JUPITER, Fla. -- It's like old times when the Marlins view the starting rotation they expect to run out every five days during the season.

 

For the first time in years, the club feels it has a group of arms that rival the days when Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, A.J. Burnett, Carl Pavano and Dontrelle Willis were patrolling the mound in South Florida.

 

The projected five are Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, Anibal Sanchez and the lone lefty, Andrew Miller.

 

The excitement level the team sees in these five is why there is playoff talk in the clubhouse.

 

"I see talented guys, but I also see pride in what they do," pitching coach Mark Wiley said. "They all kind of share from each other. They're great guys to work with. They want to get better. They are not satisfied when they don't do well. For the most part, they're pretty [good] adjusters during the game.

 

"To be an elite pitcher, it's great to have great stuff and great command. But when things aren't going right, and teams have adjusted and you're not quite on your game, you've got to get yourself going."

 

Is it fair to place this group in the class of starters who helped the Marlins win the World Series in 2003? Beckett was the MVP of the World Series, and Willis was the National League Rookie of the Year in '03. Penny won two games in the World Series, and he's gone on to become an All-Star.

 

Burnett was injured for most of the championship season, but he's always had upper-shelf talent to go along with his 100-mph fastball.

 

When those pitchers were still in Florida, the franchise enjoyed three straight winning seasons -- 2003-05.

 

Wiley was the pitching coach in 2005, when Beckett, Burnett and Willis were still on the staff.

 

Asked to compare the rotations from then to now, Wiley said: "It's different. They're different. They're actually a little bit more emotionally under control than those guys. It works for some of those guys, don't get me wrong. It works for some of those guys, like Josh [beckett]. When he gets pumped up, he gets better."

 

Wiley recalls a game in 2005 when Beckett was pitching against the Phillies, and a near altercation erupted with Kenny Lofton. After Lofton drew a walk, he flipped the bat between his legs, a practice the veteran outfielder had done for years.

 

Taking exception, Beckett had shouted and walked in Lofton's direction.

 

"I can remember that time when Lofton threw the bat between his legs and [beckett] started screaming at him," said Wiley, who was the pitching coach years ago in Cleveland when Lofton was on the team. "This is funny, because Josh came in [to the dugout] fuming because Josh felt Lofton showed him up. Josh sat on the bench. I had Kenny for years in Cleveland. I said, 'Josh, he's done that his whole life. On walks, he threw his bat like that.' Josh said, 'Really?' Josh said, 'He shouldn't do that, though.'"

 

What Wiley noted afterward was Beckett regained his composure, and he thrived on the adrenaline.

 

The current Marlins rotation doesn't have that fiery personality on the mound.

 

"They're calm out there," Wiley said. "They've got a lot of things going for them."

 

Johnson says the current rotation is ready to step into an elite class.

 

"After last year, we feel confident," said Johnson, a candidate to start on Opening Day.

 

Johnson was in big league camp in 2004, where he was able to observe Beckett, Penny, Burnett, Pavano and Willis firsthand.

 

"I remember Beckett, he wanted to be the leader," Johnson said. "He wanted to be the go-to guy after they won the World Series. I'd see him out there running, and he was saying, 'Come on guys, let's go.' It's good to see someone pushing you a little bit."

 

The way Nolasco sees it, the Marlins staff now has work to do before being mentioned to the pitchers who were around from 2003-05.

 

"We're young, and we still have a lot to prove to be compared seriously with those guys," Nolasco said. "It's there. But most importantly, we've got to go out there and prove we can be in there with that group of guys."

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=mlb

It's a good rotation but it is not as good as 2003, not really close IMO.

I think this rotation could be better than the other (03). An awesome fact is this one its more young and already they have shown what they can do. Volstad had an RIDICULOUS season and Miller should show improvment and ani 2 and the other 2 what can we say they are one of the better 1,2 Pitchers u can find.

Starting from the begining of the season 09 has the better roatation in Nolasco(coming of a great year) JJ coming back lights out after injury, Volstad talented righty with great composure and control, Anibal a guy who can break out to be the best or worst pitcher on the team and Miller who has nasty stuff but needs to control it.In 03 there rotation was Beckett(Who wasen't even in his prime yet) Pavano(also not in his prime)Burnett(Injured often) Redmond(unproven) and Penny(hard throwing and looking for a breakout season. But in the middle of the season in 03 when they added Willis and Cabrera it was great, hopefully history repeats itself and we call up a guy like Morrison or Stanton and Sean West to help us get to the playoffs and win the WS.

I believe that this year's team has a collection of guys who have long term talent. Guys like Willis and Pavano have turned out to be flash in the pan successes. AJ Burnett has never really found his consistency and struggles to overcome injuries. Even the great Beckett himself has struggled with consistency at times. Penny did pretty well in LA for a while, but he has also fizzled out.

It's a good rotation but it is not as good as 2003, not really close IMO.

 

Could be, all depending on Andrew Miller he will be defining this rotation for us

unless Andrew Miller miraculously becomes the ace of the rotation as Beckett did in 03, not even close. We have a good rotation and a top 5 in the NL, but I don't think that we may ever touch that 2003 rotation.

I think they can be as good. It's boom or bust for the rotation this year.

Like... 8% off topic here, but didn't Burnett have TJ Surgery after like his 2nd or 3rd start in 2003?

 

Anyways - I like the way the rotation looks for this year.

Nolasco, Johnson, Volstad, Sanchez, and Miller... I'm liking it.

 

IDK though would it be in that order or would Sanchez go after Miller?

I'm sure Burnett pitch a lot more innings during 2004 season and 2005 season. In 2003 good old Redman did an amazing job replacing Burnett.

I think this group of guys is better. The 03 bunch had better raw stuff, but I think our guys this year know how to pitch. They're more cerebral in their approach.

I read a report in which Fredi said Andrew Miller's recent bullpen sessions displaying his new delivery has been extremely promising. Consistency with his delivery was one of the focal points and should he achieve consistency, they are expecting great things from him in 2009. It also says that the new delivery noticeably lessens the strain he puts on his right knee, which is an area which has caused him to miss starts in the past.