Marlins Update

[Orioles]

Owe a couple people trade responses (sorry), but here's a quick state-of-the-squad to give an idea what team holes I'm looking to fill at this point...

Lineup

1. LF Carl Crawford, L
2. 2B Ian Kinsler, R
3. 3B Aramis Ramirez, R
4. 1B David Ortiz, L
5. C Geovany Soto, R
6. SS Troy Tulowitzki, R
7. RF Ryan Church, L
8. CF Hunter Pence, R


With the exception of Church (who I tried to pry from JP, among others, to replace Matsui last year), the starting lineup is the same as it was opening day 2008.

Pretty happy with the caliber of bats, top-to-bottom. Speed at the top in Crawford and Kinsler, good power throughout, and a solid core of emerging youngsters (Kinsler, Soto, Tulo, Pence) to surround veterans Crawford, Ramirez and Ortiz.

Bench

LF Hideki Matsui, L
UT Jerry Hairston Jr., R
OF Scott Hairston, R
OF Gregor Blanco, L
C J.R. House, R
1B Joe Mather, R


Fortunately a deeper bench this season than the one that offered little help in 08 when a rash of injuries struck. W/ the acquisition of Hawpe (since traded) and then Church, Matsui becomes a potent LH bat off the bench. The brothers Hairston should be solid in part time roles. Jerry as the primary utility infielder coming off an .871 OPS in 260 ABs, and Scott providing RH power in LF and CF. Gregor Blanco offers similar defensive versatility across the OF positions from the left side to the released Willie Harris, and is still 25 y/o. House, acquired in the Hawpe/Arencibia deal should hit enough to fill a backup C role.

If Mather doesn't rate at 1B, the Marlins might need another backup 1B to free Hairston Jr. from having to replace Ortiz defensively late in games. Another UT IF wouldn't hurt, after the Fish dealt away all the club's minor league MI depth in the offseason (Sizemore, Coghlan, Emaus).

Defense

The Marlins are pretty happy with the D all the way around the diamond, excepting the obvious weak spot with Ortiz playing 1B. Tulowitzki and Crawford are elite defenders at their respective positions. There's some concern as to whether Pence or Church can play CF, but both have played there in recent years so one should prove capable. Scott Hairston and Gregor Blanco should make a decent CF platoon in a pinch.

Rotation

1. Justin Verlander, R
2. Max Scherzer, R
3. Dustin McGowan, R
4. Gio Gonzalez, L
5. Adam Miller, R

Others: Ben Sheets (INJ), Zach Duke, Micah Owings, Ramon Troncoso, Dan Schlereth

Unquestionably the teams' greatest present weakness is the rotation, which features a nice group of young arms, but without veteran ace RHP Ben Sheets (who finally put together a nice year, only to be lost for the next season) lacks a true anchor.

Barring trade or favorable projections the Marlins may be forced to cope with the ups and downs of a young rotation until next season. Verlander should bounce back from a sub-par 08. Scherzer looked dominant in a short big league debut, but will need to show he can hold down a rotation spot in 09 to justify the Fish shipping off Hawpe and top young arm Jhoulys Chacin for he and Church in the offseason. McGowan, the rotation's elder statesman at 26, will be out until May, but hopefully will provide a stable source of innings in the #2 or #3 spot when he returns. Gonzalez has struggled in his first action at almost every level. If the pattern holds true his performance should improve this season after an up-and-down first go at the bigs. Adam Miller needs to not be hurt (for once). When he's on the mound, he still has dominant stuff.

Zach Duke (still just 25) and Micah Owings (26) are a couple of young starters who add depth. Owings, of course, will see plenty of ABs in PH situations, and maybe even some DH duty if his projections are anything like last season's.

Bullpen

CL Chris Ray, R
SU Trevor Hoffman, R
SU Jeremy Affeldt, L
MR Mike Adams, R
MR Arthur Rhodes, L
LR Ramon Troncoso, R/ Micah Owings, R/ Zach Duke, L
MU Cesar Jimenez, L/ Justin Miller, R

The pen is stronger than last season (when it was a major weakness), but a lot depends on Ray's health and ability to perform either in a CL or RH SU role. Hoffman should thrive as RH SU if Ray can hold down the ninth. Plenty of solid LH and RH arms to choose from to fill out the back end as well.