The Marlins starting rotation is gonna stink big time and I see no reason for optimism. Scott Olsen, Sergio Mitre, Mark Hendrickson, Andrew Miller and Rick VandenHurk don't compare well to any other projected rotation in the majors. The are a combined 85-116 (42.3% wins) with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP in there careers.

Who's optimistic about it?

 

I think a lot of people are excited to see the young arms develop, but nobody really expects much from them in 08

The only real guy I'm optimistic about is Miller. He has the brightest future of any current Marlins starter and he's got ace stuff. Hopefully he can develop his skills and mature this year and become our ace next year. I'm just hoping guys like Mitre, Olsen, and Hendrickson can post earned run averages under 5. Other than that all I want is a strong return from Anibel, but for the overall rotation my expectations aren't high. We will mostly likely rank 11th or 12th in the league once everything is said and done.

 

However, after comparing this year's rotation to last year's rotation, you have to expect some improvement provided everybody stays healthy. Even wihout Willis, we'll find a way to eat the innings and probably post a lower overall ERA than last year.

The optimism isn't necessarily for this particular starting 5, although I think they could finish better than last year's group.

 

But it's the big picture. When you bundle all the upcoming arms:

 

JJ, Sanchez, Volstad, Sinkbeil, Tucker, Hernandez, West, Trahern, etc, along with Miller, Olsen, Nolasco, Vandenhurk, etc.

 

A very strong rotation should emerge out of that group between now and a year or so.

Don't sell Rick Vanden Hurk short either. He was rushed, but the plus stuff is there. I really believe he is the most talented pitcher on the roster and he can be a very good frontline starter in the bigs.

Also don't sell short what an improved defense will mean to the starters.

Why not be optimistic?!? I'd rather go through the season highlighting the positives, than dwelling on the negatives.

 

The way I see it, Miller in two years will probably be better than Dontrelle EVER was. Then you think of the potential of combining Miller with Anibal and Josh next year. Throw in the youngsters still coming up and the future is bright.

Don't sell Rick Vanden Hurk short either. He was rushed, but the plus stuff is there. I really believe he is the most talented pitcher on the roster and he can be a very good frontline starter in the bigs.

i whole heartedly agree...the optimism is there, because the talent it there...its there big time...and i think that it can be pretty good THIS year...

Why not be optimistic?!? I'd rather go through the season highlighting the positives, than dwelling on the negatives.

 

The way I see it, Miller in two years will probably be better than Dontrelle EVER was. Then you think of the potential of combining Miller with Anibal and Josh next year. Throw in the youngsters still coming up and the future is bright.

 

I think Miller can have quite a career, but to say that he will be better than Dontrelle ever was might be stretching it. Dontrelle pitched over his head but his 2005 season was miraculous.

Why not be optimistic?!? I'd rather go through the season highlighting the positives, than dwelling on the negatives.

 

The way I see it, Miller in two years will probably be better than Dontrelle EVER was. Then you think of the potential of combining Miller with Anibal and Josh next year. Throw in the youngsters still coming up and the future is bright.

 

I think Miller can have quite a career, but to say that he will be better than Dontrelle ever was might be stretching it. Dontrelle pitched over his head but his 2005 season was miraculous.

He wasn't strechting anything.

Why not be optimistic?!? I'd rather go through the season highlighting the positives, than dwelling on the negatives.

 

The way I see it, Miller in two years will probably be better than Dontrelle EVER was. Then you think of the potential of combining Miller with Anibal and Josh next year. Throw in the youngsters still coming up and the future is bright.

 

I think Miller can have quite a career, but to say that he will be better than Dontrelle ever was might be stretching it. Dontrelle pitched over his head but his 2005 season was miraculous.

He wasn't strechting anything.

 

I'm with you guys. I love DTrain's attitude, how he plays the game, and what he does in the community but he was never high on my list of fav pitchers. I would bet we have quite a few pitchers that will end up with better numbers than him in the long run. Miller is just one.

I don't think I could be less optimistic. Our ace is Scott Olsen? You only have to look at Admin's own projections to see how high the confidence in this guy is. How hard would it be for our team to go sign just one veteran to try and anchor this staff? Watching young arms develop is nice, but not every prospect we get is going to be Josh Beckett or Dontrelle Willis. This roation is god awful. Loria is killing me.

Why not be optimistic?!? I'd rather go through the season highlighting the positives, than dwelling on the negatives.

 

The way I see it, Miller in two years will probably be better than Dontrelle EVER was. Then you think of the potential of combining Miller with Anibal and Josh next year. Throw in the youngsters still coming up and the future is bright.

 

I think Miller can have quite a career, but to say that he will be better than Dontrelle ever was might be stretching it. Dontrelle pitched over his head but his 2005 season was miraculous.

 

Miller's stuff is in comparison to Randy Johnson. IMO, he's going to blow Dontrelle's career numbers away. Reguardless, I love Dontrelle as a player, and he'll always be one of my favorite guys to watch. I can't wait to see him succeed in the AL, but I'm going to miss watching his at-bats.

I don't think I could be less optimistic. Our ace is Scott Olsen? You only have to look at Admin's own projections to see how high the confidence in this guy is. How hard would it be for our team to go sign just one veteran to try and anchor this staff? Watching young arms develop is nice, but not every prospect we get is going to be Josh Beckett or Dontrelle Willis. This roation is god awful. Loria is killing me.

 

A veteran that can "anchor" the staff is generally an expensive pitcher, which is why we get Mark Hendrickson instead. The 2008 rotation isn't anything to get excited over, but Olsen and Miller are two to watch. At least 3 of the 5 likely won't be in the starting rotation next year.

 

 

 

... and of course every prospect isn't going to be Beckett. That's why having 6 or 7 good pitching prospects is so nice.

... and of course every prospect isn't going to be Beckett. That's why having 6 or 7 good pitching prospects is so nice.

To add, I count 12 at AA or above. Miller, Olsen, Anibal, Johnson, Nolasco, Vanden Hurk, Volstad, G. Hernandez, Trahern, Tucker, Thompson, and Sinkbiel. I like our odds of FOUR developing to make a kick ass staff. :thumbup

 

Apologies to West, Correa, Winters, and G. Taylor in single A. All who are among our top 25 prospects already. And to Lindstrom, Cruz, Pinto, Tank, Kensing, Owens, C. Martinez, H. Garcia, J. Delgado, Badenhop, Marceaux, and Leroux who are RP.

 

People need to recognize if 8 of these guys turn into their projections, we're going to be in FANTASTIC organizational shape longterm. Let alone if more do. That's like over a 70% failure rate among arms. I don't think even the Marlins can physically blow out all their elbows if they tried.

... and of course every prospect isn't going to be Beckett. That's why having 6 or 7 good pitching prospects is so nice.

To add, I count 12 at AA or above. Miller, Olsen, Anibal, Johnson, Nolasco, Vanden Hurk, Volstad, G. Hernandez, Trahern, Tucker, Thompson, and Sinkbiel. I like our odds of FOUR developing to make a kick ass staff. :thumbup

 

Apologies to West, Correa, Winters, and G. Taylor in single A. All who are among our top 25 prospects already. And to Lindstrom, Cruz, Pinto, Tank, Kensing, Owens, C. Martinez, H. Garcia, J. Delgado, Badenhop, Marceaux, and Leroux who are RP.

 

People need to recognize if 8 of these guys turn into their projections, we're going to be in FANTASTIC organizational shape longterm. Let alone if more do. That's like over a 70% failure rate among arms. I don't think even the Marlins can physically blow out all their elbows if they tried.

If the question is "Why the optimism for the starting rotation?", with a week to go before the beginning of spring training and at least two dozen pitchers already working out, some since the first of January, I think the question ought to be "Why not?"

 

If there were ever a time to be optimistic, it's right now and I for one refuse to be anything else until I have reason to.

 

Even trying to guess at who makes up the starting rotation come Opening Day is purely speculation no matter how obvious it appears right now. A twisted ankle, a swollen elbow, a curveball that won't are just as likely as one of the kids coming in and grabbing himself a spot with a slider no one knew he had. So, as I said above, it's way too early to not be optimistic, that is unless you just want to take the fun out of things.

 

Frankly, I'm just counting the days until spring training and baseball begins for another season. :brigginbounce

I don't know, but this guy thinks the Marlins are a sleeper team.

 

Bleacher Report

... and of course every prospect isn't going to be Beckett. That's why having 6 or 7 good pitching prospects is so nice.

To add, I count 12 at AA or above. Miller, Olsen, Anibal, Johnson, Nolasco, Vanden Hurk, Volstad, G. Hernandez, Trahern, Tucker, Thompson, and Sinkbiel. I like our odds of FOUR developing to make a kick ass staff. :thumbup

 

Apologies to West, Correa, Winters, and G. Taylor in single A. All who are among our top 25 prospects already. And to Lindstrom, Cruz, Pinto, Tank, Kensing, Owens, C. Martinez, H. Garcia, J. Delgado, Badenhop, Marceaux, and Leroux who are RP.

 

People need to recognize if 8 of these guys turn into their projections, we're going to be in FANTASTIC organizational shape longterm. Let alone if more do. That's like over a 70% failure rate among arms. I don't think even the Marlins can physically blow out all their elbows if they tried.

 

Too bad very few of these guys have anything close to the upside of Beckett. Having a ton doesn't mean percentages will average out to a Beckett every few years, truth is most of these guys will end up being merely average at the MLB level at best. Its not bad to have a bunch of average pitchers, but I'd like to see someone besides Miller, a guy we had to trade for, who actually has legitimately sick stuff.