Marlins RF Abraham Nunez leads the Dominican Winter League in home runs with 6 in 15 games. Nunez is hitting .278 overall and has walked more than he's struck out, 9/8 in 54 ABs. The switch-hitting 26-year-old has always been a personal favorite of mine, and I'd love to see him stick with the Marlins this time around. If not for the injury in the spring(that turn off alot coaches and management people) I believe Nunez would have made the team coming out of spring training.He has terrific tools. IMO Nunez and OF Chris Aguila(who played outstanding in the Arizona Fall League) will win that 5th OF spot, if spring training were to start tommorrow.

 

On the Bad News side,

 

Orioles RHP Denny Bautista leads the Dominican Winter League in strikeouts with 15 in just 9.1 innings pitched. Very impressive.

We all know Buatista is going to be special but thats the price we paid for Winning a World Series

We all know Buatista is going to be special but thats the price we paid for Winning a World Series

Yup, he can become the next Cy Young and I will continue to be happy with the trade.

It seems that Nunez put himself back a bit with that whole age/birth certificate debacle. I certainly hope he can make the team. Hell he's probably as good as Hollandsworth.

Two seasons ago no one was a bigger fan of Nunez than I was but frankly he just hasn't become the player he was touted to be. While it was only an abbreviated opportunity, he looked just awful in Sept 2002 when he was called up. There's nothing I'd like more than to have some stud waiting in the wings in Albuquerque but but after two mediocre seasons it isn't Nunez.

 

That's why they call them prospects.

He may be older but he can hit...his projected numbers in 2003 at AAA over 118 games .311, 132 hits, 22 HR, 76 RBI, 18 SB...not to shabby...and i heard he's really good defensively...if Choi is not ready next yr and option would be moving Conine to 1st and bringing up Nunez

Or if Castillo leaves...move Cabrera to 2nd and Nunez to RF

Wow... Why don't we give Hooper a chance at second if Castillo walks and leave Cabs in Right Field with that cannon of his.

because Hooper sucks.

If Nunez can hit and contribute to this team you can save that veteran salary slot on the offensive side for your bench and use it in other more pressing matters......

 

 

Hopefully Nunez can make the team and be a solid contributer for this team.

why waste Cabs' talents at 2B?

 

who knows if he can even play it

i thought we traded nunez

because Hooper sucks.

 

Hooper does not "suck".

 

Anyone's who's seen him play has to be impressed with his caliber of play. He had a tough time in the first half of 2003, but then again everyone on the 'Topes did. Hooper and his teammates came back to win their division, following in the footsteps of their parent club.

 

Kevin Hooper could play MLB baseball tomorrow if asked. Is he Luis Castillo? No. Did have have longest hitting streak in minor league baseball in 20 years in 2002? Yes. Was he selected as "Mr. Hustle by his teammates? Yes.

 

Hooper is an excellent candidate to take Andy Fox's (who has already signed elsewhere for 2004) ultility job next season. And he's saavy enough to play every day if asked.

 

Here's a link to a thread that includes a couple of pieces on Hoop from flamarlins.com.

 

marlinsbaseball.com thread on Kevin Hooper

Nunez came back last summer, late, after a lengthy period on the DL. He came back and hit like a man possessed. You have to keep in mind he had a dozen more than 200 at bats in 2003. To put that in perspective Derrek Watham had 473 ABs.

 

I think at one point in his first hundred or so at bats he was hitting .350-.370 or more, he was on fire. Then he fell off a cliff and ended the season batting .311. He probably didn't average .250 in his last 75 at bats. Had he continued and had 350-400 at bats he probably would have hit .260-.270. He's got this big sloppy swing, last time I saw him he just never settles into the batters box. Everything's in motion, sort of Willie Mays Hayes the first time he steps into the battersbox. Jello.

 

Maybe Treanor or someone on the 'Topes got him out of that bad habit, I hope so. Maybe he can hit .300 in the majors or at least deliver something approaching Cabs rookie year but I think we'd hear more about the guy if he was the real deal.

 

There's no question he has home run power, but the bottom line is he's an inconsistent hitter at best. That's the thing about him that drives you crazy. He's such a streak hitter. When he came up at the end of 2002 he was god awul. He embarrassed himself every time he came to bat.

 

I'd like to be proved wrong.

Nunez came back last summer, late, after a lengthy period on the DL. He came back and hit like a man possessed. You have to keep in mind he had a dozen more than 200 at bats in 2003. To put that in perspective Derrek Watham had 473 ABs.

 

I think at one point in his first hundred or so at bats he was hitting .350-.370 or more, he was on fire. Then he fell off a cliff and ended the season batting .311. He probably didn't average .250 in his last 75 at bats. Had he continued and had 350-400 at bats he probably would have hit .260-.270. He's got this big sloppy swing, last time I saw him he just never settles into the batters box. Everything's in motion, sort of Willie Mays Hayes the first time he steps into the battersbox. Jello.

 

Maybe Treanor or someone on the 'Topes got him out of that bad habit, I hope so. Maybe he can hit .300 in the majors or at least deliver something approaching Cabs rookie year but I think we'd hear more about the guy if he was the real deal.

 

There's no question he has home run power, but the bottom line is he's an inconsistent hitter at best. That's the thing about him that drives you crazy. He's such a streak hitter. When he came up at the end of 2002 he was god awul. He embarrassed himself every time he came to bat.

 

I'd like to be proved wrong.

He'll do nicely for a 4th OF. Especially on a financially strapped team. I have always liked this guy too, and it is good to see others like his talent. He has speed and power - probably wont hit for average. Good for .260-.270 but with 20/20 (and about 100+K's). All in all, give him the opportunity to play as our 4th.

 

As for Hooper, I like him too. I think he will be a good replacement for Fox and/or Mordecai. He is capable of spelling both mid-IF positions, and that is very valuable. Plus, he is a hustler and a smart player.

 

Both, two important pieces for our team and will help us contend in 2004.

I'd like to see Nunez get a reserve OF spot this spring. I'm surprised to see he has more BB's thank K's, because I think the one knock on him was that he struck out too much. I know he WAS touted as a five-tool prospect when he came here. Unfortunately, I think this spring will be his last chance to make it on the Marlins roster.

Abe would make a solid 4th OFer if he can show some solid fundamentals in ST.

I'd like to see Nunez get a reserve OF spot this spring. I'm surprised to see he has more BB's thank K's, because I think the one knock on him was that he struck out too much. I know he WAS touted as a five-tool prospect when he came here. Unfortunately, I think this spring will be his last chance to make it on the Marlins roster.

The main problem with Nunez is his 6th tool. His head. He's doesn't have ballplayer instincts. He's another stud athelete that gets a lot of attention while real balllplayers fall by the wayside. He gets chance after chance and other guys less gifted who know how to play, don't.

 

I watched him on the spanish channel last year playing in the Caribbean, and then when I was on vacation in the DR I got to see him play. He is very raw. He doesn't know what a cut off man is, and didn't run the bases well. He just isn't a polished ballplayer, and he 's getting too old to be this rough. He is very very inconsistent with his ABs. I think he mostly guesses. That's where the streaks come from. Major league pitchers eat guys like him for breakfast. I don't think he will ever have what it takes to hit major league pitching. He isn't the answer for the 4th outfielder.

I'd like to see Nunez get a reserve OF spot this spring. I'm surprised to see he has more BB's thank K's, because I think the one knock on him was that he struck out too much. I know he WAS touted as a five-tool prospect when he came here. Unfortunately, I think this spring will be his last chance to make it on the Marlins roster.

The main problem with Nunez is his 6th tool. His head. He's doesn't have ballplayer instincts. He's another stud athelete that gets a lot of attention while real balllplayers fall by the wayside. He gets chance after chance and other guys less gifted who know how to play, don't.

 

I watched him on the spanish channel last year playing in the Caribbean, and then when I was on vacation in the DR I got to see him play. He is very raw. He doesn't know what a cut off man is, and didn't run the bases well. He just isn't a polished ballplayer, and he 's getting too old to be this rough. He is very very inconsistent with his ABs. I think he mostly guesses. That's where the streaks come from. Major league pitchers eat guys like him for breakfast. I don't think he will ever have what it takes to hit major league pitching. He isn't the answer for the 4th outfielder.

Unfortunately (regarding Nunez, not you or your post) I have to agree. Unless the guy has matured significantly in the last year, he's not ready for MLB pitching, and may never be. I don't see him competing for the 4th/5th OF job in 2004.

Update, I've heard this before hmmm

 

Abraham Nunez hit his Dominican Winter League-leading ninth homer yesterday.

Nunez is batting .255 with a 933 OPS for Estrellas. He'll be 27 in February, so he's no longer a true prospect. However, the switch-hitter could be a useful reserve outfielder for the Marlins next season if he can avoid any more spring training hamstring pulls. ...Source rotoworld

hot damn

I think it would be ridiculous not to give this guy the 4th/5th OF spot. He isnt going to prove anything else by playing in the minors - and batting .255 isnt a good sign. Sounds like he is in love with the longball, and his average is suffering. No matter, he is a cheap bat and can do the job we need to come off the bench every now and then.