Marlins Pre-Offseason Discussion

[Beef]

We'll see

[MiamiHomer]

Ken Rosenthal said that Jim Fleming was being reassigned.

[Namaste]

This is a pretty informed bunch we have here so we should probably stop using starter ERA when discussing our needs for next year

ERA is a pretty shitty indicator of future performance

[Erick]

This is a pretty informed bunch we have here so we should probably stop using starter ERA when discussing our needs for next year

ERA is a pretty shitty indicator of future performance

Our starting pitching is just not that good, regardless of which statistic you use.

Also, while I agree with you, it's worth noting that our SP's consistently underachieve in comparison to their peripherals.

Ricky Nolasco is basically the king at this. Not only on the staff, but in the big leagues. His peripherals basically have him as a guy who's ERA should be under 4 every year, yet his career ERA says he's more of a ~4.5 guy.
This is his 5th year in the big leagues, and it's his 4th year of underachievement.

Safe to say this is just who he is at this point.

It's also safe to say that Josh Johnson is injury prone.

And the depth clearly sucks.

[Bobbob1313]

Pitching is absolutely the bigger need going into the offseason than position players.

We have a few pieces that we can reasonably hope for improvement from going forward, like Gaby, Lomo, and Coghlan, plus Dominguez's glove has the potential to make him neutral overall, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

In pitching we have for the 4th and 5th starters spots as in house options: Chris Volstad, Brad Hand, and Alejandro Sanabia. I'd look for two starters before I even think about upgrading in the field.

[Erick]

Yeah, I'm not worried about the bats.

Highly unlikely that Hanley will be this bad again next year.

Assuming they're all kept, Stanton, Lomo, and Gaby have all had good years when you consider that it's just their second year in the big leagues.

Stanton has been awesome and has the potential to become the most productive hitter in baseball.

Infante and Buck will do what they do and Bonifacio has improved this year. His speed is another element that will make it easier for the team to score runs moving forward if he can continue to put up respectable .OBP #'s.

Offense will be fine. It's been a fluky year, in that sense.

Bullpen is fine too, regardless of who the seven arms are.

SP is clearly the problem.

[Jay]

Someone show me where JJ was injury before Girardi sent him in after that rain delay.

[....J....]

agree w/bobbob and erick

starting pitching should be the main focus of any free agent or trade acquisition


our staff, even w/healthy JJ, cannot compete with the Braves or Phils

[Mainge]

Someone show me where JJ was injury before Girardi sent him in after that rain delay.

You know, I think he was injured after that game in New York too. Postponed for a few hours, or something.

[Jay]

You know, I think he was injured after that game in New York too. Postponed for a few hours, or something.

Yes there were rain delays in that mets game. He was shutdown after that game.
Here is a box score from the game.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260912128

But my initial post was commenting on how I don't recall him ever being injured in the minors or up until that point.

[MiamiHomer]

MIAMI — Less than a month remains in a disappointing 2011 season, and already speculation is heating up regarding possible changes the Marlins will make for 2012.

At the forefront is Jack McKeon’s status as manager.

Reports already are surfacing that the 80-year-old won’t be managing the club at age 81.

McKeon told reporters the other day that he has made up his mind but nothing will officially be determined until after the season.

Conventional wisdom suggests the team will make a switch.

After all, McKeon took over on an interim basis for Edwin Rodriguez on June 20. He will turn 81 in November, and it isn’t too far fetched to assume that the organization will seek someone else for a multiyear deal. So a change wouldn’t be startling. In fact, it would be expected.

Still, until something is made official, don’t rule out anything regarding McKeon. He still has plenty to offer.

But if the sagely skipper isn’t in the dugout, he likely would return to his advisory position, which he held from after the 2005 season until he took on the interim tag.

It would be safe to assume the Marlins will be looking for a new voice in the dugout as they enter their new ballpark. Shortly after the All-Star Break, owner Jeffrey Loria went on record saying he wants someone with big league managerial experience.

Loria then also has talked about changes at the Minor League level, in hopes of restocking the system.

If McKeon indeed is through with managing, there will be no shortage of potential replacements.

Ozzie Guillen is the potential candidate who generates the most attention. But he is under contract with the White Sox for next year. Speculation arises out of Chicago on almost a daily basis as to whether Guillen will return to the White Sox or exit.

If available, Guillen appears to be at the top of the Marlins’ list of possible managers. Guillen has a link to the organization, having been Florida’s third base coach from 2002-03.

Another name expected to be in the mix is Bobby Valentine. Yes, the courtship went on twice in 2010, and his hiring appeared to be a done deal after Fredi Gonzalez was let go in June of 2010.

Then after the 2010 season, Valentine again was back in the equation, before Rodriguez signed a one-year contract to return.

Perhaps a third try at Valentine will end up with the former Rangers and Mets skipper agreeing to manage the Marlins.

Will the Marlins be willing to spend money on a manager and payroll?

According to multiple sources, Loria is ready to do what it takes to upgrade the organization as it transitions from Sun Life Stadium to the new ballpark.

For the first time in their history, the Marlins will be in their own ballpark, and increased revenue streams. And their payroll is expected to be more than $70 million and perhaps as high at $80 million.

On the current roster, the team is hoping to bring back potential free agents Omar Infante and Greg Dobbs.

Starting pitching is high on the agenda for 2012. The organization will be targeting at least one left-hander.

The Marlins also are expected to be busy on the trade front. Chris Volstad, who be entering arbitration for the first time, is a possible piece to be dealt.

Hanley Ramirez, headed for surgery on his left shoulder, remains a focal point for the franchise. Getting him healthy for Opening Day 2012 is the team’s priority. The club isn’t looking to deal their three-time All-Star shortstop, especially now when his value isn’t at its highest.

– Joe Frisaro

http://joefrisaro.mlblogs.com/2011/0...n-for-marlins/

[Beef]

Chris Volstad, who be entering arbitration for the first time, is a possible piece to be dealt.

mm hmm

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Whatever, Beef. As previously mentioned, they don't know anything and Frisaro knows less than any of the beat writers.

I could also post tweets from JCR who believes Volstad will be back since he'll still be cheap but there's no point in doing that.

[Bobbob1313]

He won't be that cheap.

[HUGG]

He'll either be back or non-tendered. Hard to trade someone who has no trade value.
--------------------
Well, I guess we got something for Andrew Miller. So who knows.