The Marlins are done.... And I am kind of glad, in a way. Not because I don't like them or anything, but because this same group of players have proven over the last 5 years that they cannot be a consistent winner. It isn't because these are bad players, really. But they are all the same type of player. Many of them are either playing out of position, or they play their natural position at a level barely above that of a good high school player's. I know that fans of most MLB teams don't cringe when the third baseman is about to make a routine throw to the first baseman. And when there is a popup on the infield, fans of most teams don't worry that one of the infielders just might not decide that it is a good idea to catch the ball. For a while, I found it pretty easy to blame the bullpen for most of our difficulties, but his team gives away so many free outs that it is kind of hard to give a real assessment of just how bad the bullpen really is. Not that I think Tim Wood can be a good reliever for a team full of gold glove winners behind his sorry ass, but it is hard to pitch when you basically are afraid of allowing the opposing batter to make contact. That being said- not everyone has to be an above average defender in order to win games. But a team can only afford to have a couple of players that play defense like we roll out there at every position not played by Cody Ross or Michael Stanton every night. I am not an NBA fan, but I live in Miami, and only a retard would not notice that with the Miami Heat signing Chris Bosh and LeBron James, the Fish could win their next 45 games in a row and will be lucky to make page 3 of the Miami Herald. Outside of the diehards on this message board and a handful of other people, nobody is paying attention to the Marlins right now. It is the perfect time to sell some of these free swinging defensive liabilities and see what Logan Morrisson and some of the other young punks can do. Our biggest problem is, of course, Mr. Cantu, who is absolutely horrible defensively and has NEVER hit well enough to compensate for it. Hanley plays fine when he feels like it. Uggla is about a C- at 2b. And Gaby is about a C. Again, I would be fine if it was just one bad defender on the infield, but you can't have that many average to well below average guys standing between homeplate and the outfield grass. We have to trade Cantu for anything we can get at this point- he is useless. Helms can easily produce equal or better offensive numbers while playing way better defense even while having wild diarrhea for 9 innings. Uggla, who is my favorite player, is unfortunately the only guy on the infield who will net us anything of value, so he is the other one I would get rid of. We have no options at catcher and I seriously doubt we can get one via trade, so we are basically stuck with a couple guys who allow runners to take any base they please once they get to first. I would see what we can get for Cody, but he is easily our best defensive player and not a liability at the plate. Anyway, after we trade Cantu, Uggla, and whoever else we can for some fundamentally sound players, nobody will even know what happened because it won't be talked about. DO IT NOW!!!

Don't read this post.

wtf

Just read the 1st sentence and all I have to say is that it's hard to be "done" with 80 games left in the season and being less then 10 games back from the division and wildcard leaders...

 

 

Well if you paid attention to what he is saying, which I agree with- why expect this team to do something that they haven't the last 5 years, even when they've had better opportunities and better talent.

I didn't read the whole thing, but I believe I got the point of it. Although starting Wes Helms would be stupid, he makes a point in saying that this team is a team full of players who play a very similar game. There definitely needs to be a change in philosophy. Specifically, the team needs to become better, defensively. I believe that with prospects like Stanton and Dominguez, the team is making strides in becoming better defensively, in the future at least.

After reading the full article I partly agree with you.

I agree guys like Uggla and Cantu need to be traded before the start of next season but I don't want to pull the trigger yet.

If the last day of July comes around and we are 15 games out of the division or wildcard then I'd be all for trading Cantu and getting Coghlan in the IF with LoMo getting a shot in LF as it could help us both offensively and defensively and who knows maybe in that trade we steal a gem for out bullpen or rotation and LoMo strokes and gives at least decent defense, we could finish strong over .500 and things could look up for next year but really for me it's all about timing and now isn't the right time.

 

P.S.

Colorado has reportedly lost interest or never had interest in Uggla :/

After reading the full article I partly agree with you.

I agree guys like Uggla and Cantu need to be traded before the start of next season but I don't want to pull the trigger yet.

If the last day of July comes around and we are 15 games out of the division or wildcard then I'd be all for trading Cantu and getting Coghlan in the IF with LoMo getting a shot in LF as it could help us both offensively and defensively and who knows maybe in that trade we steal a gem for out bullpen or rotation and LoMo strokes and gives at least decent defense, we could finish strong over .500 and things could look up for next year but really for me it's all about timing and now isn't the right time.

 

P.S.

Colorado has reportedly lost interest or never had interest in Uggla :/

 

 

Honestly, I don't really see how getting rid of Cantu and shifting Coghlan to the infield, plus Morrison would make us better defensively. I don't have any idea how Cogs is gonna be at third, but he'll at least be rusty and probably suffer from the same dumb throw-itis that the rest of the infield has suffered for years. And Lomo might not be terrible in LF, but he's still a first base body. I know that metrics aren't kind to Cogs in LF, but I don't believe that there is a good way to quantify defense (despite there being 8,000 metrics) and there are max-effort plays that Cogs makes that a lot of LF'ers don't. I don't see Morrison having better range, and I don't see him making exceptional plays like Coghlan to make up for lack of OF instincts (like Cogs lacks as well).

The main difference in my opinion is that Morrison has had about a month of game experience in LF if he does get called up this season while Coghlan had 0 games in his entire Minor League career in the OF.

Coghlan has been taking groundballs in the IF at both 3rd and 2nd in practices so i don't expect him to be rusty.

The main thing here is that both Coghlan and Morriosn will be familiar with their positions rather then throwing them out there blindly with no clue what they're doing.

I don't expect gold glove defense but they should be able to provide respectable numbers defensively and then we know that both of them can stoke at the plate and are pretty much the same kind of hitter with Logan having more Gap to gap power.

The main difference in my opinion is that Morrison has had about a month of game experience in LF if he does get called up this season while Coghlan had 0 games in his entire Minor League career in the OF.

Coghlan has been taking groundballs in the IF at both 3rd and 2nd in practices so i don't expect him to be rusty.

The main thing here is that both Coghlan and Morriosn will be familiar with their positions rather then throwing them out there blindly with no clue what they're doing.

I don't expect gold glove defense but they should be able to provide respectable numbers defensively and then we know that both of them can stoke at the plate and are pretty much the same kind of hitter with Logan having more Gap to gap power.

 

 

I think Coghlan will be fine at grounders, it the throws and more importantly the decisions that he will have to make on where/when to throw that he will probably be pretty rusty at.

 

I know Cogs had no OF experience in the minors, but he does have over a years worth in the majors now. I do think that Morrison has played some LF throughout his career, as there was often speculation he'd see time out there.

I didn't read the whole thing, but I believe I got the point of it. Although starting Wes Helms would be stupid, he makes a point in saying that this team is a team full of players who play a very similar game. There definitely needs to be a change in philosophy. Specifically, the team needs to become better, defensively. I believe that with prospects like Stanton and Dominguez, the team is making strides in becoming better defensively, in the future at least.

 

 

Even with wild diarrhea

The main difference in my opinion is that Morrison has had about a month of game experience in LF if he does get called up this season while Coghlan had 0 games in his entire Minor League career in the OF.

Coghlan has been taking groundballs in the IF at both 3rd and 2nd in practices so i don't expect him to be rusty.

The main thing here is that both Coghlan and Morriosn will be familiar with their positions rather then throwing them out there blindly with no clue what they're doing.

I don't expect gold glove defense but they should be able to provide respectable numbers defensively and then we know that both of them can stoke at the plate and are pretty much the same kind of hitter with Logan having more Gap to gap power.

 

 

 

Source/link?

Just read the 1st sentence and all I have to say is that it's hard to be "done" with 80 games left in the season and being less then 10 games back from the division and wildcard leaders...

 

Except that when you get 10+ games back you need the teams in front of you to lose while you're winning, and that hasn't happened at all for this team lately.

Trade Uggla? You out of your friggin mind.

 

The season isn't over. But that loss to begin the second half is in one word....UGH! Marlins can still win this series. Marlins can still go 7-3 on this homestand. I mean really...crazier things have happened....like Uggla batting above .280 this season.

The main difference in my opinion is that Morrison has had about a month of game experience in LF if he does get called up this season while Coghlan had 0 games in his entire Minor League career in the OF.

Coghlan has been taking groundballs in the IF at both 3rd and 2nd in practices so i don't expect him to be rusty.

The main thing here is that both Coghlan and Morriosn will be familiar with their positions rather then throwing them out there blindly with no clue what they're doing.

I don't expect gold glove defense but they should be able to provide respectable numbers defensively and then we know that both of them can stoke at the plate and are pretty much the same kind of hitter with Logan having more Gap to gap power.

 

 

 

Source/link?

I don't have a source or link but I've seen video of it on Marlins on Deck (or Marlins Live, whatever the call it now) and heard them mention it.

The main difference in my opinion is that Morrison has had about a month of game experience in LF if he does get called up this season while Coghlan had 0 games in his entire Minor League career in the OF.

Coghlan has been taking groundballs in the IF at both 3rd and 2nd in practices so i don't expect him to be rusty.

The main thing here is that both Coghlan and Morriosn will be familiar with their positions rather then throwing them out there blindly with no clue what they're doing.

I don't expect gold glove defense but they should be able to provide respectable numbers defensively and then we know that both of them can stoke at the plate and are pretty much the same kind of hitter with Logan having more Gap to gap power.

 

 

 

Source/link?

I don't have a source or link but I've seen video of it on Marlins on Deck (or Marlins Live, whatever the call it now) and heard them mention it.

 

Sooo....Uggla is safe? If Cogs is also taking IF at 3rd during practice?

 

If the Marlins can't turn things around this homestand...we can take solance in the Phillies not being that great this year.:lol

The main difference in my opinion is that Morrison has had about a month of game experience in LF if he does get called up this season while Coghlan had 0 games in his entire Minor League career in the OF.

Coghlan has been taking groundballs in the IF at both 3rd and 2nd in practices so i don't expect him to be rusty.

The main thing here is that both Coghlan and Morriosn will be familiar with their positions rather then throwing them out there blindly with no clue what they're doing.

I don't expect gold glove defense but they should be able to provide respectable numbers defensively and then we know that both of them can stoke at the plate and are pretty much the same kind of hitter with Logan having more Gap to gap power.

 

 

 

Source/link?

I don't have a source or link but I've seen video of it on Marlins on Deck (or Marlins Live, whatever the call it now) and heard them mention it.

 

Sooo....Uggla is safe? If Cogs is also taking IF at 3rd during practice?

 

If the Marlins can't turn things around this homestand...we can take solance in the Phillies not being that great this year.:lol

 

Yeah but the even more hated Bravo's are in 1st place. I like that even less ! :mad

Mets are worse. Any team in 1st place from New York is bad.

Just read the 1st sentence and all I have to say is that it's hard to be "done" with 80 games left in the season and being less then 10 games back from the division and wildcard leaders...

 

 

Sorry man but thats just highly naive. The Marlins would have to play nearly .800 baseball to win this division.

Just read the 1st sentence and all I have to say is that it's hard to be "done" with 80 games left in the season and being less then 10 games back from the division and wildcard leaders...

 

 

Sorry man but thats just highly naive. The Marlins would have to play nearly .800 baseball to win this division.

 

Exactly... and while we'd ALL love to see it happen... the 2010 Marlins havent proven themselves capable of playing .800 baseball... let alone .500 these days.

There is little hope for a big turnaround considering they have only won 4 straight games once...absolutely no consistency to be optimistic imo.

The main difference in my opinion is that Morrison has had about a month of game experience in LF if he does get called up this season while Coghlan had 0 games in his entire Minor League career in the OF.

Coghlan has been taking groundballs in the IF at both 3rd and 2nd in practices so i don't expect him to be rusty.

The main thing here is that both Coghlan and Morriosn will be familiar with their positions rather then throwing them out there blindly with no clue what they're doing.

I don't expect gold glove defense but they should be able to provide respectable numbers defensively and then we know that both of them can stoke at the plate and are pretty much the same kind of hitter with Logan having more Gap to gap power.

 

 

 

Source/link?

 

Like Rab said, it's been seen on Marlins Live, and I have seen him take live infield practice because my one of my school's coaches is close with Randy St. Claire somehow. i think they went to school together somewhere. But he took us to about 3 or 4 games no charge and we went early to see how the Marlins warm up and take pregame practices. This was about a month ago about Coghlan was taking groundballs at 2nd in infield practice then at 3 during batting practice.

Just read the 1st sentence and all I have to say is that it's hard to be "done" with 80 games left in the season and being less then 10 games back from the division and wildcard leaders...

 

 

 

Sorry to be picky but there is 73 games left. I agree with your comment about done though. I certainly don't want to throw in the towel, but the way the players are playing so flat you wonder why their minds are. Is it just get through the season and just do the motions? I know this is an obvious statement, but something has changed from last year and the only thing I can go back to is mentally. Nick is gone; Gaby is up. Gload is gone; Lamb is up (yes I know not even close in abilities). Changes in a few in the bullpen.

 

It can't be losing Fredi, can it? I think he was too much of a yes man and the only time he showed any spine was with the latest Hanley incident.

 

Although I feel we really need to go after someone with major league experience after the season. Not that I think Edwin is coaching badly but we need someone the players truly feel is a leader. Like LaRussa, Pinella, Lasorda, Trader Jack, etc. Someone with "fire in their belly"

Just read the 1st sentence and all I have to say is that it's hard to be "done" with 80 games left in the season and being less then 10 games back from the division and wildcard leaders...

 

 

 

Sorry to be picky but there is 73 games left. I agree with your comment about done though. I certainly don't want to throw in the towel, but the way the players are playing so flat you wonder why their minds are. Is it just get through the season and just do the motions? I know this is an obvious statement, but something has changed from last year and the only thing I can go back to is mentally. Nick is gone; Gaby is up. Gload is gone; Lamb is up (yes I know not even close in abilities). Changes in a few in the bullpen.

 

It can't be losing Fredi, can it? I think he was too much of a yes man and the only time he showed any spine was with the latest Hanley incident.

 

Although I feel we really need to go after someone with major league experience after the season. Not that I think Edwin is coaching badly but we need someone the players truly feel is a leader. Like LaRussa, Pinella, Lasorda, Trader Jack, etc. Someone with "fire in their belly"

 

It's really not the coaching it's the players.

I like Beinfest's summation of the 1st half.

"We hit, We don't hit"

We Pitch, We Don't Pitch.

We field, we don't field.

Bullpen Good, Bullpen Bad."

 

This team has been so inconsistent so often that it's hard to win games.

Guys, McKeon isn't coming back. Seems like a lot of members here need to accept this fact.

Just read the 1st sentence and all I have to say is that it's hard to be "done" with 80 games left in the season and being less then 10 games back from the division and wildcard leaders...

 

 

 

Sorry to be picky but there is 73 games left. I agree with your comment about done though. I certainly don't want to throw in the towel, but the way the players are playing so flat you wonder why their minds are. Is it just get through the season and just do the motions? I know this is an obvious statement, but something has changed from last year and the only thing I can go back to is mentally. Nick is gone; Gaby is up. Gload is gone; Lamb is up (yes I know not even close in abilities). Changes in a few in the bullpen.

 

It can't be losing Fredi, can it? I think he was too much of a yes man and the only time he showed any spine was with the latest Hanley incident.

 

Although I feel we really need to go after someone with major league experience after the season. Not that I think Edwin is coaching badly but we need someone the players truly feel is a leader. Like LaRussa, Pinella, Lasorda, Trader Jack, etc. Someone with "fire in their belly"

 

It's really not the coaching it's the players.

I like Beinfest's summation of the 1st half.

"We hit, We don't hit"

We Pitch, We Don't Pitch.

We field, we don't field.

Bullpen Good, Bullpen Bad."

 

This team has been so inconsistent so often that it's hard to win games.

 

 

Before Friday's game, the Marlins had a team meeting to talk about doing the little things better -- like their situational hitting. The team knows it needs to go on a winning streak to get into contention. ... Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com