Marlins Tasked With Determining Direction

[CyggyMarlin]

http://miami.marlins...ws_mia&c_id=mia

 

LOS ANGELES -- Bringing in a high-profile manager and signing marquee free agents were steps the Marlins took in hopes of becoming a contender.

On paper, the plan entering the season looked promising. But the performance didn't live up to expectations. Rather than moving in the direction of playing deep into October, the Marlins find themselves in last place in the National League East.

What went wrong specifically is hard to say, because there have been breakdowns in so many different areas. In the 16-team NL, the Marlins rank 14th in runs scored, 11th in starters ERA and 14th in errors committed. In all phases, there have been issues.

How the team responds in the final six weeks will be critical for a number of players, as the organization ponders what to do next.

According to manager Ozzie Guillen, to move forward, the first step the franchise must take is to accurately assess its personnel.

"We've got to sit down, look at the talent and be realistic about the talent that we have," Guillen said. "The front office, they know better than me, this team. But we cannot miss too much more on the evaluation of the ballclub, of the team."

An honest assessment will determine where the club is headed. Will it go young, find core players and grow together? Or will it brush off 2012 as a bad year, regroup and make the necessary additions to make a strong run in '13?

"If we're going to be younger here, then OK, what kind of young team are we going to have?" Guillen said. "Are we going to go forward, or are we going to stay the same? If we're going to go young, just go young, and suffer for a couple of years and see what happens.

"Or are you going to compete, and make a mix [of veterans with young players]? Then who's coming here to make the mix? It's all a process."

Guillen went through a transition situation with the White Sox. In 2004, his first season in Chicago, the team went 83-79. A year later, the White Sox made the big leap, winning 99 games and ultimately the World Series.

"One year to another, we just changed everything, and we had a nice run, a very nice run," Guillen said. "Hopefully, that happens here, too."

Aside from a record-setting 21-8 record in May, the Marlins never came together. If the team pitched, it didn't hit. If it hit, the pitching floundered. Or the bullpen would break down. On top of that, the defense also has contributed to rough days.

Miami's four-game split at Arizona this week mirrored what's gone on for most of the year. On Monday, the Marlins won, 12-3, collecting a season-high 20 hits. And on Tuesday, they overcame a five-run first-inning deficit to win, 6-5. But in Wednesday's doubleheader, they scored just two runs in two games and were swept by the D-backs.

"It's tough," said Josh Johnson, the team's ace. "Bad break here. Bad break there. Wrong pitch, wrong time. It's not good to fail. But you need failure to make guys not take anything for granted. Not that we are. But it's a reminder that any day, it could be your last. You could be traded or whatever."

Simply put, the season lacked a smooth flow.

"We're 25 different guys, and we just didn't come together as a team," said Heath Bell, who converted 19 of 25 save chances before being moved to a setup role in the second half. "I honestly think that's what happened. We only had a couple of months together before we were trading some guys."

Four deals leading into the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline changed the personality of the clubhouse. The moves also put players more on edge, forcing them to wonder if they are staying or going.

Hanley Ramirez and Randy Choate were sent to the Dodgers. Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez were dealt to Detroit. Edward Mujica was traded to the Cardinals, and Gaby Sanchez was moved to Pittsburgh.

In order to build a winning environment, Bell said the players must first get to know each other better. A major free-agent signing, the veteran joined Miami after three straight All-Star campaigns with the Padres.

In Spring Training, he noted that players were trying to recognize each others' faces.

"Pretty much how we build it, you talk to the young guys, and the older guys," Bell said. "Like me and [catcher John] Buck really know each other now. ... We didn't know each other, even two months ago. We were still learning everybody two months ago."

Once a rapport has been established, the team molds together.

"Everybody knows you in Spring Training," Bell said. "It's like, 'What did you do during the winter?' This year was like, 'Hey, my name is so and so.' Now, we're all going to know each other. Next year in March, we're all going to be fighting for the same goal, and we're all going to be pulling for each other. We're not going to have to be learning everybody, except one or two guys."

Meshing personalities in the clubhouse is part of the building process. But ultimately, the results come on the field.

Now that Ramirez is gone, Giancarlo Stanton projects to be the face of the franchise. The slugger earned All-Star status at age 22, although he had an injured right knee that prevented him from attending the Midsummer Classic.

Stanton has been impressive, especially on the road trip, where he has five home runs in seven games.

From his perspective, Stanton sees a Miami offense that has struggled with sustaining consistency. When the team goes into a collective slump, it plays into the mindset of the players.

"You look up and see two hits in five, six innings," Stanton said. "You're like, 'He's pitching a good game, so no one's hitting.' That type of thing. You feed off that. When you see the guys in front of you hit a homer or smoke a double or something, and you're like, 'OK, [my turn].'

"Obviously, we're big leaguers, and we've got to look past that. But it's also a subconscious thing that kind of takes over sometimes, when you see over and over again something happening. That's kind of something I'm seeing going on. Baseball is a contagious sport. Not too many times you see one guy go 3-for-3, 4-for-4 and no one else hitting. It's very rare. You've got to collectively do it."

 

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OK, Heath Bell... so not knowing players faces is the reason why your ERA is so high and why you are having the worst year ever? What a tool.

[canada-marlin24]

I don't think we are far from competing at all with the pieces we have. No reason to go young.

 

We have a nice core and just need to add the right pieces.

[Dr Beinfest]

Why does Heath Bell still get to speak to the media?

[Michael]

Why does Heath Bell still get to speak to the media?

 

Isn't it something to do with willingness to give the quotes in the first place? I mean, if 15 people say "no," then Heath comes up and says "sure!" then ... IDK. Maybe that's what it is, maybe not.

[Michael]

I don't think we are far from competing at all with the pieces we have. No reason to go young.

 

We have a nice core and just need to add the right pieces.

What core?

Stanton and Reyes and Boni and a fully healthy possibly productive first baseman Morrison and Johnson and Buehrle and stuff!

[Dr Beinfest]

Stanton, JJ, Reyes.

 

Buehrle, naturally, is a keeper as a well built piece around the core. Bonifacio, too, as a utility bench player.

 

The rest? Do something, please.

[fanofthefish]

The real question is do the Marlins try to throw around enough money to try to win it all in 2013 or do they write off next season and wait until 2014 when prospects like Yelich and Fernandez and others should be ready to contribute? Also if they wait until 2014 the question of where Morrison fits should be answered. Either way the Marlins will still have Stanton and Reyes under contract, they could still have Bonifacio, if he can remain healthy and more importantly if they wait another year they will have rid themselves of Buck's contract. As a fan of the Marlins I would be okay with waiting until then, I'm not sure how many others would be willing to do so, but I think this is a positive direction.

[Admin]

There really aren't any big free agents worth throwing money at. I don't want Josh Hamilton.

 

David Wright would be cool, but the Mets will pick up that option.

[yokofox33]

There really aren't any big free agents worth throwing money at. I don't want Josh Hamilton.

 

David Wright would be cool, but the Mets will pick up that option.

 

 

Let's hope he pulls a Carlos Boozer then.

[Erick]

I hope they don't give out long-term contracts.

Best case scenario, we get some things to go our way and make the playoffs.

Worst case scenario, another failure of a season and Beinfest/Hill, etc. get fired.

 

The long-term contracts this organization has given out have, for the most part, sucked.

[gizmo]

I hope they don't give out long-term contracts.

Best case scenario, we get some things to go our way and make the playoffs.

Worst case scenario, another failure of a season and Beinfest/Hill, etc. get fired.

 

The long-term contracts this organization has given out have, for the most part, sucked.

[Erick]

I hope they don't give out long-term contracts.

Best case scenario, we get some things to go our way and make the playoffs.

Worst case scenario, another failure of a season and Beinfest/Hill, etc. get fired.

 

The long-term contracts this organization has given out have, for the most part, sucked.

 

 

 

 

Well, he's different. :wee

[bobbob1313]

I feel like people are starting to get ridiculous with the Heat Bell hate. That was a pretty innocuous quote.

[Dr Beinfest]

I feel like people are starting to get ridiculous with the Heat Bell hate. That was a pretty innocuous quote.

 

 

I feel it justified. I'm annoyed that Heath Bell apparently represents the voice of this team.

 

Didn't come together as a team blah blah blah. I'm sick of hearing Heath Bell talk. I just want to see him perform.

[bobbob1313]

If someone else had said it, nobody bats an eye. Whatever.

[Dr Beinfest]

Right. Exactly.

 

All Heath Bell has been able to do this season is talk talk talk talk talk.

 

Oh I need to overcome this, God is testing me that, I just need to change the way I pitch to the batter with the wiffle ball bat.

[Admin]

The Bell quotes don't really anger me, but that's a dumb thing for him to say. He seems to be suggesting that the Marlins are the only team that made offseason moves that required players to get acclimated to new clubhouses. It's pretty much a constant in baseball and it doesn't prevent talented teams from performing well during the first couple of months of the season.

[FishFan88]

Bell was highlighting the lack of chemistry. He has a point..

new team, new uniforms, new stadium, reality tv show, heaping expectations. There was a lot of sh*t going on in the background this season. I had a bad feeling about the season the minute Ali rolled out of center field on the worlds slowest golf cart and everyone in our awesome high technology Latin bounce room of a stadium went silent.

[bobbob1313]

The Bell quotes don't really anger me, but that's a dumb thing for him to say. He seems to be suggesting that the Marlins are the only team that made offseason moves that required players to get acclimated to new clubhouses. It's pretty much a constant in baseball and it doesn't prevent talented teams from performing well during the first couple of months of the season.

 

 

I don't think he is. I think it's dumb jock speak, but I think he was saying that this specific team did not come together as they should or could have. It's an excuse, but it's an excuse that every player on a bad team has used.

 

People are overreacting to every thing Bell says, because he had a bad year. That seems dumb to me.

[AeroFishOne]

The Bell quotes don't really anger me, but that's a dumb thing for him to say. He seems to be suggesting that the Marlins are the only team that made offseason moves that required players to get acclimated to new clubhouses. It's pretty much a constant in baseball and it doesn't prevent talented teams from performing well during the first couple of months of the season.

 

 

I don't think he is. I think it's dumb jock speak, but I think he was saying that this specific team did not come together as they should or could have. It's an excuse, but it's an excuse that every player on a bad team has used.

 

People are overreacting to every thing Bell says, because he had a bad year. That seems dumb to me.

 

I'm with you on this one Bob. Kinda goes the same for some of the recent Hanley stuff to.

[BroncoBob27]

I hope they don't give out long-term contracts.

Best case scenario, we get some things to go our way and make the playoffs.

Worst case scenario, another failure of a season and Beinfest/Hill, etc. get fired.

 

The long-term contracts this organization has given out have, for the most part, sucked.

 

 

 

 

Well, he's different. :wee

 

From what I've read, there are talks in progress. The bigger question is does he want to sign? He and his agent may decide it's not a wise decision for him. There was a short segment on Intentioal Talk the other day on this topic. They seem to agree it would be smarter for him to move on. Not that they are the final answer on anything or leading experts. Heck, I don't even care much for Millar. But it is interesting to hear what folks outside the org are thinking.

 

This article was at marlins.com. To me it seems like the org is preparing the fan base for a drop in salary next season. The excuse will be they are going young and letting the team grow together.

[hovertical]

so they didn't come together but yet had a wonderful month of May? So from June on they decided "oh hey, we need to focus on getting to know eachother instead of winning. I need to feel comfortable about who i work with first. Baseball can wait man....it can wait....."

[Fishgirl]

Why does Heath Bell still get to speak to the media?

 

 

Well at least when he is talking to them, he's not eating.

[Fishgirl]

Lomo has so much to prove btw.

 

 

I think a lot of how this team does is tied to him. We know that Stanton will do his thing, and Boni & Reyes will get on base. If Ruggs is here and keeps up the production into spring training he's a piece of the puzzle.

 

The wildcard is LoMo. He must produce. If he does this offense is so much better, and this team wins a lot more games.

[Fishgirl]

There really aren't any big free agents worth throwing money at. I don't want Josh Hamilton.

 

David Wright would be cool, but the Mets will pick up that option.

 

 

How long has Wright been on their 40 man roster ? Is he a 5/10 guy ? Does your entire tenure on the 40 man roster count towards the 10 years even if you are in playing the majority of a year in AA or AAA ?

 

If they pick up an option year does that count the same as a regular year under a regular contract ? Can he refuse any trade next year ?

 

I too would love to have Wright on this team. It solves the 3rd base question until 2015. After that he should be in rapid decline. He's 30 later this year.