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by jonnylons

Marlins Spring Training 2013: Observations vs Mets 3/16

March 16, 2013 in Spring Training

A couple of things are standing out to me while watching this game against the Mets today in Port Saint Lucie. Kevin Slowey has solid stuff. That 5th starter spot is going to be a tough decision with Wade LeBlanc, John Maine, Alex Sanabia, and Slowey in the mix. They might just have to keep all of them around to give the Fish more options for starting pitching if young arms aren’t quite up to snuff (Jacob Turner does seem to be coming around; Nathan Eovaldi looks like the solid #2 at this point; Henderson Alvarez remains a bit of an unquantifiable enigma at this point).

Chris Coghlan continues to put a solid bat on the ball, and hits to all fields with authority. He looks like he should be the opening day center fielder while Rugs works his way back into game shape.

Speaking of spraying the ball, Adeiny Hechavarria is not getting results, but he continues to put the ball up the middle part of the field. The kid has the tools to be an everday SS defensively right now, but his offense continues to need work. There is improvement in how he handles the bat and it seems his peak would be to become a Tony Fernandez like SS – who was his mentor with the Blue Jays.

Love @Peteypipes, but the guy is just not good enough to have on a MLB roster.

Chone Figgins should make this team no matter what. His experience will prove valuable along with guys like Juan Pierre and Placido Polanco in the clubhouse. These guys will help set the tone for the younger players in the locker room. Besides, the AB he had in the 9th inning shows what kind of a hitter this guy can be, and what kind of leadership he could bring – he drew a 17 pitch walk.

Christian Yelich is going to be called up this year. He has 4 home runs and his approach is extremely advanced for a hitter his age. He has a smooth, lefty swing which the announcers for the Mets likened to a young Shawn Green, which is a very nice comparison – but Yelich projects to have better offensive numbers. The kid is just cool and has star quality. He probably will be at AA Jax just long enough to get Jake Marisnick back and it will be hard to keep Yelich out of the 305 area code for long. Enjoy him while you can Jacksonville.

Kevin Kouzmanoff should make the roster for his forearms alone. He looks like he is in good shape and has a solid enough approach at the plate. Would be a nice backup to Polanco or could platoon with Figgins.

Casey Kochman should win the opening spot at 1B. Will Joe Mahoney make the roster or be sent down for more PT?

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Spring Training: Stories of Redemption and Reclamation Many with Marlins

February 10, 2013 in Spring Training

sHmtYWwJust looking over the roster for Spring Training with the Marlins, many will recognize some of the faces but many will also fail to recognize many more. There are some familiar ones: Juan Pierre, Giancarlo Stanton, Ricky Nolsaco. There are many that will need some guidance for fans: Alfredo Silverio, Sam Dyson, Joe Mahoney.

Yet one thing is consistent this spring; no matter who is in camp it is most likely they are there to redeem themselves or reclaim their MLB careers. Well, that is pretty much anyone other than Stanton anyway.

Alfredo Silverio, the Marlins Rule 5 Draft pick from the Dodgers, was in a horrific car accident this time a year ago, heading into Dodgers camp looking to establish himself as an everyday major leaguer and getting ready to lock down an outfield spot. The young player had shown great promise across the board – he could play defense, could run, and could hit with power and had pretty good contact skills. This summer, he is expected to make the Marlins 25 man roster (or he will revert back to the Dodgers organization) and with his speed, he could play anywhere in the OF defensively. Will he be able to reclaim his career?

Chone Figgins was supposed to be in the final year of a mega contract he signed back in 2010 with the Seattle Mariners. Instead, the Mariners paid him the $8M they owed him for this upcoming season and told  him to go away. He has been invited to spring with the Marlins on a minor league contract and if he makes the team, is only owed the league minimum. Still, even though the speedy utility player (who has played a lot of third base) has had a horrific three year stint with the Mariners, his move to Miami offers him a change of scenery and camaraderie with buddy Juan Pierre – who has recently returned to the Marlins in the twilight of his career to help this team. Will Figgins be able to redeem himself and the money he was expected to earn? Will he be able to reclaim a future career here in south Florida, or anywhere in MLB?

There are many in this scenario. Joe Mahoney, former minor league player of the year with the Orioles, is looking to redeem himself. Kevin Kouzmanoff, a solid third baseman for years in Kansas City, is looking to reclaim his career. John Maine, a one blue-chipped prospect with the Orioles and eventually a solid pro with the Mets, hasn’t pitched in the bigs in 2 years but had looks from the Rockies, Red Sox, and Yankees. Matt Downs had a solid 2011 campaign with the Astros but hitting .202 last season landed him in Miami trying to reclaim his career.

The key thing here is getting a bunch of competitive players in camp, all trying to win spots and prove themselves, in order to change the atmosphere of this team. Last season, there were unreal expectations poured upon this team just because they signed some checks. We see now, a year later, that those checks could not be cashed. It was a Ringling-style PR campaign that went wild, whatever the intentions, and this team flamed out before even Showtime could all it a “rap” on their reality show.

Logan Morrison, who most likely will be out for the first month of the season and also will be looking to redeem himself after a season of hobbled injuries and high expectations, said it loud and clear. This team is the hungriest in baseball. No one has guarantees beyond this season; everyone is playing for a new deal, more money, or just trying to prove themselves and to win. Whatever the feelings are about this past offseason or even last season, this team is different and the fans will notice a more intense bunch as led by new manager, and former Marlin champion, Mike Redmond. If there was a fuel that could drive players, it would best be that of redemption. It certainly makes for a better story. If this 2013 team can win, they just may, as a team, redeem themselves to their fans as well.

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Marlins 3B Will Have to Come From Internal Source

December 12, 2012 in Offseason

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One of the big needs this offseason for the Marlins was an upgrade at 3B. In fact, just about anyone would be an upgrade at this point but with slim pickings on the free agent market, there was little hope the Marlins would make an acquisition via free agency.

In fact, the biggest target on the market is Kevin Youkilis, whose skills are in decline yet still fetched a $12M one year deal with the Yankees. They paid high because they have Alex Rodriguez going to get hip surgery and will miss significant enough time.

It wouldn’t have made much sense for the Marlins to make a move like that considering the amount of money shelled out last offseason with little positive result in return. The other options are not much better as Eric Chavez, Jeff Keppinger, Mark Reynolds, all have their flaws and wouldnt offer much upside over the current options the Marlins have. The price certainly doesn’t make sense either.

Last season, the Marlins 3B hit .266/.322/.421 with 18 HRs in 629ABs with 122Ks and 167Hs. That includes Hanley Ramirez, Greg Dobbs, Donovan Solano as well. Can the Marlins find that production in the crevices of their couch? The hope is to improve on those numbers in order to try to win. To do that, they will have to go internal and find someone to step up. So, which options are the Marlins considering at this point?

Greg Dobbs is penciled in as the de facto starter but not so fast. His strength is to come off the bench as a pinch hitter and occasional spot starter. Much like Wes Helms, Dobbs provides a veteran bat off the bench to help keep the gears turning in a pinch; and a bit of a luxury for this young team. Still, he could put up solid numbers as the every day third bagger, around .270 with 10-15 HRs. In fact, last year as a 3B he hit .309 with 3 HRs in 123 ABs. Given the current market, he is a better option but it remains to be seen whether or not becoming a starter is in his best interest.

Chris Coghlan is listed as the 2nd option on the Marlins depth chart currently. The former 2009 NL Rookie of the Year showed great promise as a hitter with a disciplined approach and having a knack for getting on base. All of a sudden, after three more seasons, his numbers have plummeted in practically every category. His games played have dwindled as has his offensive performance. Coghlan had been battling injuries over the course of these past three seasons, but he may just be extra motivated to have an impact this upcoming season. He is going into his last season before being arbitration eligible and he will be looking to transition into a bigger contract and a more steady career. If he can get his batting eye back, the defense will be tolerable enough to see him man 3B. As a former 2B, Coghlan can play the infield position and is going to be getting a strong look at 3B this spring.

Another reclamation project worth keeping an eye on is Kevin Kouzmanoff. Signed by the Marlins to a minor league deal, Kouzmanoff is looking to come into spring with a chance at grabbing that wide open 3B job. In his three previous stops in the bigs, he has shown some pop with his bat hitting in the high teens with HRs. His AVG has fluttered around .260 and his strike outs are high, but he also does hit his fair share of doubles. He just may be solid enough to hit about .260 with 15+ HRs and around 30 doubles. Considering what the market had available, this may not be a bad move either.

There are younger options for the Marlins but most likely none will be ready at this point. Recently acquired Derek Dietrich looks to have a solid bat and will start getting looks at 3B, moving from SS where he was being moved anyway within the Rays organization. He projects to have 20HR power and solid hitting but most likely won’t arrive until 2014.

Zack Cox, acquired in the Mujica trade, is another college-polished hitter but his numbers have not hit where projected. His HR total went down but the yield was better (10 HRs in 394 ABs vs. 13 in 516 ABs in 2011). He may get a stronger look in spring, but will most likely head back for more ABs in the minors. Cox may be a September call up or, slightly sooner.

Yordy Cabrera, an athletic SS drafted by the A’s, is also projecting as a 3B but it remains to be seen whether or not the Lakewood High School standout will have the hitting tools necessary at 3B. He has a great infield arm and could be a great defensive player, but his poor hitting mechanics make him suspect offensively at this point.

Of these options, the hope would be for Coghlan to reclaim his 2009 form and take the job as the starter. The Marlins have mid-grade prospects in Cox and Dietrich to take over 3B long term but it remains to be seen whether either option will fare better than Matt Dominguez, let alone a Hanley Ramirez. Kouzmanoff provides an interesting alternative and if he can come in healthy and hungry, he may shock people with his production – maybe a Jorge Cantu-type of find. If that is the case, Coghlan can still mix in time in LF and 3B, which could be a plus to the team and both players.

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