Marlins Ramblings Part 2

[Swift]

Marlins Ramblings Part 2

The way I see it, we’ve got 3 holes: catcher, set-up and closer. I don’t think it’s even worth trying to fix the bullpen. One arm isn’t going to change that much; Gregg still is going to close games out and we’re still going to have the same sh*t-show trying to get the team through the 8th inning. Chad Foxes and Ugueth Urbinas don’t just grow on trees. Get a catcher and hope for the best.

I think our bullpen’s problem is that we’ve got too many mediocre arms and not one great arm. Much like closer by committee always being a failure, interchangeable bullpen parts don’t help anyone get adrenaline flowing. Maybe it’s time for Freddi to name a setup man to go with Gregg, and I don’t think Pinto should be it.

How bad is our catching situation? Now that Rabelo’s been banished I’m actually OK with it, in a vacuum. I mean, every team needs a guy to hit 8th, the problem is 6-9 we’re basically giving away outs. Our problem isn’t the catcher’s spot, per se, Treanor and Hoover can both catch the ball, it’s that the lineup around them does nothing so it’s easy to cast the blame. This isn’t to say our catching situation is fine, but guys like Jacobs and Ross should really be hitting 8th, not 6th and 7th. Now, for most teams, neither Treanor nor Hoover are a starter, and for most teams, only Treanor would stick as a backup, so this is the first position to “upgrade,” but that doesn’t mean I’m nearly as furious with the production from these journeymen as I am from some guys who were meant to be big time starters, like Mike Jacobs.

For that matter, how much longer can Jacobs remain a starter? He’s got a .271 OBP. Yeah that .521 SLG% is sexy as hell, but seriously, he still can’t play a lick of D at a position that you’d generally like to get some defensive help thrown in. In his defense (no pun intended) he’s 4th among our qualifying batters in terms of OPS. Don’t cut him, don’t demote him, but give him some time off. Willingham used to (and I’d assume still does) take grounders at first base; there’s an easy short term fix. Give Jacobs a week to get his head straight, get Hammer and Gonzo’s bat in the lineup at the same time and hope something works itself out. The goal isn’t getting a player 40 homeruns, it’s getting the team 88 wins.

Speaking of wins, what does Chris Volstad have to do to get a callup? Hendrickson’s not good, and really only Nolasco and Miller deserve rotation spots, plus with the bullpen needing such help, maybe Ryan Tucker can be the Chad Fox we need for the bullpen. Volstad’s as ready as he’s going to be this season, he needs to come to the major leagues.

Can we stop carrying 12 pitchers? The rust is clearly becoming an issue. The starters, more or less, aren’t asking a lot from the ‘pen on given nights. Outside of Hendrickson, you really like all our pitchers to basically guarantee you 5 innings a night now. No, Freddi’s not going to the bench heroically, but why not add that extra bat so when we inevitably have Treanor or Hoover come up in a big spot we can use it?

After getting swept by Tampa, are we still contenders? Yeah, Tampa is a really good team, but good teams (which we’re supposed to be, right) don’t get swept, make that embarrassed, at home by other good teams, especially when our “ace” opens the series.

If we aren’t giving up on the season, can we make some splash before the end of the homestand? I don’t care what it is. Call up Volstad, call up Maybin, hell, call up both. Trade for a catcher, trade for a closer, do something. This team has become stale, something needs to be done.

[Juanky]

I don't understand the fascination with having 14 hitters. That's four hitters on the bench not counting the necessary backup catcher. You have Robert Andino who does absolutely nothing Amezaga doesn't and is never used anyways. You then have Helms and Gonzalez occupying essentially the same role, except one from each side of the plate. Who comes up to be the 14th bat? You do realize, btw, that whoever comes up will play only once every two weeks, right?

I have to think Volstad is coming up in the next couple of weeks. I mean, it has to be. I just hope he does well, because if not we're starting to run out of non-injured options. I also like Tucker to the bullpen, but I wouldn't be against having him go down to start again in AA.

I don't know how we're going to get a catcher. Whom? With what pieces?

[Swift]

Originally Posted by Juanky I don't understand the fascination with having 14 hitters. That's four hitters on the bench not counting the necessary backup catcher. You have Robert Andino who does absolutely nothing Amezaga doesn't and is never used anyways. You then have Helms and Gonzalez occupying essentially the same role, except one from each side of the plate. Who comes up to be the 14th bat? You do realize, btw, that whoever comes up will play only once every two weeks, right? I have to think Volstad is coming up in the next couple of weeks. I mean, it has to be. I just hope he does well, because if not we're starting to run out of non-injured options. I also like Tucker to the bullpen, but I wouldn't be against having him go down to start again in AA. I don't know how we're going to get a catcher. Whom? With what pieces?

We better have "pieces" we've spent 3 years acquiring "pieces."

[Daft]

Excellent write up Swift. I especially like your sentiments regarding Jake and Volstad. Very well thought out piece. Rep'd.

Only part I don't agree with is that "good teams don't get swept". First, we're not that good and second, good teams do get swept. 162 games is a long season. Shit happens.

[Swift]

Originally Posted by Daft Excellent write up Swift. I especially like your sentiments regarding Jake and Volstad. Very well thought out piece. Rep'd. Only part I don't agree with is that "good teams don't get swept". First, we're not that good and second, good teams do get swept. 162 games is a long season. Shit happens.

I disagree that what happened to us this week happens to good teams.

If we're not a good team, we need to beat the market and sell Gregg and other guys like him now rather than later.

[Hugg]

Originally Posted by Juanky I don't understand the fascination with having 14 hitters. That's four hitters on the bench not counting the necessary backup catcher. You have Robert Andino who does absolutely nothing Amezaga doesn't and is never used anyways. You then have Helms and Gonzalez occupying essentially the same role, except one from each side of the plate. Who comes up to be the 14th bat? You do realize, btw, that whoever comes up will play only once every two weeks, right?

Exactly.

12 pitchers is the norm anyway. There's 2 NL teams carrying 14 bats and they both suck.

And 14 is 5 hitters on the bench not counting the backup catcher. We don't need another one.

[Daft]

Originally Posted by Swift I disagree that what happened to us this week happens to good teams. If we're not a good team, we need to beat the market and sell Gregg and other guys like him now rather than later.

Well, I'm in the camp that thinks it's a miracle that we are within 2 games of 1st place in late June.

Our starting pitching is abysmal and our heroic bullpen is finally showing it's true colors. And that's without mentioning our Bad News Bear defense.

We're a good offensive team and that's about the end of the good stuff.



So yes, I don't think we're a good team but at the same time, how can we seriously start selling pieces when we're still within striking distance?

[Swift]

I just don't see the merit in that argument...12 pitchers that is.

"Oh, everyone else does it, so it's got to be right."

I mean, if Freddi used everyone in his 'pen, sure I can see the need to carry the 12 (which I think is excessive for an NL team regardless of what other teams do). But, if you're making the case that it's better to carry 13 hitters than 14 hitters because we use the same 2 pinch hitters in a game and have people left over, what good is having 7 guys in the 'pen if Freddi uses the same 4 every game no matter the situation. For the love of God, we were getting sodomized by a baseball bat last night and we still used Pinto, Gregg and Miller. Those three are getting used most nights, and even then we can still keep Waechter, Kensing and everyone's wet dream De La Cruz down there and be fine.

[Swift]

Originally Posted by Daft Well, I'm in the camp that thinks it's a miracle that we are within 2 games of the 1st place in late June. Our starting pitching is abysmal and our heroic bullpen is finally showing it's true colors. And that's without mentioning our Bad News Bear defense. We're a good offensive team and that's about the end of the good stuff. So yes, I don't think we're a good team but at the same time, how can we seriously start selling pieces when we're still within striking distance?

I can't disagree with that, but philosophically, as an organization do we strike because of the weakness of our division or because of our own strength? If it's the former, fine, I can't argue, if it's the latter, what's the point?

That directly leads into my soul-searching argument. I really think we're lucky to be here because the Mets threw up all over themselves, the Braves are old and fragile and the Phillies are walking a tight rope like us. We've seen with 2003 that a Cinderella run doesn't fix our off-field problems. We've seen with lat offseason and, to an extent the 2005 offseason, that we're working at the totally inelastic portion of the demand curve for baseball in South Florida. We can't possibly turn away any more fans, they're going to keep coming. We can help the 2009 and 2010 teams so much more by beating the market to the punch and trading off Gregg and Kensing and maybe even Pinto rather than making a move to fix a team with too many holes.

[Hugg]

Originally Posted by Swift I just don't see the merit in that argument...12 pitchers that is. "Oh, everyone else does it, so it's got to be right." I mean, if Freddi used everyone in his 'pen, sure I can see the need to carry the 12 (which I think is excessive for an NL team regardless of what other teams do). But, if you're making the case that it's better to carry 13 hitters than 14 hitters because we use the same 2 pinch hitters in a game and have people left over, what good is having 7 guys in the 'pen if Freddi uses the same 4 every game no matter the situation.

The 6 innings leaders
Pinto 43.2ip
Waechter 42.1ip
Kensing 37.1ip
Gregg 36.2ip
Miller 36.2ip
Lindstrom 24.1ip

The rest of the bunch
Tankersley 16.1ip
Nelson 13.2ip
Badenhop 8.2ip
Gardner 6.2ip

If we had 6 bullpen guys instead of 7, you've got to take over 40 innings and throw those onto those other 6 guys.

[McLevin]

Swift Presents:
Florida Marlins 2008 - The World Is Ending, Version 2.0

[St. Jimmy]

As one of the biggest Mike Jacobs fans coming into this season I must say it has been a tremendous disappointment. For the better part of two years the excuse for Jacobs sucking were the nagging injuries. Three months into this season it's apparent, it wasn't the injuries it's just who the guy is. I've given up on him.

Hammer at first and Luis in left is the only way to go at this point.

Since you mentioned all the "pieces" we have. Three years after drafting every pitcher known to man, the FO is yet to fill a hole with any of those pitchers. Perhaps it's still too early, but teams aren't falling head over heels for our pitching like some predicted. In fact, our system in general is very average with a ton of 3-4-5 guys.

[Ramp]

those arms we drafted at 22 and younger

[Juanky]

Originally Posted by Hugg And 14 is 5 hitters on the bench not counting the backup catcher. We don't need another one.

Yup, I noticed it when I reread the post. Good catch.

Originally Posted by Swift I just don't see the merit in that argument...12 pitchers that is. "Oh, everyone else does it, so it's got to be right." I mean, if Freddi used everyone in his 'pen, sure I can see the need to carry the 12 (which I think is excessive for an NL team regardless of what other teams do). But, if you're making the case that it's better to carry 13 hitters than 14 hitters because we use the same 2 pinch hitters in a game and have people left over, what good is having 7 guys in the 'pen if Freddi uses the same 4 every game no matter the situation. For the love of God, we were getting sodomized by a baseball bat last night and we still used Pinto, Gregg and Miller. Those three are getting used most nights, and even then we can still keep Waechter, Kensing and everyone's wet dream De La Cruz down there and be fine.

Then we reach an impasse, where it comes down to a question of what we want - another hitter on the roster who will never get used, or a pitcher in the same capacity who will never be used. I choose the pitcher, for two reasons. First, we already have a hitter we never use (Andino). Second, with the pitcher, we can always throw them out there in the case of an emergency to eat a couple of innings if no one is available - whether it be in a blowout, an extra innings affair, or a game that follows two messy starts. I can't think of any comparable situation where hitters would be unavailable in an emergency situation (we could use a starting pitcher to PH anyways).

Originally Posted by Swift We can help the 2009 and 2010 teams so much more by beating the market to the punch and trading off Gregg and Kensing and maybe even Pinto rather than making a move to fix a team with too many holes.

I would agree, but I think Gregg would have the highest value (as the closer) and I can't see him bringing anything of note.

You were totally right about the pieces though - we have a shit ton of arms that have had nothing become of them as far as help to the major league roster.