Florida Marlins 2011 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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After winning at least 80 games each of the last three years, the Marlins look to take the next step and make their final season at Sun Life Stadium a memorable one.

Florida Marlins 2010 MLB Record: 80-82
Florida Marlins 2010 MLB Home Record: 41-40
Florida Marlins 2010 MLB Away Record: 39-42

Florida Marlins 2011 Betting

Florida Marlins Odds to Win the National League: +2000
Florida Marlins Odds to Win the World Series: +5000

Florida Marlins 2011 Preview & Prediction

This time firing the manager during the season didn’t lead to a World Series title. Unlike 2003, when Jack McKeon took over for Jeff Torborg in mid-May and led the Marlins to their second championship in seven seasons, the Edwin Rodriguez-for-Fredi Gonzalez swap last June couldn’t inspire more than a distant thirdplace finish in the National League East. The Marlins, who retained Rodriguez on a one-year deal, will get plenty of chances to see Gonzalez again this season now that he’s been hired as Bobby Cox’s successor in Atlanta. They’ll also see Dan Uggla across the way after trading their All-Star second baseman to the Braves when a $23 million contract gap could not be bridged with Uggla closing in on free agency. No matter. The Marlins also seem to find a way to fill in around those who leave. Their commitment to pitching remains, and the hope is that with the subtractions of Uggla and former stone-gloved third baseman Jorge Cantu, the defense will spike back to respectability as well.

Florida Marlins Manager: Edwin Rodriguez – Second year Record: 46-46

Rodriguez took over in midseason and quickly won over Florida’s clubhouse, especially for his handling of moody shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Florida Marlins 2011 Projected Batting Order: CF Chris Coghlan (L), 2B Omar Infante (R), SS Hanley Ramirez (R), RF Mike Stanton (R), LF Logan Morrison (L), 1B Gaby Sanchez (R), C John Buck (R), 3B Matt Dominguez (R).

Florida Marlins 2011 Projected Rotation: RH Josh Johnson, RH Ricky Nolasco, RH Javier Vazquez, RH Anibal Sanchez, RH Chris Volstad.

Florida Marlins 2011 Projected Closer: RH Leo Nunez

2011 Florida Marlins Offense:

This is an exciting young offense with huge upside. SS Hanley Ramirez continues to be one of the best fantasy players alive, and he is much happier with Edwin Rodriguez as his manager than he was with Fredi Gonzalez at the helm. 2B Omar Infante is one of the new faces in town, replacing Dan Uggla. Infante finished third in the NL in hitting last year at .321. C John Buck moves south from Kansas City where he hit .281 with 20 homers last year. With Cameron Maybin gone, Chris Coghlan moves from left to center. Coghlan should be fully healed from knee surgery when spring training begins. 21-year-old RF Mike Stanton cranked out 22 homers in 100 games last year, including eight bombs in September. LF Logan Morrison (23) is another young stud who doesn’t hit for power, but posted a stellar .390 OBP in 2010. 1B Gaby Sanchez got his first dose of regular playing time and responded with 19 homers and 85 RBI. 21-year-old 3B Matt Dominguez hasn’t played above Double-A, but he’s on track to be in the everyday lineup come April.

2011 Florida Marlins Rotation:

Josh Johnson is a true ace, posting a 2.30 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 28 starts last year. He should’ve won much more than 11 games, considering he threw 23 quality starts and struck out 186 batters. Javier Vazquez escaped New York in the offseason and returns to the National League which he dominated in 2008 when he was with Atlanta (15 wins, 2.87 ERA, 1.03 WHIP). At age 34, he still has afew good years left in his arm which has thrown an average of 204 innings per season in his 13-year career. Ricky Nolasco suffered atorn meniscus in August, but his knee should be close to 100 percent when pitchers and catchers report to camp. Nolasco has 342 strikeouts in 342.2 innings over the past two seasons. Anibal Sanchez posted his first 20-start season of his career, winning 13 of his 32 starts. He finished the 2010 campaign with a 3.55 ERA and 157 strikeouts. Chris Volstad will begin 2011 as the NO.5 starter after finishing last year with an 8-1 record in his final 12 starts.

2011 Florida Marlins Bullpen:

The closer battle will be tight race between Clay Hensley and Leo Nunez, but Nunez will likely start the season with ninth-inning duties. Although he has blown 15 saves over the past two seasons and pitched better as aset-up man last year, Nunez did close out the 2010 season with a 1.64 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over his final 12 games. Hensley completed the 2010 campaign going 7-for-7 in save chances and didn’t allow arun in his final 17 appearances. Both pitchers have great strikeout rates with more than one strikeout per inning last season. Burke Badenhop posted a3.07 ERA and .232 Opp. BA after his recall from Triple-A New Orleans last year.

2011 Florida Marlins Middle Infield:

Hanley Ramirez still has four years and $57.5 million left on the six-year contract extension he signed during the 2008 season. For the first time in his career, he will be paid eight figures in a single season ($11 million). It’s time for Ramirez to grow up. Most fans sided with Gonzalez when he benched Ramirez for several games last May due to poor effort on the field. The two patched things up, but it was still Gonzalez who got fired the next month. Edwin Rodriguez, working on a one-year deal, needs better cooperation from his most talented all-around player. Uggla’s 30-homer seasons will be missed. The hope is that Omar Infante, who came from the Braves in that same trade, will build on the slick-fielding, gap-pop résumé he began to build in Atlanta the past few years. While Uggla worked hard to polish his defense during his Marlins years, the defensive improvement should be obvious and just as helpful to the pitching staff.

2011 Florida Marlins Corners:

After two failed attempts to secure a starting job in spring training, Gaby Sanchez knocked the door down last year. With his advanced batting eye and underrated defense, the former Miami Hurricane put down roots at first base and forced the shift of hot prospect Logan Morrison to left field. The hope is 2007 first-rounder Matt Dominguez can do the same on his first try at winning the job at third base. His bat showed signs of a breakthrough last year at Double-A, but the Marlins are hoping he can justify the hype over his glove. Yes, Rodriguez regrettably compared the kid’s defense to Brooks Robinson’s, but scouts have been saying “Mike Lowell” when discussing Dominguez for years. That should be more than good enough.

2011 Florida Marlins Outfield:

The Marlins gave Maybin plenty of time to become their long-term center fielder. Didn’t happen, so Maybin and his vast potential were dealt to the Padres. Former NL Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan, coming off minor knee surgery, will try to make the move over from left to center while holding down the leadoff spot. Potential superstar Mike Stanton hit a combined 43 homers last year between Double-A and the majors. However, he also racked up a combined 176 strikeouts. Morrison, a smooth-swinging product of the same junior college that produced Albert Pujols, hit .342 in 73 at-bats against lefties. His defense needs work after moving from first base.

2011 Florida Marlins Catching:

The Marlins haven’t believed in a catcher as much as they believe in John Buck, at least contractually, since they gave an identical three-year, $18 million deal to Paul Lo Duca after the 2004 season. One year later, Lo Duca was shipped off to the Mets, and it’s been a revolving door behind the plate ever since. Buck is a sturdy defender who can handle a pitching staff, and his experience with Nunez, going back to their Royals days, should come in handy.

2011 Florida Marlins Bench:

Wes Helms, a stabilizing force in the clubhouse, is entering his fifth season with the club in the past six years. He’s a solid option off the bench who started 50 games at third a year ago. Speedster Emilio Bonifacio is growing into the super utility role once held by Alfredo Amezaga. With former starter John Baker recovering from reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow, glove-first farmhands Brett Hayes and Brad Davis will battle for the primary backup catcher role. Baker could make the club as a lefty bat off the bench

Florida Marlins 2011 Season Predictions

The Marlins were bold this winter, signing Javier Vazquez to boost an already strong rotation, trading Dan Uggla to Atlanta for Omar Infante, and revamping their bullpen. The end result is a strong team boasting both young and veteran talent that might win a weaker division but probably can’t leapfrog the Phillies or the Braves in the NL East. – We predict that the Florida Marlins will finish 85-77 & 3rd in the NL East Division.

Florida Marlins 5-Year Win Trend

2006: 4th NL East 78
2007: 5th NL East 71
2008: 3rd NL East 84
2009: 2nd NL East 87
2010: 3rd NL East 80

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