Post by Strategist on Jan 14, 2020 5:50:19 GMT
2018 Review:
Record: 67-95 4th in NL East. R/G Scored: 13th (NL) R/G Against: 14th (NL)
Starting the Offseason:
Lineup: This team wasn't nearly as bad as it record shows in 2018. 2B Javier Baez, CF Max Kepler, and RF David Dahl were all stashed to conserve service time. Also rookies C Chance Sisco, 3B Miguel Andujar, and LF Kyle Tucker were all going to be able to make an impact. Add that to MVP candidate SS Francisco Lindor and solid if unspectacular 1B CJ Cron and they had the making of a very good lineup. Definitely good enough to be able to compete.
Rotation: Didn't have quite the same talent in the rotation. Relying on the Average Johnny Cueto to lead the staff of youngsters in Julio Urias, Blaine Hardy, and Sean Newcomb. With Steven Wright to fill the 5th spot. If you would have asked me before the season I would have said that this starting staff was going to have problems preventing runs.
Bullpen: The bullpen was pretty good. Blake Treinen and Jordan Hicks anchored the back end. Combined that with several average to above average pitchers and you got a solid bullpen.
Season:
The season got off to a slow start going 14-15 thru April. After that though the Marlins didn't have another month with a losing record while putting up an 18-9 record in May and a 19-9 record in August. They didn't make any moves during the season probably because their perceived weakness starting pitching was pitching pretty darn amazing. The battled PHI and NYM all season long to be up 3 games going into the final series of the year with PHI only to lose all 3! But they were able to bounce back and win the 1 game playoff to determine the division winner. They moved on to face the Padres in pretty good series that saw it end in an epic 13 inning game 5 that SD scored 8 in the bottom of the inning to come back to win down 5 runs. In Pat's first year I am sure that he is pretty excited about the future of the Marlins.
Conclusion:
Lineup: 6th (NL) in runs scored. Lindor had an MVP type season. 5 players hit 25+ HRs. 6 players worth 3.1+ WAR. Just a really good lineup up and down with a superstar in the middle.
Rotation: 6th (NL) in starters' ERA. This maybe be the most surprising team stat of everyone team that I have looked at so far. Hardy somehow went 18-3 with a 2.58 ERA. Urias went 17-4 with a 3.08 ERA and 204 Ks. Its almost like Steven Wright sucked up all of their bad luck going 1-12 with a 5.61 ERA in 16 GS. Then got replaced by Rogelio Armenteros who when 7-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 16 GS. Overall great season by the rotation considering its members.
Bullpen: 1st (NL) in bullpen ERA. Completely dominant. Blake Treinen emodied that dominance going 5-3 46 SV .83 ERA and 103 Ks in 66 GP and 65 IP. Of the top 8 reliever only 1 had an ERA above 3.00.
Future:
Salary Cap: 50-60 Mil should be available. No major FAs. Should be able to go out and augment his team quite easily.
Needs: With pretty much everyone back 1B and Catcher could probably use an upgrade but they do have Keibert Ruiz, Andrew Knizner, and Tyler Stephenson are all highly touted catching prospects that are all very close to the show. Not to mention Sisco still has decent upside. I would just look for a short term catching upgrade maybe on a 1 or 2 year contract. And while I know the rotation performed well I don't think you want to count on Hardy winning 18 games again. Some depth and really an ace would help as well. The lineup and bullpen are there if they can just upgrade the rotation I don't see any reason they wouldn't be right there battling for the division again.
Trades Overview: None
FA Overview: None
Record: 67-95 4th in NL East. R/G Scored: 13th (NL) R/G Against: 14th (NL)
Starting the Offseason:
Lineup: This team wasn't nearly as bad as it record shows in 2018. 2B Javier Baez, CF Max Kepler, and RF David Dahl were all stashed to conserve service time. Also rookies C Chance Sisco, 3B Miguel Andujar, and LF Kyle Tucker were all going to be able to make an impact. Add that to MVP candidate SS Francisco Lindor and solid if unspectacular 1B CJ Cron and they had the making of a very good lineup. Definitely good enough to be able to compete.
Rotation: Didn't have quite the same talent in the rotation. Relying on the Average Johnny Cueto to lead the staff of youngsters in Julio Urias, Blaine Hardy, and Sean Newcomb. With Steven Wright to fill the 5th spot. If you would have asked me before the season I would have said that this starting staff was going to have problems preventing runs.
Bullpen: The bullpen was pretty good. Blake Treinen and Jordan Hicks anchored the back end. Combined that with several average to above average pitchers and you got a solid bullpen.
Season:
The season got off to a slow start going 14-15 thru April. After that though the Marlins didn't have another month with a losing record while putting up an 18-9 record in May and a 19-9 record in August. They didn't make any moves during the season probably because their perceived weakness starting pitching was pitching pretty darn amazing. The battled PHI and NYM all season long to be up 3 games going into the final series of the year with PHI only to lose all 3! But they were able to bounce back and win the 1 game playoff to determine the division winner. They moved on to face the Padres in pretty good series that saw it end in an epic 13 inning game 5 that SD scored 8 in the bottom of the inning to come back to win down 5 runs. In Pat's first year I am sure that he is pretty excited about the future of the Marlins.
Conclusion:
Lineup: 6th (NL) in runs scored. Lindor had an MVP type season. 5 players hit 25+ HRs. 6 players worth 3.1+ WAR. Just a really good lineup up and down with a superstar in the middle.
Rotation: 6th (NL) in starters' ERA. This maybe be the most surprising team stat of everyone team that I have looked at so far. Hardy somehow went 18-3 with a 2.58 ERA. Urias went 17-4 with a 3.08 ERA and 204 Ks. Its almost like Steven Wright sucked up all of their bad luck going 1-12 with a 5.61 ERA in 16 GS. Then got replaced by Rogelio Armenteros who when 7-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 16 GS. Overall great season by the rotation considering its members.
Bullpen: 1st (NL) in bullpen ERA. Completely dominant. Blake Treinen emodied that dominance going 5-3 46 SV .83 ERA and 103 Ks in 66 GP and 65 IP. Of the top 8 reliever only 1 had an ERA above 3.00.
Future:
Salary Cap: 50-60 Mil should be available. No major FAs. Should be able to go out and augment his team quite easily.
Needs: With pretty much everyone back 1B and Catcher could probably use an upgrade but they do have Keibert Ruiz, Andrew Knizner, and Tyler Stephenson are all highly touted catching prospects that are all very close to the show. Not to mention Sisco still has decent upside. I would just look for a short term catching upgrade maybe on a 1 or 2 year contract. And while I know the rotation performed well I don't think you want to count on Hardy winning 18 games again. Some depth and really an ace would help as well. The lineup and bullpen are there if they can just upgrade the rotation I don't see any reason they wouldn't be right there battling for the division again.
Trades Overview: None
FA Overview: None