July 5, 200917 yr Trade or no trade, Fish have decisions to make Whether the Marlins make a move or not before the July 31st trade deadline, manager Fredi Gonzalez and Admin Beinfest are still going to have a few important decisions to make regarding the outfield and bullpen in the coming weeks. At the top of the list: How to accommodate outfielder Cameron Maybin, who is thriving in Triple A (.320, .409 OBP) since being demoted May 10, and reliever Luis Ayala, who signed with the Marlins Thursday and will pitch a handful of times in Triple A before being called up. Unless rookie Chris Coghlan (third in the NL in on base percentage among leadoff hitters) moves somewhere in the infield, the outfield will become a crowded place when Maybin returns to his spot in center and veteran Cody Ross moves back to right. For the past two weeks, Jeremy Hermida and Brett Carroll have alternated starts in right field while Alejandro De Aza (called up from Triple A June 3) has played in spot duty. Clearly the best defensive outfielder, Carroll has played well over the past few weeks and started for the 11th time in the last 23 games Saturday. He's hitting .324 against lefties and .444 with runners in scoring position and has seen more playing time because Hermida is hitting .195 against lefties. "This year, the first time he came up, he didn't really get an opportunity," Gonzalez said. "But when he came up again, we threw him in there against left-handed pitching every once in a while and he's gotten some knocks." While Carroll has been the pleasant surprise in the outfield, right-hander Tim Wood, called up June 20, has impressed Gonzalez. With Kiko Calero expected to return next week in Arizona, its only natural to think Chris Leroux (11.12 ERA) will be asked to head back down to Double A Jacksonville. But what happens when former closer Matt Lindstrom is ready to return or Ayala is ready to move up? Wood has tossed 6-2/3 scoreless innings -- including a career high three innings Friday -- since being called up. Brian Sanchez is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA and has pitched 14-2/3 scoreless innings at home in 18 appearances. "He has made every point to be on this staff and made a very good case [to stay] even when those guys come back," Gonzalez said of Wood. LINDSTROM FEELS 'GREAT': Lindstrom said his first two throwing sessions since going on the disabled list with a right elbow sprain June 24 have gone "great." Initially expected to have to wait at least four weeks before throwing, Lindstrom made about 60 throws on flat ground Friday from about 65 to 75 feet and then threw from longer distances Saturday. When the Marlins head out to San Francisco and Arizona next week, Lindstrom will continue rehabbing in Single A Jupiter. He will take Sunday off before throwing again Monday. He hopes to start bullpen work soon. "I couldn't be more happy with what I saw and felt," Lindstrom said. "It was coming out of my hand really good. When it was first kind of diagnosed it was kind of wait and see. It's recovered faster than we initially thought. I'm just going to continue the plan of what the doctor has for me and do whatever I can off the field to prepare to get back on the mound. http://miamiherald.t...ns-to-make.html IMO, Pinto and Leroux are the odd men out in the bullpen.
July 5, 200917 yr The obvious answer with Coghlan is once Maybin is ready, you put him in center, Cody in RF, Hermida in LF, Coghlan on the bench, and Bonifacio back to leadoff.
July 5, 200917 yr Coghlan on the bench, and Bonifacio back to leadoff. Your funny Wasnt trying to be funny. Its just the most likely outcome.
July 5, 200917 yr We aren't going to DFA Pinto. Leroux will be shipped out for Ayala, and Wood will go down when Calero is back. Then assuming everyone is healthy, Lindstrom will be an interesting decision as they would have to bump Ayala, or Sanches/Badenhop who are both, so far, doing solid work. Anibal is a bigger decision, as he could bump West back to AA. No worries with the pitching staff. We can stick guys in AAA even if they are doing well. It's called depth, and it's beautiful. Maybin can sit in AAA or simply replace De Aza. No problems there. The roster is fine. There is no tough decision. The toughest decision is deciding if trading Hermida or Cody for more 3B depth/OR,minor league pitching and calling up Gaby (i.e. a more power option to compliment EB), and then crossing your fingers Coghlan, Carroll, and Maybin can handle two spots in the outfield, is a smart decision. Filing out the 25 man roster isn't an issue. It is what it is. Performance and health will dictate who has those last spots.
July 5, 200917 yr Send down De Aza for Maybin? Then run Maybin in center Hermida can platoon with Carroll and then Ross plays whichever corner is open based on that. Move Coghlan to third. Leroux down obv, Wood has good numbers I didn't realize he was doing so well, so that does make it tough. I'm honestly not too optimisitc about Ayala, he may not even last too long, if he does, good problem to have I guess. Just my opinion.
July 5, 200917 yr What's so tough? De Aza...bye. Maybin up. Leroux...see ya. Ayala in. Pinto is better than Tim Wood. We're not DFA'ing Pinto. It would be dumb. If Fredi doesn't overuse him (which now with better pen options, he shouldn't, Pinto should be fine). Tim Wood down for Kiko. Lindstrom is a long ways away. There's plenty of time for that one. Not only should he have to work his way back...but we're not sure how Ayala will pitch here (could be Ayala to go), and I'm still not sure if Sanches can keep this up. But, for now, this isn't difficult. It's great. 3B-Coghlan LF-Hermida/Carroll CF-Maybin RF-Cody This is also perfect for Bonifacio! He'll finally be doing what he's supposed to be doing!! The utility role! We'll be liking Bonifacio more, as he becomes a speedier Amezaga off the bench. It'll be fun (if the organization knows what they're doing). ===================================================================================================== What do I think will happen? I think Leroux and Wood will go down as I said up top. I think Maybin will be called up, and put in CF. Cody will go to RF. Coghlan & Carroll will get the playing time in LF (assuming Maybin performs at this level, which isn't a guarantee). Bonifacio (the organization loves him) will stay at 3B. Leaving Hermida as trade-bait. I think the Marlins are just about done with Jeremy. They will, foolishly, trade him, along with another prospect probably for the closer they are looking for. If I know the front office, this is what they will do.
July 5, 200917 yr BY BARRY JACKSON BJACKSON@MIAMIHERALD.COM ? With the Marlins reaching the season's halfway point Friday, president of baseball operations Admin Beinfest loves his starting pitching but said, ``Offensively, we can be more consistent. You see flashes of extreme run scoring and then droughts. [And] there's room for improvement on defense.'' ? Despite maligned third baseman Emilio Bonifacio's poor on-base average, Beinfest said the Marlins are happy with him: ''Boni has found ways to help this team win. I cannot say a negative thing about Boni.'' His long-term position, though, is uncertain, as ''he doesn't profile as a third baseman,'' Beinfest said. ? Cameron Maybin and Gaby Sanchez are hitting well at Triple A, and Beinfest said both ``are major-league ready. It's a question of when.''
July 5, 200917 yr What's so tough? De Aza...bye. Maybin up. Leroux...see ya. Ayala in. Pinto is better than Tim Wood. We're not DFA'ing Pinto. It would be dumb. If Fredi doesn't overuse him (which now with better pen options, he shouldn't, Pinto should be fine). Tim Wood down for Kiko. Lindstrom is a long ways away. There's plenty of time for that one. Not only should he have to work his way back...but we're not sure how Ayala will pitch here (could be Ayala to go), and I'm still not sure if Sanches can keep this up. But, for now, this isn't difficult. It's great. 3B-Coghlan LF-Hermida/Carroll CF-Maybin RF-Cody This is also perfect for Bonifacio! He'll finally be doing what he's supposed to be doing!! The utility role! We'll be liking Bonifacio more, as he becomes a speedier Amezaga off the bench. It'll be fun (if the organization knows what they're doing). ===================================================================================================== What do I think will happen? I think Leroux and Wood will go down as I said up top. I think Maybin will be called up, and put in CF. Cody will go to RF. Coghlan & Carroll will get the playing time in LF (assuming Maybin performs at this level, which isn't a guarantee). Bonifacio (the organization loves him) will stay at 3B. Leaving Hermida as trade-bait. I think the Marlins are just about done with Jeremy. They will, foolishly, trade him, along with another prospect probably for the closer they are looking for. If I know the front office, this is what they will do. You read my mind.
July 5, 200917 yr To be quite honest Coghlan really isn't doing all that much to merit starting in LF, a very offensive based position. He does some nice things with the bat and has a pretty good on base percentage, and he should improve longterm, but his numbers are still just not all that special right now and he has been slumping. I'm not going to compare him to Bonifacio, but if you compare him to starting caliber outfielders his numbers aren't anywhere close to outstanding. At times, I think everyone on this board has based their opinion upon the fact that Coghlan has always been a very respected prospect. But his prospect rankings were always based upon him being an infielder, where the standards for what a hitter needs to do with the bat are different. While scouts would have noted the strengths in his offensive game no matter what the position, those strengths would hardly even make him a top 20 organizational prospect in LF, the top offensive position after 1B. I don't mean to sound down on Coghlan- he's gonna make a nice infielder for us some day and he did some nice things in the leadoff spot to help us turn our season around. But there's nothing about his .715 OPS that tells me he should be untouchable in the lineup as some are treating him to be. For the record, Hermida's .OBP is in the same range as Coghlan's. And as much as people aren't going to want to hear it, Bonifacio has been a catalyst over the last two weeks and has done even more than Coghlan to help us win despite our calls to send him to the bench. For the record, I don't understand why Maybin instantly has to go into CF if he is called up. Ross has been one of the best center fielders in the league this year. Maybin looks more like a natural CFer and has more natural physical ability, but Cody simply has otherworldly instincts.
July 5, 200917 yr BY BARRY JACKSON BJACKSON@MIAMIHERALD.COM ? With the Marlins reaching the season's halfway point Friday, president of baseball operations Admin Beinfest loves his starting pitching but said, ``Offensively, we can be more consistent. You see flashes of extreme run scoring and then droughts. [And] there's room for improvement on defense.'' ? Despite maligned third baseman Emilio Bonifacio's poor on-base average, Beinfest said the Marlins are happy with him: ''Boni has found ways to help this team win. I cannot say a negative thing about Boni.'' His long-term position, though, is uncertain, as ''he doesn't profile as a third baseman,'' Beinfest said. ? Cameron Maybin and Gaby Sanchez are hitting well at Triple A, and Beinfest said both ``are major-league ready. It's a question of when.'' Why, despite the first statement, do I feel the Marlins will trade hitting for pitching. Time will tell. Also, I am somewhat encouraged by Beinfest's second statement about Bonifacio. Why? Because it looks like the Marlins are finally willing to concede they have some problems with their sacred cow. That is the statement that they don't see him profiling as a third basemen. Hopefully that means they see him profiling more in a Amezaga type role. However, god help us if that means they see him profiling as the Marlins second baseman.
July 5, 200917 yr I have the feeling that Hermida will be the one to go by the deadline. I'm just worried about the return for him. Hermida + prospect for reliever is a no-no.
July 5, 200917 yr Chris Coghlans OBP is vital to our lineup. Just because Fredi runs him out everyday in the wrong position doesn't mean he should be moved. It's not his fault. He's going what he's known for and thats getting On Base and scoring runs. And please, don't start with Bonifacio. He will have nice stretches of games, but he is nothing more than a utility player. Chris Coghlan SHOULD start at third base, and Bonifacio should be sent to the bench.
July 5, 200917 yr Boni is here to stay, like it or (evidently) loathe it. His current streak is 23-76 (.303) over the last twenty games, which seems perfectly acceptable to me. I don't think he'll sink to the depths of May again, but it'll be interesting to see how long he can keep it up. He looks three times the player at the plate and on the bases as he did a month ago, and is kinda fun to watch again. If anyone goes from this line-up, I'd rather it be Hermida.
July 5, 200917 yr No. For the Love of God, we need to bench Bonifacio, and trade a starting third baseman. Or call up Gaby Sanchez. Or put Coghlan at third, call up Maybin to play CF, and shift Cody Ross to LF. In RF, keep the platoon of Carrol and Hermida till Hermida heats up, then we can start Hermida alone. Hermida is not the problem here. It is Bonifacio. Don't let this mini hot streak fool you. He is a utility player.
July 5, 200917 yr I have the feeling that Hermida will be the one to go by the deadline. I'm just worried about the return for him. Hermida + prospect for reliever is a no-no. If that reliever is a real closer, pull the trigger. But I think it will go a little differently. 3 or 4 teams involved with us bringing in a closer and/or defensive catcher. Two very weak areas for us. Is it some sort of sign that Baker is getting less playing time? His bat has become relatively quiet and that was the only thing keeping him here. Batting 2nd didn't help at all on that interleague road trip. Hurt, in fact. Jeremy, Baker, and a prospect or two to haul in a closer and defensive catcher that won't embarrass at the plate. And that prospect or two may be a pen arm that is on the team right now. Not saying I think this will happen, or that I am praying for it to happen. Just that it wouldn't surprise me.
July 5, 200917 yr Trading away Hermida for a reliver is retarded. And trading away Baker is super retarded. They are not the source of our troubles. It is Emilio Bonifacio, and some minor bullpen problems. Benching Bonifacio and replacing him with a .750 OPS bat and solid defensive third baseman would do wonders for this team.
July 5, 200917 yr Trading away Hermida for a reliver is retarded. And trading away Baker is super retarded. They are not the source of our troubles. It is Emilio Bonifacio, and some minor bullpen problems. Benching Bonifacio and replacing him with a .750 OPS bat and solid defensive third baseman would do wonders for this team. How can someone hitting over .300 over the last twenty games be "the" problem? Hermida, Uggla & Baker are all producing much less than Bonifacio at the moment, why aren't "they" the problem. If there IS a problem. I'd get rid of Hermida & Uggla before their trade values collapses any further.
July 5, 200917 yr Trading away Hermida for a reliver is retarded. And trading away Baker is super retarded. They are not the source of our troubles. It is Emilio Bonifacio, and some minor bullpen problems. Benching Bonifacio and replacing him with a .750 OPS bat and solid defensive third baseman would do wonders for this team. How can someone hitting over .300 over the last twenty games be "the" problem? Hermida, Uggla & Baker are all producing much less than Bonifacio at the moment, why aren't "they" the problem. If there IS a problem. I'd get rid of Hermida & Uggla before their trade values collapses any further. Veering away from the name calling of that previous poster that evidently has been blind to what is actually happening... I can't see trading Uggla at this point. But of course it would all depend on what the trade brought us. Anything less than eye popping would be unacceptable, IMO. I get your meaning about his trade value, but if he dosen't start having a better season (he is underperforming his contract) his raise next year is hurt anyways. And I really don't think that is something we will have to worry about because he most likely is gone before ST next year. I'm willing to forget the trade value and concentrate on making the post season this year, for a couple reasons. One being it will help attendance next year. Bigger picture type thing. Baker will make a fine back up catcher for some team. Or Ronnie for that matter. Not bad trade value. Neither are defensive starters. But Baker's playing time is the one slipping right now so I'm kinda looking at what is happening and just saying it wouldn't surprise me. Plus, with the way teams run at will against us (and "passed balls") that is a problem that should be addressed.
July 5, 200917 yr Ayala isn't even on the Zephyr's roster yet (as of this writing) nevermind pitching so he won't be up any time soon. As for Coghlan, I continue to be amazed that after 50 games with the Marlins and 383 innings of big league baseball, not one spent at third base, that people still haven't got the message. For all the complaints that Bonifacio doesn't profile as your typical third baseman people seem willing to ignore that Coghlan doesn't either. Coghlan is now a fixture in left, he's listed on the official roster as an outfielder and appears only as an outfielder on depth charts. Maybin is not coming up so long as Ross (and his bat) is in centerfield and Ross isn't moving to right to make room for Maybin until there is a void there so for the time being Maybin stays in AAA and Hermida remaining a Marlin plays itself out. Unless he can recreate his eleven weeks of 2007 and starts pretty quickly, he's the odd man. Clearly Fredi has no particular allegiance to him, and when the Marlins start spending, maybe picking up that prototypical third baseman everyone seems to want, and look for places to trim payroll as an offset, unless Hermida has already gotten untracked they'll trade off the roster spot, save a few dollars and take prospects in exchange. Conceivably Bonifacio goes to right and Carroll the fourth outfielder or if Maybin is just so hot that they have to bring him up (how many rookies do you really want on a team fighting for the playoffs I ask rhetorically) or more likely he stays in NOLA, Ross stays in center, they acquire a third baseman and find a veteran right fielder both heavy in run production, Bonifacio becomes the utility guy and Carroll the fourth outfielder. But anyway you cut it time is running out for Hermida to prove he belongs with this team. It's completely in Hermida's hands, all he has to do is show enough to give the front office and manager comfort that he belongs but absent that he's on his way out of town by the trading deadline.
July 5, 200917 yr Trading away Hermida for a reliver is retarded. And trading away Baker is super retarded. They are not the source of our troubles. It is Emilio Bonifacio, and some minor bullpen problems. Benching Bonifacio and replacing him with a .750 OPS bat and solid defensive third baseman would do wonders for this team. How can someone hitting over .300 over the last twenty games be "the" problem? Hermida, Uggla & Baker are all producing much less than Bonifacio at the moment, why aren't "they" the problem. If there IS a problem. I'd get rid of Hermida & Uggla before their trade values collapses any further. Veering away from the name calling of that previous poster that evidently has been blind to what is actually happening... I can't see trading Uggla at this point. But of course it would all depend on what the trade brought us. Anything less than eye popping would be unacceptable, IMO. I get your meaning about his trade value, but if he dosen't start having a better season (he is underperforming his contract) his raise next year is hurt anyways. And I really don't think that is something we will have to worry about because he most likely is gone before ST next year. I'm willing to forget the trade value and concentrate on making the post season this year, for a couple reasons. One being it will help attendance next year. Bigger picture type thing. Baker will make a fine back up catcher for some team. Or Ronnie for that matter. Not bad trade value. Neither are defensive starters. But Baker's playing time is the one slipping right now so I'm kinda looking at what is happening and just saying it wouldn't surprise me. Plus, with the way teams run at will against us (and "passed balls") that is a problem that should be addressed. Zach Duke is an LHP. Scott Olsen is an LHP. David Price is an LHP. Scott Kazmir is an LHP. Rich Hill is an LHP. C.C. Sabathia is an LHP. Andy Pettite is an LHP. Jon Lester is an LHP. Those are the last 8 opposing starting pitchers in games which Baker has not started. This is not a result of anything other than a properly executed platoon. Baker has been struggling, sure, but Ronny Paulino should be starting against all LHP, anyway.
July 5, 200917 yr please for the love of God we need to trade hermida. everybody here wants to traded Hermida and love Coghlan I see no difference in their #s they are almost the same.
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