We've made it to 75 wins which is a wonderful improvement to the 62 of last year and more than even I expected at 72.

Still got seven games remaining.

How many would we have had at this point if we weren't just trying out some things in August? Are we in the third wild card spot if we had just stuck to the moves from June and July?

Incredible improvement. I thought you were nutso for that prediction — kudos!

Playoff odds at 0.1%!

I really hope they keep Sandy and Eddie. Those 2 + Eury, Weathers, and Junk is a decent starting 5 with tons of upside. Garrett and Meyer hopefully back from injuries. Snelling and White busting down the door.

X and Otto stay. Norby’s probably done enough to get a shot again next year. Mack finally up at C plus Hicks. Agustin at DH and catch as needed. Marsee and Stowers obviously locks.

1B and one of LF/RF are potential black holes yet the easiest positions to find a decent hitter. For fuck’s sake please go sign quality players for each. Let Conine, Johnstone, etc battle for bench/depth spots. Still thin positionally I think, but enough here to likely be worth watching.

I certainly didn't expect 75 wins this year, they kinda peaked when they swept the Yankees to reach .500 but hey it was fun for a minute. Going forward I would hope they keep Sandy, Cabrera, Perez at the front of the rotation hopefully get something out of Meyer or Garrett or some up and coming rookies. The pen wasn't horrible, but they could still get a reliever or four. Mack looks ready for next year behind the dish, then move Hicks or Augustin to 1b and you still can DH one. Norby could be the answer at third, but I would still shop around to see what's available. X and Otto are developing well enough to keep their spots. The outfield should be good with a healthy Stowers and a full season of Marsee so that leaves RF and DH and you still have Heriberto and Dane in the mix but a veteran bat at cost could be a big boost. I can see a big step forward for 2026, these guys actually give me hope.

76 wins!

Given the defensive abilities, I'd almost want to stick with Pauley at third and Norbs can be a good bench bat.

Move Meyer to the bullpen, might just be time. But we'll see there.

There was a reason I said that I was more optimistic coming into this season than I was going into 2023. Team is ahead of schedule. Still very young. Core controlled for another 3-4 seasons. I think we are entering a legitimate playoff window and could have a run like the Rays have had.

Just hope that the attendance jumps quite a bit and that payroll rises to a respectable figure. No illusions about operating like the Phillies or Yankees, but I do think we could operate like the Brewers and Guardians have.

Anyway, I don't see us catching the Reds, unfortunately. But how glorious would it be to sink the muts again?

9 minutes ago, FishFan95 said:

But how glorious would it be to sink the muts again?

It would make me horny.

On 9/21/2025 at 12:39 AM, mystikol87 said:

Incredible improvement. I thought you were nutso for that prediction — kudos!

Playoff odds at 0.1%!

I really hope they keep Sandy and Eddie. Those 2 + Eury, Weathers, and Junk is a decent starting 5 with tons of upside. Garrett and Meyer hopefully back from injuries. Snelling and White busting down the door.

X and Otto stay. Norby’s probably done enough to get a shot again next year. Mack finally up at C plus Hicks. Agustin at DH and catch as needed. Marsee and Stowers obviously locks.

1B and one of LF/RF are potential black holes yet the easiest positions to find a decent hitter. For fuck’s sake please go sign quality players for each. Let Conine, Johnstone, etc battle for bench/depth spots. Still thin positionally I think, but enough here to likely be worth watching.

I'd actually be perfectly fine if they traded Sandy this winter provided they get decent value. He's been pretty good the last couple of months here, so I do think there will be a team out there willing to give up something nice. With all of the pitching depth the Marlins have, now is as good of a time as any to move him before losing him for nothing next offseason.

It also really depends on what the Marlins do this winter. If they seriously go out and make a couple of moves to bolster the roster, then keeping him would be cool. If they cheap out as they usually do (let's face it: they will), then trade him. He's 30.

Also worth noting that this team has gone 47-36 since the 29-44 start. Pretty remarkable.

I'll give them credit - they've done better than I ever thought - I started at 71-91, and then downgraded twice to 69-93, then 67-95, so they're already beyond my best/original prediction, despite a couple rough sections.

We'll see what, if anything, they do in the offseason.

7 hours ago, Valid said:

I'd actually be perfectly fine if they traded Sandy this winter provided they get decent value. He's been pretty good the last couple of months here, so I do think there will be a team out there willing to give up something nice. With all of the pitching depth the Marlins have, now is as good of a time as any to move him before losing him for nothing next offseason.

It also really depends on what the Marlins do this winter. If they seriously go out and make a couple of moves to bolster the roster, then keeping him would be cool. If they cheap out as they usually do (let's face it: they will), then trade him. He's 30.

Also worth noting that this team has gone 47-36 since the 29-44 start. Pretty remarkable.

They always have "depth" on paper and then it fizzles 3 innings into the season lol.

Unless you get the haul you want, at this point, I'd say keep Sandy and see if we're competitive....if we are, he'll help keep us in contention/for a potential playoff push. If not, hope he performs well, and trade him at the deadline for a haul.

I think it’s possible the Braves catch us unfortunately. With that said, landing on 78 or 79 wins blows everyone’s expectations away.

There’s a LOT to be excited about in 2026/2027/2028 even if Broke Bruce remains status quo. I suspect MLB won’t allow another “HEY LOOK HOW BIG OUR NEW GYM IS!!!111111” in terms of revenue sharing moving forward.

1 hour ago, DTrain said:

I think it’s possible the Braves catch us unfortunately. With that said, landing on 78 or 79 wins blows everyone’s expectations away.

There’s a LOT to be excited about in 2026/2027/2028 even if Broke Bruce remains status quo. I suspect MLB won’t allow another “HEY LOOK HOW BIG OUR NEW GYM IS!!!111111” in terms of revenue sharing moving forward.

That's a good point regarding revenue sharing that I didn't consider.

They may say "hey, no grievance if you bump your budget up this year". But we'll see.

Given it's Bruce, he could spend $1M extra and tout it as a "big" spending increase.

Not a completely unrealistic chance of them finishing strong and ending up with 80 wins. Understandable since he was coming back from injury, but if sandy had been his second half self all season they may actually have a wild card spot right now.

Now that you have this seemingly solid core (as opposed to the flukiness of the 2023 team) GO FUCKING PICK UP A MASHING OUTFIELDER, another veteran starter (trust me, two starters will miss considerable time next season, that’s just baseball) and for the love of god just sign a top 5 free agent to a short overpaid deal a’la Bergman with the Sox.

The issue with everyone being content with an Edwards and Lopez pairing is you are basically committing 2 spots in the lineup to very poor hitters.

Edwards probably works best as a super utility guy. He is a below average hitter even with an insanely high BABIP.

Lopez is one of the worst hitters in baseball. Like bottom 20 bad.

Their value is basically all defense which is nice but it really strains the offense to have both of them in the lineup at the same time.

Augustin Ramirez splits as a catcher v 1B/DH are unfortunate. As is his defense. If he could hit like he does as a 1B/DH while becoming at least average defensively you are talking about an All Star. His bat is only special as a C though. He would be underwhelming a full time 1B/DH.

Johnston is what he is. An older bat who can fill in and not be terrible but nothing to write home about.

Norby, Sanoja, and Pauley are all whatever. Their bats have not been impressive in the least. Which is weird with Pauley as he was supposed to be a good hitter and poor glove but it's been the opposite.

Marsee has been fun but his BABIP is hovering around .400. Quite possible he ends up being a 4th OF type when it normalizes.

There are some things to like but it doesn't look like there is much starting caliber MLB talent on this squad.

1 hour ago, Spike said:

The issue with everyone being content with an Edwards and Lopez pairing is you are basically committing 2 spots in the lineup to very poor hitters.

Edwards probably works best as a super utility guy. He is a below average hitter even with an insanely high BABIP.

Lopez is one of the worst hitters in baseball. Like bottom 20 bad.

Their value is basically all defense which is nice but it really strains the offense to have both of them in the lineup at the same time.

Augustin Ramirez splits as a catcher v 1B/DH are unfortunate. As is his defense. If he could hit like he does as a 1B/DH while becoming at least average defensively you are talking about an All Star. His bat is only special as a C though. He would be underwhelming a full time 1B/DH.

Johnston is what he is. An older bat who can fill in and not be terrible but nothing to write home about.

Norby, Sanoja, and Pauley are all whatever. Their bats have not been impressive in the least. Which is weird with Pauley as he was supposed to be a good hitter and poor glove but it's been the opposite.

Marsee has been fun but his BABIP is hovering around .400. Quite possible he ends up being a 4th OF type when it normalizes.

There are some things to like but it doesn't look like there is much starting caliber MLB talent on this squad.

Classic Todd.

What part do you disagree with?

77

13 minutes ago, Michael said:

77

This is now in the top half of all Marlins seasons.

15 hours ago, rmc523 said:

They always have "depth" on paper and then it fizzles 3 innings into the season lol.

Unless you get the haul you want, at this point, I'd say keep Sandy and see if we're competitive....if we are, he'll help keep us in contention/for a potential playoff push. If not, hope he performs well, and trade him at the deadline for a haul.

With how good he's been the last couple of months, I think a contending team will give up a decent haul for him.

Can also always sign an innings eater in FA if they are serious about winning. If they aren't, then what's the point of this whole discussion anyway?

7 hours ago, Spike said:

What part do you disagree with?

1. Calling Lopez a "bottom 20 hitter in baseball" is asinine.

2. Edwards is not a "very poor hitter"; he just doesn't have any power, which is par the course for most middle infielders. He and Lopez are hovering around a .700 OPS. Completely acceptable to have two .700 OPS bats in your lineup, especially when the league average OPS is around .720.

3. Marsee had an absolutely insane walk rate in the minors. Do I think he will be a .320 hitter? Probably not, but he'll probably at least be a pretty good one.

4. Funny how you use BABIP to dismiss Marsee but then go and criticize Ramirez's offense even though his BABIP is abnormally low at .254. Oh, and Lopez's is .265. What happens when that normalizes?

5. The team has gone 48-36 since mid-June. That is one of the best records in baseball over that span. I agree that they have a lot of holes to fill, but saying "there isn't much starting caliber talent" on the roster is absurd.

Honestly, your entire argument is ridiculous.

Edited September 24, 2025Sep 24 by Valid

There are only 16 players with worse OPS+ and WRC+ than Lopez. He is objectively one of the worst hitters in baseball. The only thing he does halfway decently is not chase pitches. He also makes some of the softest contact in the game. And to piggyback a later point, he had an above average BABIP last year and was still one of the worst hitters in baseball. He has a nice glove but his bat is beyond awful.

Edwards is also below average with a high BABIP. Its not just power. He also doesn't draw BBs or work counts. I like him as a player, but more as a utility guy. There are only 25 players worse. You can get by with one of these guys in a lineup. Both is brutal. And when you factor in Wagaman, the Marlins have 3 of the bottom 30 hitters in baseball in the lineup.

I never dismissed Marsee. But his BABIP is right at. 400 and he is showing a lot more power then he ever had. I just said he "could" be a 4th OF if that normalizes.

My only issue with Ramirez is that he might not stick at C. His bat as a C is special. Its just OK otherwise.

There are pieces to like. I consider Ramirez and Marsee promising and hope Stowers heals up and can continue his good production. But this lineup has a lot of holes.

9 hours ago, Valid said:

With how good he's been the last couple of months, I think a contending team will give up a decent haul for him.

Can also always sign an innings eater in FA if they are serious about winning. If they aren't, then what's the point of this whole discussion anyway?

For whatever reason, they never seem to sign the innings eater they always need.

10 hours ago, Valid said:

1. Calling Lopez a "bottom 20 hitter in baseball" is asinine.

2. Edwards is not a "very poor hitter"; he just doesn't have any power, which is par the course for most middle infielders. He and Lopez are hovering around a .700 OPS. Completely acceptable to have two .700 OPS bats in your lineup, especially when the league average OPS is around .720.

3. Marsee had an absolutely insane walk rate in the minors. Do I think he will be a .320 hitter? Probably not, but he'll probably at least be a pretty good one.

4. Funny how you use BABIP to dismiss Marsee but then go and criticize Ramirez's offense even though his BABIP is abnormally low at .254. Oh, and Lopez's is .265. What happens when that normalizes?

5. The team has gone 48-36 since mid-June. That is one of the best records in baseball over that span. I agree that they have a lot of holes to fill, but saying "there isn't much starting caliber talent" on the roster is absurd.

Honestly, your entire argument is ridiculous.

Thank You..

I'll also add, Ramirez and Hicks are major league hitters. Joe Mack looks like he will be the heir apparent at the position. If Mack is catching you can utilize Ramirez and Hicks at DH/1B. A Ramirez that only starts 1-2 times a week at catcher and then plays in the field or DH is still extremely valuable.

Edwards and Lopez are good hitters and make up an excellent defensive duo up the middle. Edwards' BABIP is not ridiculous this year at .325. Guys with speed will have a higher BABIP. A .700 OPS guy who provides awesome defense at 2nd is a starter in the big leauges. Not to mention the 30-40 steals he should provide.

Another positive development is we have lots of options in LF. Hernandez, Johnston and Conine have a combined OPS around .785. Let them battle it out, possibly platoon them. I think there's a big league starter there.

The Immediate Future Lineup's looking pretty good, but it has to be supplemented with veteran starters acquired either through trade or free agency

C - Mack (Ramirez and Hicks spell him twice a week)

1B - Free Agent (Ramirez and Hicks get some time there, when 1B starter DH's)

2B - Xavier Edwards

3B - Free Agent or Norby, Pauley and Sanoja (FO has a decision here)

SS - Lopez

LF - Hernandez/Conine/Johnston

CF - Marsee

RF - Stowers

DH - Ramirez/Hicks

If I were the Marlins I go out and get the best bat possible. (That you can afford, but the payroll is so low that no one should be off the table, I know it's a pipe dream with this FO though)

Edited September 24, 2025Sep 24 by farmer_fran

Again, there are only 16 hitters in MLB worse than Lopez. He is not a "good hitter". He is objectively awful.