Welcome to jockr’s 2009 Team Sales Report, where we will offer fans consultative outreach and analysis of the comprehensive, results-based solutions they can expect from each franchise this upcoming quarter. Today’s entry focuses on the Florida Marlins.
Florida Marlins
2008 year-end market position: 84-77 3rd place, NL East
New Hires: RHP Scott Proctor (free agent from Dodgers), RHP Leo Nunez (trade with Royals), LHP Dan Meyer (claimed off waivers from A’s), RHP Jose Ceda (trade with Cubs), INF Emilio Bonifacio (trade from Nationals), LHP Zack Kroenke (Rule 5 selection from Yankees)
Layoffs: 1B Mike Jacobs (traded to Royals), LHP Scott Olsen (traded to Nationals), LF Josh Willingham (traded to Nationals), RHP Kevin Gregg (traded to Cubs), RHP Joe Nelson (non-tendered, signed with Rays), OF Luis Gonzalez (free agent, unsigned), LHP Arthur Rhodes (free agent, signed with Reds), C Matt Treanor (released, signed with Tigers), LHP Mark Hendrickson (free agent, signed with Orioles), RHP Doug Waechter (free agent, signed with Royals)
Best Practices: The Marlins were surprisingly good last year. How many of you knew they finished with a better record than the Dodgers? Anyone? They always have a team chock full of guys that the asshole in your fantasy league drafts a round or two early and brags about how smart he is. That’s worked well for him if he picked SS Hanley Ramirez, who is arguably the best fantasy player in the game, but sometimes, like in the case of LF Jeremy Hermida, the production hasn’t quite lived up to the hype yet. This year’s hot fantasy pick will likely be CF Cameron Maybin, who came over a year ago from Detroit in the Miguel Cabrera-Dontrelle Willis trade. Maybin is an exciting talent, for sure, but he wasn’t as spectacular in his first year in the Marlins’ system. He posted a decent line for a centerfielder at .277/.375/.456, but he was still in Double-A and struck out a preposterous 124 times in 390 at bats. He’s supposedly going to be the Marlins’ leadoff hitter so they can drop Ramirez down to a place in the order where he can drive in runs, but how can you justify having a guy that strikes out one out of every three at bats? That’s Corey Patterson style, folks! But the strength of the Marlins lies in their talented lineup. Ramirez, Maybin, Hermida, 2B Dan Uggla, and even rejuvenated 3B Jorge Cantu should more than make up for the offseason trades of Josh Willingham and the not good Mike Jacobs.
Pain Points: I’m not sold on the starting rotation. Supposedly all five guys–RHP Ricky Nolasco, RHP Josh Johnson, RHP Chris Volstad, RHP Anibal Sanchez, and LHP Andrew Miller–are all healthy, but I’ll believe it when I see it. I like Volstad a lot and think he’ll be a pretty solid bet after a promising rookie campaign, but Johnson hasn’t been healthy since 2006. He did have 14 solid starts a year ago, so here’s hoping he bounces back from getting all that Tommy John sauce slathered up in his elbow. Nolasco actually was very good last year, netting 15 wins and 212 innings pitched, but unlike the Brandon Webbs of the world, I’m worried that the increased workload might cause Nolasco to break down this year. Miller was a disaster last year and has a long way to go in proving why he was so highly touted coming out of UNC a few years back. Sanchez has missed most of the last two years with injuries and ineffectiveness and is in danger of joining Bud Smith and Jose Jimenez as one of the worst players I can remember that has thrown a no-hitter. The bullpen is also no good. Matt Lindstrom is supposed to be the closer, but he had to leave the WBC with an apparent arm injury after giving up a homer to a guy from the Netherlands team and then throwing behind the next guy on purpose. Newcomers Scott Proctor and Leo Nunez aren’t terrible, I guess, but with a starting staff so injury prone, the bullpen is going to need to carry this team.
Key Thought Leader: MGR Fredi Gonzalez. Don’t know much about this guy, but he must be pretty good if he got this team to be that competitive a year ago. I’m also on board with how he spells his name. With so much rosterbation year after year, Gonzalez is really going to have to work to keep this team focused. I think he can do it, but as I said earlier, I don’t really know anything about him.
Enterprise Outlook: I think last year might have been as good as it gets for the Marlins. That being said, with Cole Hamels having elbow issues and the Mets always trying to screw things up, there might be another window for the Marlins this year. I just don’t think the rotation holds up well enough. That, and Maybin’s going to have some serious growing pains in his rookie year. 3rd place, NL East
Tomorrow’s Target: St. Louis Cardinals
jockr 
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