2008 Florida Marlins MLB Predictions & Season Preview


June 8, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

The Dontrelle Willis/Miguel Cabrera era incredibly lasted 5 seasons in Florida. Now, sadly, these two faces of the franchise are gone to Detroit and it’s time for a new youth movement to come in. The blockbuster eight-player trade with the Tigers will hope to prove successful with the key acquisitions in Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin needing to step up. Below are Larry Cook’s 2008 Florida Marlins predictions along with an overall season preview of who you can expect to see on the field this year.

Starting Rotation:

Selecting an opening day starter used to be so easy for the Marlins. For three straight years it was Josh Beckett, then Willis took the ball for the past two seasons on opening day. Now that the D-Train is a Tiger, it’s anyone’s guess as to who it will be this season. Josh Johnson or Anibal Sanchez would have been fine choices, but both are fresh off season-ending surgeries. Johnson will likely miss all of 2008, following Tommy John surgery, while Sanchez could miss the first few months due to shoulder surgery. Sanchez pitched a no-hitter in 2006 so if he can return healthy then the Marlins will likely have their No. 1 guy. For now, Sergio Mitre looks to take the ball on opening day after a strong first half last season. Scott Olson as a lefty could get the role as well. Olson will for sure be in the top 2 spots in the rotation in the first few weeks. Andrew Miller, an acquisition in the Tigers’ trade, will probably be eased into his new surroundings before assuming a more prominent role after struggling last year with Detroit. The back end of the rotation will see Ricky Nolasco returning from injury and tall Dutch righthander Rick VandenHurk, who showed flashes but still needs to add significant polish to his game.

Bullpen:

Kevin Gregg is not your typical overpowering closer, but all he does is come in and finish off ball games by throwing strikes and hitting his spots to perfection. That formula was enough to secure the high-profile job for Gregg after the unfortunate experiment with Jorge Julio blew up in the management’s face last season. Gregg blew just four of his 31 save chances while young flamethrower Matt Lindstrom emerged as a valuable setup option. Taylor Tankersley overcome some injury and command issues to reclaim his place as the top lefty out of the Marlins’ bullpen. Renyel Pinto throws hard but too often doesn’t know where his pitches are headed. His prior success as a starter in the minors and in Venezuela makes him a potential candidate for the starting rotation. Henry Owens should also be back early in the year after shoulder problems derailed him last year.

Line-Up:

CF Cameron Maybin needs some seasoning after hitting just .143 last year with the Tigers. Maybe playing with a low-profile team in the Marlins will bring the best out of this young talent in the leadoff role. RF Jeremy Hermida has a keen batting eye and decent wheels to make him a solid No. 2 in the Florida lineup. SS Handley Ramirez had 165 ABS in the 3rd spot in 2007. He is a do-it-all guy that any team in the league would absolutely love to have in their possession. LF Josh Willingham is quietly productive and he’s probably the most anonymous cleanup hitter in the game. 1B Mike Jacobs finally showed he could hit lefties well enough to avoid platoon treatment. The 6, 7 and 8 spots in the lineup will be filled by 2B Dan Uggla, 3B Jorge Cantu and C Mike Rabelo. Uggla has 58 homers and 178 RBIs in two major league seasons. Cantu hit 28 home runs with 117 RBIs with Tampa in 2005 and really needs to resurrect his career. C Mike Rabelo is either a late-blooming everyday guy behind the plate or he is a backup in starter’s clothing. 2008 will answer that question. Alejandro De Aza might have seized the starting center field job if not for a serious ankle injury suffered in the season’s first two weeks last year. He remains an intriguing extra piece at the very worst due to his speed and slashing style at the plate. Cody Ross is a decent option in the outfield as well if one of the starters falters. Alfredo Amezaga can handle the middle infield spots in a pinch as well as play the outfield when needed. Jose Castillo can handle second and short if he doesn’t beat out Cantu at third base. He played 145 games at second for the Pirates in 2006.

Marlins 2008 Predictions:

With a payroll again expected to fall in the $15 million range, the lowest in baseball for the second time in three years, 2008 figures to be no more than a second straight last-place finish in the NL East. The Marlins will give the Nationals a run for their money, but in the end their starting pitching has too many question marks for us to put them ahead of the boys in Washington. The Marlins just hope to be competitive by the time they move into a new stadium, which looks to be the 2011 season. A stadium plan needs to first gain official approval from the long-wary South Florida politicians. Florida has worked miracles in the past, but this would be more than a miracle to ask for the Marlins to finish anywhere near .500 in the National League’s toughest division.

Larry Cook finished with the #5 World Ranking with his baseball picks in 2007 last year. Hard work with research, analysis and starting pitcher breakdowns gives Larry the edge over your sportsbook and bookies. You won’t believe the kind of profits you can make by signing up for any of Larry’s long-term packages. By doing so, you will get in on all of his winning MLB action this season. Larry will guide you to profits you have never seen before once he makes his move up to the #1 spot in 2008.

2008 Florida Marlins Odds:

Odds to win NL East: 40/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant: 70/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series: 150/1

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