2009 MLB Preview - Florida Marlins

Florida Marlins
Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (3rd season)
2008 Record: 84-77 (3rd NL East)


Added: RP Scott Proctor (LAD), RP Leo Nunez (KC)
Lost: C Matt Treanor (DET), 1B Mike Jacobs (KC), OF Josh Willingham (WAS), SP Mark Hendrickson (BAL), SP Scott Olsen (WAS), RP Kevin Gregg (CHC), RP Justin Miller (SF), RP Arthur Rhodes (CIN), RP Doug Waechter (KC)

Projected Lineup (2008 Stats)
1. CF Cameron Maybin (Rookie) 2. RF Jeremy Hermida (.249, 74 R, 17 HR, 61 RBI) 3. SS Hanley Ramirez (.301, 125 R, 33 HR, 67 RBI, 35 SB) 4. 2B Dan Uggla (.260, 97 R, 32 HR, 92 RBI) 5. 3B Jorge Cantu (.277, 92 R, 29 HR, 95 RBI) 6. RF Cody Ross (.260, 59 R, 22 HR, 73 RBI) 7. 1B Gaby Sanchez (Rookie) 8. C John Baker (.299, 32 R, 5 HR, 32 RBI)

Projected Starting Rotation (2008 Stats)
1. Ricky Nolasco (15-8, 3.52 ERA, 186 K) 2. Josh Johnson (7-1, 3.61 ERA, 77 K) 3. Chris Volstad (6-4, 2.88 ERA, 52 K) 4. Anibal Sanchez (2-5, 5.57 ERA, 50 K) 5. Andrew Miller (6-10, 5.87 ERA, 89 K)

Bench
C Mike Rabelo, IF Wes Helms, IF/OF Alfredo Amezaga, 3B Dallas McPherson

Bullpen (2008 Stats for Closer only)
Matt Lindstrom (5 SV, 57.1 IP, 57 H, 43 K, 3.14 ERA), Scott Proctor, Leo Nunez, Taylor Tankersley, Dan Meyer, Renyel Pinto

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Fantasy Studs: 2B Dan Uggla, SS Hanley Ramirez
Fantasy Sleepers: CF Cameron Maybin, RF Jeremy Hermida, All SP

Men In The Minors: 1B Logan Morrison, 2B Chris Coghlan, 3B Matt Dominguez, OF Michael Stanton, SP Ryan Tucker, SP Sean West

Home Ballpark: Dolphins Stadium (Grade 2/10)

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Team Outlook: If you are a fan of addition by subtraction, then this year's Florida Marlins are your team. After losing two starters in the infield, two starters, and most of their bullpen, the team is hoping the young guys stepping in will make an impact. The pitching doesn't look all that bad. Every young arm they have has great potential to be great and some have already shown it. If all of them can pitch consistently and win 10-15 games, watch out. The bullpen though is shaky at best. Proctor is a good pickup but I'm not sold on any of the other arms. As far as the hitters, yet again, this is not a lineup you want to face. Maybin is going to be a star in the Majors, as long as he keeps his strikeouts to a minimum. Hermida is slowly growing into a 4-tool player. Ramirez is the best hitter at his position and the same could be said for Uggla. Cantu had a resurgent year last season and Ross contributed too. Sanchez and Baker aren't bad 7-8 hitters either. The big argument against this team is that they are just so young. With no veteran leadership, how well can they really do? Only time will tell and in a division that is chock full of talented teams (except Washington), it may not be as well as they would like.

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