Game Today

by craig on Feb 25, 2009 1:01 PM EST in News and Rumors

Today is the opening of the Grapefruit League and there is no better way to do it than our Florida Marlins playing their Spring Training roommates the St. Louis Cardinals.

Starting on the hill for the Marlins is Anibal Sanchez. To be followed by:

Aaron Thompson, Brett Sinkbeil, Chris Leroux, Taylor Tankersley, Tim Wood and Brian Sanches

The Cardinals are sending Blake Hawksworth to start off the spring season.

The thing of interest that all Marlins fans were wondering is what the batting order would be. If you remember Fredi said the first game of the spring was the batting he would like to use to open the season.

Well Juan C. Rodriguez has access to the clubhouse and can read a bulletin board and via blackberry or some such posted this on the Sun-Sentinel blog about the lineup.

Cameron Maybin - R; John Baker - L; Hanley Ramirez - R; Jorge Cantu - R; Dan Uggla - R; Jeremy Hermida - L; Cody Ross - R; Dallas McPherson - L; Gaby Sanchez - R.

Keep in mind both teams will be using the DH and in the Marlins case that is McPherson.

So if everything goes the way Fredi hopes, take out McPherson, move Gaby up and add the pitcher and that will be the opening day batting order.

I've got to post this since the game is about to start.

Have a Great Day!

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lineup

I still think it is unfair to put a rookie like Gaby Sanchez in the eight spot-particularly as he has the potential to be a very decent hitter. They will never give him a pitch to hit, and then generally a rookie will get frustrated and nervous and start swinging at pitches in the dirt.

Really Hermida should be hitting in the 8th spot which is what his performance last year has earned him. Let him earn it before they bat him 6th.

by jrhana on Feb 25, 2009 3:47 PM EST reply actions

I disagree

I think i remember looking at Gaby’s stats and he tends to draw a lot of walks. Some guys are content to draw walks and in the 8 spot that is huge.

by GMFB on Feb 25, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

Gaby's walks

would be useful anywhere in the lineup. He also has a very nice swing which would be a shame to waste at the bottom of the order IMO.

by jrhana on Feb 26, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

So much for speed and defense...

Was this on the radio?
I know it doesn’t mean much at this point but here’s what I can dig out of the box score

Hanley Homers.
Marlins infield – 3 errors
Anibal – 3 walks and 3 hits in 2 innings Let’s hope it’s just rust.
Maybin – 2 Ks, no BBs
Andino – 2 for 2.

by brickell on Feb 25, 2009 7:26 PM EST reply actions

I'm real worried about Anibal.

Minus Olsen, the Marlins no longer have real depth in the rotation. We’re counting on Miller and him to get healthy and pull it all together, but if they falter, there aren’t any top-line prospects ready to step in. I guess Ryan Tucker could be, but I keep reading how he’s a future closer. I’d hate to think we’d be right back to where we were at the beginning of ’08, when it was Nolasco, Olsen and then hope someone else can get 6 innings.

In other news, Dontrelle is feeling good about his comeback:

As Willis talked about his second session of live batting practice Tuesday, he wasn’t simply gushing about how good he felt to be back on the mound and throwing strikes. This was a little more of a quietly confident Willis, someone who envisions success before he takes the mound and goes out looking to execute.
…
More than firing fastballs, he was mixing changeups and breaking balls to every batter he faced. When he missed, he was missing mostly off the plate, not over the middle of it or hanging something in the zone.

by Fishcrazy on Feb 25, 2009 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

Andino 2 for 2

Sometimes in baseball, it pays to do something radical. Briefly last year, I got to see Andino and Amezega playing 2d and short. Seeing them play makes you realize just how bad Hanley and Uggla are in the field.

So me I would trade Uggla and Hanley (yes Hanley) for a lot of lights out pitching. We have plenty of powerful bats to play in the outfield to make up for their bats.

The 2003 team had maybe the greatest fielding infield in MLB history (Lowell, Alex, Castillo, and D. Lee), No coincidence.

Last years team was entertaining, but you would never win a world series with a bunch of selfish guys who are always swinging for the fences, striking out and making errors.

Beinfast knows what he is talking about. Pitching and defense is what wins the world series. And I want another ring. A team that specializes in strikeouts and errors will never make it. Winning is not the most important thing. It’s the only thing. Errors and strike outs often lose games. Homeruns only occasionally will win them.

by jrhana on Feb 26, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

Selfish?

Hanley, Uggla, Willingham, Ross and Cantu are selfish players? That’s very harsh, and I don’t think it’s accurate. Some guys are just feast-or-famine hitters; they can hit the long ball well enough, but they’re not great situational hitters, or even very good contact hitters. That’s just their game, for better or worse. If you’re Ryan Howard, it’s for the better. If you’re Mike Jacobs, it’s for the worse.

by Fishcrazy on Feb 26, 2009 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

I never said that either Ross or Cantu were selfish. And Cody is a great fielder.

They are also both great in the clutch IMO.

Uggla is selfish and to a lesser extent so is Hanley.

I guess I’m tired of seeing the potentially winning or tying run get to third base with no outs and then nobody can bring him home.

The Marlins are trying fror a middle ground this year. We’ll see how it works. I’m optimistic.

But Beinfast is making it clear that guys that can’t field will not have a future here. No matter how impressive their homeruns are.

I hope the Marlins think hard about dumping Andino. That guy can field and has a very sweet singles/doubles swing when he plays regularly. A potential gold glover who could hit 300.

JMVHO-based on a lot of observation.

by jrhana on Feb 26, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

I like Andino also...

I just wish the team would find a spot for him.

by craig on Feb 26, 2009 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

Andino

is a guy with a great attitude who never bitches and makes it very clear he appreciates what a privilege it is to play in the majors.

But he seems to play better when he starts which brings us to what a jewel Wes Helms is. A guy who actually plays his best game when he is brought in cold off the bench in the late innings in a close game.

by jrhana on Feb 26, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions