October 28, 200916 yr Dan Uggla has the third highest career OPS of all starting 2B in the majors. Here is the breakdown: 1. Chase Utley, .902 2. Ian Kinsler, .827 3. Dan Uggla, .826 4. Dustin Pedroia, .825 5. Robinson Cano, .819 6. Martin Prado, .811 7. Orlando Hudson, .779 8. Brian Roberts, .777 9. Aaron Hill, .771 10. Howie Kendrick .767 11. Rickie Weeks .766 12. Placido Polanco .762 13. Mike Fontenot, .761 14. Ronnie Belliard, .757 15. Skip Schumaker, .755 16. Ryan Roberts .751 Freddy Sanchez .751 18. Akinori Iwamura, .747 19. Alberto Callaspo, .745 20. Brandon Phillips, .742 21. Mark Ellis, .740 22. Luis Castillo, .723 23. Jose Lopez, .715 24. Clint Barmes, .714 25. Kaz Matsui, .712 Delwyn Young, .712 27. Luis Valbuena, .708 28. David Eckstein, .706 29. Chris Getz, .669 30. Alexi Casilla, .615 I know that the Marlins are going to trade Dan Uggla but they better have a better plan in place than playing Bonifacio there as he has a career OPS of .617 which would rank only ahead of Alexi Casilla on the list above.
October 28, 200916 yr And here's how he's stupidly easy to replace. Dan Uggla, 656 PA, .813 OPS Jeremy Hermida, 585 PA, .740 OPS Emilio Bonifacio, 495 PA, .611 OPS Nick Johnson, 140 PA, .890 OPS Cumulative Total from 2B, 3B, and LF = .743 OPS Count on Maybin, G. Sanchez, Carroll, Petersen, Morrison, and probably some veteran 1B/LF type to help Sanchez/Carroll at their respective positions, to OPS .743 next year as the predominant "starters." And we're ignoring defense here, where there is going to be massive gains. It's about the big picture. It's not about Uggla. It's about the team. Sure, Bonifacio is a huge part of why this is so low, and keeping Uggla and simply upgrading 3B is the "best" idea. But based on our limited payroll, if we can REPLACE everything for NOTHING, that's pretty damn good. AGAIN, PITCHING, PITCHING, and PITCHING, is the key to 2010. -- And secondly, if you want to argue Bonifacio playing time - who I believe will turn into a 1-2 times a week starter and overall "Amezaga," these are the PA he and some 5th OF will be 'replacing' from the subordinate players from 2009. Maybin, 193 PA, .727 OPS Carroll, 152 PA, .689 OPS Amezaga, 74 PA, .528 OPS De Aza, 25 PA, .685 OPS G. Sanchez, 23 PA, .828 OPS A. Gonzalez, 12 PA, .333 OPS Cumulative Total = .677 OPS Not asking for a lot. We can throw in Helms and Gload here, and it's under a .700 OPS from the entire non-catcher bench. Can the Marlins bench/spot starters OPS let's say .700 this year? Not a lot to ask for here, and a lot of room for improvement. Offense is 100% going to be fine as long as they keep a veteran OF (Ross) and 3B (Cantu) on the team.
October 28, 200916 yr And here's how he's stupidly easy to replace. Dan Uggla, 656 PA, .813 OPS Jeremy Hermida, 585 PA, .740 OPS Emilio Bonifacio, 495 PA, .611 OPS Nick Johnson, 140 PA, .890 OPS Cumulative Total from 2B, 3B, and LF = .743 OPS Count on Maybin, G. Sanchez, Carroll, Petersen, Morrison, and probably some veteran 1B/LF type to help Sanchez/Carroll at their respective positions, to OPS .743 next year as the predominant "starters." And we're ignoring defense here, where there is going to be massive gains. It's about the big picture. It's not about Uggla. It's about the team. Sure, Bonifacio is a huge part of why this is so low, and keeping Uggla and simply upgrading 3B is the "best" idea. But based on our limited payroll, if we can REPLACE everything for NOTHING, that's pretty damn good. AGAIN, PITCHING, PITCHING, and PITCHING, is the key to 2010. -- And secondly, if you want to argue Bonifacio playing time - who I believe will turn into a 1-2 times a week starter and overall "Amezaga," these are the PA he and some 5th OF will be 'replacing' from the subordinate players from 2009. Maybin, 193 PA, .727 OPS Carroll, 152 PA, .689 OPS Amezaga, 74 PA, .528 OPS De Aza, 25 PA, .685 OPS G. Sanchez, 23 PA, .828 OPS A. Gonzalez, 12 PA, .333 OPS Cumulative Total = .677 OPS Not asking for a lot. We can throw in Helms and Gload here, and it's under a .700 OPS from the entire non-catcher bench. Can the Marlins bench/spot starters OPS let's say .700 this year? Not a lot to ask for here, and a lot of room for improvement. Offense is 100% going to be fine as long as they keep a veteran OF (Ross) and 3B (Cantu) on the team. So your saying next season won't be as good as this season and we miss the playoffs again?.
October 28, 200916 yr So your saying next season won't be as good as this season and we miss the playoffs again?. We will miss the playoffs if the SP doesn't develop. But if Nolasco is like 2008/second half 2009, Volstad first half 2009, and someone from West, Miller, and Anibal decide to show up and pitch 30 starts at a low 4 era, we're going to be very dangerous. It is entirely about the SP. We don't have a black hole lineup like San Francisco or San Diego. We just need our starters to take the next step forward and everything will be fine.
October 28, 200916 yr Uggla was 10th this past season in wOBA, struck out a ton, is slow, and plays below average defense for a second baseman. Meaning, he is about an average, maybe a slightly above average second baseman, which isn't hard to replace. When you combine that with the places that we will be improving in, 2010 looks like it will be a year where we will be able to compete.
October 29, 200916 yr I'd hate to respond with a Marlins cliche...but if any thread ever deserved one its this one... Dan Uggle? ...His name is DAN UGGLA!
October 29, 200916 yr Why are we arguing career statistics? Am I supposed to expect more HR's out of Nick Johnson because he hit 30 once? Im not agreeing or disagreeing but I think the argument of career OPS is weak.
October 29, 200916 yr How can you replace a secondbaseman that averages 30 HR and 90 RBI, its too absurd for discussion. Regardless of who the Marlins bring in his place, you will not get that type of production from any 2b, any! True they can bring in someone with a better OPB or one that strikes out less, or hits for better average, but that doesn't replace the threat that at any given time Dan could go yard, or replace his ability to help keep Hanley in line.
October 29, 200916 yr How can you replace a secondbaseman that averages 30 HR and 90 RBI, its too absurd for discussion. Regardless of who the Marlins bring in his place, you will not get that type of production from any 2b, any! True they can bring in someone with a better OPB or one that strikes out less, or hits for better average, but that doesn't replace the threat that at any given time Dan could go yard, or replace his ability to help keep Hanley in line. Chris Coghlan had a higher OPS than Dan Uggla last year. Fail.
October 29, 200916 yr Did Coghlan hit 30 Hrs, will he hit 30 Hr's ? maybe he will someday, but thats what Uggla has given every year.
October 29, 200916 yr If this team intends to seriously contend, it needs to retain Uggla and add to the pitching staff.
October 29, 200916 yr If this team intends to seriously contend, it needs to retain Uggla and add to the pitching staff. I would have never guessed you felt this way. News to me.
October 29, 200916 yr If this team intends to seriously contend, it needs to retain Uggla and add to the pitching staff. I would have never guessed you felt this way. News to me. LOL Look at it this way instead: If this team wants to seriously contend, it needs to stop moving players that pan out when it has no replacement.
October 29, 200916 yr How can you replace a secondbaseman that averages 30 HR and 90 RBI, its too absurd for discussion. Regardless of who the Marlins bring in his place, you will not get that type of production from any 2b, any! True they can bring in someone with a better OPB or one that strikes out less, or hits for better average, but that doesn't replace the threat that at any given time Dan could go yard, or replace his ability to help keep Hanley in line. Chris Coghlan had a higher OPS than Dan Uggla last year. Fail. Chris Coghlan had a breathtakingly successful year and no one is taking anything away from him but it's still a matter of conjecture how good a double play combination he and Hanley will make or if he can even play the position adequately. Do not read that as "he can't play the position" because that's not what I said. It's still a question mark and the organization playing him for only seven innings in one game with so many opportunities to showcase him there during the season begs the question, is he really a candidate to play 2nd base in 2010? We may not know their thinking until if and when Uggla is moved and Beinfest discusses his new strategy going forward. Comparing Coghlan's OPS to anyone on the team not named Hanley Ramirez is of course going to skew to his favor and deservedly so but might be worth mentioning that among regulars Uggla was third (taking Nick Johnson out of the equation with only just over 100 Marlins ABs). Uggla may very well be traded but one of the intangibles the team loses is the protection he provides in the lineup for the guys hitting ahead of him. Cantu in part put up the numbers he did because of the threat hitting behind him and that's not easy to replace. Dan is like so many ballplayers, imperfect, with his flaws but still an asset to any team including this one.
October 29, 200916 yr I would just leave Coghlan in LF as he seemed comfortable there. He was arguably the worst LF in baseball last year. He needs to move to the infield.
October 29, 200916 yr How can you replace a secondbaseman that averages 30 HR and 90 RBI, its too absurd for discussion. Regardless of who the Marlins bring in his place, you will not get that type of production from any 2b, any! True they can bring in someone with a better OPB or one that strikes out less, or hits for better average, but that doesn't replace the threat that at any given time Dan could go yard, or replace his ability to help keep Hanley in line. Chris Coghlan had a higher OPS than Dan Uggla last year. Fail. Chris Coghlan had a breathtakingly successful year and no one is taking anything away from him but it's still a matter of conjecture how good a double play combination he and Hanley will make or if he can even play the position adequately. Do not read that as "he can't play the position" because that's not what I said. It's still a question mark and the organization playing him for only seven innings in one game with so many opportunities to showcase him there during the season begs the question, is he really a candidate to play 2nd base in 2010? We may not know their thinking until if and when Uggla is moved and Beinfest discusses his new strategy going forward. Comparing Coghlan's OPS to anyone on the team not named Hanley Ramirez is of course going to skew to his favor and deservedly so but might be worth mentioning that among regulars Uggla was third (taking Nick Johnson out of the equation with only just over 100 Marlins ABs). Uggla may very well be traded but one of the intangibles the team loses is the protection he provides in the lineup for the guys hitting ahead of him. Cantu in part put up the numbers he did because of the threat hitting behind him and that's not easy to replace. Dan is like so many ballplayers, imperfect, with his flaws but still an asset to any team including this one. Ok? And like I said, keeping him would be ideal, but there isn't the payroll for it. And my comment was based off someone saying we can't replace the production, when we simply flat out can if Coghlan hits at least .280. Let alone the defense, where Uggla is not good defensively. Even if Coghlan is bad, we're not losing anything there. And as for lineup protection, I don't think a lot is lost subbing out strikeout-prone Uggla. Cantu has been around long enough. As for G. Sanchez and Carroll/Petersen/whoever batting 7th or 8th, that may be problematic. But the vets will be fine. If Skip Schumaker can move to 2B never having done it before, Coghlan is going to be fine. He's not going to be an outfielder longterm. They need to move him to 2B.
October 29, 200916 yr I see no reason to be worried with regard to Coghlan's defense at second base. He's a natural infielder. If Coghlan actually played a good LF then I might see reason to second guess, but he didn't. If Coghlan is going to be on the starting roster he should be playing second base. By your logic one could assume that any player might not be acceptable defensively until they get a prolonged trial at the ML level. I don't see why we're making Coghlan an exception. It's not like they are talking about testing his arm at 3B. He'll be fine and the Marlins will be fine without Dan Uggla's 30 home runs. If Coghlan puts up a season in 2010 close to what he did in 2009 while playing second base, you have to hope they buy out his arbitration.
October 29, 200916 yr Author Uggla won't be easy to replace and that is the bottom line. When he's popping 30+ homers for the Giants, Mariners, Cubs or wherever he goes I will tell you that I told you so. At some point you got to start keeping players that produce and Uggla is the most proven hitter the Marlins have besides Hanley Ramirez, period.
October 29, 200916 yr Uggla won't be easy to replace and that is the bottom line. When he's popping 30+ homers for the Giants, Mariners, Cubs or wherever he goes I will tell you that I told you so. At some point you got to start keeping players that produce and Uggla is the most proven hitter the Marlins have besides Hanley Ramirez, period. A lot of people said the same thing about Jacobs (though obviously Uggla is better than Jake) and he's gone on to be a non-tender candidate for the Royals. The Royals. Hell, I'm pretty sure you were one of those guys talking about "how are we going to replace Jacobs?".
October 29, 200916 yr I think the question is Maybin's bat. There's where you have the potential to make up quite a bit of Uggla's offense.
October 29, 200916 yr Author Maybin does have a lot of talent and you are right he could make up for some of losing Uggla. But, Maybin will have to become much more disciplined at the plate to excel. The bottom line though is that if Bonifacio or Carroll is starting because Uggla is gone that will really hurt the offense. They need to make sure they get a major league ready bat to replace Uggla with some pop.
October 30, 200916 yr Ill take a Carroll in the OF and Coghlan at 2nd any day over Coghlan in LF and Uggla at 2nd. Sure there is some loss in the offensive, but how much better does this make the defense. Not to mention the money we will be saving, and able to use that money to something more important.
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