Posted December 24, 201311 yr everyone make a valiant effort to resist the sarcasm... Okay roster's basically set, lots of new faces around. So pick a Marlins major leaguer and minor leaguer that will surprise for 2014. Call it a minor breakthrough season, player to watch, whatever. Define it however you like... just not really looking for Jose Fernandez and Stanton here. Could just be a player we thought would be awful turning out to be average, doesn't have to be a youngster either. Whatever you want. I'm going with Marcell Ozuna for the Marlins and Mark Canha in the minors. My expectations aren't really high but even marginal improvements from these two could really help. Ozuna will likely always have to battle strikeout issues, but I'll say the homers start to show up this season so the slugging and defense will balance out the on-base side. Something like a .250/.300/.420 line would be promising, with his outfield defense that's a good start. Yelich will get more attention (deservedly so) but feel like there's more room for growth with Marcell. There are a lot of arms in the minors to sort through but position players are really thin right now so I'm going to pick a bat. Always liked Mark Canha and I feel like "good but not great" college hitters with a good eye for the strike zone get a bad rap because going through the minors they're usually old for their level unless they're super-prospects. Sort of the flip side to Ozuna, Canha appears to have the hit tool and he'll draw walks, even if he's only giving you homers in the teens. Think he could probably give you Gaby Sanchez-ish help, which isn't sexy but in the right situation could be useful and cheap. Garret Jones has 1B now so not sure if Mark will see the majors this season but could be a platoon option (.313/.406/.527/.933 in AA vs LHP). There's really nothing else in the organization at 1B so if his numbers tick up a bit in AAA he could find himself part of the picture soon.
December 24, 201311 yr Mcgehee will surprise and I think Hechavarria will also because of assistance from furcal.
December 24, 201311 yr My pick would have been Dietrich, I guess it still could be but no idea to guess how many AB's he will get this year. I guess I'll go with a big surprise and say Adeiny Hechavarria in the majors. I think he is capable of posting a line like .260/.310/.370/.680 with 6-8 HR, 50-60 RBI, and 15-20 SB. Of course this is just for fun, but he's due for improvement. My guess in the minors is Kyle Jensen. I see his average coming back up to the mid-high .200's in New Orleans with big power numbers and a major league promotion sometime between June and August, just depends when the opportunity comes.
December 24, 201311 yr Majors - Ozuna, I hope. Minors - Josh Easley, RHP. I'm gonna keep a close eye on him.
December 24, 201311 yr I'll say eovaldi achieving a sub 3 era as he further develops his breaking stuff and gets that k/9 up around 8. In Milb I'll say Conley
December 24, 201311 yr Majors - Carter Capps Minors - Marisnick (if he starts the year in the minors which seems likely)
December 24, 201311 yr Hechavarria will "surprise" the front office when he fails to win a gold glove and/or MVP award in 2014.
December 25, 201311 yr I really doubt that happens. I guess if it does happen it would qualify as a surprise then, right?
December 25, 201311 yr Even though it's less of a surprise I feel like Stanton takes the step towards stardom this season hitting 40 HR driving in 100 RBI and hitting around .270-.280. He's out to prove he can play a full year and is a force to be reckoned with. Other than that in the majors I'm looking at this team to have 4 or 5 20 + base stealers. In the minors hoping Dietrich has a solid year and gets called up to take the everyday job from McGehee or Furcal.
December 25, 201311 yr Masahiro Tanaka. You know, because the Marlins will outbid everyone by spending 100+ million on the guy.
December 25, 201311 yr everyone make a valiant effort to resist the sarcasm... Masahiro Tanaka. You know, because the Marlins will outbid everyone by spending 100+ million on the guy. Did you at least make the valiant effort he asked for?
December 25, 201311 yr Did you at least make the valiant effort he asked for? No... But I want the Marlins to waste their money on him. I'd die a happy man if the Marlins signed a semi-decent Japanese player in my lifetime.
December 26, 201311 yr Surprises Rob Brantley and Kyle Jensen Hechavarria will break .250 this season
December 26, 201311 yr No... But I want the Marlins to waste their money on him. I'd die a happy man if the Marlins signed a semi-decent Japanese player in my lifetime. He just came on the market. Teams can bid up to $20 mil to talk to him. Teams that tie with the highest bid can all talk to him, but only the team he signs with has to pay that price. (I suppose we could go that way and then low ball him.) With some big payroll teams looking at him with a hunger in their eyes, reports I have read said he will get in the $100 mil range. Conclusion........Don't die this year.
December 27, 201311 yr In the Majors I'm going to go with Eovaldi / Turner. I am also looking for A J Ramos to become a very solid set up man for us this year. In the minors I'm going to go with Avery Romero and Jesus Solórzano. I think Romero can become a top 100 prospect for us. He is one player the Marlins went above slot for in the draft to keep him from going to college. The kid can hit, and I think he is our 2nd base of the future. Solórzano is much like Ozuna. He has all the tools but K's a bit too much. If he can control his K's he will be a real nice prospect for us as well.
December 27, 201311 yr Jose Fernandez. A surprisingly disappointing season. Yeah. His ERA will be like 2.50. Fucking scrub. First round bust.
January 3, 201411 yr Yeah. His ERA will be like 2.50. f***ing scrub. First round bust. In all seriousness, I would expect a bit of a downturn for him. Always hope for the best, but would not be surprised at all to see a bit of a sophomore slump.
January 3, 201411 yr In all seriousness, I would expect a bit of a downturn for him. Always hope for the best, but would not be surprised at all to see a bit of a sophomore slump. His peripherals were fantastic and he only got stronger as the season progressed. If anything I think he has a good shot of improving last years #s if he could get the BB rate down some (marlins park will keep that HR# super low). I would be pretty surprised if he has any sort of significant regression/slump. I expect low/mid 2s era from him and similar if not improved peripherals. In other words, he will have another ace-like season barring injury or something like that.
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