February 22, 200422 yr Miami.com JUPITER, Fla. - Florida Marlins outfielder Jeff Conine arrived two days early to spring training Sunday. Who could blame him? After the Marlins won their first World Series, Conine didn't get a chance to help his teammates defend their title. He was traded to Kansas City in November 1997 in the fire sale that dismantled the 1997 championship team. "It's kind of a unique feeling we have this time," he said. "A good number of us are coming back to defend, which we didn't have last time." Florida will try to repeat despite having lost three key position players - catcher Pudge Rodriguez, first baseman Derrek Lee and outfielder Juan Encarnacion, who combined for 271 RBIs. Conine, who had 95 RBIs last year with the Orioles and Marlins, will be called on to help replace that lost run production. "I'm not looking to replace anybody or make up anybody. I'll just do what I normally do," he said. Conine hopes Florida's underdog status for 2004 will end like it did in 2003. "With everything you've been reading, there's no bull's-eye on us. They're picking other teams in our division. That's a great spot to be in again," he said. "I don't think anybody really took this team seriously last year and I don't think they're going to taken us seriously again this year. That's fine with us. Let them think that. We'll sneak up on them again. "We have a great corps of guys coming back, virtually the whole starting pitching staff. I like our chances." Right-hander Carl Pavano said the postseason run helped the staff mature. "The experience speaks for itself," he said. "I don't think you go out and have success in the playoffs because you're lucky. Things ended up coming together, and it put everyone at a different level. Confidence is 90 percent of the game so if you can't see the confidence in winning the World Series, then you're in trouble." Manager Jack McKeon doesn't care his team isn't considered front-runners. "We're the ones that will be raising that (championship) flag. Whether other people perceive us to be, I don't care." Notes:@ Pitchers and catchers finished their physicals Sunday and will hold their first workout Monday morning. Position players are due on Tuesday, and the first full-squad workout is Thursday.
February 22, 200422 yr Well he better be ready because we need to make up for pudge's bat in the lineup. Lowell, Cabs, and conine just isnt enough.
February 22, 200422 yr For the record, this is an AP (Associated Press) piece, not one written by the Herald. I actually read it first on Google News from some daily newspaper on the west coast (of Florida).
February 23, 200422 yr Conine, Cabs, and Lowell will be fine. Of course, Cabs has to make up for Enc, Conine for H-Worth/Cabs/a bobblehead doll that played LF, and Redmond/Castro for Fudge. I dont see there being a drop off at all - I see an improvement in RF and LF, the only question is catcher. But that could be a wash.
February 23, 200422 yr Well he better be ready because we need to make up for pudge's bat in the lineup. Lowell, Cabs, and conine just isnt enough. Pudge didnt exactly have MVP numbers last year if you recall
February 23, 200422 yr Conine, Cabs, and Lowell will be fine. Of course, Cabs has to make up for Enc, Conine for H-Worth/Cabs/a bobblehead doll that played LF, and Redmond/Castro for Fudge. I dont see there being a drop off at all - I see an improvement in RF and LF, the only question is catcher. But that could be a wash. Offensively it will be more like... Cabrera replacing Lee Conine replacing Pudge Choi replacing Encarnacion Castro/Redmond replacing Hollandsworth Looks pretty good until you consider the defense... Conine is better than Hollandsworth/Cabrera Cabrera and Choi may one day replace Encarnacion and Lee but not yet Castro/Redmond's arms will surely be tested more this year than Pudge was
February 23, 200422 yr Conine, Cabs, and Lowell will be fine. Of course, Cabs has to make up for Enc, Conine for H-Worth/Cabs/a bobblehead doll that played LF, and Redmond/Castro for Fudge. I dont see there being a drop off at all - I see an improvement in RF and LF, the only question is catcher. But that could be a wash. Offensively it will be more like... Cabrera replacing Lee Conine replacing Pudge Choi replacing Encarnacion Castro/Redmond replacing Hollandsworth Looks pretty good until you consider the defense... Conine is better than Hollandsworth/Cabrera Cabrera and Choi may one day replace Encarnacion and Lee but not yet Castro/Redmond's arms will surely be tested more this year than Pudge was And as far as pitching goes: We have an improved Beckett, Penny and Pavano Dontrelle should be equal or perhaps better. Oliver and a returning AJ are probably less than Redman But overall an improvement In the bullpen Benitez is an improvement over Looper Fox is better than Bump Uncertain about the rest of the pen, but a lot of uncertainty last year as well. Again, overall an improvement I don't see us falling off from last year at all.
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