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Don’t discount the Fish as a force in the NL East. This is the same team which scored the fifth highest run total in the NL and ranked third in the Majors in home runs, the only difference is that these Marlins are a little older, a little better seasoned and ready to make a run.
Of course in a division with the Phillies and Mets, not to mention an improved Braves and Nationals team, the Marlins won’t have it easy and will have to fight hard to show improvement. Still, this team has great potential and only needs to put things together to be a dark horse contender in the east, as improbable as that seems.
Can the Marlins contend in 2009?
Rank: Third in the NL East - 7.5 games back.
Home Park: Dolphin Stadium
Fresh Fish:
IFÂ Emilio Bonifacio (Trade from Nationals)
LHP - Zack Kroenke (Rule V claim from Yankees)
LHP - Dan Meyer (Waiver Claim from A’s)
RHP - Scott Proctor (Free Agent from Dodgers)
RHP - Leo Nunez (Trade with Royals)
RHP - Jose Ceda (Trade with Cubs)
Off the Hook:
C- Matt Treanor (Released free agent, signed with Tigers)
1B - Mike Jacobs (Trade to Royals)
OF - Josh Willingham (Trade to Nationals)
OF - Luis Gonzalez (Free Agent, unsigned)
LHP - Scott Olsen (Traded to Nationals)
LHP - Arthur Rhodes (Free Agent signed with Reds)
LHP - Mark Hendrickson (Free Agent signed with Orioles)
RHP - Kevin Gregg (Traded to Cubs)
RHP - Doug Waechter (Free Agent signed with Royals)
RHP - Joe Nelson (Non tendered free agent, signed with Rays)
*Signed minor league contract.
Strengths: Youth and upside.
The Marlins are built of the same mold as the Tampa Bay Rays, but aren’t quite as primed to take that big step forward. That’s not to say the potential isn’t there, but for the Marlins just don’t have the same kind of experience either on the mound, or on the field as the Rays did.
However, this team should mash - there is no shortage of power here, Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Jorge Cantu, Cody Ross, Jeremy Hermida and Dallas McPherson all wield big lumber while rookies Cameron Maybin and John Baker project to hit for good average as tablesetters.
The rotation is an interesting one, with Ricky Nolasco providing the anchor for a slew of talented pitchers including Josh Johnson, Chris Volstad, Anibel Sanchez and Andrew Miller. All of them have tremendous upside but asking them to all put it together at the same time, especially since Sanchez, Miller and Johnson are all coming off injuries seems too much of a long shot.
Weaknesses: Pitching, inexperience, defense.
As mentioned above, the Marlins’ starting pitching is young, unproven and inexperienced, not a single one of the starters has more than 74 appearances in major league games and only Nolasco and Johnson can lay claim to having 50 major league starts. While there is plenty of upside in the rotation, they simply haven’t been tested enough, or learned enough as a staff for 3 or more of them to take it to the next level at the same time.
The same inexperience will hit them on the offensive side as potential all star Cameron Maybin enters his rookie year as does John Baker, Gaby Sanchez and the light hitting Emilio Bonifacio - all of who competing for starting jobs.
Another concern is the defense, which was the second worst in the NL last season, committing 117 errors. 55 of them committed by Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu the only infield veterans to retain their jobs going into 2009.
Potential Lineup
CF - Cameron Maybin
C - John Baker
SS - Hanley Ramirez
2B Dan Uggla
1B Jorge Cantu
3B Dallas McPherson
RF Cody Ross
LF Jeremy Hermida
Rotation
SP1 – Ricky Nolasco
SP2 – Josh Johnson
SP3 – Chris Volstad
SP4 – Anibel Sanchez
SP5 – Andrew Miller
Closer
CL – Matt Lindstrom
One question that need answering:
How good can the pitching be, and how good does it need to be? This team will score runs, but questionable defense will require that the pitching shoulder a larger part of the load in order to win. If they can do that, the Marlins have a shot at a 90 win season, if not a big time regression is likely.
Prediction:
The Marlins won’t put it all together, and an improved Braves and Nationals will cut into their win totals.  While the Marlins are a dark horse contender, with enough raw talent to surprise, odds are they struggle and end up finishing third, just a couple games over .500.
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