Jump to content

Featured Replies

Posted

MIAMI GARDENS

 

Well, it was all on display in the opening three innings Wednesday, good and bad, pro and con, the reason the Marlins should end this Emilio Bonifacio experiment right now and the proof they should keep the laboratory open for him all season.

 

He swung at bad pitches. And his speed helped force a Washington error. His leaky judgment cost a run. And his baseball instincts created a run. He popped up balls that make him no money. And he slapped a single through the infield.

 

His manager questioned his thinking in the dugout. And after this 5-3 Marlins win, in his office, manager Fredi Gonzalez talked of the run Bonifacio created by saying, "The guy's a winner." And: "He keeps getting better." And: "He's had ups and downs and never let it get to him — he's tough that way."

 

Yep, it was all there Wednesday, the entire Bonifacio File, everything that's made Marlins fans get so emotional over his game. Angry, even. That's the surprising part. Or maybe it's the cool part: Marlins fans caring enough to get angry.

 

But for fans to chant the name of his possible replacement from the minor leagues — "Ga-by San-chez" — when he came to bat the other night? For radio callers to crucify him? For an e-mailer to write, "When will the Marlins' absurd infatuation with Bonifacio end?"

 

Like it or not, Bonifacio is the exact kind of player this franchise has to mold from clay to succeed. He's young at 24. He's cheap at the major league minimum. He's raw, obviously, and a liability at third base, though that's the most irrelevant part of the conversation moving ahead. He's a second baseman.

 

"Tremendous skills there," said Washington General Manager Mike Rizzo, who signed Bonifacio out of the Dominican Republic while in Arizona, traded for him with Washington and then watched him shipped to the Marlins this offseason before becoming the GM.

 

Rizzo says what all baseball people do. "If Emilio can get a .360 on-base percentage, he'd be a terror."

 

OK, if you can leap tall buildings, you'd be Superman. But let's note a couple of numbers. Bonifacio's on-base percentage is an awful .297. But through May, his on-base percentage was .291; in June it was .319.

 

Through May, he struck out nearly once every four at-bats (24.4 percent). In June, it was about once every 5.5 at-bats (18.6 percent). Yes, that's still bad for a speed guy. But still.

 

"The numbers are moving in the right direction," Gonzalez said.

 

Here's the thing about Bonifacio: Every time he does something that says that's it, take him out of the lineup, he'll do something that shows why the Marlins are hesitant to do so with no proven replacement.

 

Take Wednesday. In the first inning, he hit a hard shot at Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who bobbled the ball and hurried a bad throw (giving him 12 errors to Bonifacio's 13). Bonifacio ended on second base.

 

That's where the fun started. Because right away, as Washington's Jordan Zimmermann threw in his first inning ever against the Marlins, Bonifacio took off for third. He was out by a mile. It was so dumb a play Gonzalez thought Bonifacio must have known something.

 

"Have you seen [Zimmermann] pitch before?" he asked Bonifacio in the dugout.

 

"No, this is the first time," Bonifacio said.

 

"Then why did you run there?" he asked.

 

"I was wrong," Bonifacio said.

 

On to the third inning. Bonifacio singles up the middle. Then, the other-worldly Hanley Ramirez hits a soft single to right field. It's hit so weakly the ball nearly stops before right-fielder Josh Willingham gets it.

 

"I thought I had a chance to score," Bonifacio said. "All I did was run hard, and when I wasn't stopped at third I kept going."

 

Yes, he had been running on the pitch. But he scored from first, "on a ball that was hit maybe 150 feet," as Gonzalez said. That's the electric component this team lacks.

 

OK, there's more to the Bonifacio dilemma than those two plays. Namely: Who replaces him? The option seems to be Sanchez, who is said to be ready to hit in the majors now. But he was just moved to third base a few weeks ago.

 

Is Sanchez ready defensively? Or is something bigger in the works happening — a trade of Dan Uggla and move of Bonifacio to second?

 

We'll see. This season is becoming a fun ride. Bonifacio might not make it yet. But there's just enough good glimmering amid the bad to see why he should keep getting the chance.

 

http://www.sun-senti...,3932366.column

i agree and even when i wanted him out of the lineup i wanted him at AAA because he has a great set of skills.

 

even though he has 13 errors with most of the being stupid throws....he has made some great plays.

We can all see that when he gets on the bases he can be of great value to the team (ok I know he sometimes gets caught stealing at bad times but I mean in general). The problem is that he simply doesnt get on base enough. I am of a slightly more positive mindset about him in the past week or so, but even so he can be damn frustrating to watch.

Bonafacio is here to stay and he will be playing second base his natural position. The only way the Marlins take the next step up is to be better defensively the series this weekend in Tampa should have opened your eyes. That is the main reason Tampa Bay has improved so much over the last two years. I don't know about you guys but I'm tire of watching Uggla with his limited range and not been able to make plays at second along with Hermida not getting to fly balls which should be outs and therefore extending innings which make our pitchers work harder.

 

In 2003 the main reson the Marlins won the World Series was pitching and defense, the 2009 Marlins have pitching but they will not reach the next level until the defense improves.

Our outfield defense in 03 was pretty laskluster, if I'm not mistaken.

Our outfield defense in 03 was pretty laskluster, if I'm not mistaken.

 

 

In 2003 we had Encarnacion, Pierre and Cabrera. Encarnacion was a pretty good outfielder with speed who covered alot of ground in rightfield, Pierre although no arm was a good otfielder with speed, Cabrera a much better hitting version of Hermida as outfielder.

Cabrera a much better hitting version of Hermida as outfielder.

:lol

I was just warming up to Boni. He looked great on Tuesday and going into Wednesday he had a 8 game hitting streak and had been playing decent defensively, but then he runs on his own to try and take third and he gets nailed.

 

Generally when people are calling for your replacement, you avoid doing things like that and giving them ammunition.

 

I live in Rhode Island and watch both the Red Sox and the Marlins. I generally don't bash Marlins players because they are all young and have a future ahead of them. It's different from someone who's a veteran like Julio Lugo, who makes $9 Million a year and is expected to perform.

 

Bonifacio has definately shown potential, especially as of late, but he needs to use his head out there if he wants to stick around.

Bob, you got pwned............

 

[Legitimate] stats, anyone?

 

At least at second base, you can maybe live with a .750 OPS.....

.725?

.700???

.650??????

.625??!?!!?!?

Nevermind.

I think Uggla will be traded. Gaby will move to third and Boni will man second.

The only team that has shown interest in Uggla from what I have heard is San Francisco. I think this offseason would be the time to trade Uggla, not the trade deadline.

 

As many before have stated, Hermida seems most likely to go, hopefully he gets hot this month and his trade value gets a lot higher, but it seems with the recent moves Hermida doesn't fit in anymore. I doubt Cody goes, the fans and the ownership seem content with him on the team (other than the Francour rumors).

 

Sherrill was discussed this time last year. Lets wait another 2-3 weeks and we will begin to get a clear consensus of who exactly is going to be available and what the price tag will be. To start thinking ahead right now is a little over the top, many things can happen before July 31st.

 

 

As for trading for a reliever, besides Sherrill and the top dogs, the other names I have heard are LaTroy Hawkins and Danny Baez.

If Hermida gets hot this month, I doubt we trade him.

If Hermida gets hot this month, I doubt we trade him.

 

 

 

I believe it is actually the opposite. He gets hot, he becomes more of a hot commodity and his trade value becomes higher, making him easier to trade. He stays cold, he will be hard to trade and will not command as much in a trade. You are thinking as a fan rather than as a GM.

Not really. If he gets hot, it could be him finally figuring it out. Unless, of course, a team offers something very good for him, then we'll trade him.

We have enough outfielders, and with Morrison getting close to being ready, Stanton is probably coming September 2010, Hermida has no room on this team past 2009, he or Ross, although I feel Hermida is more likely as it seems the front office and Fredi aren't as big of fans of Hermida, to be traded, and I believe will be traded come July 31st. I don't care if its "him figuring it out" or not, we already have guys getting close to ready and replacements at hand, Hermida is as good as gone in my eyes.

Stanton MIGHT come up September 2010, might not. And we don't know If Morrison will automatically start next year. What if he goes Gaby Sanchez on us? If Hermida gets hot, I doubt we trade him.

Stanton MIGHT come up September 2010, might not. And we don't know If Morrison will automatically start next year. What if he goes Gaby Sanchez on us? If Hermida gets hot, I doubt we trade him.

 

 

No.

Stanton MIGHT come up September 2010, might not. And we don't know If Morrison will automatically start next year. What if he goes Gaby Sanchez on us? If Hermida gets hot, I doubt we trade him.

 

 

No.

 

No what?

Stanton MIGHT come up September 2010, might not. And we don't know If Morrison will automatically start next year. What if he goes Gaby Sanchez on us? If Hermida gets hot, I doubt we trade him.

 

 

No.

 

No what?

 

Why would Morrison go Gaby Sanchez on us? It's a completely different situation. If you mean that he might have a cold spring ala Sanchez, he's still going to have every opportunity to be called up. It's very unlikely that we retain both Ross and Hermida for next year and unlike Gaby, Morrison isn't being blocked by the sacred one. He also won't be entering spring in an "open competition" with one extremely favored candidate.

Morrison still hasn't begun to establish himself this year due to the injury. He'll probably be up sometime next year, but he's gonna need to get things going in AA this year before he can be considered in competition for a job in ST next year. I say more likely than not he could end up like Coghlan this year, who wasn't really competing for a job in ST but was called up rather early in the year after owning AAA pitching.

In 2003 we had Encarnacion, Pierre and Cabrera. Encarnacion was a pretty good outfielder with speed who covered alot of ground in rightfield, Pierre although no arm was a good otfielder with speed, Cabrera a much better hitting version of Hermida as outfielder.

 

 

4-3-2-Juan never got the recognition he deserved for playing the field, IMO. Although our OF wasn't GG caliber, they were far from lackluster. Adding 9er was a boost. Again, not GG, but far from lackluster.

In 2003 we had Encarnacion, Pierre and Cabrera. Encarnacion was a pretty good outfielder with speed who covered alot of ground in rightfield, Pierre although no arm was a good otfielder with speed, Cabrera a much better hitting version of Hermida as outfielder.

 

 

4-3-2-Juan never got the recognition he deserved for playing the field, IMO. Although our OF wasn't GG caliber, they were far from lackluster. Adding 9er was a boost. Again, not GG, but far from lackluster.

 

I loved our OF in 2003 I think that's the best line up we have ever had! No doubt getting Niner was a heck of a boost to an already excellent line up.

For anyone interested enough in our team, there is a pretty good article in Friday's PBP on Boni.

Isn't Dave Hyde one of those guys people always complain about criticizing us and trying to make the Marlins look bad?

 

Am I remembering this wrong?

In 2003 we had Encarnacion, Pierre and Cabrera. Encarnacion was a pretty good outfielder with speed who covered alot of ground in rightfield, Pierre although no arm was a good otfielder with speed, Cabrera a much better hitting version of Hermida as outfielder.

 

 

4-3-2-Juan never got the recognition he deserved for playing the field, IMO. Although our OF wasn't GG caliber, they were far from lackluster. Adding 9er was a boost. Again, not GG, but far from lackluster.

I hope you mean outside of the fanbase, because here he might have been the most overvalued player we've ever had, both in the field and at the plate.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...