April 22, 200620 yr Willingham might stay put in outfield By Joe Capozzi Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Saturday, April 22, 2006 PHILADELPHIA ? Catcher Matt Treanor made his fourth start Friday, two more than Josh Willingham has made behind the plate. Willingham, who hasn't caught since April 12, might become a fixture in left field. He'll play in left at least until right fielder Jeremy Hermida returns from the disabled list. Willingham entered spring training as the front-runner to be the starting catcher, but that job went to Miguel Olivo because the Marlins weren't able to trade for a starting left fielder. While he is continuing to adjust to left field, Willingham has become an offensive force for the Marlins. He has a.304 batting average with three home runs and a team-high 14 RBI. He was 0-for-4 against the Phillies on Friday. "We need his production in there every day,'' manager Joe Girardi said, "and he's hitting behind Miguel (Cabrera). It's pretty important he be in there.'' Link Makes good sense. Willingham will be more productive without the physical stress of catching everyday.
April 22, 200620 yr Willingham might stay put in outfield By Joe Capozzi Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Saturday, April 22, 2006 PHILADELPHIA ? Catcher Matt Treanor made his fourth start Friday, two more than Josh Willingham has made behind the plate. Willingham, who hasn't caught since April 12, might become a fixture in left field. He'll play in left at least until right fielder Jeremy Hermida returns from the disabled list. Willingham entered spring training as the front-runner to be the starting catcher, but that job went to Miguel Olivo because the Marlins weren't able to trade for a starting left fielder. While he is continuing to adjust to left field, Willingham has become an offensive force for the Marlins. He has a.304 batting average with three home runs and a team-high 14 RBI. He was 0-for-4 against the Phillies on Friday. "We need his production in there every day,'' manager Joe Girardi said, "and he's hitting behind Miguel (Cabrera). It's pretty important he be in there.'' Link Makes good sense. Willingham will be more productive without the physical stress of catching everyday. Pretty much been my thinking all along.. He needs to play every day, and wont have as much physical stress in OF as opposed to catching
April 22, 200620 yr My thougths exactly, he is more suited there anyway. His production is well needed and it can only get better coming from the outfield.
April 22, 200620 yr Thank goodness...... that plan of making him a catcher wouldve shortened his career even more.
April 22, 200620 yr Hammer is better in left than Cabrera was and Olivo and Treanor are better defensively-and what a plus to see Matt with a big hit yesterday and Olivo smoking some balls deep.
April 23, 200620 yr willingham has looked strong out in the outfield..i would keep in out there. this organization does need to produce a quality catcher though, this has always seemed to be a weakness of ours (excluding pudge and lo duca)
April 23, 200620 yr willingham has looked strong out in the outfield..i would keep in out there. this organization does need to produce a quality catcher though, this has always seemed to be a weakness of ours (excluding pudge and lo duca) ...and CJ
April 23, 200620 yr Leave him in LF for the next 10 yrs or so! It appears Abercrombie is settling down as well, he can hold down the CF job til Campusano is ready. Aguila should be our 4th OF and Reed should be our defensive replacement and pinchrunner...Wow this roster has taken shape!
April 23, 200620 yr willingham has looked strong out in the outfield..i would keep in out there. this organization does need to produce a quality catcher though, this has always seemed to be a weakness of ours (excluding pudge and lo duca) ...and CJ Yeah, he would be the only one we've ever actually produced.
April 23, 200620 yr Leave him in LF for the next 10 yrs or so! It appears Abercrombie is settling down as well, he can hold down the CF job til Campusano is ready. Aguila should be our 4th OF and Reed should be our defensive replacement and pinchrunner...Wow this roster has taken shape! nope. reed is just a waste of a roster spot. you see the other night when he was brought in to pinch run and got picked off within 10 seconds?
April 23, 200620 yr ...you see the other night when he (Reed) was brought in to pinch run and got picked off within 10 seconds? I've been wondering since Friday if that play sealed his fate with Girardi. That wasn't even a rookie mistake, it was a potentially game altering one. He's just lucky Borowski sealed the deal in the bottom of the ninth.
April 23, 200620 yr Author ...you see the other night when he (Reed) was brought in to pinch run and got picked off within 10 seconds? I've been wondering since Friday if that play sealed his fate with Girardi. That wasn't even a rookie mistake, it was a potentially game altering one. He's just lucky Borowski sealed the deal in the bottom of the ninth. I can tell you it firmed up my impression he either isn't ready or doesn't have what it takes to play in the MLB. He needs to go back to AA to work on his game.
April 23, 200620 yr Leave him in LF for the next 10 yrs or so! It appears Abercrombie is settling down as well, he can hold down the CF job til Campusano is ready. Aguila should be our 4th OF and Reed should be our defensive replacement and pinchrunner...Wow this roster has taken shape! nope. reed is just a waste of a roster spot. you see the other night when he was brought in to pinch run and got picked off within 10 seconds? No I didn't see it ...unfortunately in the Orlando area the only way to follow the Marlins is by internet or sattelite TV...pretty sorry marketing of the franchise
April 23, 200620 yr lalalalala Olivo's hitting well. I would expect Willingham to still get some time at catcher and be part of the pitcher catcher meetings. It depends as much on his progress, which had been SAID to be good, as our options at C ad LF.
April 23, 200620 yr IMO that is exactly where he belongs. Willy makes too many mistakes behind the plate, but has proven to be a competent outfielder. Plus his bat every day in the lineup really helps this team out, so it all makes sense.
April 23, 200620 yr My reasons for wanting Hammer behind the plate were mostly because he can hit, so if Olivo keeps this up that pretty much solves the problem. Treanor will probably continue to get some starts, but I doubt Willingham will see much time. Once Hermida comes back that gives us 2 good outfielders. I still don't think Reggie Abercrombie is going to last, but at least the past week gives me a glimmer of hope.
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