Some Marlins Ramblings

[Swift]

Some Marlins Ramblings

Does Mike Rabelo bring anything to the table that Matt Treanor doesn’t? Why are both on the team at the same time? Can we try giving John Baker an audition?

With 2049053754 pitchers in the organization and another 594300382 trades or draft picks used to bring in more pitchers since 2003, can we please find a decent 4th and 5th starter somewhere?

Do we really need to keep Jacque Jones in the everyday lineup? Dave Dombrowski’s a pretty good General Manager and he obviously felt Jones was done. Consider this a case of another team doing your homework for you.

Is Scott Olsen hurt? Velocity’s down, control has been iffy lately and since almost shutting out Milwaukee on May 6th, he hasn’t gotten into the 7th inning on any one of his subsequent starts.

For that matter, why haven’t we fired every member of our training staff? 9 players on the Major League DL at the same time…I’d kill for that kind of job security.

Is Hanley Ramirez human? Two weeks ago it seemed silly, but now Jose Reyes may actually be an equally deserving All-Star Starter at short-stop.

Is Luis Gonzalez our best outfielder? I love Hermida too, but when Hammer’s back he’s got to play, and Gonzalez probably does too.

On that same subject, what’s wrong with Jeremy Hermida? I never bought into the 30 homer mentality, but I expected a lot better than a 4:1 K:BB ratio.

Is Chris Volstad the answer? Every little sign points to him being the next guy to go in the rotation (and my understanding is that his DL stint is more of minor league roster housekeeping than actual injury) but that seems like an awful lot of pressure to thrust on a local guy whose family and friends can make the 45 minute drive for every one of his home games. Plus, I like Volstad a lot, but he’s not a take the game over ace, he needs a sold defense behind him.

Is Anibal Sanchez alive? The last news blurb I heard on him was from April 19th when he was meant to throw around 60 pitches in a side session. It’s my understanding that he’s “in” Jupiter, but I have to wonder if that’s Jupiter, Florida or Jupiter the planet. So much for that pre-All-Star return.

Has anyone in baseball helped their long-term prospects more than Dan Uggla? So what if he’s having a rough road trip, he’s younger than Chase Utley and looks to be headed to a break the bank arbitration award this offseason.

Is Andrew Miller our ace? He had a 2.43 ERA for May and in that same time is tied with Mark Hendrickson for second on the club in wins (3).

Lastly, if you gave the Marlins and Tigers the opportunity to re-do their December blockbuster, would either team still do it?

[McLevin]

Originally Posted by Swift Lastly, if you gave the Marlins and Tigers the opportunity to re-do their December blockbuster, would either team still do it?

I know the Marlins would. Cabrera has eaten his way to 1B, Willis is smoked, and the Marlins are a half-game back from first place without either of them.

Probably not the Tigers.

I wish your column was a bit more negative, by the way. Too much positivity here.

[!NICK!]

I would have liked to have seen Wiley get a chance to work with the D-Train, but I'd say the jury's still out at this point on that one. We've seen flashes from Miller, but I'm not sure we know what we have here just yet. We'll see what we get from Maybin, if he turns out to be the player that I think he will be and Miller becomes a solid 2 or 3 I'll say it's a good deal for us, but let's not forget we gave up a future hall-of-famer, and he's going to be a great player for Detroit for a long time.

[St. Jimmy]

I can't believe I'm saying this but Dan Uggla has become the second most valuable player to this franchise. You have to believe the Front Office may entertain offers as soon as the Deadline for a couple young pitchers or a Dan Haren type.

Hopefully he is 'special' enough to warrant a long term deal. Because I'd rather keep him.

[Juanky]

If we get someone like Dan Haren for Dan Uggla, I'm taking that deal.

Then again, I've always preferred SP to position players.

[Swift]

I said it at the start of the year, and I'll say it again now, Uggla's season can move him from pretty good to untouchable. I'd be exceptionally disappointed if we deal him at the deadline.

[bobbob1313]

I think Uggla's not going to age so well, even with this ridiculous season. I'd rather go year to year with him and let someone else take the decline years.

I also think we absolutely destroyed the Tigers on that deal assuming Maybin becomes what I think he will be (Hanley and Hermida's gay love child).

[Sashimi]

Originally Posted by !NICK! but let's not forget we gave up a future hall-of-famer, and he's going to be a great player for Detroit for a long time.

While I believe Cabrera may very well end up being a Hall-of-Famer, I think this is the wrong standard to apply in evaluating this deal. Keeping Cabrera long-term was not an option for us. Even with a stadium deal in place, we still could only realistically afford Hanley or Cabs, not both (if we still hoped to fill out the rest of the roster with decent players)--and, as great a hitter as Cabs is, I think Hanley was the right choice, despite his current funk, as he looked to have the better all-around skills and work ethic (Hanley also allowed the team to bide their time a little more until the stadium deal came closer to reality).

We essentially traded two years of Cabrera, and the longer we waited the less we would have received in return. Unless Cabrera would have meant the difference between winning a championship or not winning one in that time span (which can be debated), moving him when we did was the right move and we got a pretty decent haul (on paper, at least) for two years of Cabrera's services.

[!NICK!]

Originally Posted by Sashimi While I believe Cabrera may very well end up being a Hall-of-Famer, I think this is the wrong standard to apply in evaluating this deal. Keeping Cabrera long-term was not an option for us. Even with a stadium deal in place, we still could only realistically afford Hanley or Cabs, not both (if we still hoped to fill out the rest of the roster with decent players)--and, as great a hitter as Cabs is, I think Hanley was the right choice, despite his current funk, as he looked to have the better all-around skills and work ethic (Hanley also allowed the team to bide their time a little more until the stadium deal came closer to reality). We essentially traded two years of Cabrera, and the longer we waited the less we would have received in return. Unless Cabrera would have meant the difference between winning a championship or not winning one in that time span (which can be debated), moving him when we did was the right move and we got a pretty decent haul (on paper, at least) for two years of Cabrera's services.

I don't see what the fact that we had to trade Cabs has to do with what I said. The fact is that we traded a very good player and if we didn't get a whole hell of a lot back for him then it wouldn't end up being a good trade for us.

[Cynosure]

Originally Posted by Swift I said it at the start of the year, and I'll say it again now, Uggla's season can move him from pretty good to untouchable. I'd be exceptionally disappointed if we deal him at the deadline.

A) At his current rates, Dan will likely NEVER have a month like/close to this again. He is no where near fast enough to maintain a .415 BABIP with a 21% LD rate.
B) He still cannot competently field.
C) His value will likely never be higher than it is now, if we can can get a #3 type starter, or an upgrade at 3rd or a significant upgrade at C (and then promote Coghlan) I would jump on that chance.

[Swift]

I would never NEVER trade Uggla for simply a #3 starter. Our rotation is a mess because that's all we've hoarded. Get an ace or don't do it.

[McLevin]

Yep, I'd be down for an Uggla trade if an bonafide ace-type came back in return, but a #3 guy? Come on.

[Hugg]

John Baker is hitting under the Mendoza line since May 1.

If we replace Rabelo, it'll be Hoover.

[Ralph]

Originally Posted by Hugg John Baker is hitting under the Mendoza line since May 1. If we replace Rabelo, it'll be Hoover.

Brayan Pena!!11!

[Hugg]

I do want him.

I doubt it happens.

[Ralph]

Originally Posted by Hugg I do want him. I doubt it happens.

Unfortunately, I think it will happen. I think Freddi likes him.