"We Suck": Fixing The Marlins

[MannyBeltre]

WE SUCK: FIXING THE MARLINS

The Florida Marlins have won TWO World Series Titles. That is an embarrassment and the equivalent of a stampede of gorillas stomping on my heart since 35 years have passed of Mariner baseball and my team has yet to appear in ONE World Series. The Marlins are the laughing stock of baseball, and amazingly somehow are able to have a fire sale every winter. This year, the departure of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis have left the team with just as much veteran experience then a first year tee-ball team and few familiar faces. However, a brighter future has arose as I, MannyBeltre of SG, am prepared to build the team to a World Series that may even lead to another appearance the NEXT year. That's right, no more one year wonders and perennial bad seasons; the people of South Florida better be prepared for a hurricane of baseball success. The stadium may be crappy, but asses will soon fill those hideous seats every day throughout the summer. Soon people will forget about the Seminoles, Dolphins, "The U", the Gators, and that basketball team that has already been forgotten. Baseball is back and here to stay Miami!

[MannyBeltre]

How It Will Be Built



Offense

Speed is more then a commonly used stimulant drug, it is also going to be the focus of the Marlin offense. Already equipped with certified base path torching shortstop Hanley Ramirez, the Marlins added center fielder Cameron Maybin, a 20 year-old super prospect that looks to be a fixture in the Florida outfield for the next fifteen years. The Marlins look to run all over the opposition. While hits may be scarce in the beginning, Florida looks to take full advantage by making a simple single into a double, or an RBI double into an RBI triple. While your traditional power hitting spots of four and five will be respected, expect the New Marlins to have players of big base running numbers at every other position. This new philosophy should also contribute to the team's #1 goal, creating the best defense in baseball. The speed should give the Marlins an unheard of amount of range to cover the huge outfield and prevent from bloopers to drop and create intense situations for the pitcher. As RAC would say in his MN Mixtape... "Defense Wins Championships!"

Pitching

The main goal for the Marlins is to build a pitching staff full of innings eaters. From experience, the 2007 Seattle Mariners were a game back behind the Angels before their bullpen broke down. The Seattle bullpen had been ridiculously good for the season, but because soft tossing garbage named Jeff Weaver and Horacio Ramirez, the bullpen fell apart and so did the Seattle playoff hopes. It will be okay if you give up four runs in seven innings, just get to that number without completely throwing up on yourself. Giving up six or seven runs is not acceptable, you can't depend too much on your bullpen to get out of a tough situation. Pitchers with mid fastballs and a strong breaking ball will be the focus, preferably a "ground ball" artist to record outs quickly and keep the pitch count down. To close it out, a setup crew of a hard throwing lefty, a junk ball righty, and an absolute filthy righty to close out a Florida win.

[MannyBeltre]

The Foundation

Every successful franchise has a strong foundation it has built through free agency or, especially, through the farm system. Last year's champion the Boston Red Sox had key contributions from farm developed players like Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, and Jon Lester (Tacoma!). All three were developed in the organization and made huge plays for the team in the World Series run. Ellsbury (outfield), Pedroia (infield),and Lester (starting pitcher) all cover the same positions Florida looks to build their championship team on.

Cameron Maybin looks like he could develop into the face of the franchise, and covers the outfield position that Ellsbury fills for the Red Sox. Maybin has a rare combination of size (6' 4"), speed, and power. Acquired in the Cabreba/Willis deal, Maybin looks like he could be the steal of the off-season as an improved version of Torii Hunter may have just landed in Miami. Maybin is expected hit second in the lineup, with the hope he develops into a #3 type hitter.

As of now, shortstop Hanley Ramirez holds the title of "best player." After a successful second full season in the bigs, Ramirez has proven to be one of the fastest and best offensive players in the league. Aqcuired for Josh Beckett with Boston, Ramirez has become the type of shortstop that any team would crave for. Ramirez will be looked upon to lead a young and developing offense that hopefully will become one of the leagues best. The only thing the front office is going to ask him is to improve his defense, the #1 goal for the "New Marlins."

Finally starting pitcher Andrew Miller, also formerly of the Detroit Tigers. Miller will be looked upon to fill the Willis void in the starting rotation and become that true #1 stop gap that every team looks for in their ace. Miller dominated at the University of North Carolina, the Detroit farm system, and even Major League batters at time last year despite less then a year of Minor League experience. Miller has more potential then almost any pitching prospect in the league, and most of that potential has already been harnessed into true talent.

[MannyBeltre]

Marlin Hall-of-Fame

[MannyBeltre]

Owner Goals

[MannyBeltre]

Marlins Acquire Five In Three Separate Deals

Florida and Cleveland reached a deal which brings in second baseman Josh Barfield and starting pitcher Jeremy Sowers to Florida in exchange for third baseman Jorge Cantu and young reliever Sergio Mitre.

The deal was agreed upon with the idea that Barfield brings much more upside and range then former second baseman Dan Uggla, and also adds a nice left handed arm into the Marlin rotation.

Florida and Minnesota reached an agreement which sends young starting pitchers Boof Bonser and Scott Baker to Florida in exchange for former starting second baseman Dan Uggla.

Uggla had fallen off his previous year's performance, and Florida wanted to bring in someone with more upside. Upon Barfield's arrival, Uggla was made available and Flordia was able to add to a starting rotation that looks much improved to last years.

Florida's GM also added that Bonser's name was an incentive.

Florida and Toronto agreed to exchange players that will bring former shortstop Russ Adams to the Marlins. In exchange for Adams, Florida sent closer Kelvin Gregg, long reliever Justin Miller, and reliever Spencer Tang.

Adams brings a much needed left handed bat and will be converted to third base, giving Florida an unheard of amount of range at the position. Taylor Tankersley will fill the closers role after Gregg's departure, a much expected move even before the trade.

The starting lineup and rotation should now look like...

1. Hanley Ramirez SS R
2. Cameron Maybin CF R
3. Jeremy Hermida RF L
4. Josh Willingham C R
5. Mike Jacobs 1B L
6. Josh Barfield 2B R
7. Mike Rabelo C S
8. Russ Adams 3B L
9. Pitchers Slot N/A N/A

1. Boof Bonser R
2. Scott Olsen L
3. Scott Baker R
4. Andrew Miller L
5. Ricky Nolasco R

[MannyBeltre]

Maybin, Barfield Fuel Marlin Victory

Down 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Jennie Zelasko of the national broadcast declared that Florida only had a 17% chance of winning the game.

Turned out they needed every 17 percent to pull out a victory over the New York Mets.

Perhaps the symbol of a new era, Boof Bonser, Josh Barfield, and super prospect Cameron Maybin were the largest contributors to a Marlin come-from-behind victory.

Bonser pitched six innings, allowing four runs and striking out four. Bonser however put Florida's second run on the board when a bloop single dropped in and Barfield scored from second base.

Barfield went 2-4 on the game, scoring two runs, and hitting a long double that ended a hitting drought by the Marlins starting at the beginning of the game.

Maybin however may have been the most impressive. His second at bat in a Marlin uniform was an exciting triple that put him in scoring position with no outs. However, Florida was un-able to capitalize. Maybin also scored the game tying and insurance run at the end of the game to secure a Marlin victory.

[MannyBeltre]

ya'll can post now. I'll usually do longer posts about the game and more stats and more about the other team, but I played the game in the morning and was going off of memory and am anxious to get a second game in.

[jaguar8311]

Good stuff but I loled at Russ Adams, He does not even have the strength to make a throw from 2nd to 1st!

[Rylo]

Lookin forward to this chise. When you starting officially?