The fish got off to a hot start with the bats this season but we have been cooled off tremendously lately. Regardless of the pitching, we have not been able to put runs together to help our boys out. Cabs did not get a hit against the Astros this series and no one else did much either. Granted, Oswalt pitched today but we gotta do more than 1 run if we want to win.

brave cool us in second game and Astros but us alway quick

Cabs was 0 for the series. I know it was a two game series but still...bats need to come alive vs Mets

I believe that De Aza abscence is being felt

The Mets don't have very impressive pitching, granted Maine has started well. Hopefully we can jump on them.

 

I just can't wait to see this lineup when it looks like...

 

1. Ramirez

2. Uggla

3. Cabrera

4. Jacobs

5. Willingham

6. Hermida

7. Olivo

8. De Aza

 

That's a pretty nice lineup IMO. Hell, if Hermida shows up hitting, I'd love to have him in the two-hole opposed to Uggla. I think Hermida would be perfect in the two hole, setting up a Righty-Lefty-Righty-Lefty to start the order. Not to mention he should get on base at least 30 to 40 points higher than Uggla does, and Uggla's power in the five or six hole would be nice. My ideal lineup two months from now would be:

 

1. Ramirez

2. Hermida

3. Cabrera

4. Jacobs

5. Uggla

6. Willingham

7. Olivo

8. De Aza

 

I would hit Uggla above Willingham, because he'll see much better pitches there. Willingham's plate discipline is a LOT better than Uggla's, so I have no doubts he can succeed hitting in front of Olivo. Uggla, on the other hand, would struggle with Olivo right behind IMO. Hermida hitting in front of Cabrera would definitely get him a lot of pitches to hit, and he will benefit GREATLY as opposed to hitting in front of Olivo...

The Marlins offesne was bound to cool off. The pitching NEEDS to step up. Poor pitching is what lost us the last few games.

the bottom of the order's been hot. but this is the national league.

that doesn't help too much.

This was bound to happen. Our starting pitching needs to step it up.

 

Hopefully we'll get a quality start from Dontrelle. Here's hoping to 8 innings pitched or a complete game, not only for the sake of a win but also to rest the bullpen.

I think Cabs is showing just how important he is to this team. If he's not on, the offense doesn't click. But Miggy is the type of hitter who goes through very short dry spells, then comes out blazing again. Rarely does he go into any "real" slumps.

I've thought since the fall, and still think the biggest thing missing on this team is a big bat guy hitting behind Cabrera. But then again, I also think Cabrera should be hitting fourth and that the "gotta get him up at bat in the first inning" is a flawed theory that too often wastes his at bat.

 

Right now, I'd lead off Amezaga (CF), then Uggla, Jacobs, Cabrera, Ramirez, Willingham etc. I don't know if I'd do it with De Aza, but with Amezaga out there right now and his penchant for making things happen and his over-achieving attitude, I think he gets the job done. In my mind it's exactly the right time for this experiment with Miggy slumping a bit and Ramirez on fire. Ramirez after all is hitting .385 and an OPS of 1.159, put him behind Cabrera and all of a sudden people have to think twice about pitching around Miggy with Ramirez on deck.

 

And let's face it, the "maybe I'll try getting on with a bunt" Hanley Ramirez is long gone. He's swinging for the fences every at bat and that's okay with me, he's proven he can. It's no longer a question mark.

 

It changes the whole dynamic of the team. And unless someone else comes in with an authorative and respected major league bat, Ramirez' stats show he can do the job and is feared enough to make it happen. Additionally Jacobs' has been quite productive this season, putting him ahead of Miggy gives him the chance to pad his stats (in a good sense) and get on base/drive in more runs.

 

I think the whole lineup is strengthened. I like it now. I'll probably still be advocating it in September.

 

No doubt this thread will now be flooded with responses why I'm wrong but so be, they aren't going to change my opinion.

I like Jake batting 3rd and Cabrera 4th. Last year when Jake hit 3rd he crushed the ball. (155 22 51 16 0 10 23 10 0 25 0 0 .329 .365 .626 .991 )

Cabrera (149 26 53 11 0 5 24 26 2 22 2 3 .356 .455 .530 .985 ) last year hitting 4th.

 

Cabrea last 3 years batting:

3rd (988 176 297 67 2 51 196 122 11 212 9 4 .301 .380 .527 .907 )

4th (764 134 258 56 3 39 140 92 6 158 6 4 .338 .410 .572 .982 )

 

Great at each spot but better hitting 4th.

 

Jake with protection was much more productive.

Thanks for the number-crunching. :thumbup

I like Jake batting 3rd and Cabrera 4th. Last year when Jake hit 3rd he crushed the ball. (155 22 51 16 0 10 23 10 0 25 0 0 .329 .365 .626 .991 )

Cabrera (149 26 53 11 0 5 24 26 2 22 2 3 .356 .455 .530 .985 ) last year hitting 4th.

 

Cabrea last 3 years batting:

3rd (988 176 297 67 2 51 196 122 11 212 9 4 .301 .380 .527 .907 )

4th (764 134 258 56 3 39 140 92 6 158 6 4 .338 .410 .572 .982 )

 

Great at each spot but better hitting 4th.

 

Jake with protection was much more productive.

I agree totally, they need to flip flop, Cabrea being the best hitter on this team should be batting clean up. Jake was very productive in the third spot.

their look bad today good thing Cabrea have hit to kill the no hitter