JUPITER, Fla. -- In their relatively brief history, the Marlins have lined up some pretty formidable first basemen.

 

Their 2003 World Series championship team featured budding star Derrek Lee, who belted 31 home runs that season. And last year, slugger Carlos Delgado set a team record for most home runs by a left-handed hitter with 33, while driving in 115.

 

As part of the club's market correction to scale down payroll, the Marlins dealt the power-hitting Delgado to the Mets in a deal that brought in first baseman Mike Jacobs.

 

The 25-year-old Jacobs is a promising power hitter from the left side, who has some pretty big shoes to fill at first.

 

The San Diego native seems up to the challenge. Projected to bat in the heart of the order, Jacobs is a pivotal player to watch on the club, because he may find himself batting behind Miguel Cabrera.

 

Cabrera is the dominant force in a youthful lineup, and he likely will bat third or fourth. When he bats third, Jacobs is a strong candidate to bat cleanup, meaning he has to protect Cabrera by giving opponents another threat to worry about.

 

"I think you've got to approach it as you would anything else, whether I was in Double-A or Triple-A or whatever hitting in that spot," Jacobs said of following Cabrera. "I personally try not to put any extra pressure on myself. I don't want to look at it as, 'Oh my gosh, I've got to protect Miguel,' or obviously they're going to want to pitch to me rather than him. Or, 'Oh my gosh, I've got to go out there and get a bunch of hits.' I'm going to go out there and just play the game."

 

The Marlins aren't asking Jacobs to be another Delgado. But based on how he has hit throughout his Minor League career, his numbers have a chance to be pretty respectable.

 

Brought up by the Mets towards the end of last season, Jacobs produced 11 home runs in 100 at-bats, finishing with a .310 average and 23 RBIs.

 

Jacobs actually went deep on his first big-league at-bat, belting a pinch-hit three-run homer off Washington's Esteban Loaiza. And he is the first player in Major League history to hit four home runs within four days of his debut.

 

Before being called up by the Mets, Jacobs connected on 25 home runs and drove in 93 while batting .321 for Double-A Binghamton.

 

"Our lineup is subject to change depending on what happens," manager Joe Girardi said of the next week leading into the season. "We're going to hit Herm [Hermida] or Jacobs behind Miguel."

 

Girardi points out that Jacobs has shown power in the past, and more is expected on the youthful Marlins.

 

"He showed for a month last year that he was a guy who can hit some home runs," Girardi said. "If you hit home runs, you obviously are going to put up big numbers. He had 11 in a month -- basically, in 100 at-bats. If you project that out, that would be real nice for any club."

 

Chances are Cabrera will bat third to assure he bats in the first inning and gets as many chances to hit as possible in a game.

 

Word is already spreading throughout the league that Cabrera will be pitched to carefully, especially with Delgado no longer around.

 

A big year out of Jacobs would result in Cabrera likely seeing more pitches to hit.

 

"Coming through the Minor Leagues, I never really had another player where I had to protect him," Jacobs said. "It will definitely be new, but that's why we've got our coaches."

 

Like many of the Marlins' touted prospects, Jacobs has a track record of success in the Minor Leagues. Last year he was named the Mets' Sterling Organizational Player of the Year for the second time.-- he also received the honor in 2003. And in 2005, the first baseman was named the Eastern League's Most Valuable Player.

 

"I'm a big believer in always coming to field every day, and trying to show them a reason why I'm here," Jacobs said. "I try to show them that I belong here and why I should stay here. I never take anything for granted."

 

Love this kid, a stud in the making... Got get em' Jacobs!!

"Our lineup is subject to change depending on what happens," manager Joe Girardi said of the next week leading into the season. "We're going to hit Herm [Hermida] or Jacobs behind Miguel."

 

 

 

If I was Girardi I would bat Jeremy 2nd and Jacobs 4th. Mostly because Jeremy is pretty good about getting on base.

 

 

 

Thanks for posting

"Our lineup is subject to change depending on what happens," manager Joe Girardi said of the next week leading into the season. "We're going to hit Herm [Hermida] or Jacobs behind Miguel."

 

 

 

If I was Girardi I would bat Jeremy 2nd and Jacobs 4th. Mostly because Jeremy is pretty good about getting on base.

 

 

 

Thanks for posting

i think the way it will go...hermi to get walks and base knocks, cabs for power, jacobs for protection purposes...he could have a big rbi year depending on the top of the order

"Our lineup is subject to change depending on what happens," manager Joe Girardi said of the next week leading into the season. "We're going to hit Herm [Hermida] or Jacobs behind Miguel."

 

 

 

If I was Girardi I would bat Jeremy 2nd and Jacobs 4th. Mostly because Jeremy is pretty good about getting on base.

 

 

 

Thanks for posting

 

I agree with you.. HamRam and Hermi look solid in the numbers 1 and 2.. Cabby batting third will give him an atbat every first inning of a ball game... I think Joe has figured it out!

 

Your Welcome! :thumbup

We'll see. If Jacobs flops, our choices are very limited for finding someone to protect Miggy. In fact, we don't have anybody else whom you'd call a "prototypical" cleanup hitter.

A big year out of Jacobs would result in Cabrera likely seeing more pitches to hit

 

 

 

it could be a very long year for Cabbie

 

is hanley going to lead off?

is hanley going to lead off?

 

 

Yes