February 19, 201016 yr Anyone care to make a prediction on who will win the bullpen battles, the last couple of bench spots, the 1B job, etc.? I'd like to see some opinions. What do you expect this team to look like on Opening Day? Edit: Assuming everyone stays healthy, of course.
February 20, 201016 yr LF - Coghlan CF - Maybin SS - Hanley 1B - Cantu C - Baker 2B - Uggla RF - Ross 3B - Jimenez (I think he surprises in spring training and gaby struggles again) Bench: Helms, Bonifacio, Paulino, Carroll, Garrett Anderson (They're bound to sign a left handed bat off the bench) 1. JJ 2. Nolasco 3. Volstad 4. Anibal 5. Andrew Miller CL - Nunez SU - MacDougal - Meyer MRP - McClung - Sanches (Seems like a Joe Nelson type where he has one effective season but we have replacements in the minors later in the season) - Pinto LRP - Badenhop (I think RVH starts in AAA again since he has one more option left)
February 20, 201016 yr LF - Coghlan CF - Maybin SS - Hanley 1B - Cantu C - Baker 2B - Uggla RF - Ross 3B - Jimenez (I think he surprises in spring training and gaby struggles again) Bench: Helms, Bonifacio, Paulino, Carroll, Garrett Anderson (They're bound to sign a left handed bat off the bench) 1. JJ 2. Nolasco 3. Volstad 4. Anibal 5. Andrew Miller CL - Nunez SU - MacDougal - Meyer MRP - McClung - Sanches (Seems like a Joe Nelson type where he has one effective season but we have replacements in the minors later in the season) - Pinto LRP - Badenhop (I think RVH starts in AAA again since he has one more option left) I like that as well except for a couple things 1) Replace Garrett Anderson with Bryan Petersen 2) Replace Burke Badenhop with RVH I'm actually rooting for Jimenez to start at 3rd and Cantu to move back over to first too. Cantu has historically hit better when he plays at first. I wish I could find splits for that situation, but I wouldn't know what site to go on to find them.
February 20, 201016 yr right now if im fredi i want burke in my bullpen....he did a very good job last year....in my eyes he should be almost a lock. i also see morrison taking the first base spot.
February 20, 201016 yr Author I'm actually rooting for Jimenez to start at 3rd and Cantu to move back over to first too. Cantu has historically hit better when he plays at first. I wish I could find splits for that situation, but I wouldn't know what site to go on to find them. I'm not sure, if it's relevant, but you're actually right. Cantu's career .OPS in games he plays at 1B is .836. At 3B, it's at .799. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=cantujo01&year=Career&t=b
February 20, 201016 yr Author right now if im fredi i want burke in my bullpen....he did a very good job last year....in my eyes he should be almost a lock. I think Badenhop is a lock for the long relief role after doing a solid job at it, last year.
February 20, 201016 yr Author I'm going to go with: Starting Lineups C-Baker/Paulino 1B-Gaby 2B-Uggla 3B-Cantu SS-Hanley LF-Coghlan CF-Maybin RF-Cody Bench Util-Bonifacio 1B/3B-Helms (late inning defensive replacement at 3B, with Cantu switching over to 1B, like last year) OF-Carroll 1B/3B-Jimenez (LH pinch-hitter off the bench) Starting Pitching JJ Nolasco Anibal Volstad Miller (West & VandenHurk start the year in the minors) Bullpen Closer - Leo Meyer Pinto (anyone still think Pinto gets traded?) MacDougal Turnbow Badenhop Sanches
February 20, 201016 yr Starting Lineups C-Baker/Paulino 1B-Wolverine 2B-Uggla 3B-Cantu SS-Hanley LF-Coghlan CF-Maybin RF-Cody Bench Util-Bonifacio 1B/3B-Helms OF-Carroll 1B/3B-Jimenez Starting Pitching JJ Nolasco Anibal Volstad Miller Bullpen Nunez Meyer Pinto MacDougal McClung Badenhop Sanches
February 20, 201016 yr I'm actually rooting for Jimenez to start at 3rd and Cantu to move back over to first too. Cantu has historically hit better when he plays at first. I wish I could find splits for that situation, but I wouldn't know what site to go on to find them. I'm not sure, if it's relevant, but you're actually right. Cantu's career .OPS in games he plays at 1B is .836. At 3B, it's at .799. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=cantujo01&year=Career&t=b I can see that. He spent the first half of '08 learning the position and it had to have an effect on being comfortable at the plate as well. See if there is a split on the first half and second half of that season. After the ASB he had pretty much settled into the position and did alot better defensively, even if he dosen't get the credit for it here. Folks tend to look at the overall numbers and forget what was actually going on.
February 20, 201016 yr 3B - Jimenez (I think he surprises in spring training and gaby struggles again) Kinda interesting you say that, and it wouldn't be a big surprise to me. Because of the way Gaby played last year in ST, the way he was used when he got the call ups, and his performance in Winter ball I tend to think Logan has the inside track to get the 1B slot. Gaby would have to improve incredibly with his bat and glove and I just don't know if he is capable of showing that. Maybe, but I wouldn't put any money on it either way. Never bet against one of your own players. If Jimenez really shows some stuff in ST he could very well let the club consider letting Logan season some more in the minors. Logan is our 1B of the future but there is no sense in rushing him if it is not needed. The only "but" I would throw in is that Jimenez could make the club as our 1B and leave Cantu over at 3B. At this point it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. "Pitching, defense, speed." This is going to come down to defense a little more than offensive numbers, I think. Not alot more, but it should be a determining factor. (The reprocussions of this scenario happening are something the Gaby fans really don't want to hear right now.) Gonna be an interesting ST.
February 20, 201016 yr Kinda interesting you say that, and it wouldn't be a big surprise to me. Because of the way Gaby played last year in ST, the way he was used when he got the call ups, and his performance in Winter ball I tend to think Logan has the inside track to get the 1B slot. Gaby would have to improve incredibly with his bat and glove and I just don't know if he is capable of showing that. Maybe, but I wouldn't put any money on it either way. Never bet against one of your own players. If Jimenez really shows some stuff in ST he could very well let the club consider letting Logan season some more in the minors. Logan is our 1B of the future but there is no sense in rushing him if it is not needed. The only "but" I would throw in is that Jimenez could make the club as our 1B and leave Cantu over at 3B. At this point it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. "Pitching, defense, speed." This is going to come down to defense a little more than offensive numbers, I think. Not alot more, but it should be a determining factor. (The reprocussions of this scenario happening are something the Gaby fans really don't want to hear right now.) It's also well documented you feel this way about Gaby, but I'd like to add one point you do not. MONEY. We delay Logan Morrison's arbitration full season by keeping him down until June. The bottom line of this competition is, Logan is going to have to be a hell of a lot better to jump Gaby/Jimenez, because we're saving potentially millions of dollars in 3-4 years if Logan pans out the way the scouts think he does. This is big. With the added 2009 injury, I see at minimum Logan in NOLA for 2+ months. -- I think right now, this is the opening day roster. Nothing very confusing here. C - Baker 1B - G. Sanchez 2B - Uggla SS - Hanley 3B - Cantu LF - Coghlan CF - Maybin RF - Ross B - Bonifacio, Paulino, Helms, Carroll, Jimenez Gaby gets all the lefties and half the righties, Jimenez gets half the righties. Baker/Paulino do their normal R/L split. SP - Johnson, Nolasco, Anibal, Volstad RP - Nunez, Sanches, Badenhop, Meyer, Pinto, McClung, MacDougal, and Miller We only need a 5th starter three time before the second week in May, so I think they keep Miller in the bullpen as a long lefty reliever and keep him relatively stretched out. I suspect those couple "5th starter" games will be Miller/Badenhop combos. West and RVH start in NOLA.
February 20, 201016 yr Meh, I'd kinda rather Miller got consistent starts in AAA for the first 4-5 weeks, then, and maybe RVH/Badenhop/Hensley get those starts instead. Or, if possible, let Miller bounce around from AAA to MLB and make those starts; that's fine, too, I just want to get him in a routine. I'm too nervous a funky situation like that will hamper his progress.
February 20, 201016 yr C-Baker 1B-Sanchez 2B-Uggla SS-Ramirez 3B-Cantu LF-Coghlan CF-Maybin RF-Ross Bench- Paulino, Helms, Bonifacio, Carroll and Lamb. SP-Johnson, Nolasco, Volstad, West and Sanchez RP-Nunez, Meyer, MacDougal, Pinto, Sanches, Badenhop and Veras.
February 20, 201016 yr Starting Lineups C-Baker/Paulino 1B-Wolverine 2B-Uggla 3B-Cantu SS-Hanley LF-Coghlan CF-Maybin RF-Cody Bench Util-Bonifacio 1B/3B-Helms OF-Carroll 1B/3B-Jimenez Starting Pitching JJ Nolasco Anibal Volstad Miller Bullpen Nunez Meyer Pinto MacDougal McClung Badenhop Sanches Sweet, the nickname is catching on.
February 21, 201016 yr I'm about to leave so I'll do my full thing later, but im surprised no one has given Tank a nod to be on the opening day roster.
February 21, 201016 yr Meh, I'd kinda rather Miller got consistent starts in AAA for the first 4-5 weeks, then, and maybe RVH/Badenhop/Hensley get those starts instead. Or, if possible, let Miller bounce around from AAA to MLB and make those starts; that's fine, too, I just want to get him in a routine. I'm too nervous a funky situation like that will hamper his progress. This would be Miller's last option year so I would expect the Marlins not to take that step until it's absolutely necessary (as in, he sucks just as badly as he did last season). Inevitably I expect him to end up in AAA this season, but I hope he is on the ML Opening Day roster unless his spring is abysmal.
February 21, 201016 yr It's also well documented you feel this way about Gaby, but I'd like to add one point you do not. MONEY. We delay Logan Morrison's arbitration full season by keeping him down until June. The bottom line of this competition is, Logan is going to have to be a hell of a lot better to jump Gaby/Jimenez, because we're saving potentially millions of dollars in 3-4 years if Logan pans out the way the scouts think he does. This is big. With the added 2009 injury, I see at minimum Logan in NOLA for 2+ months. -- My feelings towards Gaby are irrelevent. I am making remarks based on how he has been used in the past and how he did in Winter League. It's called an observation. I don't know how that can be so confusing to some people. Logan to the minors wouldn't bother me a bit. If it is needed. "But I'd like to add one point you do not." If a player is deemed ready and/or the team need is there, the team will not hesitate to pull the trigger on putting him (any player) on the roster regardless of what month it is. Are we ignoring what happened last year to Coghlan for any specific reason? And potentially saving a few million 3-4 years down the road when we will have alot of additional income is not going to come into the equation one little bit. It's a non-issue. Put the best team possible on the field that gives us the best chance of reaching post season baseball and let the finances of the new stadium and revenue flow take care of the future. Remember, we will be at the least a middle of the pack payroll team by then. Count on it. For the record.....At this point in time I'm not pulling for any player for that 1B or 3B position. Or any position for that matter, with the exception of SS. I'll wait until most of ST is over with and then pick who I would rather have. Just like in "08 when I went with Cantu over Dallas, and then again last year with Gaby, Dallas, Cantu and a couple others. Don't forget, last year there was only a couple of us on this board that actually watched some ST games and remarked then that JJ was the better pitcher even tho Ricky got the Opening Day nod. Some things are just obvious even to us non-scout old geezers. All that said, ya gotta think Jimenez has a bit of an edge to make the team in some capacity. The Marlins went through an awful lot to get him on the team, so it seems as if he will get every shot possible so he dosen't get shipped back to the BoSox by April. Unless people think that was all smoke and mirrors and the team really had a love affair with Robert Bono and/or Luis Bryan. Just an observation.
February 21, 201016 yr I'm about to leave so I'll do my full thing later, but im surprised no one has given Tank a nod to be on the opening day roster. I don't know why it comes as a surprise. Even the media is ignoring him. But I think I'm agreeing with you when I say I think he could be the sleeper pitcher this Spring. No specific reason for it either. The competition for all positions is going to be fun to watch this March.
February 21, 201016 yr Meh, I'd kinda rather Miller got consistent starts in AAA for the first 4-5 weeks, then, and maybe RVH/Badenhop/Hensley get those starts instead. Or, if possible, let Miller bounce around from AAA to MLB and make those starts; that's fine, too, I just want to get him in a routine. I'm too nervous a funky situation like that will hamper his progress. This would be Miller's last option year so I would expect the Marlins not to take that step until it's absolutely necessary (as in, he sucks just as badly as he did last season). Inevitably I expect him to end up in AAA this season, but I hope he is on the ML Opening Day roster unless his spring is abysmal. Side question and totally irrelevant to the discussion.. What is Miller making this year? League minimum? Cot's just has his 2006-09 contract.
February 21, 201016 yr I doubt he's making league minimum... last year he made $2,462,500. But he should be making league minimum.
February 21, 201016 yr Meh, I'd kinda rather Miller got consistent starts in AAA for the first 4-5 weeks, then, and maybe RVH/Badenhop/Hensley get those starts instead. Or, if possible, let Miller bounce around from AAA to MLB and make those starts; that's fine, too, I just want to get him in a routine. I'm too nervous a funky situation like that will hamper his progress. This would be Miller's last option year so I would expect the Marlins not to take that step until it's absolutely necessary (as in, he sucks just as badly as he did last season). Inevitably I expect him to end up in AAA this season, but I hope he is on the ML Opening Day roster unless his spring is abysmal. Side question and totally irrelevant to the discussion.. What is Miller making this year? League minimum? Cot's just has his 2006-09 contract. A shade under $2,000,000 when on the MLB roster. He did not qualify for arbitration and was not a Super2, so the Marlins can renew his contract for 80% of the 2009 value.
February 21, 201016 yr LF Coghlan CF Maybin SS Ramirez 3B Cantu 2B Uggla C Baker/ Paulino Platoon RF Ross 1B Sanchez/Jimenez Platoon (Jimenez getting about 50 percent of the starts vs rhp, Gaby gets 50 percent vs lhp then Bonifacio will get the rest of the time playing 3B and Cantu at 1st) Bench Helms, Paulino/Baker, Sanchez/Jimenez, Carroll, Lamb Rotation Johnson Nolasco Sanchez Volstad Miller Bullpen LR Badenhop MR Sanches MR McClung MR Pinto MR Turnbow SU Meyer CL Nunez Only changes could be replacing Turnbow with a hopefully signed Kiko Calero.
February 21, 201016 yr LF Coghlan CF Maybin SS Ramirez 3B Cantu 2B Uggla C Baker RF Ross 1B Sanchez Bench Helms, Paulino, Jimenez, Carroll, Bonifacio Rotation JJ Nolasco Sanchez Volstad Miller Bullpen LR RVH MR Sanches MR Pinto MR MacDougal SU Tankersley SU Meyer CL Nunez This is actually a lot harder than I thought. I am not worried at all about our bullpen, because we have plenty of guys that can go in there and it will make ST a lot more interesting with the battles going on there. As of now, I think Nunez, Meyer, Pinto, Sanches, and either RVH/Badenhop are pretty much locks. That leaves about 2 spots for Tankersley, MacDougal, Turnbow, McClung, Hensley, and Veras.
February 21, 201016 yr MMP, you have 26 guys. You forgot to write in Bonifacio on your bench. I'm guessing then you'd drop Lamb.
February 21, 201016 yr MMP, you have 26 guys. You forgot to write in Bonifacio on your bench. I'm guessing then you'd drop Lamb. Yeah man thanks, i knew i was somehow forgetting someone.
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