Thanks Debbie Downer. You bring great optimism to the table.

 

I understand the flaws with the team. You say the offense will be bad, and I agree that it will likely be bottom 10 in baseball bad. But given how bad last season was, we could be bottom 5 in baseball and we could easily improve the offensive output by a total of 100 runs. If the pitching staff can be even 3/4th as good as it was last season, the bullpen/defense get it at least somewhat together, and the offense doesn't produce the worst offense in Marlins history like last year (and this offense isn't THAT awful. Guys like Dietrich/Yelich/Salty/improved Stanton/McGehee make this offense a hell of a lot better than it was last season).

 

If that happens, what will be the outcome?

Seriously, nobody on this damn board is calling this team a 6 run a game team. But we're not a 2 run a game team like last year. There are actually some hitters outside of Stanton who could potentially, *gasp* hit in the lineup.

Three pages of replies and no one has mentioned what I think is a bigger issue , the fact that we blew a 5-0 lead. We finally have an improved offense and we knock out a great starting pitcher in the second inning... We cannot lose games like that regardless of how frustrating the eighth inning was.

that was bad but we were also using an emergency starter who had only been throwing bullpen recently. It's not like Hand (or Slowey for that matter) getting knocked around by a good hitting team like the Nats is shocking.

If that happens, what will be the outcome?

 

I'm still saying this team could win anywhere from 70 to 84 games this year. We're likely somewhere between 72 to 75, but if things break right we could maybe get close to .500

I'm still saying this team could win anywhere from 70 to 84 games this year. We're likely somewhere between 72 to 75, but if things break right we could maybe get close to .500

 

Hm, I don't think we're that close but I'm certainly hoping we are. Personally I'm trying not to worry about W/L this season. Just want to see progress from Yelich/Ozuna/Dietrich/Hechevarria/Eovaldi/Alvarez, as well as the prospects in the minor leagues. We need pieces to build around Stanton/Fernandez.

Christian Yelich is so awesome. I want to put him leadoff or No.2 spot against lefty, even though he were struggled.

Season is too long. He should be given a time to adjust and learn it.

You know, I'm not even mad.

 

For me, this is how the Werth slam went:

Rich: "here's the pitch."

*crack*

Me: "Fuck." *gets up and leaves room*

 

I didn't wait to see where it would land, I knew it was gone off the bat. Thing is, like I said, not even mad. Just more ... apathetic now. I knew not to get my hopes up after last week. Not trying to be negative here, I was looking forward to this series to see how we would do against a good team to be honest. This is a game we should have won and didn't. It's something I've unfortunately come to expect after the last three years.

 

 

But, it's still early.

You know, I'm not even mad.

 

For me, this is how the Werth slam went:

Rich: "here's the pitch."

*crack*

Me: "f***." *gets up and leaves room*

 

I didn't wait to see where it would land, I knew it was gone off the bat. Thing is, like I said, not even mad. Just more ... apathetic now. I knew not to get my hopes up after last week. Not trying to be negative here, I was looking forward to this series to see how we would do against a good team to be honest. This is a game we should have won and didn't. It's something I've unfortunately come to expect after the last three years.

 

 

But, it's still early.

I just have a hard time accepting that I saw the game going this route. Its happened time and time again.

And it being early is bullshit. Every game counts. Losing sucks, giving it away is different.

Giving it away TWICE is different. And worse. Depressing game to lose. But, so it goes at least 60 times per year, for virtually every team. There's usually some bonehead play(s) or move(s) at fault in any loss. If only... Coulda, woulda, shouda.

 

Board psychology is funny. Win a few, exuberance. Lose a few, depression. But, if they win 2 or 3 of the remaining 4 on this trip they come home 8-5 or 7-6. Far cry from last year. They could lose all 6 and be 5-8. Still a far cry from last year.

 

This ain't last year's team. They can actually hit a bit. Not MLB's greatest offense, but a real offense. Now, as for Marmol, it remains to be seen whether they're right that he's changed his delivery sufficiently to be effective. When he hit the first guy I knew it was trouble. That's the old Marlmol -- active leader in hit batters. By a lot. For sure they're gonna continue to use him until he succeeds or fails. Why he was used with Ramos (or anyone else) available I don't know -- maybe they want to figure out whether or not he's really worth a crap, quickly. Hopefully it doesn't take them too long to decide whether to fish or cut the Marmol reclamation-project bait.

Seems like the team plays great against ok teams, but once we meet a half decent team we fall to pieces, not really a good sign. It tells me that we are a better team this year, but no where near ready to compete. Still early though, but thats my view at this point in time

Marmol, Dietrich, and Redmond simply aren't very good at what they are paid to do.

 

I actually like Dietrich. Let's not overreact to a bad defensive start. He can hit. He'll be fine.

Very odd, I was wondering the same

 

That's a position he should be able to play going forward. Maybe next year if Moran isn't ready yet.

I actually like Dietrich. Let's not overreact to a bad defensive start. He can hit. He'll be fine.

He also had the miscue out of position at 3B, too. Some people forget to acknowledge that.

but he's played around the infield enough to know that making that throw is not smart.

Yeah no matter where he is on that play, he had NO play. He has to eat it.

Why he was used with Ramos (or anyone else) available I don't know -- maybe they want to figure out whether or not he's really worth a crap, quickly.

I could have saved them the time.

Marmol-ized-always was just a matter of how quickly this would happen. Hope we do not see him in tight situations again unless the bullpen is totally overworked. Doesn't anyone on the coaching staff remember that Werth has problems with fastball up, so you throw him one down and in his wheelhouse. Just about the same spot as the first gift strike that was out of the zone, but instead you fix it by just getting it right over the plate and down.

I think we need to wait at least 30 games before we'll know what type of team this will be.

And it being early is bulls***. Every game counts. Losing sucks, giving it away is different.

I didn't say once that this game wouldn't matter or "didn't count." It is early, that's a fact. Not at all "bullshit," my good sir.

Did the marlins really use Marmol in the 8th inning with a 1 run lead last night? T

As much as I like Mike Redmond, this game is on him. A lot of bad decisions all wrapped up in one cluster fuck of a game.

Yeah no matter where he is on that play, he had NO play. He has to eat it.

 

Yeah, he F'd up, but he's the best hitting middle infielder in the entire organization and actually could be a long term piece. Let's not get too down on dude.

Yeah, he F'd up, but he's the best hitting middle infielder in the entire organization and actually could be a long term piece. Let's not get too down on dude.

Let's not get too up on him either

Let's not get too up on him either

 

Is saying he profiles as an above average hitting second baseman 'too up'? Or is it fair, considering he's had an OPS of over .850 multiple times when he got comfortable at each level. He can hit.

Chalk it up as another learning experience, but Red has to be smarter than that. We had this game in hand once we chased Zimmermann out.

 

Hopefully we can at least take tonights game, but we really won't know what kind of team we'll have this year until mid/end of May.