Florida Marlins 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Florida Marlins 2009 MLB Record: 87-75
Florida Marlins 2009 MLB Home Record: 43-38
Florida Marlins 2009 MLB Away Record: 44-37

Florida Marlins 2010 Betting

Florida Marlins Odds to Win the National League: 16/1

Florida Marlins Odds to Win the World Series: 30/1

Florida Marlins 2010 Preview & Prediction

The rest of the National League has learned by now that you never dismiss the Marlins. Doesn’t matter how low their payroll is. Doesn’t matter how many proven players leave from one year to the next. The Marlins, it seems, always fInd a way to be competitive. Last year’s 87 wins were the third-highest win total in franchise history. Only the championship teams of1997 and 2003 won more. If the 2010 Marlins are to reach the playoffs for only the third time in the club’s existence, it will happen on the backs of one of the league’s best young rotations and a farm system that has produced three of the past seven NL Rookie of the Year award winners. Having superstar shortstop Hanley Ramirez around to anchor the middle of the lineup doesn’t hurt, either.

On paper the Phillies would appear too strong for the Marlins to run down, but all that young pitching and energy should be enough to keep the Marlins in the conversation for second place in the division. No one should ever question the Marlins’ resourcefulness or ability to ignore the doubters and out-strip expectations.

Florida Marlins Manager: Fredi Gonzalez (3 Seasons) Record: 242 – 243

Florida Marlins 2010 Projected Batting Order: LF Chris Coghlan (L), CF Cameron Maybin (R), SS Hanley Ramirez (R), 3B Jorge Cantu (R), RF Cody Ross (R), 1B Gaby Sanchez (R), C John Baker (L), 2B Emilio Bonifacio (S)

Florida Marlins 2010 Projected Rotation: RH Josh Johnson, RH Ricky Nolasco, RH Chris Volstad, LH Sean West, RH Anibal Sanchez

Florida Marlins 2010 Projected Closer: RH Leo Nunez

2010 Florida Marlins Rotation:

No one knows how much longer Josh Johnson will be around before the Marlins make him their latest key piece to be dealt away for money reasons. Bur everyone in South Florida is pretty much sure he’ll be worth the price of admission until the moment he leaves. Only two starters, Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Verlander, averaged greater fastball velocity last year than Johnson’s 95.1 mph. Ricky Nolasco overcame a horrific start to go 11-4 with a 3.82 ERA over his final 22 starts, which followed a brief demotion to the minors. His 16-strikeout game in Atlanta in the season’s fInal week capped a remarkable turnaround. Chris Volstad, so impressive as a rookie, struggled mightily to keep the ball in the park in his follow-up. His ratio of homers per nine innings jumped fivefold as he led the team in homers allowed (29) with six to spare. Big lefty Sean West showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie. The fIfth spot should go to either Anibal Sanchez (and his fragile shoulder) or recurring project Andrew Miller, another huge lefty.

2009-2010 Florida Marlins Bullpen:

Year after year the Marlins find new arms to throw into their bullpen, and most of the time they get away with it. Hard-throwing Matt Lindstrom was shipped to the Astros in the off season after failing to hold down the closer’s job he was handed last spring, but slender right hander Leo Nunez was solid in his stead. Nunez, acquired from the Royals after 2008 for first baseman Mike Jacobs, should get the chance to open the year in the closer’s role, even after blowing seven saves in 33 chances. However, only five of those blown saves came after Nunez took over for Lindstrom just before Memorial Day. Failed starting prospect Dan Meyer is the primary lefty after showing the ability to be more than Just a specialist. Journeyman Brian Sanches enjoyed a breakthrough season thanks to a cutter/slider hybrid that kept hitters off-balance all year. Kids like Tim Wood and Chris Leroux figure to get more chances to stick in the Marlins’ pen, and you can bet there will be more retreads who pass through as well. That’s just the Marlins’ way, and it seems to work.

2010 Florida Marlins Middle Infield:

Ramirez has the big contract ($70 million for six years). He has his batting tide, thanks to a .342 showing last season. Now the franchise shortstop has two more big achievements left to cross off his list – his first trip to the postseason, and his fIrst National League MVP Award. Ramirez keeps threatening on the former count, and last season he became the first Marlin to fInish as high as second in the MVP race. Ramirez doesn’t run as much as he used to (27 steals in 2009, down from 35 in ’08), and his power numbers were down a bit as well, bur he set a career best with 106 RBI’s after showing at long last that he could handle hitting third. He also shaved his error total to 10 after averaging 24 his first three seasons. Middle infield running mate Dan Uggla was widely rumored to be trade bait as he headed back to arbitration corning off another solid power season, bur the Marlins were having trouble getting fair market value for an AlI Star second baseman who has averaged 30 homers his first four seasons. Once Uggla is dealt, switch-hitting speedster Emilio Bonifacio should step into the void. Bonifacio is a slick fielder who didn’t get on base enough to hold down the third base job a year ago.

2010 Florida Marlins Corners:

A painful wrist injury caused Jorge Cantu’s home run totals to dip last season, but he was able to grit it out and maintain his reputation as an underrated run producer. Cantu, who can play first or third, hit .300 with runners in scoring position to post the second 100-RBI season of his career. His versatility also makes him a nice piece for the Marlins considering they have a pair of young first basemen pushing the issue. Gaby Sanchez, who blew a chance at the starting job last spring, will get the first crack at nailing down a job. If he fails, Logan Morrison, the Marlins’ No. 2 overall prospect, could make the jump from Double-A.

2010 Florida Marlins Outfield:

Reigning NL Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan is back in left field. He could still move back to the infield, where he has considerable experience at second and third, but the Marlins are wary of disturbing him after he hit .372 in the second half. Coghlan’s defense is solid enough after months of hard work in that area. Center field will again belong to Cameron Maybin on Opening Day. The highly touted prospect needs to show he has what it takes to hit major league pitching consistently enough to hold onto the job for more than a few weeks at a time. Cody Ross moves back to right field, where his defense is better than advertised and his combined .480 slugging percentage the past two years is more than enough to justify a regular spot until top prospect Mike Stanton is ready. Better still, Ross won’t have former first-rounder Jeremy Hermida around to steal playing time. Hermida was dumped on the Red Sox for a couple of finesse arms after a disappointing Marlins career.

2010 Florida Marlins Catching:

John Baker and Ronny Paulino are back after forming one of the game’s more productive catching platoons. Only two teams in the NL got higher combined on-base/slugging out of their catchers than the Marlins did last season (.760). Game-calling is a strength for Baker and a still-developing area for Paulino, who gets the bulk of the at-bats against lefties. Paulino did throw out an impressive 30.6 percent of the runners who challenged him on the bases while Baker only nabbed 20.2 percent of base thiefs.

2010 Florida Marlins Bench:

Veteran corner infielder Wes Helms is back as a trusted insurance policy and late-game defensive replacement. Fug is traded as expected, that should open a utility job for someone like Hector Luna, the journeyman who was signed out of the Dodgers system as a minor league free agent. Strong-armed Brett Cartoll is the top outfield reserve, but his bat limits his opportunities for a larger role. A fifth outfielder could emerge from the minors, where Scott Cousins and Bryan Petersen bring much to the table, both in the field and at the plate.

Florida Marlins 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Florida Marlins will finish 4th in the NL East Division .

Florida Marlins 5-Year Win Trend

2009: 2nd NL East 87
2008: 3rd NL East 84
2007: 5th NL East 71
2006: 4th NL East 78
2005: T-3rd NL East 83

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