Marlins Homestand Preview

May 24, 2010

The upcoming ten-game homestand for the Florida Marlins may seem like a blessing for the the inconsistent Fish, but just a glance at the opponents reveals otherwise. Beginning tomorrow, the Marlins will face the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers, respectively, in a non-stop homestand. Standing in third behind the Braves and Phillies, the Marlins will seek to elevate their position in the upcoming days.

Here are the current standings:

1. Philadelphia Phillies (26-17)
2. Atlanta Braves (23-21)
3. Florida Marlins (23-22)
4. Washington Nationals (23-22)
5. New York Mets (22-23)

Clearly the N.L. East is much tighter than expected as the top and bottom spots are only separated by four games thus far. The Marlins have an opportunity to either capitalize on positioning or squander their division standing in the next week and a half of baseball. With the Hanley Ramirez dilemma in the past now, the team must bring a collective effort to the next three series if they hope to improve.

Rapid-fire Notes:

• Dan Uggla is entering the homestand hitting six homeruns in the last ten games, coupled with 12 RBIs in the process.

• Look out for Josh Johnson to continue his dominant ways as he has a season ERA of 2.43 with a record of 5-1. He has given up only one run in the last three starts.

• Hanley Ramirez has been sporadic with his hitting as of late, but still has time to return to his batting championship form. Despite the volatile performances, Ramirez has a .299 batting average for the season.

• The month of May has been a roller coaster for Ricky Nolasco as he is 2-2 in four starts with 14 runs allowed in that stretch, eight of which came last start against the Chicago White Sox. Inconsistency may still be present in his next few starts.

• Ronny Paulino has been the Fish's secret weapon against lefty pitchers as he posts a .348 batting average, .375 on base percentage and .543 slugging percentage against left-handers. This can come in handy in the Phillies series when the Marlins face Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels.

News Flashes: May 20, 2010

May 20, 2010

Florida Marlins

• The Marlins cruised to their second straight victory since the Hanley Ramirez incident Monday night. They have scored 13 runs and allowed one run during that stretch. 

• Ramirez officially apologized yesterday before the game versus the St. Louis Cardinals and was penciled in to the starting lineup by manager Fredi Gonzalez as a result.

• The Marlins are coming off two consecutive stellar pitching performances by their starters: John Johnson (7 IP, 7K, 2 H and 1 ER) and Anibal Sanchez (7 IP, 8K, 4H and 0 ER).

• Second baseman Dan Uggla and outfielder Cameron Maybin have now hit back-to-back home runs two games in a row, first off the Arizona D-Backs Tuesday afternoon and last night versus the Cards.

Miami Dolphins

• Wide receiver Brandon Marshall reportedly had hip surgery yesterday as a follow-up procedure to a previous hip surgeries he underwent in 2008 and 2009.

• Marshall is set to miss time until at least the start of training camp, but will not miss any playing time whatsoever as a result of this surgery.

• Other players set to miss some time during offseason activities are Channing Crowder, Jason Ferguson and Patrick Turner. Ronnie Brown is still recovering from last season's leg surgery, but is still participating in team activities.

Fish Bring Out Brooms Versus Mets

May 17, 2010

 Coming into the second week of May the Florida Marlins found themselves in fourth place in the National League East division. After a four-game series versus the New York Mets, the Fish emerged as the second seed behind the Philadelphia Phillies. In impressive fashion, the Marlins dominated the Mets in all four games at Sun Life Stadium, leap-frogging Florida two spots up.

The Marlins still find themselves four games behind the Phillies, but are within striking distance of the division and the Wild Card. The sweep could very well be the beginning of a nice run heading into June and a significant boost of confidence for the rest of the season. The Mets have a history of faltering to the Marlins, particularly when playoff implications are on the line. This may be too early to lay a knock out punch on any team, but the sweep definitely will damage New York's morale.

The Marlins now stay home for a two-game series versus the Arizona Diamondback before heading out to St. Louis to face the Cardinals.

Mets-Marlins Rapid-fire Recap

• The series was defined by both great pitching and prolific offense. Games one and two were dominated by Florida's stellar pitching as they allowed three runs combined in the two games. Games three and four displayed a little less pitching stability, but a clear explosion of offense as the Fish scored 17 runs combined in both games.

• First baseman Gaby Sanchez had at least two hits in each of the four games, including a perfect 3-for-3 night during the series opener.

• Second baseman Dan Uggla and outfielder Chris Coghlan both hammered in two home runs during the series and were key contributors to Florida's offense throughout the series.

• Marlins Ace Josh Johnson proved his worth during the series opener as he struck out seven batters, gave up three hits and allowed one earned run during seven innings of work. Anibal Sanchez followed in his footsteps with a similar performance the following night (seven innings pitched, seven strikeouts, four hits and two earned runs).

• The Marlins hold a record of 20-18 after 38 games played in the season.

Notes from Game 35

May 14, 2010

Heading into the four-game series between the Florida Marlins and New York Mets, everyone knew the first game would be one worth watching as aces Josh Johnson and Johan Santana stepped onto the mound. With the Mets in third and Marlins in fourth, the series clearly holds implications on the N.L. East division. Expectations of a stellar pitching duel were met with solid performances by each starter. Here were our game notes directly from the ballpark Thursday night:

• Chris Coghlan set the tone for a great defensive game on both sides with a diving catch to take out the first Mets batter of the game. Both teams made impressive fielding plays throughout the night, which contributed to the low scoring night. 

• Josh Johnson got ahead of the opening lineup early with first pitch strikes to the first two batters, but fell behind 3-0 to the third batter before getting a ground out.

• Jason Bay got the first hit against Johnson, one of only three on the night. Cody Ross got the first hit against Santana, one of six on the night. Both hits came in the second inning.

• Johnson ended the night with seven strikeouts, three hits, one earned run and no walks in seven innings of work. Santana finished his day with five strikeouts, six hits, one earned run and one walk. The aces definitely performed up to par.

• Johnson may have not left with a victory, but outperformed Santana with six hit-less innings in his seven innings pitched. 

• Gaby Sanchez went 3-for-3 on the night, but was replaced in the eighth inning on a double switch after Wes Helms came up to pinch hit in the seventh. Jorge Cantu moved over to first base, but was 0-for-3 on the night. Interesting decision by manager Freddi Gonzalez. 

• Dan Uggla did not start, but came up to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning as Leo Nunez' pinch hitter. Just his mere presence resulted in a first pitch wild throw that led to Cody Ross scoring the winning run. Amazing sequence of events for a player that could have been napping like Ken Griffey Jr. in the dugout the entire game.

Work to be Done

The Marlins may have won the first game of the four-game set, but are not in the clear just yet. They have not done too well this season when winning the first game of a series. However, the nature of last night's victory (i.e., the dramatic finish) could boost Florida's confidence and suppress New York's morale.The probable starters for the remainder of the series are as follows:

• Friday, May 14: Oliver Perez, LHP (0-2, 4.50) vs. Anibal Sanchez, RHP (1-2, 4.08)
• Saturday, May 15: John Maine, RHP (1-2, 5.45) vs. Nate Robertson, LHP (3-3, 4.54)
• Sunday, May 16: Jon Niese, LHP (1-1, 4.58) vs. Ricky Nolasco, RHP (3-2, 3.66)

* * *

More notes from Marlins home games will be taken as we head to the ball park throughout the season and take note of the intricate details of each game. Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage of the Marlins.

One, Three, Five: Heat's Magic Combination?

May 12, 2010

The odd numbers - one, three and five - hold a special meaning among three notable Miami Heat players. One being Dorell Wright, three being Dwyane Wade and five being Quentin Richardson. You may ask yourself, how do these three individuals relate? Well, beyond their on-the-court collaboration, these three hold a close bond off the court.

Wade and Richardson are godparents of Wright's adolescent child, which hints at the trust this triad holds within one another. Whether it's their special pre-game rituals between each other or their hang outs beyond the court, this trio can be spotted together just about anywhere. Now you may ask, what does this have to do with the Heat's success or their progress moving forward? The answer lies in Wade and satisfying his desire to stay in Miami.

This union of sorts between three "brothers from another mother" could aid the Heat front office in securing Wade beyond 2010 if they keep it intact. Of course, much more talent beyond Richardson and Wright would be required to accomplish this goal, but it could definitely be an additional incentive. We know that the Heat will do everything in their power to keep Wade around, and have attempted to satisfy him towards that end. But will they consider bringing back two of his closest comrades next season?

Their decent production in 2009 should be a sufficient reason to do so, especially if Miami can retain them on low-to-mid salary contracts. Richardson averaged almost nine points and five rebounds for the season, reaching double-digit points in 26 games this past season. His shooting percentage increased over last season's from 39% to 43%, and three-point field goal percentage from 36% to 39%. He may not have been as consistent as Miami would have preferred, but as an exchange for Mark Blount the Heat made something out of nothing. Wright had one of his best seasons of his career statistically as he posted seven points and three rebounds on average coming off the bench. His three-point production increased dramatically, shooting 38% from beyond the arc and landing 61 total three balls in '09.

It's clear that these two players may not be Miami's answer to title contention, but they could fill in the need for viable and affordable role players in what's set to be a contract heavy roster. At least we now know that Richardson and Wright would be a unifying element in the revamped Heat roster. And cohesion is essential to championship success.

Premature Departure for Beasley?

May 10, 2010

Ever since the past season's trade deadline, rumors of the Miami Heat shopping PF Michael Beasley have amped up and gained steam. With a slight increase in playing time and minimal improvement in statistical categories, it seems that the Heat front office is becoming impatient with the 2008 2nd overall draft pick. But is the team showing irrational impatience with their young power forward?

After all, going into the '08 NBA Draft the Heat knew that Beasley would come with maturity issues and a need for development. However, they are ready to ship him off after two seasons of slightly above average performance without giving him further time to develop. That is where the intriguing question comes in: Why didn't they treat Dorell Wright the same way?

In six seasons as a member of the Heat - ever since being drafted by Miami in 2004 as the 19th overall pick - Wright has a career average of 6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists. His best season came in 2007-08, when he recorded 7.9 points and 5 rebounds a game. Yet the Heat found it necessary and worthwhile to keep Wright on board for a half dozen seasons because of his potential talent and athleticism.

Why can't the same hopes and patience be placed on the Kansas State phenom?

Beasley has contributed 14.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in his first two NBA seasons, which is better than the average forward in the league. It's a given that higher expectations come with higher draft picks and Beasley has not lived up to those expectations to this day, but the 21 year old has just begun to mature. Miami understood that Wright would need time to grow both personally and professionally as a recent high school graduate, yet the same understanding is not being given to a college freshman.

Recent rumors place the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Jersey Nets as likely suitors for Beasley is Miami decides to dump him off in search of more cap space for another potential maximum contract offer. The Heat would lose their '08 first-rounder for virtually nothing in hopes that a better option arises in a 2010 offseason cluttered with budget-free teams. Worse case scenario, Miami would need to settle for a forward with similar, if not lesser, production than Beasley currently offers. Best case scenario, they land a bonafide three- and four-spot player to upgrade the roster. But the latter will be much more difficult with a limited combo-forward market.

Pat Riley must weigh his options and consider both the short-term and long-term repercussions of dropping or keeping Beasley. Before he allows maturity to dictate his decision, Riley should consider Beasley's recent trip to Kansas State in his search to find the "beast within." Perhaps Beasley's growth is coming sooner than expected and significant improvement is underway. On the other hand, if Riley can secure a proven and relatively young athlete (e.g., Amare Stoudemire) at the expense of Beasley, then his decision would clearly be justified.

The primary point here is that the situation must be thoroughly evaluated before any move is made prematurely. The last thing Miami needs is too lose a rising star for a big name past his prime.

Marlins Swept, Look to Bounce Back

May 7, 2010

The surging San Francisco Giants came to Miami and handed the Florida Marlins their first sweep of the season, putting them four games behind the division lead. Fate was not on their side when the Marlins survived Tim Lincecum pitching onslaught yet still lost the first game of the series in extra innings. The Marlins now find themselves with a record of 13-15 heading into a six-game road trip versus the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs.

The Fish allowed a total of 18 runs in the three-game series versus the Giants and struggled with consistent pitching from both the starting rotation and bullpen. Anibal Sanchez posted a solid outing on Tuesday as he only gave up two earned runs and five hits in six innings. However, relievers Chris Leroux and Burk Badenhop allowed two and three earned runs, respectively, in their outings during the series-opener. Game two displayed better pitching performances by the Marlins, but a lack of offensive production against Gaints' starter Barry Zito, who became 5-0 after Wednesday's game. Lastly, Thursday's game was similar to the opener as starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco allowed three earned runs, but was followed by another poor Leroux performance (2 ER).

In essence, the Giants dominated the Marlins in frustrating fashion for Fish fans. At this point of the season, San Francisco is the better team and proved that with a convincing sweep. The Giants have now won seven of their last 10 games, while the Marlins are 3-7 in that stretch.

But the Marlins can immediately bounce back in the standings with a series win, or sweep, of the Nationals starting tonight. Florida is two games behind Washington in the N.L. East and could retake the third spot in the division by the end of the series. Chris Volstad, Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez are set as the probable starters for the series, all of which have had decent performances in recent starts. On the contrary, the Nationals will counter with a lackluster group of starters in Craig Stammen, John Lannan and a third pitcher to be determined later. Stammen and Lannan currently hold ERAs above six, while Volstad holds the highest ERA of the Marlins triad with 4.45.

The Marlins have not necessarily gone on a formidable win streak this season, but will quickly refocus their attention to bouncing back before the division leads becomes out of reach. Expect stellar starts by the Marlins starters and an improved bullpen in the nation's capital. The bats will likely show up against a mediocre Nationals pitching staff. Last series between the Marlins and Nationals, Florida drove in 17 runs in three games. It's Washington's bats that the Marlins will need to worry about, as third baseman Ryan Zimmerman blasted two homers in the opening game of the last series.

Mile High Miami

May 3, 2010

A few pieces of Denver, Colorado, have made it to Miami, Florida, and we are not talking about souvenirs from the local tourist shop. We are talking about the acquisitions of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Denver Broncos. These changes have metaphorically changed the landscape of Miami to that of the Mile High city, potentially elevating the Miami Dolphins to the level of contention.

In essence, the Dolphins have taken two of the Broncos' fortes and added them on their team in what clearly is a dramatic improvement on paper.Coach Nolan has a solid track record as a defensive coordinator in the NFL, while Marshall has emerged as one of the NFL's elite receivers.

Nolan began his career at the collegiate level in 1981, coaching linebackers on Stanford University's football team. In 1987 he made the transition to the NFL, becoming the Broncos' defensive coordinator. He went on to have stints with five other NFL teams before landing back in Denver last season. In his relatively recent tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, Nolan coached his team's defense to top defensive rankings in three of his four seasons in Baltimore. Beyond that, when he returned to Denver, Nolan was able to help a much-maligned defense finish the season as the seventh ranked defense in the league.

Nolan's experience is just what Miami needs after a dismal 2009 season on defense. With the defense-heavy draft selections the Dolphins recently made (seven of their eight picks addressed defense), it's clear Miami is taking strides to provide their new defensive coordinator with the proper tools to succeed. Just like in Denver, Nolan should be able to make due with the pieces he is given as no challenge seems to steep for the seasoned veteran.

In his four NFL seasons, Marshall has accumulated 4,019 receiving yards with three consecutive 1,000+ yards seasons. At his rate of production, he will probably gain enough career yards in his first season with Miami to surpass the height of the Rocky Mountains' highest peak (Mount Elbert - 4,814 yards). And this young man, 26, has plenty in his tank to produce at a high level for seasons to come.

Miami was 20th in passing yards last season and averaged just under 200 passing yards per game. Furthermore, no single receiver on the Dolphins roster secured more than three reception TDs during the '09 season. Marshall himself had just five less reception TDs (10) than the Dolphins completed all last season (15). His addition brings a consistent 100-reception, 1,000-yard weapon to the receiving core with the additional threat of big play after the catch. If Marshall continues on his current path, barring any injuries, he will improve Miami's offense instantly and dramatically.

Thus, Miami is left with two wonderful Mile High gifts without the Holiday season anywhere in sight.