February 6, 200818 yr Culled from Barry Jackson's South Florida Sports Buzz column in today's Herald: ? Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said Monday he likely will leave Hanley Ramirez hitting leadoff and spoke of batting Mike Jacobs cleanup against right-handers and Josh Willingham cleanup vs. lefties, with Jeremy Hermida hitting third. Reading between the lines I assume the top of the lineup looks like this. Ramirez Uggla Hermida Jacobs/Willingham (vs RH) Willingham/Jacobs (vs LH) I had posted a while ago I thought wherever they were in the lineup, Uggla would remain as the guy hitting immediately after Ramirez and while this blurb doesn't exactly say that, I remain convinced Uggla is not being dropped down to sixth or lower. It also sort of says to me that although everyone is saying the right things about Cameron Maybin being penciled in or at least getting a shot as the Opening Day centerfielder, internally the Marlins aren't counting on it and their thinking is in another direction. If someone wants to accuse me of reading too much into this, they may be right, but that's how I see it.
February 6, 200818 yr F'N FREDI! I hate Jake in clean up. He's terrible. How can you ever put him infront of Willingham? PFFFFT!
February 6, 200818 yr i dont mind it so much...i just hope uggla can prove to be a little better contact hitter this year
February 6, 200818 yr Well when you have those five hitters starting out the order, you can't go too wrong. It's the bottom half that I'm more concerned about.
February 6, 200818 yr Culled from Barry Jackson's South Florida Sports Buzz column in today's Herald: ? Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said Monday he likely will leave Hanley Ramirez hitting leadoff and spoke of batting Mike Jacobs cleanup against right-handers and Josh Willingham cleanup vs. lefties, with Jeremy Hermida hitting third. Reading between the lines I assume the top of the lineup looks like this. Ramirez Uggla Hermida Jacobs/Willingham (vs RH) Willingham/Jacobs (vs LH) I had posted a while ago I thought wherever they were in the lineup, Uggla would remain as the guy hitting immediately after Ramirez and while this blurb doesn't exactly say that, I remain convinced Uggla is not being dropped down to sixth or lower. It also sort of says to me that although everyone is saying the right things about Cameron Maybin being penciled in or at least getting a shot as the Opening Day centerfielder, internally the Marlins aren't counting on it and their thinking is in another direction. If someone wants to accuse me of reading too much into this, they may be right, but that's how I see it. If this is the lineup does Jacobs even play against lefties? I agree though, I think its a stretch to expect Maybin to be the opening day CF.
February 6, 200818 yr How come Herm doesnt lead off? He seems to have a terrific eye and is great hitting the ball to all fields.
February 6, 200818 yr Wow, I thought this lineup was actually going to be new. Its pretty much the exact same thing as the last two years minus Cabrera.
February 6, 200818 yr I must say I'm disappointed. Hanley is too good of an all-around hitter to bat leadoff Uggla strikes out too much to hit 2nd.
February 6, 200818 yr Author Wow, I thought this lineup was actually going to be new. Its pretty much the exact same thing as the last two years minus Cabrera. That's not an unfair comment. I was so expecting him to lead off Maybin or Hermida leading, and Hanley third or cleanup, which is what we've seen wriitten earlier, I kind of thought of it as "new", but you're right, it really isn't.
February 6, 200818 yr If anyone should hit cleanup this season it's Hanley Ramirez. Why can't they just spend 1 mill on a guy like Kenny Lofton or even Corey Patterson as a stopgap until Maybin is ready? Maybe the line can be like this come opening day: 1-Kenny Lofton-CF or Corey Patteron, but I'd rather get the proven Ex-Indian Kenny Lofton. 2-Jeremy Hermida-RF 3-Josh Willingham-LF 4-Hanley Ramirez-SS 5-Dan Uggla-2nd Base 6-Mike Jacobs-1st Base 7-Dallas McPherson-3rd Base 8-Mike Rabelo/Matt Treanor 9-Pitcher
February 6, 200818 yr If anyone should hit cleanup this season it's Hanley Ramirez. Why can't they just spend 1 mill on a guy like Kenny Lofton or even Corey Patterson as a stopgap until Maybin is ready? Maybe the line can be like this come opening day: 1-Kenny Lofton-CF or Corey Patteron, but I'd rather get the proven Ex-Indian Kenny Lofton. 2-Jeremy Hermida-RF 3-Josh Willingham-LF 4-Hanley Ramirez-SS 5-Dan Uggla-2nd Base 6-Mike Jacobs-1st Base 7-Dallas McPherson-3rd Base 8-Mike Rabelo/Matt Treanor 9-Pitcher Hanley needs to be hitting third with Hammer as cleanup...F'n Mike Jacobs hitting 4th...I hate you Fredi, I hate you.
February 6, 200818 yr If anyone should hit cleanup this season it's Hanley Ramirez. Why can't they just spend 1 mill on a guy like Kenny Lofton or even Corey Patterson as a stopgap until Maybin is ready? Maybe the lineup can be like this come opening day: 1-Kenny Lofton-CF or Corey Patteron, but I'd rather get the proven Ex-Indian Kenny Lofton. 2-Jeremy Hermida-RF 3-Josh Willingham-LF 4-Hanley Ramirez-SS 5-Dan Uggla-2nd Base 6-Mike Jacobs-1st Base 7-Dallas McPherson-3rd Base 8-Mike Rabelo/Matt Treanor 9-Pitcher
February 6, 200818 yr As I posted a few days ago in the lineup projection thread, I think Hanley's skills are utilized best as a leadoff hitter "with the lineup we have this season." We have no shortage of 30-HR, 90 RBI, run producers on this team to hit in the 3-hole. However, we do have a shortage of table-setters and run-scorers, which is why it makes most sense to hit Ramirez leadoff.
February 6, 200818 yr As I posted a few days ago in the lineup projection thread, I think Hanley's skills are utilized best as a leadoff hitter "with the lineup we have this season." We have no shortage of 30-HR, 90 RBI, run producers on this team to hit in the 3-hole. However, we do have a shortage of table-setters and run-scorers, which is why it makes most sense to hit Ramirez leadoff. I agree. Hanley's skills are best utilized at the top of the order. As for batting your best overall hitter third, some sabermetricians argue you should bat your best hitter first, to maximize his # of ABs. I know its not the convention but when it comes to Hanley it makes sense.
February 7, 200818 yr did marlins get Kenny Lofton??? No, it's just a suggestion. Why? He's out of our price range and the Marlins aren't competing this season. It makes little sense.
February 7, 200818 yr did marlins get Kenny Lofton??? No, it's just a suggestion. Why? He's out of our price range and the Marlins aren't competing this season. It makes little sense. It makes too much sense. We might aswell get them ready for when they get Maybin, with Kenny Lofton as the leadoff hitter they'll sort of have the kind of play they will get from Maybin. It helps us shuffle our guys into the right roles. Plus he is a veteran, and how is he out of our price range? What teams are even pursuing him right now? NONE!!
February 7, 200818 yr :lol I don't even know what you are trying to say. He made over $6 million last season and showed no signs of regression. The Marlins have an up and coming CF and a more than capable substitute to fill in before he's ready (Ross). Having Lofton does absolutely nothing to help in Maybin's readiness. If he isn't starting on opening day, he'll be starting in the minors. The Marlins already have a more cost effective veteran presence signed (Gonzalez) for the outfield. There is no point in tying up that much cash in someone who is likely to be replaced or even worse...take away at bats from Willingham or Hermida. The outfield is already crowded enough. Forcing players into predefined roles at this point when even the catcher or infield positions are not solidified and the possiblity of injuries exists, provides little to no justification. Teams like Philadelphia, San Diego, and Milwaukee have already shown interest in him. Just because he isn't signed yet doesn't mean there isn't a market for him. If the Marlins sign him, he immediately becomes the highest paid player on the team. Is that a wise investment for a team that has just traded its two best players in a package for a stud centerfielder? When I post on this forum I do indeed try to make my posts as least inflammatory as possible, but what you are proposing is one of the most idiotic things I've read in this forum in quite some time.
February 7, 200818 yr My lineup: Ramirez Hermida Willingham Jacobs Uggla Good thing I don't manage the Marlins anymore.
February 7, 200818 yr hammer 2nd plzzzzzzzz I believe Maybin will be hitting second. There's less pressure on him if Ramirez is on base driving pitchers crazy. He will also be able to see more fastballs as a result. This will allow him to ease into the leadoff spot in the future. This is the way that I see it: Hanley Maybin Hermida Willy Jacobs Uggla McPherson/Cantu/Castillo Rabelo
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