.... Do you like them? Why or why not?

I'm far more worried about the pitching.

Regardless of who's playing 1B, I'm almost positive neither of the 2 will embarrass us. Lets just say it will be a lot better than last year (before the Nick Johnson acquisition).

 

The fact Bonifacio won't be getting about 500 plate appearances this year is the biggest upgrade to the lineup, already.

I'm not worried about first. The Marlins still managed to score runs in 2009 with Bonifacio starting in more than half of the games. I think whomever gets the call out of Sanchez, Morrison, and Jimenez will do an adequate job.

 

I'm also more worried about the pitching. I'm skeptical that the Marlins get anything out of Miller, West, and Volstad. I think Vanden Hurk will show the most improvement out of the arms outside of Johnson or Nolasco.

We could all bring up the pitching, but that's not what the thread is about.

 

I would worry if Gaby's bat earns him the 1B job without his defense improving.

 

I wonder if Logan's thumb problem should be better addressed. He said before the ST games started that he still had some discomfort in it while taking live pitching from JJ one day.

 

But I at least like the idea that there is competition there and a viable option(s) if that fails. It's better than last year.

Looking back at last season and the Emilio experiment at third, I feel a whole lot more comfortable now with Gaby at first. If he doesn't produce I'm sure by June or maybe later the FO will make a change, Long term I really see Morrison as the more successful player on the Major League level.

I don't think anyone should really be "confortable" with our 1B options. They are both just rookies that have to play at a position that is usually reserved for the top hitters of the team. They are not proven by any means, and I would much rather have a veteran playing 1B. However, I think down the road 1B will be no problem at all. Just for the 2010 season... its up in the air.

They are both just rookies that have to play at a position that is usually reserved for the top hitters of the team.

 

 

Our best hitter on the team plays shortstop. Shortstop is usually reserved for guys who don't hit well. It balances out.

I'm not worried about first. The Marlins still managed to score runs in 2009 with Bonifacio starting in more than half of the games. I think whomever gets the call out of Sanchez, Morrison, and Jimenez will do an adequate job.

 

I'm also more worried about the pitching. I'm skeptical that the Marlins get anything out of Miller, West, and Volstad. I think Vanden Hurk will show the most improvement out of the arms outside of Johnson or Nolasco.

 

 

 

Nolasco and Volstad should improve the most since they both struggled with 5.1-5.2 ERAs last year.

I'm not worried about first. The Marlins still managed to score runs in 2009 with Bonifacio starting in more than half of the games. I think whomever gets the call out of Sanchez, Morrison, and Jimenez will do an adequate job.

 

I'm also more worried about the pitching. I'm skeptical that the Marlins get anything out of Miller, West, and Volstad. I think Vanden Hurk will show the most improvement out of the arms outside of Johnson or Nolasco.

 

 

 

Nolasco and Volstad should improve the most since they both struggled with 5.1-5.2 ERAs last year.

I don't think Nolasco pitched as poorly as his ERA showed. His WHIP wasn't as atrocious as it was for Volstad, Miller, and West, despite having an ERA over 5.00.

 

I don't expect Volstad to have an ERA below the high fours, but I wouldn't be surprised if Vanden Hurk gets below 4.00.

 

These are just my projections. I think Vanden Hurk will break out, but the Marlins won't get much from Volstad, Miller, and West. Nolasco and Johnson will put up numbers comparable to their career numbers.

They aren't the difference between us being good and us being bad (Repetition, Redundancy, and Repetition: The pitching is likely what makes the difference in us being good or bad).

 

We're still a good offensive team. We were a good offensive team with Bonifacio getting the most PA, and one of them should be a massive upgrade over him. Could we do better? Sure. But what are the actual options? Trade for Mike Lowell (Who has declining defense and has yet to play a spring game because of his hand injury) or sign Carlos Delgado is about it. There's certainly a reason Delgado has yet to be signed, and Lowell has his own major question marks surrounding him. And neither of which would likely be a severe upgrade over one of the former.

I'm not worried about first. The Marlins still managed to score runs in 2009 with Bonifacio starting in more than half of the games. I think whomever gets the call out of Sanchez, Morrison, and Jimenez will do an adequate job.

 

I'm also more worried about the pitching. I'm skeptical that the Marlins get anything out of Miller, West, and Volstad. I think Vanden Hurk will show the most improvement out of the arms outside of Johnson or Nolasco.

 

 

 

Nolasco and Volstad should improve the most since they both struggled with 5.1-5.2 ERAs last year.

I don't think Nolasco pitched as poorly as his ERA showed. His WHIP wasn't as atrocious as it was for Volstad, Miller, and West, despite having an ERA over 5.00.

 

I don't expect Volstad to have an ERA below the high fours, but I wouldn't be surprised if Vanden Hurk gets below 4.00.

 

These are just my projections. I think Vanden Hurk will break out, but the Marlins won't get much from Volstad, Miller, and West. Nolasco and Johnson will put up numbers comparable to their career numbers.

 

Volstad wasnt as bad as his ERA either. The first 12 starts he had a 3.65 ERA and 7 or 8 quality starts just very poor run support. He did bad the last 6 or so weeks sinker not working and tipping pitches. He and Stclare will fix that .Hell probably be in low to mid 4's ERA

I'm not to worrid about it. None of the options will be as bad as Boni playing full time. I'm personallypulling for Logan to win the job as I'd like big lefty bat in the line up . However I think Gaby can do the job.

I am not happy. But I like out 1B + 3B better than I liked last year's "plan."

I am not happy. But I like out 1B + 3B better than I liked last year's "plan."

 

 

Exactly. Worse case scenario is maybe moving Cantu to 1B and Jimenez standing tall at 3B. At least it's guys that have played the positions before. They went into this ST with a plan, and then contingency plans. Far better than last season.

 

There comes a time when you have to stop filling in a defensive position just because the guy has a decent bat. Their mantra remains pitching, defense, and speed. You get away from what you have been building on too much and other things start to happen. None of them good. Sort of a domino affect.

I am not happy. But I like out 1B + 3B better than I liked last year's "plan."

 

 

Exactly. Worse case scenario is maybe moving Cantu to 1B and Jimenez standing tall at 3B. At least it's guys that have played the positions before. They went into this ST with a plan, and then contingency plans. Far better than last season.

 

There comes a time when you have to stop filling in a defensive position just because the guy has a decent bat. Their mantra remains pitching, defense, and speed. You get away from what you have been building on too much and other things start to happen. None of them good. Sort of a domino affect.

 

I disagree with the posited cause-and-effect relationship. Baseball is such an individualized sport. If Gaby starts one year and struggles defensively with a serviceable bat, I don't see how it has any impact on the style or substance of their plans moving forward. They still look for the player who brings the best overall package with a similar "lean" toward speed/defense.

I'm not very comfortable with the whole situation. Granted, it's better than last year, but that was a joke. It still bothers me that we let Bonifacio get that much playing time. I still think it might have cost us a playoff spot in the end.

 

Sanchez is still a big question mark. I really doubt Morrison is ready for MLB pitching yet, and I have no idea what to expect out of Jimenez. But I doubt he's a starter.

I am not happy. But I like out 1B + 3B better than I liked last year's "plan."

 

 

Exactly. Worse case scenario is maybe moving Cantu to 1B and Jimenez standing tall at 3B. At least it's guys that have played the positions before. They went into this ST with a plan, and then contingency plans. Far better than last season.

 

There comes a time when you have to stop filling in a defensive position just because the guy has a decent bat. Their mantra remains pitching, defense, and speed. You get away from what you have been building on too much and other things start to happen. None of them good. Sort of a domino affect.

 

 

Defense can be taught and improved over the course of a year. Hitting, on the other hand, cannot. Give me the good hitter, anyday of the week.

You're way too caught up in the whole "pitching, defense, speed" thing. "Defense, speed" doesn't mean, "lets sacrificice hitting for some more defense and speed." Never does, and when it does...you learn the hard way (as the Marlins did with Bonifacio last year).

 

There's a reason why Chris Coghlan starts...and Brett Carroll doesn't. There's a reason why Adam Dunn plays the field. And every other horrible fielding slugger plays the field, when necessary. A bat is the priority.

I don't think the Marlins have any problems with their position players unless Hanley or multiple other regulars get injured.

 

There are so many positional configurations, solid stopgaps, and excellent prospects behind those, that this will work itself out over the course of the first few months of the season. These guys are going to hit. This is an above average hitting club and really has the potential to be a top 3 NL offense.

 

The question is if anyone feels like pitching this year besides Josh Johnson.

I don't think the Marlins have any problems with their position players unless Hanley or multiple other regulars get injured.

 

There are so many positional configurations, solid stopgaps, and excellent prospects behind those, that this will work itself out over the course of the first few months of the season. These guys are going to hit. This is an above average hitting club and really has the potential to be a top 3 NL offense.

 

The question is if anyone feels like pitching this year besides Josh Johnson.

 

 

 

I have confidence in Nolasco. Aside from that though, I agree 100% with this statement.

I don't feel any particular way about Nolasco, I don't think there are any compelling arguments out there as to why he will revert back to his 2008 form. I don't think the 1B situation is going to be the reason why we make or miss the playoffs, scoring runs isn't the issue, the rotation's effectiveness is the key.

Like others have said, I'm confident in the hitting and I'm confident in Sanchez at 1st base. I love Morrison, but he's not ready yet and I wanna see if Gaby can run with the job for a bit.

 

Like others... the starting rotation behind Johnson and Nolasco scares me and if Ricky gets off to a slow start like he did last year... I'd be even more scared.

Don't count on Nolasco...for sure the Sox won't trade us Lowell if we don't throw Ricky into a package with Hanley. It's the Red Sox, they're entitled ya know... :brigginbounce (for a moment imagining the RS messageboards lighting up with claims about what the Marlins scouting Mike Lowell means for Beantown.

I don't think the Marlins have any problems with their position players unless Hanley or multiple other regulars get injured.

 

There are so many positional configurations, solid stopgaps, and excellent prospects behind those, that this will work itself out over the course of the first few months of the season. These guys are going to hit. This is an above average hitting club and really has the potential to be a top 3 NL offense.

 

The question is if anyone feels like pitching this year besides Josh Johnson.

 

 

1. I hope this is true!!!

2. I know. I was kinda counting on Sean West since I think Miller is a lost cause, tbh, and well.... :'( It's not looking like we're going to have a lefty SP, huh?

I am not happy. But I like out 1B + 3B better than I liked last year's "plan."

 

 

Exactly. Worse case scenario is maybe moving Cantu to 1B and Jimenez standing tall at 3B. At least it's guys that have played the positions before. They went into this ST with a plan, and then contingency plans. Far better than last season.

 

There comes a time when you have to stop filling in a defensive position just because the guy has a decent bat. Their mantra remains pitching, defense, and speed. You get away from what you have been building on too much and other things start to happen. None of them good. Sort of a domino affect.

 

I disagree with the posited cause-and-effect relationship. Baseball is such an individualized sport. If Gaby starts one year and struggles defensively with a serviceable bat, I don't see how it has any impact on the style or substance of their plans moving forward. They still look for the player who brings the best overall package with a similar "lean" toward speed/defense.

 

I'm refering to the amount of IF throwing "errors" as much as anything else. And with little trust going to the abilities of your 1B, guys will be rushing a little harder to make plays, both getting to and releasing the ball. Baseball an individualized sport?? At times. But try to convince the IFers of that. I see Gaby as Jake Part II. The similarities should not be ignored. And people should not forget how trading Jake was pretty much well taken. And to stress how much that was the right move, one only needs to see how Jake has done since leaving here.

 

But you did touch on a point. If Gaby makes the Opening Day roster, it is still just a stop gap move until Logan's bat is ready. Even going into ST last season it was known he would be there for 1 or 2 years and probably gone after that.

I'm not very comfortable with the whole situation. Granted, it's better than last year, but that was a joke. It still bothers me that we let Bonifacio get that much playing time. I still think it might have cost us a playoff spot in the end.

 

Sanchez is still a big question mark. I really doubt Morrison is ready for MLB pitching yet, and I have no idea what to expect out of Jimenez. But I doubt he's a starter.

 

 

And he remains the scapegoat. Unjustifiably. SP cost us the play offs last season. Plain and simple. And yet we were still in it into the final month. Kinda hard to justify a guy sitting the bench the final half of the season as the guy that cost us post season play.