2007 Florida Marlins Predictions & Season Preview


June 5, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

The Marlins president David Samson built a 78-win team with an opening day payroll a tuck under $15 million in 2006. The Marlins were the surprise team last season and had a great shot at making the postseason before their youth and experience faltered in the closing months. The Marlins are the masters of reinvention. They’ve won two World Series in the past decade while grappling constantly with stadium and attendance issues. Things looked ugly in 2006 when the Marlins got off to an 11-31 start, committing errors like kids in little league ball. Then the pitching jelled, the young players began showing signs of maturity, and the Fish made a brief run at a Wild Card spot. Joe Girardi clashed with owner Jeffrey Loria and was fired before winning the National League Manager of the Year award. Fredi Gonzalez, Girardi’s successor, will try to coax another uplifting season from a roster filled with young talent in 2007.

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Dontrelle Willis’ image took a hit when he was picked up for drunken driving three days before Christmas. After throwing 460 innings over the last 2 seasons, Willis is hoping for more help from his friends, who gave him a mere 4.03 runs worth of support for each start last season. Florida ‘s other four starters in Scott Olsen, Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco, produced 45 victories for a total expenditure of $1.3 million, and Sanchez became the first pitcher since Randy Johnson to throw a no-hitter. The Marlins lost closer Joe Borowski and his 36 saves to free agency and will be needing to feel that void this season. Taylor Tankersley was great out of the bullpen last season with a 2-1 record and a 2.85 ERA on his side. Randy Messenger needs to improve on his 2-7 record with a 5.67 ERA a year ago. Kevin Gregg played better for the Marlins when he came over from the Angels with a 2-3 record and a 3.45 ERA to boot. Pitching will tell the story in Florida because their talent in the field will be there.

Miguel Olivo at catcher has one of the strongest arms in the league. He threw out 34 percent of opposing base stealers and had a career high 16 homers at the plate. He was tied for first among NL catchers, giving up only 10 passed balls last season. Miguel Cabrera was easily the most valuable players on the Marlins last season and his power, hand-eye coordination and plate discipline make him the most formidable right-handed hitter this side of Albert Pujols. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez, a five-tool player, dispelled doubts about his makeup and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, while double-play partner Dan Uggla hit 27 homers to break Joe Gordon’s record for a rookie second baseman. First baseman Mike Jacobs has serious raw power, but he’s too pull-happy and still must show he can hit lefties. He only batted .182 vs. left-handers. He did heat up over the last 107 games of the season, hitting .283 with 16 homers and 63 RBIs so his upside is large heading into this season.

Six Marlins received at least one mention in the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year voting, and golden boy Jeremy Hermida wasn’t among them. Hermida began the year with a hip injury and was never able to drive the ball consistently as a rightfielder, hitting just .251. Leftfielder Josh Willingham has a compact stroke, all-fields power and dexcellent plate discipline, though he’s a work in progress defensively. Alfredo Amezaga, a nice utility player, seized the centerfield job after being released by Pittsburgh at age 27. He is not the long-term solution. The outfield looks to be a weakness overall but since it’s the Florida Marlins, it wouldn’t surprise me if they step it up this season. Can this young team make another run at the playoffs in 2007? We feel they can and we will find much line value in the Marlins as underdogs throughout the season.

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