Now it’s starting to get hard, but I expected that. The next 10 teams are extremely close together and there is not much separating the eighth best from the 18th best team. However, that’s a challenge you have to deal with, unless you’re version of 30 Clubs in 30 Days is a gutless cop out and you don’t even rank the teams in order (Cough, MLB Network! Cough). So now I move on to a team I like, is talented and could make the playoffs, and yet they’re ranked No. 18. Man I love this game! Well enough chatter already, I present to you the next step on our countdown.
No. 18 Florida Marlins
Projected Rotation
- Josh Johnson-RHP
- Ricky Nolasco-RHP
- Javier Vasquez-RHP
- Anibal Sanchez-RHP
- Chris Volstad-RHP
Projected Bullpen
- Leo Nunez-RHP
- Clay Hensley-RHP
- Randy Choate-LHP
- Edward Mujica-RHP
- Mike Dunn-LHP
- Ryan Webb-RHP
- Burke Badenhop-RHP
Projected Lineup
- CF Chris Coghlan
- 2B Omar Infante
- SS Hanley Ramirez
- RF Mike Stanton
- 1B Gaby Sanchez
- LF Logan Morrison
- C John Buck
- 3B Matt Dominguez
Analysis
Mike Stanton was impressive enough as a rookie to allow the Marlins to feel good about Dan Uggla departing for the rival Braves. Stanton hit 22 homers last season, but must improve on his .259 batting average. Stanton was one of the most high profile prospects in baseball leading up to his rookie year, he’ll only get better and should be the cleanup hitter that Florida’s looking for.
That middle order could be one of the best in the NL as Stanton is supports by Hanley Ramirez, and Gaby Sanchez. Ramirez needs no introduction and will continue to be the best Shortstop in the game. However, Ramirez must finish with an average higher than his 2010 total of .300 for the Marlins to be relevant in the NL East.
One of my favorite players is Gaby Sanchez. Here’s a young stud who does everything well and can knock the crap out of the ball. In his first full season he hit .273 with 19 homers, and 85 RBI and that’s just the beginning. Sanchez is full of potential and could be the all-star support Ramirez needs for the fish to make a run in the east.
As we look at the rotation it gets even tougher for me to justify this mediocre ranking because the Marlins’ group of righties is anything but. Josh Johnson will be the club ace and will carry the rotation. Johnson went 11-6 last season with an ERA of 2.30. With the expected added run support Johnson should pile up more victories and will find himself in NL Cy Young conversations again in 2011.
Nolasco, Vasquez, Sanchez, and Volstad make up the rest of the rotation and will form a formidable group of arms to carry the Marlins. If Vasquez pitches like he did in ’09 he could be one of the most underrated acquisitions of this past off-season. Nolasco will continue to be Johnson’s right hand man, and Sanchez and Volstad were the Marlins best pitchers in the second half of last year.
Last season both Nunez and Hensley closed for the Marlins. Right now it appears the job belongs to Nunez but Hensley’s not far behind. So if Nunez struggles like he did during the end of last season he will be watching the ninth inning from the bullpen.
With their talent and depth the Marlins could easily make me look bad, but the NL East is just too good and I doubt they have what it takes to put a whole season together.
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