I really hope we are continuing to pursue our CF options. I would hate to go into the season with just Amezaga and Borchard on the bench and Alex Sanchez acting as a stopgap for De Aza and Campusano. I think this Marlins team can be a playoff calibar squad if we lock down CF.

 

My favorite option out there is Bernie Williams. Sure, I doubt he would leave the Yankees but what if the Fish PROMISED him a starting job?! He can still play a little and has a great eye at the plate. Other than Williams, there are only a few FAs left....Shannon Stewart (a career .299 hitter) would be a good option but doubtful the Fish are interested. Eric Young is one of my favorites- again I know he's 40, but he would be a great clubhouse asset to any team, can still run, and can play many positions. Other options include washups Quinton McCracken and Michael Tucker, and never lived up to potentials Jerry Hairston, Terrence Long, and George Lombard.

 

I doubt the Fish are going to make a deal and I doubt the Fish are going to go out and get any FAs. As it stands now, Alex Sanchez looks like our guy barring a disasterous spring training. He will hold the fort down until we give Campusano and De Aza a chance.

 

My favorite option out there still includes BJ Upton.........any thoughts?

Bernie can't man CF at DS

 

I dont think Sanchez has anything close to the job. It's going to be an open competition during ST(as it should be)

 

Id love to trade for Upton or someone...

 

As for De Aza or Campusano, they arent exactly blue chip prospects either.

 

One more guy to look for is Brett Carroll.... Who knows, maybe Reggie wins the job again in ST.... or Eric Reed has a good showing

Isn't Bernie's defense supposed to be weak? Or is it just his arm?

 

He hasn't had an OPS over .800 in 4 years.

Bernie can't man CF at DS

 

I dont think Sanchez has anything close to the job. It's going to be an open competition during ST(as it should be)

 

Id love to trade for Upton or someone...

 

As for De Aza or Campusano, they arent exactly blue chip prospects either.

 

One more guy to look for is Brett Carroll.... Who knows, maybe Reggie wins the job again in ST.... or Eric Reed has a good showing

 

 

Brett Carroll (good pop-would kill doubles in DS) and Reggie Abercrombie (good upside) do have a small chance of being decent MLBers. Eric Reed hasn't proven he can hit MLB pitching. Sanchez hasn't locked up the job but with all the guys we have, Sanchez has the best chance of hitting .300- thats for sure.

After what went down with Girardi, ain't no way Bernie considers coming near here, nor should we really want him given his continued decline on defense.

 

Look, I think he'd look absolutely perfect batting 7th in our lineup, but he just can't play center field at Pro Player 81 times a year...

I still have confidence Beinfest will snag something for CF that isnt on the roster currently.

Here's a crazy idea..... Aubrey Huff has lowered his asking price from 36 M/4 yrs. to 23 M/3 yrs.........

 

Let's trade Mike Jacobs for a legit CFer and sign Aubrey Huff 1 yr/10 M.......I've seen the Marlins make crazier signings.....

 

 

I might have had too much egg nog but no one wants Huff and I think he's a player.

Here's a crazy idea..... Aubrey Huff has lowered his asking price from 36 M/4 yrs. to 23 M/3 yrs.........

 

Let's trade Mike Jacobs for a legit CFer and sign Aubrey Huff 1 yr/10 M.......I've seen the Marlins make crazier signings.....

 

 

I might have had too much egg nog but no one wants Huff and I think he's a player.

 

What makes you think Mike Jacobs is enough to land a legit CFer when he doesn't have what it takes to get Chris Duffy from the Pirates?

Here's a crazy idea..... Aubrey Huff has lowered his asking price from 36 M/4 yrs. to 23 M/3 yrs.........

 

Let's trade Mike Jacobs for a legit CFer and sign Aubrey Huff 1 yr/10 M.......I've seen the Marlins make crazier signings.....

 

 

I might have had too much egg nog but no one wants Huff and I think he's a player.

 

What makes you think Mike Jacobs is enough to land a legit CFer when he doesn't have what it takes to get Chris Duffy from the Pirates?

 

 

Obviously we have more than enough minor league arms as throw ins.... ala Paul Mildren.

I still think Erstad would be a great option. Ross would do fine spelling him to keep him fresh. He'd definitely cover more ground than Bernie... and most definitely be cheaper (and 4 years younger). Plus wiith Melky gone from NY, I would think Bernie will just end his career in new york.

 

If Erstad is healthy, a good defender, clutch hitter and a leader.. I like him better than the other options listed, which isn't saying much.

 

I'd feel pretty decent about our offseason if you add him to the lineup.. Another lefty doesnt hurt plus we still have our rotation. If he stays healthy, would probably be a good trading chip if we're out of it at the deadline as well. A player like him who can man tthe OF plus 1B positions very well and is a lefty wouuld be a commodity at the deadline, imo. But I really dont think we'll be out of it

 

 

If hes healthy and looking at his splits, you can bat him 1st, 2nd or 6th and hit pretty dang well from there. Definitely allow for us to change the lineup around and maybe move Hanley or Uggla around. I think a strong veteran personality like him playing everyday would be huge for the guys.

I like the idea of getting Stewart or Hairston. Hairston's not the best player in the world, but he could be an improvement. One idea for the future I like is Eric Young Jr. (single A, rockies). He's a second basemen right now, but he could play center. I've watched him play..he has some wheels, a good bat, good D, and a lot of confidence. I think he's worth a shot right now, even though he won't be ready for a couple of years.

I've believed for some time the Marlins will pluck someone blocked in another organization or a team's top ten prospect and give them the chance to succeed at this level by trading pitching prospects for them rather than trying to acquire an established major leaguer who may cost one of our starting rotation or better members of the pen.

 

Kansas City is an example of a team with a number of potential candidates and no doubt there are other teams with surplus talent (because they are blocked, not because of the skillset) who would covet a high value pitching pitching prospect in exchange.

what about Billy Butler of the royals? he was the futures game MVP a couple of years ago.

Butler is a 3B/LF/DH

 

But he is a top 10 prospect in baseball because his bat is just insane.

If it's going to be a trade or (relatively) big contract FA I'd like to get something more than the names mentioned here. I don't think that many will/would be that much better than Sanchez to justify the costs. That said, I think Sanchez will be starting in CF in April unless he blows it in ST. The defense being bad is almost a given with everyone we have (and almost everyone available), but if he can hit 300, have a 350ish OBP and steal 30-40 bases, he'll be head & shoulders above the rest. And those #s shouldn't be too unrealistic for him.

If it's going to be a trade or (relatively) big contract FA I'd like to get something more than the names mentioned here. I don't think that many will/would be that much better than Sanchez to justify the costs. That said, I think Sanchez will be starting in CF in April unless he blows it in ST. The defense being bad is almost a given with everyone we have (and almost everyone available), but if he can hit 300, have a 350ish OBP and steal 30-40 bases, he'll be head & shoulders above the rest. And those #s shouldn't be too unrealistic for him.

 

Considering he is coming off a .225/.259/.233 on the Reds' AAA affiliate in 2006, I think those are pretty optimistic projections. Sanchez is a replacement level stopgap at best and if we do not trade for a better CF and he is named the starting CF out of ST I expect he'll lose the job by May. Then it is back to Amezaga.

If it's going to be a trade or (relatively) big contract FA I'd like to get something more than the names mentioned here. I don't think that many will/would be that much better than Sanchez to justify the costs. That said, I think Sanchez will be starting in CF in April unless he blows it in ST. The defense being bad is almost a given with everyone we have (and almost everyone available), but if he can hit 300, have a 350ish OBP and steal 30-40 bases, he'll be head & shoulders above the rest. And those #s shouldn't be too unrealistic for him.

 

Considering he is coming off a .225/.259/.233 on the Reds' AAA affiliate in 2006, I think those are pretty optimistic projections. Sanchez is a replacement level stopgap at best and if we do not trade for a better CF and he is named the starting CF out of ST I expect he'll lose the job by May. Then it is back to Amezaga.

 

I don't have the faintest how this season will play out for Sanchez, if it does at all, but to quote a 130 at bat stint in AAA as an indicator seems to me either based on prejudice (regarding the player) or short-sighted. I don't find it hard to imagine a mercurial character like Sanchez having a hard time adjusting to the minor leagues after being a major leaguer for all or parts of five seasons with a .296 MLB career average finding himself playing for peanuts, riding buses and living on $12.00 meal money in the minors.

 

Why not look at his .383 BA in the VWL with almost the same number of at bats as he had in his abbreviated playing time in the IL as an indicator? If one is valid the other should at least be considered as well. This time of year the winter leagues are chock full of major league position players and pitchers and has to be at least the rough equivalent of AAA in the IL. There are any number of current starting major leaguers playing in the DWL and VWL who are currently hitting a hundred points below Sanchez.

 

My point really is not that you'll be proved wrong but that you're quoting too small a sample size to mean anything.

 

Ultimately your POV on how his tenure with the Marlins plays out may be correct, but there is nothing to lose by hoping the guy can resurrect his career and contribute another .296 season for the Fish. Head case or not, I wouldn't mind having him hitting .300+ coming off the bench ala Lenny Harris. I personally think is greatest weakness won't be his bat, it will be his head and his defense.

If it's going to be a trade or (relatively) big contract FA I'd like to get something more than the names mentioned here. I don't think that many will/would be that much better than Sanchez to justify the costs. That said, I think Sanchez will be starting in CF in April unless he blows it in ST. The defense being bad is almost a given with everyone we have (and almost everyone available), but if he can hit 300, have a 350ish OBP and steal 30-40 bases, he'll be head & shoulders above the rest. And those #s shouldn't be too unrealistic for him.

 

Considering he is coming off a .225/.259/.233 on the Reds' AAA affiliate in 2006, I think those are pretty optimistic projections. Sanchez is a replacement level stopgap at best and if we do not trade for a better CF and he is named the starting CF out of ST I expect he'll lose the job by May. Then it is back to Amezaga.

 

I don't have the faintest how this season will play out for Sanchez, if it does at all, but to quote a 130 at bat stint in AAA as an indicator seems to me either based on prejudice (regarding the player) or short-sighted. I don't find it hard to imagine a mercurial character like Sanchez having a hard time adjusting to the minor leagues after being a major leaguer for all or parts of five seasons with a .296 MLB career average finding himself playing for peanuts, riding buses and living on $12.00 meal money in the minors.

 

Why not look at his .383 BA in the DWL with almost the same number of at bats as he had in his abbreviated playing time in the IL as an indicator? If one is valid the other should at least be considered as well. This time of year the winter leagues are chock full of major league position players and pitchers and has to be at least the rough equivalent of AAA in the IL. There are any number of current starting major leaguers playing in the DWL and VWL who are currently hitting a hundred points below Sanchez.

 

My point really is not that you'll be proved wrong but that you're quoting too small a sample size to mean anything.

 

Ultimately your POV on how his tenure with the Marlins plays out may be correct, but there is nothing to lose by hoping the guy can resurrect his career and contribute another .296 season for the Fish. Head case or not, I wouldn't mind having him hitting .300+ coming off the bench ala Lenny Harris. I personally think is greatest weakness won't be his bat, it will be his head and his defense.

 

The scary thing is, I agree that Sanchez's greatest weakness won't be his bat. Though that will prove to be the most problematic for the Marlins if he ends up starting on a regular basis. I have no problem with the guy supplanting Abercrombie on the bench, but if he ends up winning the CF job out of ST don't expect him there for long.

If the guy just plays up to his previous MLB performance (which was a 324 avg over his last 2 MLB seasons (04-05) ) the job is his to lose. No one currently in the organization belongs ahead of him if he plays as good as he can or close to it.

If the guy just plays up to his previous MLB performance (which was a 324 avg over his last 2 MLB seasons (04-05) ) the job is his to lose. No one currently in the organization belongs ahead of him if he plays as good as he can or close to it.

 

As good as he could. He needs to prove he can play up to that level again in the bigs (which I have serious doubts), and his post-suspension performance in the minors last season definitely is not encouraging. And even if he ends up hitting as well as he did, between his terrible defensive skills and his poor plate discipline he still will be at best a 4th outfielder.

As good as he could. He needs to prove he can play up to that level again in the bigs (which I have serious doubts), and his post-suspension performance in the minors last season definitely is not encouraging. And even if he ends up hitting as well as he did, between his terrible defensive skills and his poor plate discipline he still will be at best a 4th outfielder.

Is his performance in the VWL not encouraging?

Nevermind that - for all his weakenesses, and assuming no CF FA is signed and none are acquired through trades, who do you see getting ahead of him? The only one of the 5 or 6 guys that is regarded as having decent defense is the offensive black hole known as Eric Reed. But seriously, who else is there?

 

Reggie - niether offense nor defense will work as a selling point for him unless he has a MONSTER ST, and even then, anything wrong with Sanchez will be much worse with Reggie.

Cody - he slugs well vs LHP, but that's it as afar as offense goes. Defensively, I think he makes a great corner OF with good awareness of the walls and such, but not so much for CF.

Borchard - better vs RHP than Cody is vs LHP, even if he didn't have any sexy 3 HR games. Is mentioned the least around here, as no one seems confident in his D. Either way, it'd be hard to see him & Cody in there not as a platoon.

Amezaga - not an OF at all, and it shows. Also looks like Eric Reed at the plate when facing LHP.

Eric Reed - he is Eric Reed. He is lucky to have a ML OBP around 200.

 

Am I missing anyone?

As good as he could. He needs to prove he can play up to that level again in the bigs (which I have serious doubts), and his post-suspension performance in the minors last season definitely is not encouraging. And even if he ends up hitting as well as he did, between his terrible defensive skills and his poor plate discipline he still will be at best a 4th outfielder.

Is his performance in the VWL not encouraging?

Nevermind that - for all his weakenesses, and assuming no CF FA is signed and none are acquired through trades, who do you see getting ahead of him? The only one of the 5 or 6 guys that is regarded as having decent defense is the offensive black hole known as Eric Reed. But seriously, who else is there?

 

Reggie - niether offense nor defense will work as a selling point for him unless he has a MONSTER ST, and even then, anything wrong with Sanchez will be much worse with Reggie.

Cody - he slugs well vs LHP, but that's it as afar as offense goes. Defensively, I think he makes a great corner OF with good awareness of the walls and such, but not so much for CF.

Borchard - better vs RHP than Cody is vs LHP, even if he didn't have any sexy 3 HR games. Is mentioned the least around here, as no one seems confident in his D. Either way, it'd be hard to see him & Cody in there not as a platoon.

Amezaga - not an OF at all, and it shows. Also looks like Eric Reed at the plate when facing LHP.

Eric Reed - he is Eric Reed. He is lucky to have a ML OBP around 200.

 

Am I missing anyone?

 

His winter league numbers are great, but I do not take them too seriously. Just like I do not take ST numbers too seriously. While both can be indicators of a players skills, I want to see progression of a major league professional over the course of his career in the minors and/or in the bigs. And when I look at Sanchez's performance there I am unimpressed. Or do you seriously suggest that his performance in a Latin winter league should be given more weight than what he has done in MLB and the minors over the course of his career?

 

With the list you give, I am a convert of the much touted on this board (though untested in the field) Cofredo Amezachard platoon (if a better option is not present, and it isn't). I'd like to see that given a chance in 2007 before Sanchez, any day of the week.

Sanchez will provide an empty 300avg with the worst CF defense in MLB...nearly the equivalent of Alfredo but probably worse.

Sanchez will provide an empty 300avg with the worst CF defense in MLB...nearly the equivalent of Alfredo but probably worse.

Basically.

 

The only thing Sanchez will bring to the team is maybe a decent batting average (based on career performance).

 

He doesn't hit home runs, has no run production ability, hasn't stolen many bases lately, will probably have horrid defense only matched by Abercrombie, doesn't not get many extra base hits, but he sure can hit singles.

 

 

If anyone honestly things he will be the Marlins best option out of spring training, they are crazy.

 

 

Is he a good option to have coming out of spring training? No. Am I crazy for thinking among Reggie Abercrombie, Amezega, or Eric Reed that he might be the best option? No.

The Marlins aren't planning to use Amezaga in CF this season except after exhausting other options.