These last two series, a total of 8 games, the Marlins are 5-3. While that doesn't seem amazing, it is when you consider how awful we have played against teams outside of the NL East so far this season. Our strength so far this season was that we played extremely well against the NL East (except Philly). This is a good thing because we play teams in our division more than any other one. I have my fingers crossed that we will now be playing better against teams out of the division, like we have the last 8 games. The key has been that our pitching has improved, and our offense has finally been able to put (usually) more than 2 runs per game on the board.

If you take away the two games where the bullpen allowed the Phillies to beat us at the end and allowed them to sweep back in May, we actually haven't played the Phillies all that bad

The SP has been great. If the offense could be some what consistent we'd could go on a roll.

It's been all pitching in the last 10 games. We've gone 6-4, scored 5 or more runs 5 times and allowed 4 or less runs 9 times.

Our pitching is much improved but I'd still like to see more progress with the offense. How many did we leave on base this series?

The SP has been great. If the offense could be some what consistent we'd could go on a roll.

 

 

 

100% agree. If the offense can start to produce this team is still in it and can do something special still. This team was supposed to be improve from last year and last year we won 84 games. My consolation is that veteran players tend to produce as they have in the past. Most of the "veterans" on this team are behind or well behind what they are expected to do so that means a lot of guys are due to get hot. I believe the pitching will continue to be good and there are enough reliable guys in the bullpen that if managed properly the pen can be good for the rest of the season. Playoffs or not I hope we at least win more games than last year and are in contention late.

Our pitching is much improved but I'd still like to see more progress with the offense. How many did we leave on base this series?

 

LOB isn't a indicator of anything. Teams who score tons of runs usually leave tons of guys on base and teams that are terrible can also leave tons of guys on base. LOB basically means nothing in the big picture.

 

More importantly, we were only 7-35 with RISP.

Hopefully the revival can continue but considering we face Carpenter, Wainwright and Halladay in 3 of the next 4, its gonna be tough.

Hopefully Fredi and the coaching staff notice. Twice on Friday night game ( 4th and 6th innings ) the Marlins had runners in first and second and nobody out with Cody at the plate. Both times he swung at the firt pitch popping up to shallow left.........Next thing you know Paulino hits a single to right field ( both times ) but we end up not scoring enough. What would've happened had Cody bunted advancing runners. Paulino had accounted for at least 4 rbi's and the Marlins won.

This is just an example of what has been going on for the whole season now. This team doesn't execute situational hitting, players are not patient at the plate, our leadoff hitter leads the team in strikeouts and has the worst obp in the lineup, not many bunt attempts. Oh, something's wrong! Our pitching is doing very good, our defense is a little bit better lately, we should be better in the standings.

To get started, dfa Boni and have a steady lineup: De Aza/Coughlan, Herm, HanRam, Cantu, Uggla, Helms, Baker, Cody.

Fredi and Presley need to feel they can be fired any time

Hopefully Fredi and the coaching staff notice. Twice on Friday night game ( 4th and 6th innings ) the Marlins had runners in first and second and nobody out with Cody at the plate. Both times he swung at the firt pitch popping up to shallow left.........Next thing you know Paulino hits a single to right field ( both times ) but we end up not scoring enough. What would've happened had Cody bunted advancing runners. Paulino had accounted for at least 4 rbi's and the Marlins won.

This is just an example of what has been going on for the whole season now. This team doesn't execute situational hitting, players are not patient at the plate, our leadoff hitter leads the team in strikeouts and has the worst obp in the lineup, not many bunt attempts. Oh, something's wrong! Our pitching is doing very good, our defense is a little bit better lately, we should be better in the standings.

To get started, dfa Boni and have a steady lineup: De Aza/Coughlan, Herm, HanRam, Cantu, Uggla, Helms, Baker, Cody.

Fredi and Presley need to feel they can be fired any time

 

 

 

 

agreed, maybe start bunting a little more?

Our pitching is much improved but I'd still like to see more progress with the offense. How many did we leave on base this series?

 

LOB isn't a indicator of anything. Teams who score tons of runs usually leave tons of guys on base and teams that are terrible can also leave tons of guys on base. LOB basically means nothing in the big picture.

 

More importantly, we were only 7-35 with RISP.

 

 

And 2 of those 7 resulted in no runs as Cantu had to be held at third and did not eventually score.

Hopefully Fredi and the coaching staff notice. Twice on Friday night game ( 4th and 6th innings ) the Marlins had runners in first and second and nobody out with Cody at the plate. Both times he swung at the firt pitch popping up to shallow left.........Next thing you know Paulino hits a single to right field ( both times ) but we end up not scoring enough. What would've happened had Cody bunted advancing runners. Paulino had accounted for at least 4 rbi's and the Marlins won.

This is just an example of what has been going on for the whole season now. This team doesn't execute situational hitting, players are not patient at the plate, our leadoff hitter leads the team in strikeouts and has the worst obp in the lineup, not many bunt attempts. Oh, something's wrong! Our pitching is doing very good, our defense is a little bit better lately, we should be better in the standings.

To get started, dfa Boni and have a steady lineup: De Aza/Coughlan, Herm, HanRam, Cantu, Uggla, Helms, Baker, Cody.

Fredi and Presley need to feel they can be fired any time

 

 

 

 

agreed, maybe start bunting a little more?

 

Yes, brilliant! We should flat out give up outs, that would improve our offense so much!

Just another reason why our hitting coach has got to go...

Hopefully Fredi and the coaching staff notice. Twice on Friday night game ( 4th and 6th innings ) the Marlins had runners in first and second and nobody out with Cody at the plate. Both times he swung at the firt pitch popping up to shallow left.........Next thing you know Paulino hits a single to right field ( both times ) but we end up not scoring enough. What would've happened had Cody bunted advancing runners. Paulino had accounted for at least 4 rbi's and the Marlins won.

This is just an example of what has been going on for the whole season now. This team doesn't execute situational hitting, players are not patient at the plate, our leadoff hitter leads the team in strikeouts and has the worst obp in the lineup, not many bunt attempts. Oh, something's wrong! Our pitching is doing very good, our defense is a little bit better lately, we should be better in the standings.

To get started, dfa Boni and have a steady lineup: De Aza/Coughlan, Herm, HanRam, Cantu, Uggla, Helms, Baker, Cody.

Fredi and Presley need to feel they can be fired any time

 

 

 

 

agreed, maybe start bunting a little more?

 

Yes, brilliant! We should flat out give up outs, that would improve our offense so much!

 

 

considering we've lost 4 out of our last 5 by 1 run, it doesn't sound so silly to play fundamental baseball.

Have you seen this team????

 

We tried fundamental baseball, this team is immune to it. We don't have a true speed and situational hitting kind of team. We are going to win by getting extra base hits. Fundamental baseball isn't our style, unless Bonifacio magically becomes a star.

If our hitting can become more consistent, we can get right back into the thick of things.

considering we've lost 4 out of our last 5 by 1 run, it doesn't sound so silly to play fundamental baseball.

 

 

Except that runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs are more likely to score than those on second and third with 1 out

Have you seen this team????

 

We tried fundamental baseball, this team is immune to it. We don't have a true speed and situational hitting kind of team. We are going to win by getting extra base hits. Fundamental baseball isn't our style, unless Bonifacio magically becomes a star.

I do not think that we have tried fundamental baseball. Fredi seems to be American League tailormade, he is in love with the 3-run blast. He just doesn't manage to manufacture runs. Happens in almost every single game

considering we've lost 4 out of our last 5 by 1 run, it doesn't sound so silly to play fundamental baseball.

 

 

Except that runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs are more likely to score than those on second and third with 1 out

 

 

 

Here's where you're wrong. These figures account for all situations over the course of a 162 game season. Nobody is going to sacrifice in the early stages of the game, except for the pitcher if it's a National League team. When its late in the game and one run is more important than two or three, for instance...tied game bottom of the 9th...it's not such a bad idea to sacrifice if it's the right situation. For instance, runners on 2nd and 3rd, nobody out would be an ideal bunt situation. If you bunt successfully, you now have 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Now all you need is a fly ball to win the game. The opposing manager might bring the infield in, which increases your chance of getting a hit dramatically. If you don't bunt in that situation, you have an extra out to work with, but you're also prone to the double play.

considering we've lost 4 out of our last 5 by 1 run, it doesn't sound so silly to play fundamental baseball.

 

 

Except that runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs are more likely to score than those on second and third with 1 out

 

 

 

Here's where you're wrong. These figures account for all situations over the course of a 162 game season. Nobody is going to sacrifice in the early stages of the game, except for the pitcher if it's a National League team. When its late in the game and one run is more important than two or three, for instance...tied game bottom of the 9th...it's not such a bad idea to sacrifice if it's the right situation. For instance, runners on 2nd and 3rd, nobody out would be an ideal bunt situation. If you bunt successfully, you now have 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Now all you need is a fly ball to win the game. The opposing manager might bring the infield in, which increases your chance of getting a hit dramatically. If you don't bunt in that situation, you have an extra out to work with, but you're also prone to the double play.

 

You're also prone to having a higher run expectancy

Without Bonifacio in the lineup we definatly have more chances of run production as his OBP, OPS and BA are well below Major League Level. With Coghlan continuing to develop he should find his way's to get on base ex: walks, bunt hit, bloop hits etc. and at the moment his stats are decieving.

 

IMO the Production from our main guys Hanley, Uggla and Cantu have ben up to par (except Hanley's RBI total but he did have Bonifacio in front of him) but our role players Hermida, Baker/Paulino and Cody need to be more consistant with the bat if we want to win games. I'd take 1/4 every game from them with and RBI or run scored then 4/5 one game and 0/4 2 game in a row then agains 2/3 and so on.

 

Consistancy is the key to winning games, our pitching has done it's part and our offense has to step it up.

considering we've lost 4 out of our last 5 by 1 run, it doesn't sound so silly to play fundamental baseball.

 

 

Except that runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs are more likely to score than those on second and third with 1 out

 

 

 

Here's where you're wrong. These figures account for all situations over the course of a 162 game season. Nobody is going to sacrifice in the early stages of the game, except for the pitcher if it's a National League team. When its late in the game and one run is more important than two or three, for instance...tied game bottom of the 9th...it's not such a bad idea to sacrifice if it's the right situation. For instance, runners on 2nd and 3rd, nobody out would be an ideal bunt situation. If you bunt successfully, you now have 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Now all you need is a fly ball to win the game. The opposing manager might bring the infield in, which increases your chance of getting a hit dramatically. If you don't bunt in that situation, you have an extra out to work with, but you're also prone to the double play.

 

You're also prone to having a higher run expectancy

 

Did you even read my post? That's over the course of a 162 game season!

 

I hate when people get too caught up in stats and write off any sort of baseball fundamentals/strategy simply because they think the numbers say you're not supposed to...

The schedule ahead is our test and will make or break us for sure! We could be 15 out by the all star break or right in it if we play well!

To the geniuses who keep bringing the little "theory" up, you do realize that this isn't a video game, right? Bunting isn't as easy as it looks. Considering Cody Ross is a slugger, I'm sure he doesn't have much experience bunting.