I thought it might be fun to take a look at this team at is stands and with an eye to the future.

 

Starting pitching. It begins with Nolasco in my opinion. Right now, he is as good as there is. The Marlins are going to have to invest most of their money in pitching next year because there are no bright prospects in the minors. The K to W ratio for Nolasco is off the charts and represents real excellence to me. Josh Johnson is going pretty well and seems to be a fan favorite. He also appears to be in very sound condition. It's going to cost some money to keep him around. Volstad is likely to remain a fixture as a three or four starter for the next few years. His numbers look pretty solid and he should continue to be fine with decent run support. I really like what Hurk has done for himself. I think he is going to put up great numbers the rest of the season and emerge as not just a solid starter, but a guy people will start talking about by the end of August. Low in the strike zone, he can really dominate. He will have some double figure strikeout games this season. Unfortunately, things get tough after the top four. It could be just me, but I'm not liking West all that much and I hate to say it, but I'm almost writing off Miller. Meyer has been a starter in the past and I wouldn't mind seeing him get a few chances. Sanches looked really good over three plus innings on Saturday night. Hopper? While in the car on the way to the game Saturday night, I predicted he wouldn't get through three innings ... I hate it when that happens. If the budget line holds for the Marlins, they will have to part with Nolasco and Johnson sooner rather than later and the focus will have to be on getting young pitching prospects.

 

The bullpen. Outside of Pinto, I have no real problems with the guys in the pen. I certainly would have tried to get Arizona to take Miller and Hermida for Heath Bell, but could understand that the Marlins balked at sending West and Maybin. Overall, I think the team has done a great job in stockpiling bullpen arms. I do not have faith in Lindstrom as a closer and would move Pinto and him at the first opportunity. I like the idea of closing by committee, not by conventional means. Parading one guy out there to collect saves simply builds his salary value to the extent that you can't afford him any longer. I think Nunez, Calero, Meyer, Sanches, Donnelly and more are capable of finishing games. I don't know how the front office has managed to do it, but the bullpen is a strength.

 

Catcher. The Baker/Paulino combination is just fine, thanks. It's especially gratifying that the Phillies, of all teams, cut Paulino loose and paved the way for him to ultimately wind up in South Florida. You have to love Baker's dedication to going opposite field.

 

First base. I like the glimpses of Nick Johnson and agree with those that believe he will provide help to the lineup through the stretch run. Would I have liked Adrian Gonzales in that spot? Absolutely. Would I have traded West, Miller, Maybin and Morrison to get Gonzales? Absolutely. But even that may not have gotten AG into a Marlins' uniform. Johnson will likely be an option for next season; we'll just have to see how that all plays out.

 

Second base. Coghlan for next season, batting second.

 

Shortstop. I've been really impressed with Hanley's defense this season. If I'm looking for more of something out of him, it would be more steal attempts.

 

Third base. Until a better offensive option than Cantu appears from somewhere, I'm good with letting him get comfortable over there and ironing out his throwing. He's hitting well enough to help the team and not so well that he will get too expensive to keep around for another year while the team waits for Dominguez to blossom.

 

Left field. Coghlan's doing fine biding his time out there, but ultimately I'd love to see some pop return to the lineup there. Willingham's hitting this season, especially of late, would have really helped the Marlins.

 

Center. I'm a Cody fan. Love his glove and hustle. I think he is one of the true faces of the franchise and I hope he sticks around for a few years. If he were a better contact hitter, he would be a real asset hitting higher in the lineup. As it is, 25 or 30 homers and great defense isn't all that bad from a number seven hitter. If Maybin is viewed as ready to hit .300 for the Marlins as an everyday player and has more talent in center than Cody, Ross would be equally brilliant in right or left field.

 

Right field. Hermida works hard and plays hard. However. I want a .300 hitter and 30 plus homers from my right fielder ... or .275 and 40 homers ... and that's what I hope Stanton brings sooner rather than later. I just hope Hermida hits well enough to help the Marlins down the stretch this year and to add trade value for the offseason.

 

In summary, I like the Marlins on the field now and for the future. If one deal could have really made a huge difference, it would have been getting Adrian Gonzales to hit in the cleanup spot.

after reading your... analysis or whatever, all you said was "i like the team we have but we could be better". cool.

 

the status of the marlins is that they're hot as hell and makin a playoff push right now. STAY HOT

How exactly does the starting pitching not start with Josh Johnson? He has had a quality start in every start this season except against the Brewers (injury), and funny enough the other two against the Nationals (one was too high of a pitch count, only went 3.1 innings and still only allowed 1 ER, other was just a bad start). Every other start this season he has allowed 3 runs or less in 6 innings or more. That is the epitome of consistancy.

My Toes curl just thinking we could have had Adrian Gonzalez, and Heath Bell... To bad we didn't pull the trigger but hey we didnt lose Stanton in a dumb trade for a rental player...

 

Michael Stanton looks like he's going to be a beast!

 

And I like West I think he's going to be a fine starter it was his first time up, and he wasn't ready the kid is a year away from being ready but a taste of the majors was a right thing so he could want it more... Next time he comes up I bet he will be lights out.

 

The Big Hurk has looked good so far lets hope it continues.... I like that kid a lot hope he does well.

Hermida: works hard and plays hard.

 

 

Seriously the first time I've ever heard this. Ever.

My Toes curl just thinking we could have had Adrian Gonzalez, and Heath Bell... To bad we didn't pull the trigger but hey we didnt lose Stanton in a dumb trade for a rental player...

 

Michael Stanton looks like he's going to be a beast!

 

We really couldn't have. It's been reported that Gonzalez's asking price was "three times more than Halladay's". That's absolutely ridiculous.

Hermida: works hard and plays hard.

 

 

Seriously the first time I've ever heard this. Ever.

 

 

http://gaytmndgonnamakeyousweat.ytmnd.com/

Hermida: works hard and plays hard.

 

 

Seriously the first time I've ever heard this. Ever.

 

 

http://gaytmndgonnam...weat.ytmnd.com/

 

 

lmao

Johnson has been our best and most consistent starter this whole year, not Nolasco. I don't know how you can say he is as good as there is when only 9 of his 20 starts have been quality starts. Meyer should not be turned back into a starter, which most people should realize after watching what happened to Badenhop a few days ago. If someone is great out of the bullpen, you keep them there.

 

I find it amazing how many people continue to say Pinto sucks, when he has a .666 OPS-against this year (which, by the way, is better than Leo Nunez, who many say should be our closer). Also, makes you think a career minor league journeyman or a guy that's only pitched 45 innings the past three years could possibly be our closer?

 

And giving up West, Miller, Maybin, and Morrison for Gonzalez would have been a TERRIBLE trade.

I'm so glad we didn't trade for AG.

Hermida: works hard and plays hard.

 

 

Seriously the first time I've ever heard this. Ever.

 

 

http://gaytmndgonnam...weat.ytmnd.com/

 

hahahaha yea now thats funny!

Nolasco is my fave pitcher on the staff...but JJ is clearly better, he has been the ace all year long, now nolasco has been nasty since coming from the minors but you g2 start the rotation with JJ for sure.

I'm a Ricky Nolasco fan and everything, but how do you consider him, basically, the "ace" right now?

 

Josh Johnson has, arguably, been the most consistent pitcher in baseball, this year.

I thought it might be fun to take a look at this team at is stands and with an eye to the future.

 

Starting pitching. It begins with Nolasco in my opinion. Right now, he is as good as there is. The Marlins are going to have to invest most of their money in pitching next year because there are no bright prospects in the minors. The K to W ratio for Nolasco is off the charts and represents real excellence to me. Josh Johnson is going pretty well and seems to be a fan favorite. He also appears to be in very sound condition. It's going to cost some money to keep him around. Volstad is likely to remain a fixture as a three or four starter for the next few years. His numbers look pretty solid and he should continue to be fine with decent run support. I really like what Hurk has done for himself. I think he is going to put up great numbers the rest of the season and emerge as not just a solid starter, but a guy people will start talking about by the end of August. Low in the strike zone, he can really dominate. He will have some double figure strikeout games this season. Unfortunately, things get tough after the top four. It could be just me, but I'm not liking West all that much and I hate to say it, but I'm almost writing off Miller. Meyer has been a starter in the past and I wouldn't mind seeing him get a few chances. Sanches looked really good over three plus innings on Saturday night. Hopper? While in the car on the way to the game Saturday night, I predicted he wouldn't get through three innings ... I hate it when that happens. If the budget line holds for the Marlins, they will have to part with Nolasco and Johnson sooner rather than later and the focus will have to be on getting young pitching prospects.

 

The bullpen. Outside of Pinto, I have no real problems with the guys in the pen. I certainly would have tried to get Arizona to take Miller and Hermida for Heath Bell, but could understand that the Marlins balked at sending West and Maybin. Overall, I think the team has done a great job in stockpiling bullpen arms. I do not have faith in Lindstrom as a closer and would move Pinto and him at the first opportunity. I like the idea of closing by committee, not by conventional means. Parading one guy out there to collect saves simply builds his salary value to the extent that you can't afford him any longer. I think Nunez, Calero, Meyer, Sanches, Donnelly and more are capable of finishing games. I don't know how the front office has managed to do it, but the bullpen is a strength.

 

Catcher. The Baker/Paulino combination is just fine, thanks. It's especially gratifying that the Phillies, of all teams, cut Paulino loose and paved the way for him to ultimately wind up in South Florida. You have to love Baker's dedication to going opposite field.

 

First base. I like the glimpses of Nick Johnson and agree with those that believe he will provide help to the lineup through the stretch run. Would I have liked Adrian Gonzales in that spot? Absolutely. Would I have traded West, Miller, Maybin and Morrison to get Gonzales? Absolutely. But even that may not have gotten AG into a Marlins' uniform. Johnson will likely be an option for next season; we'll just have to see how that all plays out.

 

Second base. Coghlan for next season, batting second.

 

Shortstop. I've been really impressed with Hanley's defense this season. If I'm looking for more of something out of him, it would be more steal attempts.

 

Third base. Until a better offensive option than Cantu appears from somewhere, I'm good with letting him get comfortable over there and ironing out his throwing. He's hitting well enough to help the team and not so well that he will get too expensive to keep around for another year while the team waits for Dominguez to blossom.

 

Left field. Coghlan's doing fine biding his time out there, but ultimately I'd love to see some pop return to the lineup there. Willingham's hitting this season, especially of late, would have really helped the Marlins.

 

Center. I'm a Cody fan. Love his glove and hustle. I think he is one of the true faces of the franchise and I hope he sticks around for a few years. If he were a better contact hitter, he would be a real asset hitting higher in the lineup. As it is, 25 or 30 homers and great defense isn't all that bad from a number seven hitter. If Maybin is viewed as ready to hit .300 for the Marlins as an everyday player and has more talent in center than Cody, Ross would be equally brilliant in right or left field.

 

Right field. Hermida works hard and plays hard. However. I want a .300 hitter and 30 plus homers from my right fielder ... or .275 and 40 homers ... and that's what I hope Stanton brings sooner rather than later. I just hope Hermida hits well enough to help the Marlins down the stretch this year and to add trade value for the offseason.

 

In summary, I like the Marlins on the field now and for the future. If one deal could have really made a huge difference, it would have been getting Adrian Gonzales to hit in the cleanup spot.

 

 

 

 

 

:blink: