seems like nobody is talking about it.. but im worried. jj and ricky are going to have to be get at least 17 wins a piece and this bullpen will have to be on target. it kept us down last year and nothing this spring has given me hope. lets just hope anibal and volstad can get it together because they are the key to getting back to the playoffs

I would of said its one of the most talked about things recently on the boards. The vast majority of us are worried about the inconsistencies of 3-5.

I think the key thing with Anibal is staying healthy. If he gives us 30 starts this season, I have no doubt he will put up respectable (read: 4ish ERA) numbers.

 

I agree that starters 3-5 are a big cause for concern.

i guess i shouldnt have said talked about because it is... just that 5th bench player, 1b, rookies seem to be the main stories when this is definitely the most important. i just wish the fo would have shelled out a lil bit to address the situation with a mid rotation type of vet.. but oh well. just excited for the season to start

I would of said its one of the most talked about things recently on the boards. The vast majority of us are worried about the inconsistencies of 3-5.

 

 

I would say that "#5" has been consistently awesome this spring

It's going to be rough. It will be even worse if Nolasco has some inconsistency problems like he had last year.

 

It won't entirely be his fault but I expect Fredi Gonzalez to lose his job by June.

I'm even more worried about the bullpen.

I'm even more worried about the bullpen.

 

 

I agree with you Puma. The bullpen looks downright scary. The Marlins are banking on Sanches and Meyer to have another great season and I think that is expecting too much out of them.

I think our offense is going to score a bunch of runs, which will mask the deficiencies of the starting rotation. All we need is for Anibal to be alright - 4ish ERA. - and Ricky to be the real Ricky. If we can get that, we will be in the hunt all year.

Also, just to allude to penguino's post, the baseball people of the Marlins (including one or two anonymous players) seem to think Loria unfairly blamed Fredi for missing the playoffs last season. I think Loria ought to the let the baseball people do their thing. I find it outrageous that Loria demands a playoff spot when he is unwilling to spend a little more money for more bullpen help and perhaps one or two decent starting pitchers. Instead of having a reclamation project as our fifth starter (though I do believe he can do well this season), perhaps spending a little money on a solid #3 pitcher would have done the team a lot of good. This would have pushed Anibal to #4 and Volstad to #5. I like our chances with those two guys further down the rotation, as they would match up pretty favorably against the typical #4 and #5 starters around the league.

 

In reality, this team is one solid starting pitcher and 2 solid bullpen arms from being very good.

I would of said its one of the most talked about things recently on the boards. The vast majority of us are worried about the inconsistencies of 3-5.

 

 

I would say that "#5" has been consistently awesome this spring

 

I would agree yes, but the regular season is a whole different ballgame, and Hensley hasn't been too good in the Majors for a few years. Hopefully that will change now but you certainly cannot bank on it.

We need Anibal to give us a chance every game. Like Fredi said yesterday, he gave up 5 runs, we came back with 4, then he proceeded to give up more? That can't happen. I think we can count on Hensley for awhile. Maybe he'll be able to hold the fort to give Miller enough time to get his act together. That I think is the key. If Miller or West (a lefty) gives us production, we are there. If not, it's a repeat of years past. I'm not as worried about the bullpen this year. They will be okay. I'm worried if the SP sucks and can't go 5-6 innings like last May, we are dead.

Washburn is available.. he pretty much makes sense but it wont happen.

Also, just to allude to penguino's post, the baseball people of the Marlins (including one or two anonymous players) seem to think Loria unfairly blamed Fredi for missing the playoffs last season. I think Loria ought to the let the baseball people do their thing. I find it outrageous that Loria demands a playoff spot when he is unwilling to spend a little more money for more bullpen help and perhaps one or two decent starting pitchers. Instead of having a reclamation project as our fifth starter (though I do believe he can do well this season), perhaps spending a little money on a solid #3 pitcher would have done the team a lot of good. This would have pushed Anibal to #4 and Volstad to #5. I like our chances with those two guys further down the rotation, as they would match up pretty favorably against the typical #4 and #5 starters around the league.

 

In reality, this team is one solid starting pitcher and 2 solid bullpen arms from being very good.

 

This is what I kept saying in October when Gonzalez was rumored to have been fired.

 

It's hard to blame Fredi Gonzalez while the front office was strong-arming him to start Bonifacio and the front office's top pitching prospects where failing to materialize. That's not Fredi's fault. It's also not his fault that the Marlins didn't acquire another starter (pitcher) at the deadline in addition to Nick Johnson.

 

Fredi is not the best GM out there. However, to blame him for the Marlins not making the playoffs in 2009 or their inevitable struggles in 2010 is completely unfair.

we need started go long during game so we wont need use our bullpen that much but that up in air .yes we need our 3-5 starter to gave 5-6innng not 2-3 inng so we keep bullpen not been wornout by july and aug like last few years

Not only is Volstad dealing today with six+ innings (as of this post), but no earned runs, six strikeouts, no walks and he's gone 3 for 3 at the plate.

Not only is Volstad dealing today with six+ innings (as of this post), but no earned runs, six strikeouts, no walks and he's gone 3 for 3 at the plate.

 

 

improvement for sure......but against the Nats....

Not only is Volstad dealing today with six+ innings (as of this post), but no earned runs, six strikeouts, no walks and he's gone 3 for 3 at the plate.

 

 

improvement for sure......but against the Nats....

 

 

I don't know who played for the Nats today, but their regular, everyday lineup isn't that bad.

Volstad is back to his 2008 form I hope he just stays healthy that is all he needs

I'm worried about the 1, 3, 4, and now 5 spots in the rotation (with the addition of Robertson). Nolasco looks really good. Johnson seems very iffy to me, sorry. Sanchez looks downright shakey. Volstad lost my faith last season. Hensley I was excited about. Now, Robertson. And I'm not nearly as confident about the offense as many seem to be.

We have 5 decent starters, with 4 more potential starters waiting in AAA. This team will score a lot of runs. The pen is reasonably capable.

 

Until they haven't won 6 of every 10 games after 50 or so games, there's no reason to be worried.

I'm worried about the 1, 3, 4, and now 5 spots in the rotation (with the addition of Robertson). Nolasco looks really good. Johnson seems very iffy to me, sorry. Sanchez looks downright shakey. Volstad lost my faith last season. Hensley I was excited about. Now, Robertson. And I'm not nearly as confident about the offense as many seem to be.

 

 

All bow at the throne of Lord Spring Training Stats :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

 

 

 

 

 

 

:banghead

I think Volstad will be fine this year he is still very young and has great stuff. Sanchez I am worried about and JJ has not looked great this spring. But I am most worried about the bullpen. I think we are going to need help in that dept. early this season. Go Marlins!