Alex Sanabia

[Hotcorner]

so do we pretty much pencil him into the rotation for next season? Do we have better options in-house?

 

 

Tonight he goes 7 with 1 run and no walks. Getting deeper into games is something I've been wanting to see him do more of so that was nice.

 

I mean he's not my ideal choice but again I'm just not sure we have anything better. I'd love to mix a lefty in there but I don't think West can outpitch him right now. He at least seems to be able to keep the team in the game. Maybe they give Koehler and Elih from Jax a look in spring training but that's about it. Koehler is a favorite of mine so I'm hoping that he can make the jump...

 

 

This is barring a trade or big FA signing of course.

[Erick]

He'd be awesome out of the bullpen. Just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

He'd be awesome out of the bullpen. Just my opinion.

 

 

 

 

Why do you say this? I'm curious because I don't really know much about him.

[poptart]

if it ain't broke don't fix it.

i'd be shocked (+angry) if he wasn't in the rotation next year

[mystikol87]

3.73 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 4.59 FIP. BABIP right in line with LD% expectations.

 

I don't see any reason why he hasn't earned a spot in the rotation next year. We know JJ/Ricky/Anibal are settled, and I see no reason why Sanabia shouldn't be added to that list.

 

Part of me wants the team to make an acquisition, but part of me wants to gamble on Volstad/West rising up to the task.

JJ/Sanchez/Nolasco/Sanabia + Volstad/West could be a decent rotation. I guess my preference is tied to how much payroll is available, and what offers are available for Uggla (and possibly Gaby).

[Schnellders]

I guess I'm a little apprehensive of another Volstad situation with Sanabia. Pitch well above initial expectations in his rookie year yet suffer the sophomore slump in full season #1

[popeyethesailor]

I guess I'm a little apprehensive of another Volstad situation with Sanabia. Pitch well above initial expectations in his rookie year yet suffer the sophomore slump in full season #1

 

 

 

Yeah the sophomore slump will happen but he should get the chance. Volstad has responded well now and maybe Sanabia will too. Johnson, Sanchez, Nolasco and Volstad are a great 1-4 now.

[mystikol87]

I guess I'm a little apprehensive of another Volstad situation with Sanabia. Pitch well above initial expectations in his rookie year yet suffer the sophomore slump in full season #1

 

 

 

Yeah the sophomore slump will happen but he should get the chance. Volstad has responded well now and maybe Sanabia will too. Johnson, Sanchez, Nolasco and Volstad are a great 1-4 now.

 

Actually, they're quite average. JJ is a legit #1. Sanchez had been good, but with reasons to expect regression. Nolasco is wildly inconsistent and tends to even out to ~ average, and Volstad has sucked except for 2 good recent starts.

[h2r09]

sanabia is a phenomenal back of the rotation starter and exactly what you want from one. Quick worker, doesnt walk any batters, gets deep into games, and just flat out can pitch. love him a lot more than our other starters like volstad, miller, west because he can throw strikes.

[MrMarlinPride]

I don't know if he's automatically thrown into the rotation but he has really made a good case for himself going into the battle next spring for the last two rotation spots. Those two spots can really be taken by anyone from Volstad to Villanueava or a FA Signing but it's great to see the young kids pitch well and adds good options to a much needed upgrade in the rotation/bullpen.

[dim]

Sanabia is going to be our #4 starter next year barring something crazy happening or an injury.

 

I'm still on the bandwagon of trading for a #2 starter so we move Ricky back to a #3 or 4 starter, but Sanabia has REALLY stepped up this season. He's gone from a guy who wasn't even in the Marlins top 30 minor league players before the season to our #4 starter heading into next season. Easily one of the biggest positives to come from this year.

[Rabbethan]

I can't imagine, unless we make some big trade or an injury occurs, that the rotation will be anything but JJ-Ricky-Ani-Sanabia-Voly.

[Nny]

I can't imagine, unless we make some big trade or an injury occurs, that the rotation will be anything but JJ-Ricky-Ani-Sanabia-Voly.

 

 

That's no lefty though, which I don't care about but the FO has shown they do.

 

Something I think they could look at doing...see if Moyer would come here for low price (couple ms) to be that #5 veteran lefty that Hendrickson/Robertson failed at being. His biggest problems since being traded to Philly has been home runs, so going from there to here should do good on that and I think he'd put up a mid-4ish ERA. Then have Sanabia/Volstad duke it out for #4, whoever loses goes to the bullpen (For all the "sign a back of the rotation guy to go in the bullpen" thing from the other thread, no back of the rotation free agent will sign here to do that. They'll sign somewhere to start. We got Hensley because of injuries to him) and should be average/above average arm there.

[Nny]

I guess I'm a little apprehensive of another Volstad situation with Sanabia. Pitch well above initial expectations in his rookie year yet suffer the sophomore slump in full season #1

 

 

It really is Volstad 2.0 considering both of their success lied/lies heavily in a low HR/FB%.

[mystikol87]

Sanabia has shown better K potential than Volstad.

[Nny]

He also gives up a crap load more of fly balls.

 

And while I agree sanabia has more potential for K's, it's has yet to translate*. His k/9 in the minors since upping to full season ball is 6.4, Volstad is 6.1. Both will sit in the upper 5's in the majors I think (like they have been), Sanabia with more control

 

*which again goes back to "There's No Such Thing As A Pitching Prospect", that pitchers are who they are unless things like new pitches/new mechanics. It's not like hitters who physically develop as they get into their mid/upper 20's - in fact, pitchers physically get worse the older they get

[Erick]

He'd be awesome out of the bullpen. Just my opinion.

 

 

 

 

Why do you say this? I'm curious because I don't really know much about him.

 

An average starter can often times become a very good reliever. Sanabia is a guy who does not walk people, and his K rates would likely be well above average out of the bullpen.

 

The good thing about Sanabia as well is that his changeup makes him very effective against left-handed hitters. (.576 .OPSA to LH this year)

 

I feel like he can turn into a + reliever; as a starter, I doubt he'll continue his success. As of right now, he's basically a 2 pitch pitcher, with the occasional slider (in other words, he doesn't really have more than 2 pitches to rely on, like most starters do...at least most starters who don't have a + fastball, which Sanabia doesn't have).

[Anonymous]

That makes sense. It's great how we have so much potential for our bullpen, but I wish some were SP prospects. We're so thin there.

[Sirspud]

All I will say is that if a Sean West that has shown very little gets a rotation spot over Sanabia coming out of ST, I will be very angry.

 

I'm still angry that Nate Robertson got a rotation spot above fill in the blank. Why is it that we could give a shot to a guy who had no upside and hadn't been good, but yet didn't give another shot to a guy who was throwing some nice games the year before and had legitimate upside in RVH. He couldn't have been much worse, and Robertson couldn't have been much better.

[Erick]

Apparently, the Marlins actually like Hensley more as a starter than they do as a closer next year.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/marlins/marlins-pitcher-clay-hensley-could-be-closing-or-942550.html

 

It's possible that Hensley and Sanabia could swap roles next year. Hensley as a starter, and Sanabia in middle relief.

[Anonymous]

All I will say is that if a Sean West that has shown very little gets a rotation spot over Sanabia coming out of ST, I will be very angry.

 

I'm still angry that Nate Robertson got a rotation spot above fill in the blank. Why is it that we could give a shot to a guy who had no upside and hadn't been good, but yet didn't give another shot to a guy who was throwing some nice games the year before and had legitimate upside in RVH. He couldn't have been much worse, and Robertson couldn't have been much better.

 

 

What if Sean West out pitches Sanabia?

[bobbob1313]

You're ignoring that sirspud irrationality hates Sean West.

[mystikol87]

Apparently, the Marlins actually like Hensley more as a starter than they do as a closer next year.

http://www.palmbeach...-or-942550.html

 

It's possible that Hensley and Sanabia could swap roles next year. Hensley as a starter, and Sanabia in middle relief.

 

 

Interesting article. Not shocking, but Volstad still makes me anxious as an ML starter.

[Schnellders]

Will Nunez be here next year and reclaim the closer role or will we move him to cut costs? If we moved him and Hensley joined the rotation then who would our closer be? Too early for Ceda surely?

[mystikol87]

If the payroll is really $48-$50 million, then I think Nunez is almost surely gone unless we get a fantastic deal for Uggla. I'll wait until Lou's working draft before I'm too sure, though.