The majority of baseball fans would not recognize most of the names on this season's Marlins roster, but that was also the case last year and look what happened. The one familiar face that will not be in the Florida dugout this season, however, is Girardi's.
Girardi started the season 11-31, but his never-die attitude slowly catapulted the young Fish into the limelight by the time August came around. Despite being named NL Manager of the Year, Girardi butted heads with team owner Jeff Loria on many occasions and was shown the door in early October. It was a shame for Girardi, who did so well handling a roster that included 22 rookies.
Taking over in South Beach will be former Atlanta Braves third base coach Fredi Gonzalez, who served in the same capacity for the Marlins from 1999 through 2001 and interviewed for the manager's job the year Girardi was hired. Gonzalez, the ninth skipper in team history, will now have a chance to deal with a plethora of fresh faces, a shaky outfield, a young bullpen and an unpredictable 2007 season.
Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Florida Marlins, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:
2006 FINISH (78-84) - Fourth Place (NL East)
KEY OFFSEASON ADDITIONS: IF Aaron Boone, RP Kevin Gregg, RP Henry Owens, RP Matt Lindstrom
KEY OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS: IF Wes Helms, RP Joe Borowski, RP Chris Resop, SP Jason Vargas, SP Brian Moehler
PROJECTED LINEUP: Hanley Ramirez (SS), Dan Uggla (2B), Miguel Cabrera (3B), Josh Willingham (LF), Mike Jacobs (1B), Jeremy Hermida (RF), Miguel Olivo (C), Alfredo Amezaga (CF)
PROJECTED ROTATION: Dontrelle Willis (LHP), Josh Johnson (RHP), Scott Olsen (LHP), Anibal Sanchez (RHP), Ricky Nolasco (RHP)
PROJECTED CLOSER: Taylor Tankersley (LHP)
MANAGER: Fredi Gonzalez
INFIELD
Third baseman and MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera is the leader of the Marlins' offense and the infield. Cabrera enters his fifth major-league season and recorded 26 homers, 114 RBI and a .339 batting average in 2006. The 24-year- old slugger has belted 104 homers so far in his career and saw more cash enter his wallet during the offseason. Cabrera, who earned $472,000 in 2006, was awarded a $7.4 million contract by a panel of three arbitrators.
The newly-acquired Aaron Boone will back Cabrera up and see some occasional starts at the hot spot. Boone, who was signed to a one-year contract, hit .251 with seven home runs and 46 RBI in 104 games with the Cleveland Indians last season. In nine career seasons with Cleveland, Cincinnati and the New York Yankees, Boone is a .264 hitter with 115 homers and 499 RBI.
Meanwhile, shortstop and 2006 NL Rookie of the Year Hanley Ramirez will try to put up similar or better numbers in 2007. Ramirez batted .292 with 119 runs, 17 homers, 59 RBI and 51 stolen bases in 158 games. The speedy youngster will again turn two with All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla, who is also entering his second season in the majors. Uggla, also a ROY candidate in 2006, collected 27 homers, 90 RBI, 105 runs and a .282 batting average last year. He, too, will also be relied on to keep up the productive work for the club.
First baseman Mike Jacobs, another ROY candidate, is one of the few left- handed bats Gonzalez has at his disposal. Jacobs has been criticized for his fielding ability, but was strong at the plate last season with a .262 average, 20 homers and 77 runs batted in.
Behind the plate will be Miguel Olivo, who hit .263 in 2006 with 16 homers and 58 RBI and did an excellent job handling the young pitching staff. The 28- year-old also possesses a very strong arm.
OUTFIELD
Left fielder Josh Willingham collected 26 homers, 74 RBI and a .277 batting average last season and will look to improve on those numbers in 2007. Although not known for his ability with the leather, Willingham impressed his peers with a strong rookie campaign.
Highly-touted right fielder Jeremy Hermida was plagued with injuries last year, but is back at full strength and ready to break out this season. Hermida spent a lot of time on the disabled list with a hip flexor and an ankle problem during his rookie campaign. In just 99 games last season, Hermida batted .251 with five homers and 28 RBI.
Alfredo Amezaga will have the duty of roaming center field for the Marlins after hitting .260 with three homers and 19 RBI in 132 games. If Amezaga's production slips, Florida has Reggie Abercrombie, Alex Sanchez, Joe Borchard or Cody Ross available to take over.
STARTING ROTATION
Besides its infield core of Cabrera, Ramirez and Uggla, Florida's other strengths are the five men who make up the starting rotation. The main weapon on the mound is All-Star left-hander Dontrelle Willis, who went 12-12 with a 3.87 earned run average in 34 games last year. The "D-Train" also belted three home runs at the plate, although he does his magic on the hill with his signature high leg kick. Willis, 25, has won at least 10 games in each of his four seasons and is a proven leader on the diamond.
Second in line for the Marlins' rotation was supposed to be righty Josh Johnson, but he is expected to miss at least the season's first two months with an ulnar nerve irritation in his right biceps area. Johnson underwent a series of nerve tests and may not need surgery. He was also shelved for the final three weeks of last season due to a forearm strain and has pitched off the mound only a few times this spring due to discomfort. In 31 games (24 starts) last year, Johnson compiled a 12-7 record with a 3.10 ERA in his first full season in the majors.
Scott Olsen is the other left-hander on the starting staff and went 12-10 with a 4.04 ERA in 31 starts last season. The 23-year-old combines with Willis to give Gonzalez two exciting southpaw hurlers that he can count on.
The biggest surprise of the Marlins' pitching staff last season was the no- hitter youngster Anibal Sanchez tossed against the Arizona Diamondbacks in September. The right-handed Sanchez registered a 10-3 record with a 2.83 earned run average in 18 games (17 starts) and became the 19th rookie hurler to major-league history to toss a no-no.
Completing the five-man rotation will be Ricky Nolasco, who also enjoyed a promising rookie campaign in 2006. The right-hander went 11-11 with a 4.83 earned run average over 35 games (22 starts).
The young staff, anchored by the charismatic Willis, has experience and will keep Florida afloat in the NL East race this season.
BULLPEN
Now that Joe Borowski is with the Cleveland Indians, Florida is still in search of its closer for the 2007 season. Borowski saved a career-high 36 games in 43 opportunities for the Marlins last year, while pitching to a 3.75 ERA in 72 appearances. The veteran allegedly pitched the second half of the season with discomfort in his right shoulder, though.
Gonzalez is expected to name Taylor Tankersley the new closer. Tankersley, a lefty, appeared in 49 games last year and went 2-1 with a 2.85 ERA and three saves. He also blew four chances for a save opportunity. A first-round pick of the 2004 season, Tankersley will likely be joined in the bullpen by Matt Lindstrom, Kevin Gregg, Henry Owens, Carlos Martinez, Logan Kensing and Randy Messenger.
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03-29-2007, 01:56 PM
2007 Florida Marlins 
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