ABs Jacobs gets the better.

 

 

Me too.

To me, the most intriguing news is that Willingham is absolutely guaranteed regular AB's with Girardi, be it at catcher or left-field.

 

And this is news to you? Swifty, the organization has been talking about Willingham playing in OF if he isn't the starting catcher since (or before) Olivo was signed. From virtually every press report, JW has an opening day lineup spot sewn up if he doesn't blow his chances in spring training.

 

I'm also heartened to read he doesn't plan on platooning Mike Jacobs with any regularity in '06. In the case of Hee Seop Choi, the Marlins were contending and as such didn't have the luxury of letting the kid learn from experience. But with 2006 being an audition for the rest of the decade, the more ABs Jacobs gets the better.

 

Yes, it sure was. I have read repeatedly that every job was up for grabs. To me, that implied Willingham. While it sure seemed that Willingham was more likely than most to get regular AB's, I hadn't heard the job concretely handed to him.

 

And, prin, don't put words in my mouth, especially about Jacobs.