Alex44
Chicago Bears GM
The off season is rapidly drawing to a close and were almost to spring training, almost time for some baseball :yes:
Couple little stories:
Young Marlins Well Armed For 07
Sanchez, Johnson Easing Into Spring Training
The rotation should look something along these lines if everyone stays healthy:
1) Willis
2) Sanchez/Johnson
3) Olsen
4) Johnson/Sanchez
5) Nolasco
I like the idea of switching back and forth between lefty and righty pitchers to keep clubs honest, give them a different look every night. Sanchez is my personal front runner to be the number two guy, but I could also see it going to Johnson. Either way I'd say talent wise our top 4 is as good or better than any in the league, and Nolasco isn't a slouch. If Willis regains his form we could easily have four guys with 16 wins, and Nolasco with around 12. Olsen and Sanchez are by far my two favorite guys, they both have potential so high it just shoots through the roof. Both guys could grow into 20 game winners and All Stars at some point in their career and hopefully they are Marlins when we see that happen. Both guys have nasty stuff and can be unhittable at times (Sanchez showed that last year by actually throwing a no-no). Willis is a somewhat unknown, personally I think he pitched far better than his record last season. He got very little run support and could have won 4 or 5 more games than he did. That said he was wild at times and had his share of struggles. Josh Johnson doesn't have the best stuff but he really knows what to use and when to use it, I don't see the potential that Olsen and Sanchez have in him but even as it is I see him as a 15 to 16 game winner every year. I'm not a Nolasco fan as some of you know....I think he has great stuff for a span of a few innings but then he gets to easy to figure out. I'd love to have another starter step up and give Ricky the closer role.
As for the lineup
1) Hanley: SS
2) Uggla: 2B
3) Cabrera: 3B
4) Jacobs: 1B
5) Willingham: LF
6) Hermida: RF
7) Olivo:C
8) Alex Sanchez: CF (as of now I have him as our CF)
9) Pitcher
Hanley is going to be a stud, he really improved as the season went along his average and power numbers just kept climbing as he gained experience and confidence.
Uggla had an amazing year last season, and lots of people don't know if he can keep it up but I think he can. Even in the minors he could always hit pretty well, fielding is what kept him from being a Major League player and he has made huge strides in that area. Not to mention he has great protection behind him in Miggy.
Cabrera is going to do what he always has, if Jacobs can step up his game some and provide protection for Miggy then I expect Cabrera may have a career year.
Jacobs was really up and down, and I really hope he steps it up. We all know he had some injury problems last year (mainly the ankle) but he is going to be a key piece
Willingham is what he is. A very solid hitter who will struggle from time to time, but he plays hard and if he can be consistent he will be a huge piece for us.
Hermida struggled last year, was injured often and never found his form, but trust me he has great potential if he can stay healthy. I expect him to have a solid year and then take off with a great year in 08.
Olivo really improved his defense but he really needs to get more consistent at the plate. I doubt he will get as many first pitch fastballs this year and he needs to adjust.
Sanchez is a speedy guy, the kind of guy I love as my number 8 hitter. He can get a single, steal a base and have the pitcher bunt him over to third. He has the speed to make things happen.
Overall I think we have the pieces to make a push at the playoffs, and if everything comes together perfect then maybe even the division. We need to not make so many critical mistakes on defense to just give other teams runs. We aren't going to sit there and out slug teams every game so we need to be efficient. Hopefully last years run gave these guys the confidence to keep on rolling.
Here's to an injury free playoff year!
Couple little stories:
Young Marlins Well Armed For 07
Sanchez, Johnson Easing Into Spring Training
The rotation should look something along these lines if everyone stays healthy:
1) Willis
2) Sanchez/Johnson
3) Olsen
4) Johnson/Sanchez
5) Nolasco
I like the idea of switching back and forth between lefty and righty pitchers to keep clubs honest, give them a different look every night. Sanchez is my personal front runner to be the number two guy, but I could also see it going to Johnson. Either way I'd say talent wise our top 4 is as good or better than any in the league, and Nolasco isn't a slouch. If Willis regains his form we could easily have four guys with 16 wins, and Nolasco with around 12. Olsen and Sanchez are by far my two favorite guys, they both have potential so high it just shoots through the roof. Both guys could grow into 20 game winners and All Stars at some point in their career and hopefully they are Marlins when we see that happen. Both guys have nasty stuff and can be unhittable at times (Sanchez showed that last year by actually throwing a no-no). Willis is a somewhat unknown, personally I think he pitched far better than his record last season. He got very little run support and could have won 4 or 5 more games than he did. That said he was wild at times and had his share of struggles. Josh Johnson doesn't have the best stuff but he really knows what to use and when to use it, I don't see the potential that Olsen and Sanchez have in him but even as it is I see him as a 15 to 16 game winner every year. I'm not a Nolasco fan as some of you know....I think he has great stuff for a span of a few innings but then he gets to easy to figure out. I'd love to have another starter step up and give Ricky the closer role.
As for the lineup
1) Hanley: SS
2) Uggla: 2B
3) Cabrera: 3B
4) Jacobs: 1B
5) Willingham: LF
6) Hermida: RF
7) Olivo:C
8) Alex Sanchez: CF (as of now I have him as our CF)
9) Pitcher
Hanley is going to be a stud, he really improved as the season went along his average and power numbers just kept climbing as he gained experience and confidence.
Uggla had an amazing year last season, and lots of people don't know if he can keep it up but I think he can. Even in the minors he could always hit pretty well, fielding is what kept him from being a Major League player and he has made huge strides in that area. Not to mention he has great protection behind him in Miggy.
Cabrera is going to do what he always has, if Jacobs can step up his game some and provide protection for Miggy then I expect Cabrera may have a career year.
Jacobs was really up and down, and I really hope he steps it up. We all know he had some injury problems last year (mainly the ankle) but he is going to be a key piece
Willingham is what he is. A very solid hitter who will struggle from time to time, but he plays hard and if he can be consistent he will be a huge piece for us.
Hermida struggled last year, was injured often and never found his form, but trust me he has great potential if he can stay healthy. I expect him to have a solid year and then take off with a great year in 08.
Olivo really improved his defense but he really needs to get more consistent at the plate. I doubt he will get as many first pitch fastballs this year and he needs to adjust.
Sanchez is a speedy guy, the kind of guy I love as my number 8 hitter. He can get a single, steal a base and have the pitcher bunt him over to third. He has the speed to make things happen.
Overall I think we have the pieces to make a push at the playoffs, and if everything comes together perfect then maybe even the division. We need to not make so many critical mistakes on defense to just give other teams runs. We aren't going to sit there and out slug teams every game so we need to be efficient. Hopefully last years run gave these guys the confidence to keep on rolling.
Here's to an injury free playoff year!
