Batting Maybin in the 8 spot isn't very smart. Just keep him in the leadoff spot. As for the #2 hitter, my ideal choice is John Baker vs righties and Paulino vs lefties.

vs righties: Baker

vs lefties: Bonifacio (if he's the 3rd baseman); Paulino if Bonifacio doesn't win the 3rd base job

Maybin at leadoff and Hanley 3rd has to be locked in for essentially the whole season...

 

As for 2nd, if Bonifacio makes the club it has to be him...they made all this talk about using his speed as a weapon in a triple threat assault along with Maybin and Hanley...they have to at least give them a solid shot at being 1-2-3 against lefties...

I'm sure all of you are talking about the odd day off Baker is getting. He is batting 2nd against righties and lefties. When Baker gets the odd day off or against a particularly tough lefty, Pualino will bat 8th. He is a slug and you don't want him clogging the bases. If you've read what Freddie has had to say on the subject you will come to the same conclusion. Bonifacio batting first and Maybin 8th works well for a number of reasons. It takes a lot of pressure off of Maybin. Bonifacio is a better base stealer than Maybin and if the majority of teams feature right handed pitchers Bonifacio is a better left handed hitter. Today's game had a perfect example of this. Bonaficio slices a double to left. Baker, pulls one in the first base hole and gets Bonifacio to third. Hanley sac fly gets him in. The more I watch this team the more excited I get. I wasn't a fan of the Olsen-Willingham trade, but I'm getting won over. If Maybin bats down in the order, it's just another stud the other team has to worry about and they don't get an inning to take a breath. Now I hope the Marlins give Gaby a chance to get some games in down in N.O. and McPherson is the backup 3b-1b.

First, Paulino has an OBP over .400+ vs LHP. Bonifacio has absolutely no chance of doing that in any split. You are in essence, making a "clogging the bases" argument. You are taking SPEED over OBP. You fail instantly here. You take the slug with a .400+ OBP anyday over a .320 OBP and SB potential.

 

Second, Maybin will out OBP Bonifacio in a heartbeat. He will walk, a lot. You want OBP at the top first, not SPEED (and that's regardless that Maybin has speed). You fail, again. This team needs Maybin to get those 100 extra PA over a guy platooning at 3B like Bonifacio.

 

Third, your argument for Bonifacio is situational with him hitting a double. Situational baseball should not dictate how to maximize lineup performance. You need OBP, POWER, and then in the 7th and 8th slots in the lineup imperfect hitters if you have to play them (such as SB specialists, and Slugging specialists). This is exactly what Bonifacio (SB) and McPherson (HR) do. If they are in the lineup, that's where they got to be. Production will never be consistent, but when they have a good day, it monumentally increases team production as you get the random total bases out of an unexpected source. BIG innings is what you want, not to dink 1 runs and spread out all your weak hitters. That is how you produce inconsistency and kill rallies. EB (and McPherson, and Helms, and the rest of the bench, and Cody vs RHP, and Uggla vs LHP, etc) all should never bat above the 7th slot as we simply have better options for production.

I hate the fact that so many people are starting to accept Bonifacio as our starting third baseman. The guy has had a decent spring, not a great one. McPherson and Gaby have had their struggles, but let's not right them off just yet. There's still spring games left to play and you have to look at the whole picture.

I hate the fact that so many people are starting to accept Bonifacio as our starting third baseman. The guy has had a decent spring, not a great one. McPherson and Gaby have had their struggles, but let's not right them off just yet. There's still spring games left to play and you have to look at the whole picture.

I fully suspect that all EB is winning is the most time at 3B. McPherson will get at least 2 starts a week against right handers, and Helms will face a lot of the lefties. Still not ideal, but yea.

 

We can only hope Dallas hits minimum .250/.325/.450+ against right handers and starts getting more playing time as the season goes on.

Why not Paulino? His numbers vs LHP are just as good as Bake's vs RHP.

 

I like that fine.

Everyone is making the assumption (rightly so) that Maybin is leading off and the question is who will bat 2nd.

 

However

 

As Bonaficio is looking more and more likely to get the nod at 3B, "Manager Fredi Gonzalez said if Emilio Bonifacio makes the team, he likes the speedster in the leadoff spot."

 

So like now what happens.....?

I hate the fact that so many people are starting to accept Bonifacio as our starting third baseman. The guy has had a decent spring, not a great one. McPherson and Gaby have had their struggles, but let's not right them off just yet. There's still spring games left to play and you have to look at the whole picture.

I fully suspect that all EB is winning is the most time at 3B. McPherson will get at least 2 starts a week against right handers, and Helms will face a lot of the lefties. Still not ideal, but yea.

 

We can only hope Dallas hits minimum .250/.325/.450+ against right handers and starts getting more playing time as the season goes on.

 

 

I was wondering when you Dallas fans were going to chime in. I'm sticking with my very unpopular pre-ST prediction....Dallas dosen't make the 25 man roster come April 6th.

The two hole is a very weak spot in the lineup for the Marlins. I don't like Baker there ... he just ended up there by default last season. Since McPherson and Sanchez have shown nothing this spring, I guess Bonafacio plays third and bats second. I don't feel particularly good about that scenario, but what are you going to do? Maybin has to lead off over Bonafacio based on what the spring is telling us. Maybin is getting on base more often.

The two hole is a very weak spot in the lineup for the Marlins. I don't like Baker there ... he just ended up there by default last season. Since McPherson and Sanchez have shown nothing this spring, I guess Bonafacio plays third and bats second. I don't feel particularly good about that scenario, but what are you going to do? Maybin has to lead off over Bonafacio based on what the spring is telling us. Maybin is getting on base more often.

 

Are you retarded? He may have just "ended up there", but he is your perfect, ideal number two guy. Left-handed, patience, pop, contact. This is why so many once believed Hermida would be a perfect two hitter as well, considering they're practically the same hitter with Hermida supplying more power.

I hate the fact that so many people are starting to accept Bonifacio as our starting third baseman. The guy has had a decent spring, not a great one. McPherson and Gaby have had their struggles, but let's not right them off just yet. There's still spring games left to play and you have to look at the whole picture.

I fully suspect that all EB is winning is the most time at 3B. McPherson will get at least 2 starts a week against right handers, and Helms will face a lot of the lefties. Still not ideal, but yea.

 

We can only hope Dallas hits minimum .250/.325/.450+ against right handers and starts getting more playing time as the season goes on.

 

 

I was wondering when you Dallas fans were going to chime in. I'm sticking with my very unpopular pre-ST prediction....Dallas dosen't make the 25 man roster come April 6th.

 

Do you have to mention how much you hate Mcpherson in every single thread?

I hate the fact that so many people are starting to accept Bonifacio as our starting third baseman. The guy has had a decent spring, not a great one. McPherson and Gaby have had their struggles, but let's not right them off just yet. There's still spring games left to play and you have to look at the whole picture.

I fully suspect that all EB is winning is the most time at 3B. McPherson will get at least 2 starts a week against right handers, and Helms will face a lot of the lefties. Still not ideal, but yea.

 

We can only hope Dallas hits minimum .250/.325/.450+ against right handers and starts getting more playing time as the season goes on.

 

 

I was wondering when you Dallas fans were going to chime in. I'm sticking with my very unpopular pre-ST prediction....Dallas dosen't make the 25 man roster come April 6th.

 

So in your opinion who would be the left-handed bat on the bench?

I would like to have 2 fast guys on top of the lineup, like in the old days with Pierre and Castillo.

 

We would have three...Maybin, Emilio, Hanley

 

Except now 2/3 of them have the potential to slug the daylights out of the ball...

Luiy could do that against left handers

The two hole is a very weak spot in the lineup for the Marlins. I don't like Baker there ... he just ended up there by default last season. Since McPherson and Sanchez have shown nothing this spring, I guess Bonafacio plays third and bats second. I don't feel particularly good about that scenario, but what are you going to do? Maybin has to lead off over Bonafacio based on what the spring is telling us. Maybin is getting on base more often.

 

Are you retarded? He may have just "ended up there", but he is your perfect, ideal number two guy. Left-handed, patience, pop, contact. This is why so many once believed Hermida would be a perfect two hitter as well, considering they're practically the same hitter with Hermida supplying more power.

 

Seriously? There is no need for that. Beside, Baker is not the perfect ideal number 2 guy because he has no speed. But he is not a bad choice.

The two hole is a very weak spot in the lineup for the Marlins. I don't like Baker there ... he just ended up there by default last season. Since McPherson and Sanchez have shown nothing this spring, I guess Bonafacio plays third and bats second. I don't feel particularly good about that scenario, but what are you going to do? Maybin has to lead off over Bonafacio based on what the spring is telling us. Maybin is getting on base more often.

 

Are you retarded? He may have just "ended up there", but he is your perfect, ideal number two guy. Left-handed, patience, pop, contact. This is why so many once believed Hermida would be a perfect two hitter as well, considering they're practically the same hitter with Hermida supplying more power.

 

Seriously? There is no need for that. Beside, Baker is not the perfect ideal number 2 guy because he has no speed. But he is not a bad choice.

 

Since when has speed been necessary for (really, any) spot in the lineup? I think that, as Marlins fans, we got used to Pierre/Castillo and just have a preconceived notion that that's how it should be... Patience and contact are the ideal traits and although not necessary, WC brings up the point that being LH does give a nice little advantage in the 2 hole. But as long as Baker can keep up the OBP skills, (or Hermida or whomever) those're the biggest needs.

 

If you want to go the "second leadoff hitter" route, that's best done by batting the pitcher 8th, Boner 9th and then Maybin, Bake/Hermida, and so on...

Well, when it comes to "perfect", speed plays a part.

 

There's a difference between a guy being "good" for a spot and being "perfect" for a spot.

 

The perfect ball player has 80 speed, plain and simple.

 

He also hits 1.000 with a HR in every AB, essentially making his speed worthless on offense, but that's neither here nor there.

Well, when it comes to "perfect", speed plays a part.

 

There's a difference between a guy being "good" for a spot and being "perfect" for a spot.

 

The perfect ball player has 80 speed, plain and simple.

 

He also hits 1.000 with a HR in every AB, essentially making his speed worthless on offense, but that's neither here nor there.

 

:lol

Since when has speed been necessary for (really, any) spot in the lineup? I think that, as Marlins fans, we got used to Pierre/Castillo and just have a preconceived notion that that's how it should be... Patience and contact are the ideal traits and although not necessary, WC brings up the point that being LH does give a nice little advantage in the 2 hole. But as long as Baker can keep up the OBP skills, (or Hermida or whomever) those're the biggest needs.

 

If you want to go the "second leadoff hitter" route, that's best done by batting the pitcher 8th, Boner 9th and then Maybin, Bake/Hermida, and so on...

There is a lot of value in going 1st to 3rd on balls hit into right field, or 1st to home on a double to right field, and to be able to score on anything that is hit out of the infield from 2B. It's pretty awesome we have a number of guys who can do this. Speed has a value, but it's a situational value and more like the topping on the cake. You're right about the OBP, but I wouldn't completely cast speed out of the equation. It's really nice we're going to have at least two burners (Maybin, Hanley) at the top of the order that display OBP skills.

Since when has speed been necessary for (really, any) spot in the lineup? I think that, as Marlins fans, we got used to Pierre/Castillo and just have a preconceived notion that that's how it should be... Patience and contact are the ideal traits and although not necessary, WC brings up the point that being LH does give a nice little advantage in the 2 hole. But as long as Baker can keep up the OBP skills, (or Hermida or whomever) those're the biggest needs.

 

If you want to go the "second leadoff hitter" route, that's best done by batting the pitcher 8th, Boner 9th and then Maybin, Bake/Hermida, and so on...

There is a lot of value in going 1st to 3rd on balls hit into right field, or 1st to home on a double to right field, and to be able to score on anything that is hit out of the infield from 2B. It's pretty awesome we have a number of guys who can do this. Speed has a value, but it's a situational value and more like the topping on the cake. You're right about the OBP, but I wouldn't completely cast speed out of the equation. It's really nice we're going to have at least two burners (Maybin, Hanley) at the top of the order that display OBP skills.

 

 

This was more my point. It's not something you force into a spot, it's something that, if a guy has all the other pre-reqs, you show off the burners then and exploit all the other skills as a result.

I hate the fact that so many people are starting to accept Bonifacio as our starting third baseman. The guy has had a decent spring, not a great one. McPherson and Gaby have had their struggles, but let's not right them off just yet. There's still spring games left to play and you have to look at the whole picture.

I fully suspect that all EB is winning is the most time at 3B. McPherson will get at least 2 starts a week against right handers, and Helms will face a lot of the lefties. Still not ideal, but yea.

 

We can only hope Dallas hits minimum .250/.325/.450+ against right handers and starts getting more playing time as the season goes on.

 

 

I was wondering when you Dallas fans were going to chime in. I'm sticking with my very unpopular pre-ST prediction....Dallas dosen't make the 25 man roster come April 6th.

 

Do you have to mention how much you hate Mcpherson in every single thread?

 

I don't hate him. Just don't want him on the team. Not good D, not fast, Ks ALOT, and can't pitch. Dosen't fit the mold the team says it wants. So as long as everyone else keep bringing up his name and saying their opinion is that he should be on then team, I will voice mine. If that hurts your feelings, sorry about your luck

I don't hate him. Just don't want him on the team. Not good D, not fast, Ks ALOT, and can't pitch. Dosen't fit the mold the team says it wants. So as long as everyone else keep bringing up his name and saying their opinion is that he should be on then team, I will voice mine. If that hurts your feelings, sorry about your luck

 

Jorge Cantu can't pitch, doesn't play good D and isn't fast... and he K'd over 100 times last season... we should cut him.

I hate the fact that so many people are starting to accept Bonifacio as our starting third baseman. The guy has had a decent spring, not a great one. McPherson and Gaby have had their struggles, but let's not right them off just yet. There's still spring games left to play and you have to look at the whole picture.

I fully suspect that all EB is winning is the most time at 3B. McPherson will get at least 2 starts a week against right handers, and Helms will face a lot of the lefties. Still not ideal, but yea.

 

We can only hope Dallas hits minimum .250/.325/.450+ against right handers and starts getting more playing time as the season goes on.

 

 

I was wondering when you Dallas fans were going to chime in. I'm sticking with my very unpopular pre-ST prediction....Dallas dosen't make the 25 man roster come April 6th.

 

So in your opinion who would be the left-handed bat on the bench?

 

Personally, I don't think a left handed btter looks any better than a right handed batter striking out.

Personally, I don't think a left handed btter looks any better than a right handed batter striking out.

 

That's why Bonerface is so cool... he does it from BOTH sides of the plate! 49k/149AB - Majors

I hate the fact that so many people are starting to accept Bonifacio as our starting third baseman. The guy has had a decent spring, not a great one. McPherson and Gaby have had their struggles, but let's not right them off just yet. There's still spring games left to play and you have to look at the whole picture.

I fully suspect that all EB is winning is the most time at 3B. McPherson will get at least 2 starts a week against right handers, and Helms will face a lot of the lefties. Still not ideal, but yea.

 

We can only hope Dallas hits minimum .250/.325/.450+ against right handers and starts getting more playing time as the season goes on.

 

 

I was wondering when you Dallas fans were going to chime in. I'm sticking with my very unpopular pre-ST prediction....Dallas dosen't make the 25 man roster come April 6th.

 

So in your opinion who would be the left-handed bat on the bench?

 

Personally, I don't think a left handed btter looks any better than a right handed batter striking out.

 

 

That's not an objective statement. The advantages to having a power left-handed bat off the bench to hit RHP (like McPherson) are numerous. Carrying all right-handed bats limits your pinch-hitting options and flexibility. Not to mention all the upside and insurance that comes with McPherson, and the possibility that he plays himself into a starting role if Gaby or EB don't work out.

 

I will never understand the argument to keep McPherson off this team. What else would you propose we do with him? Its not like we can get anything but a low-level prospect for him at this point and the more likely alternative is DFA. I mean seriously, what is the argument here?