February 1, 200422 yr This is my second part of my six part look at The Nl East this year, I will be looking at The Florida Marlins... 2. The Miami, I mean Florida Marlins Two banners in 10 years is quite the accomplishment winning another one with all their young talent will be in it?s own league, this year The Marlins entire season rides on the shoulders of young talent and how it?ll react to all this star power it?s received and their season comes down to three scenarios? 1. All the question marks on their young talent are proved wrong they all come through and produce. If that comes up The Marlins make another WS Run. 2. We only get our questions answered half way as some come up big and others flounder. The result of that is a serious WC run with a possible playoff berth. 3. The Young players implode and Trader Jack is left with holes the size of The Eagle County Colorado?s case against Kobe. If that comes up, Hello 2003 Angels! The Marlins outfield came into 2003 looking to be one of the worst in the entire Major Leagues, those early assessments proved true when only one original member of that OF made the start in The Post Season, what The Marlins have this year is a returning OF that proves to be exciting but whether it?ll be productive all lies on the hands of Miguel Cabrera, the first young prospect question. Miguel did not disappoint late in the season or in the post season, while he did show holes early on it appears unlikely that we will those again, Miguel is a nice prospect and appears ready to bypass The Sophomore slump and prove to be a possible 300, 30 HR guy. Will we that this year? Probably not, I expect somewhere in the ballpark of a 280 average with 25 HR?s, not enough to justify comparisons to Pujols but enough to give Marlins fans something to drool about for years to come. But while most of the postseason attention in The Outfield went to there young prospect, the main reason they were there continued to shine, less than a year ago questions came about that Juan Pierre had already hit the wall he of course disproved those theories making mush out of NL Pitchers and Infielders. Pierre had a season most speed demons dream about but once again the question arrives, can he do much to improve on that season? The Era of the 100 steal season is over and now more than ever teams are going to focus their attention on Pierre, this season could be a true testament on how great he is, He should be able to easily hit 300 but matching his steal total from last year could me more than he can handle? Then just like any other great championship story, the former team hero returns to save his team and win a championship, of course that was last year. Conine once again will be called upon to show that he still has that stride while some are looking on for the signs of decline, Conine?s numbers should remain high but The Marlins are going to need a solid 4th OF to help protect Conine whether it?s injury wise or in case of the talked about move to first, Conine once again is carrying a heavy load but I wouldn?t bet against him. The second question about young pitching revolves around Dontrelle Willis and mainly Josh Beckett, who now appears to be The Golden Child in South Florida. Josh Beckett without a doubt has the talent to prove all the hype is right but the major question is does his hand want to agree? Josh Beckett is going to have to remain healthy(more so early on) to keep Florida competitive, If Beckett goes down without AJ back, The Marlins find themselves in a hole. Dontrelle on the other hand has not to worry about health, more so if his slumping numbers after The Break had any merit at all. Dontrelle is not in a small category it almost seemed automatic that rookie pitchers failed in 03 but it?s how Dontrelle rebounds is going to be the key, if it?s true that teams have figured him out he?s in for a bumpy ride as it seems The Marlins are depending on him to be their Mike Redman from last year while if it was just a minor bump, Dontrelle could be up, upwards of 15 wins. Then comes who I?m putting down as The man who?s ready to have his superstar season, Brad Penny when on is about as good as anyone you?ll find and it seems it?s becoming more clear his days of streaky starts are behind him, Penny is very much capable of putting up All Star numbers and could one of the few guarantees the marlins have when it comes to expectations. Carl Pavano proved to be another surprise for The Marlins last year, not exactly to the likes of Dontrelle?s early boom or Beckett?s meteoric rise but enough to make a name for himself as one of the best 5th starters in the game, well that title is now gone as he is now expected to produce in the fourth spot, Pavano who?s career record is 11 games under 500 and who?s career era is above 4.50 could be expected too much off from this spot, he is going to have to bring more dominance to the plate if this bump in roster is too work, then we come to Darren Oliver, not much is to be said about him except his 5.00 Era goes along way to proving what kind of player he is and is another reason for The Fish to hope for a speedy recovery from A.J. Burnett, luckily for The Marlins they have a cast of pitchers who are capable of pitching as a starter if Oliver does go over like a lead balloon, the downside is though, like Oliver is their in their position for a reason? Their not quality Starting Pitchers. Now I bring back my three scenarios directed at A.J.?s return, 1. He comes back and pitches to what he?s capable of doing 2. He returns and like most pitchers notably Kerry Wood, comes back does decent but explodes two years later after fully recovering, 3.He blows up and begins to bring about doubt on his future. All three of those are very possible situations, my money?s on #2, he?ll put up decent numbers but it?ll be enough as it would be able to kick Oliver out of the rotation and place Pavano where he belongs and like Drew in Atlanta, A.J.?s health could make or break the season. Their pen on the other hand is a mix and match of immense talent or players looking to rebuild or build their name what it comes out to is a big melting potChad Fox right now is the best name on the team that had performed well last year, although early struggles arised in Boston, Fox found his niche in South Florida pitching well in key spots, he will play the set up role for one Armando Benitez who after the past few years of ridicule for his less than perfect record in NY is going to have to rebuild in South Florida and he will have to as both him and Fox are going to have to match Urbina/Looper from last year?s championship team and has The Marlins fully aware from one of their division rivals, they are going to need a solid pen to stay up at the top. Newcomer from Oakland Mike Neu and Nate Bump round out the middle part of the pen, both men are going to have to continue what were both solid seasons and my money is on both to continue said success with improvement not far behind, Mike Tejera will most likely feel The LR role but of course Darren Oliver could easily be planted into that role. Then you have the infield, while keeping two of the biggest parts they also lost an offensive threat in Derrek Lee while picking up a great prospect but as I said Prospect for him. Choi could provide a nice surprise from last year but he will in no way amount the number D Lee provided last year but a solid 15 HR, High two hundred average will be enough as productions numbers rise from the likes of Cabrera and the rest of the cast. Castillo on the other hand can continue his success of getting on base from last year but with more pitchers paying more attention towards Pierre, Castillo will have to increase his SB Production if The Marlins wan to be as successful with the same game plan as last year, Castillo will have no problem getting on and I do expect him to do somewhat better than last year in The SB department. From promising to disappointment, Disappointment had to be the word for Alex Gonzalez after his sudden drop off from his explosive start, despite his heroics in Post Season play, Agon is going to have to step it up offensively while maintaining his game defensively or he could find another name possibly Orlando Cabrera in the 2005 opening day program. Then it comes down to Mikey Lowell possibly The biggest off season move The Marlins could have made was bringing Lowell back after his stunning 2003 campaign, Lowell dominated NL Pitching in the first half of the 03 season before being brought down by a stray pitch, Lowell will continue to bring the pressure for The 04 season and given a full season will not have a problem surpassing last year. Then for the final question about young players comes to Ramon Castro who has put up stellar numbers? In situations that he was placed in because he would succeed, Castro has got to prove those few opportunities were a sign of things to come, if he falters The Marlins will have a long way in trying to recapture last year?s magic. Castro will post decent numbers, respectable for a catcher but he has a long way to go before he can be spoken in the same sentence as the two top catches in this division, The Catching staff rounds out with Mike Redmond who is a great backup and could be seeing plenty of time this season. So as Opening Day approaches, I wish I had a crystal ball to see how this pans out but I already have various other teams who put too much hope on their young players but who knows that Trader Jack has up his sleeve. Summary: I?m not a betting man so I?ll take the middle road saying The Young Talent will have mixed results which is good enough for A Division Race but more likely A Wildcard chase is in The Marlins outlook.
February 1, 200422 yr Miguel is a nice prospect and appears ready to bypass The Sophomore slump and prove to be a possible 300, 30 HR guy. Will we that this year? Probably not, I expect somewhere in the ballpark of a 280 average with 25 HR?s, not enough to justify comparisons to Pujols but enough to give Marlins fans something to drool about for years to come. The kid hasn't even played a full season yet and those expectations are already on his shoulder? You make .280 and 25 HR's sound bad, like he would disappoint if he only does that good. I think already comparing him to Pujols is way too early. But .300 and 30 HR's is asking for too much, that's like asking for a stadium with a retractable roof. If it happens, it's nice but don't count on it. Nonetheless, it was a good article.
February 1, 200422 yr Author Miguel is a nice prospect and appears ready to bypass The Sophomore slump and prove to be a possible 300, 30 HR guy. Will we that this year? Probably not, I expect somewhere in the ballpark of a 280 average with 25 HR?s, not enough to justify comparisons to Pujols but enough to give Marlins fans something to drool about for years to come. The kid hasn't even played a full season yet and those expectations are already on his shoulder? You make .280 and 25 HR's sound bad, like he would disappoint if he only does that good. I think already comparing him to Pujols is way too early. But .300 and 30 HR's is asking for too much, that's like asking for a stadium with a retractable roof. If it happens, it's nice but don't count on it. Nonetheless, it was a good article. What I was trying to say was, that others are putting high expectations on him and some have compared him to Pujols, I think he will be great but I do think expectations are high on him after his unreal postseason.
February 1, 200422 yr Miguel is a nice prospect and appears ready to bypass The Sophomore slump and prove to be a possible 300, 30 HR guy. Will we that this year? Probably not, I expect somewhere in the ballpark of a 280 average with 25 HR?s, not enough to justify comparisons to Pujols but enough to give Marlins fans something to drool about for years to come. The kid hasn't even played a full season yet and those expectations are already on his shoulder? You make .280 and 25 HR's sound bad, like he would disappoint if he only does that good. I think already comparing him to Pujols is way too early. But .300 and 30 HR's is asking for too much, that's like asking for a stadium with a retractable roof. If it happens, it's nice but don't count on it. Nonetheless, it was a good article. I completely disagree I think 30 and 100 is what he should put up easy....
February 1, 200422 yr Miguel is a nice prospect and appears ready to bypass The Sophomore slump and prove to be a possible 300, 30 HR guy. Will we that this year? Probably not, I expect somewhere in the ballpark of a 280 average with 25 HR?s, not enough to justify comparisons to Pujols but enough to give Marlins fans something to drool about for years to come. The kid hasn't even played a full season yet and those expectations are already on his shoulder? You make .280 and 25 HR's sound bad, like he would disappoint if he only does that good. I think already comparing him to Pujols is way too early. But .300 and 30 HR's is asking for too much, that's like asking for a stadium with a retractable roof. If it happens, it's nice but don't count on it. Nonetheless, it was a good article. What I was trying to say was, that others are putting high expectations on him and some have compared him to Pujols, I think he will be great but I do think expectations are high on him after his unreal postseason. Thanks for clearing it up. I wasn't totally directing it to you but just overall saying to compare him to Pujols now puts a damn lot of pressure on anybody.
February 2, 200422 yr I'm guessing you disregaurded grammar, but taking that out of the picture it was absolutely brilliant.
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