Musings From the Bleachers 06:26:08: Surging to the Top
Posted by Frank Fedele on 06.26.2008
This week we look at a team that made a big trade in the offseason by shipping out their two best players for youngsters. The Marlins were thought to be battling the Nationals for the basement of the National League East. Instead they are battling the Phillies and the Braves for the top spot in the division. How did this team surpass expectations? Read further and find out.
Surging to the Top
A team trading veterans in the offseason for prospects is normally a signal to their fan base that the team is undergoing a rebuilding effort. When the team trades it best hitter, Miguel Cabrera, and pitcher, Dontrelle Willis, the signs point to rebuilding ever stronger. The Marlins however refuse to acknowledge those signs and have put together a team that is contending in the National League East and looks to have room for improvement.
The Florida Marlins
The Florida Marlins enter today one game behind the Phillies in the National League East with a 40-36 record. The team is in the middle of the pack in pitching ranking, not dominating any statistical measure, but still has respectable numbers. The team is however hitting the ball well and hitting for power, ranking 1st in slugging percentage. Let's look at how both sides have been put together.
Pitching
Rotation
Scott Olsen – 4-4 3.44 ERA
Ricky Nolasco – 7-4 4.31 ERA
Andrew Miller – 5-6 5.07 ERA
Mark Hendrickson – 7-5 5.73 ERA
The fourth starter position has rotated through a couple of candidates. The key thing to notice here is the Marlins have used their trade harvest well, with both Nolasco and Miller coming from trades in the past two seasons.
Scott Olsen, image courtesy of mlb.com
Scott Olsen is the home grown ace of the staff and has thrown the ball well for the team this year and has managed to keep his nose clean. Hopefully that trend continues for the team. The team also has three good young pitchers on the injured list right now in Josh Johnson, Sergio Mitre and Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez and Mitre are also products of trades in the recent years. They also have some young talent down in the minors, with Eulogio De La Cruz doing well in Albuquerque.
Bullpen
Closer – Kevin Gregg 5-2 2.52 ERA 13 Sv
Righty – Doug Waechter 0-2 2.84 ERA
Lefty – Renyel Pinto 2-3 3.16 ERA
Righty – Logan Kessing 3-1 3.82 ERA
Not a dominating bullpen, but does consistent good work and Gregg has been able to get the job done at the end of games when needed.
The stars of the show are the young double play combo, Uggla and Ramirez. Ramirez has also been signed to a long term deal, so he will be the player the team builds around. They have also gotten power out of unlikely sources like Jacobs and Cantu. Hermida is the young outfielder with promise with Cameron Maybin waiting at Double A to patrol the center field in the near future. They team will continue to build with their young pitching and center the team on Ramirez. Not a bad plan.
Hanley Ramirez, image courtesy of mlb.com
Until next week, that is my thoughts from my bleacher seat.
