Gonna say Olsen for "typical baseball related reasons," but I would break tradition...

 

I say, ALWAYS PLAY MATCHUPS when you can control it. April is a time when no 5th starter is needed constantly, so it's a 4 man rotation, and you can easily realign the pitchers with the numerous off days. Considering we'll have extra days off "to get back on track" and that Johan Santana, i.e. a strong possibility of a loss for the Marlins, is game 1, I would pitch whoever you think is the WORST pitcher of Olsen, Hendrickson, A. Miller, and Mitre. Get the WORST start out of the way versus the BEST pitcher you face the first time through the rotation, and then try and go after a depleted Pedro and overachieving Maine in games 2 and 3 with your best two starters, my guess Miller and Olsen. Have to see in spring training whose the worst, but I imagine it's going to be Mitre or Hendrickson. Might be splitting hairs with those two, so we'll give it to the tenureship. So, I would do Mitre-Olsen-Miller-Hendrickson, but I fully expect Olsen-Mitre-Hendrickson-Miller for tenureship purposes

 

Also side note, the Marlins don't need a 5th starter until April 19th, which is 3 weeks into the season. Should be an interesting initial 25 man roster with Nolasco/Hurk/Barone/Whoever in AAA for 3 weeks, and the team carrying a 6th bench bat or a 8th RP.

Rick Vanden Hurk will not be the Opening Day starter.

 

I'll take a month ban if he is.

 

If he isnt the Opening Day starter, those who think he will be will take 3 days off.

 

 

Deal?

Nope. Especially since I don't even think Vandy will be on the roster.

 

Agreed, he's too risky to give a starting spot to. Not to say I wouldn't give him a shot, I'd take him over Hendrickson any day, but the Marlins probably want to give him some more conditioning down in AAA. Sticking him in the bullpen on the major league roster won't do any good either, he needs starts.

 

Though I can't imagine they would ignore considering him if he has a solid spring. What I would like to see is a battle for the 5th spot in the rotation between VandenHurk, Hendrickson, and Nolasco (provided he's healthy).

 

Why can't we just sign Livan :banghead

Olsen gets the nod if he can get it together.

Gonna say Olsen for "typical baseball related reasons," but I would break tradition...

 

I say, ALWAYS PLAY MATCHUPS when you can control it. April is a time when no 5th starter is needed constantly, so it's a 4 man rotation, and you can easily realign the pitchers with the numerous off days. Considering we'll have extra days off "to get back on track" and that Johan Santana, i.e. a strong possibility of a loss for the Marlins, is game 1, I would pitch whoever you think is the WORST pitcher of Olsen, Hendrickson, A. Miller, and Mitre. Get the WORST start out of the way versus the BEST pitcher you face the first time through the rotation, and then try and go after a depleted Pedro and overachieving Maine in games 2 and 3 with your best two starters, my guess Miller and Olsen. Have to see in spring training whose the worst, but I imagine it's going to be Mitre or Hendrickson. Might be splitting hairs with those two, so we'll give it to the tenureship. So, I would do Mitre-Olsen-Miller-Hendrickson, but I fully expect Olsen-Mitre-Hendrickson-Miller for tenureship purposes

 

Also side note, the Marlins don't need a 5th starter until April 19th, which is 3 weeks into the season. Should be an interesting initial 25 man roster with Nolasco/Hurk/Barone/Whoever in AAA for 3 weeks, and the team carrying a 6th bench bat or a 8th RP.

 

I don't think any manager, at least not a good manager would set a rotation based on whom the opposing pitcher is going to be on the 1st game of the season. That's almost like conceding the first game.

Livan Hernandez is a strange case at the moment. The Mets are out as a result of the Santana trade. Supposedly Livan really wants to return to DC claiming "it's not always about the money." However, at the same time his agent is demanding a three year deal and the Nats won't budge.

 

Either some team is stupid and overpays for a three year deal or they give him a hefty one year contract. Either way I think he is likely too expensive to be a worthwhile investment. Hendrickson will probable exhibit nearly the same production at a likely lesser cost.

 

Kim is also still I free agent I might add.

 

I'd like to think Livan would rather sign with the Marlins over the Nationals if offered identical contracts.

The Marlins don't have the innings to give, I mean seriously.

 

By August - A. Miller, Olsen, Volstad, Anibal, Nolasco, G. Hernandez, Vanden Hurk, Lindstrom, Cruz, Pinto, Tank, and Kensing is probably going to be the 12 man staff in some pecking order, let alone if Trahern, Tucker, Thompson, Sinkbeil, Badenhop, C-Mart, or someone else decides to obliterate AA/AAA this year. Owens is injured too. This is ignoring nearly half the 12 man pitching staff opening day - Mitre, Hendrickson, Gregg, J. Miller, Gardner - and a bunch of organizational types we currently have and have shown aren't afraid to pitch - Barone, Waecther, Seddon.

 

It's a great problem to have, and we're not at the point where we are holding guys development back because we can't advance them fast enough, but after signing Hendrickson, we just don't need another SP UNLESS the organization has 0 confidence in Nolasco or Vanden Hurk (or Barone or Waecther) to hold down the 5 for 2-3 months before Volstad or Anibal forces their way into the rotation, or, something terribly awful happens to Olsen, Miller, Hendrickson, or Mitre that will keep them out the first 2-3 months of the year before reinforcements are ready.

 

Season needs to start already. I can't wait to see how all the pitching performs from A+ to the bigs. We have at least 4-5 legit arms to watch at every level.

Gonna say Olsen for "typical baseball related reasons," but I would break tradition...

 

I say, ALWAYS PLAY MATCHUPS when you can control it. April is a time when no 5th starter is needed constantly, so it's a 4 man rotation, and you can easily realign the pitchers with the numerous off days. Considering we'll have extra days off "to get back on track" and that Johan Santana, i.e. a strong possibility of a loss for the Marlins, is game 1, I would pitch whoever you think is the WORST pitcher of Olsen, Hendrickson, A. Miller, and Mitre. Get the WORST start out of the way versus the BEST pitcher you face the first time through the rotation, and then try and go after a depleted Pedro and overachieving Maine in games 2 and 3 with your best two starters, my guess Miller and Olsen. Have to see in spring training whose the worst, but I imagine it's going to be Mitre or Hendrickson. Might be splitting hairs with those two, so we'll give it to the tenureship. So, I would do Mitre-Olsen-Miller-Hendrickson, but I fully expect Olsen-Mitre-Hendrickson-Miller for tenureship purposes

 

Also side note, the Marlins don't need a 5th starter until April 19th, which is 3 weeks into the season. Should be an interesting initial 25 man roster with Nolasco/Hurk/Barone/Whoever in AAA for 3 weeks, and the team carrying a 6th bench bat or a 8th RP.

 

I don't think any manager, at least not a good manager would set a rotation based on whom the opposing pitcher is going to be on the 1st game of the season. That's almost like conceding the first game.

Honestly, that would be rediculous.

better to be 3-1 than 0-4

Gonna say Olsen for "typical baseball related reasons," but I would break tradition...

 

I say, ALWAYS PLAY MATCHUPS when you can control it. April is a time when no 5th starter is needed constantly, so it's a 4 man rotation, and you can easily realign the pitchers with the numerous off days. Considering we'll have extra days off "to get back on track" and that Johan Santana, i.e. a strong possibility of a loss for the Marlins, is game 1, I would pitch whoever you think is the WORST pitcher of Olsen, Hendrickson, A. Miller, and Mitre. Get the WORST start out of the way versus the BEST pitcher you face the first time through the rotation, and then try and go after a depleted Pedro and overachieving Maine in games 2 and 3 with your best two starters, my guess Miller and Olsen. Have to see in spring training whose the worst, but I imagine it's going to be Mitre or Hendrickson. Might be splitting hairs with those two, so we'll give it to the tenureship. So, I would do Mitre-Olsen-Miller-Hendrickson, but I fully expect Olsen-Mitre-Hendrickson-Miller for tenureship purposes

 

Also side note, the Marlins don't need a 5th starter until April 19th, which is 3 weeks into the season. Should be an interesting initial 25 man roster with Nolasco/Hurk/Barone/Whoever in AAA for 3 weeks, and the team carrying a 6th bench bat or a 8th RP.

 

I don't think any manager, at least not a good manager would set a rotation based on whom the opposing pitcher is going to be on the 1st game of the season. That's almost like conceding the first game.

I hope we are talking about a pro baseball team in game 1-let's see, here is Fredi's opening day speech, "Guys, you are not good enough to beat Johan, so we are basically conceding that we should just lay down and give it to him. Now, I don't want you to think you all suck and that even contending is not a possibility, but really guys, do you think you have the ability to beat the best out there-I DON'T- so get out there and let's lose so we can look forward to game 2 with renewed confidence."

better to be 3-1 than 0-4

The Met's #3 guy, John Maine, is better than whoever end's up being out #1 guy. Does that mean that we should just give up the whole series?

You throw the best possible team you can out on the field opening day and that includes your best starter. It will likely come from the trio of Olsen, Miller and Mitre. I would like to say it will be a battle for the opening day spot between those 3, but that's not entirely true. Olsen has an edge even before Spring training has started because of his experience and years with the Marlins.

 

My favorite would be Miller, but obviously he would have to amaze some people in ST to get the spot. Even if he comes out with a slightly better spring that Olsen, it would probably go to Scotty.

 

Fredi is not going to put a Hendrickson on the mound opening day just because a win seems unlikely. It might seem like the logical thing to do, but it's just not done in baseball. He would get some harsh criticism for basing the decision on assuming a loss and hoping for a better chance with a different match up. The starter you want representing the organization goes out on opening day, regardless of the opposing pitcher.

Why can't we just sign Livan :banghead

I thought the same, but now that I see that 1 year, $5 million, we went the right way.

Livan Hernandez is a strange case at the moment. The Mets are out as a result of the Santana trade. Supposedly Livan really wants to return to DC claiming "it's not always about the money." However, at the same time his agent is demanding a three year deal and the Nats won't budge.

 

Either some team is stupid and overpays for a three year deal or they give him a hefty one year contract. Either way I think he is likely too expensive to be a worthwhile investment. Hendrickson will probable exhibit nearly the same production at a likely lesser cost.

 

Kim is also still I free agent I might add.

 

I'd like to think Livan would rather sign with the Marlins over the Nationals if offered identical contracts.

 

 

 

Did you just compare Mark Hendrickson to Livan Hernandez?

I don't want to say records are meaningless but if Olsen has a good spring, by all means give him Opening Day.

 

Kid probably should have some pressure on his shoulders. Had a poor season last year, to say nothing of the run-ins with police. Go out there and impress.

It's got to be either Olsen or Miller because the rest of the starters on the Marlins stink. With that in mind I would pick Olsen because I don't think the pressure would be good for Miller who has problems throwing strikes.

It's got to be either Olsen or Miller because the rest of the starters on the Marlins stink. With that in mind I would pick Olsen because I don't think the pressure would be good for Miller who has problems throwing strikes.

 

 

It should be Olsen for game one unless he screws up in spring training. Then Mitre in game two and Miller in game three. A little better defense and a better defensive catcher should have the starters stink a little less this year.