The Miami Marlins: Miami, Money, and More Talent

By: Jack McMullen (mcmullenjack@yahoo.com)

Money hasnt seemed to be much of an issue the past couple years for the Miami
Marlins. First comes the brand-spanking-new stadium in downtown Miami, with that
thing in left center field (I guess having a link to the culinary experience at Marlins
Park on the team website is somewhat acceptable, but moving light-up dolphins on a
decorated machine is pushing it). Next comes the new wave of superstars led by Jose
Fernandez, Christian Yelich, and the already established Giancarlo Stanton. But, leaving
it to the Marlins, they found a way of finishing 62-100 and 34.0 games back of division
winner Atlanta by the end of 2013. In 2014, however, they did show hints of what they
could be, as they were among the top three in the NL East until just about the All-Star
Break. With Yelich gaining experience, Fernandez coming back from Tommy John
surgery, and Stanton inking the biggest deal in baseball history, the Marlins had the tools
to build. But hold the phone. You thought Jeffrey Loria is going to let this Marlins team
not make headlines all throughout the chilly months? Wrong. First comes Dee Gordon
and Dan Haren from LA. Then Mat Latos from Cincinnati. Michael Morse follows on a
two-year deal six days later. Then the almighty Ichiro rolls into South Beach as of
January 27th, with Martin Prado soon to follow. Needless to say, the Marlins made a
splash this offseason. The baseball world has been properly introduced to Stanton already,
but going into Spring Training, here is what you need to know about the young guns and
the newcomers.
Jose Fernandez
The man is good. Very good. Hes got velocity that people dream of obtaining,
pinpoint accuracy, command of all of his pitches, and the emotion needed to win. The
best part about him? Hes 22 years old.

His fastball and curveball release point were almost identical in his 2013
campaign, with his changeup at a slightly lower angle (but not low enough for hitters to
pick it up immediately). He stayed rather consistent with his fastball and curveball release
points, only playing a touch-and-feel game with the changeup. All of his pitches pound
the glove at high velocity, with his fastball sitting 93-97, changeup 83-87, and curveball
at 80-82.
He wont be back in the starting rotation until mid-June to early-July, but hes
already put himself in the Kershaw-Scherzer-Sale debate with only 36 career starts,
posting a 2.25 ERA with a 10.3 K/9 ratio and a 5.9 H/9.
Christian Yelich
An athletic guy that moved quickly through the farm system, playing half of the
2013 season (at 21 years of age) with the Marlins and all of last year in Miami. Hes built
to run at 64 195 lbs, and hasnt showed any issue with durability quite yet. Racked up
165 hits in 144 games in 2014, but struck out way too much, King up 137 times

compared to his 70 walks.

His kryptonite is without a doubt the corners and below the strike zone, just like
the majority of hitters. Its a matter of building an eye to lay off those low pitches, but if
he wants to cut down the strikeouts and reach the high ceiling that has been set for him,
he must spend spring training and the early part of the year working that ball low and
away to left field, as he sees that pitch 10% of the time. If he can start hitting that pitch
and continue to rip balls thrown belt-high, he can turn his every-day abilities into that of
All-Star potential.
Dee Gordon
Speedy Dee Gordon took Major League Baseball by storm in 2014, making his
first All-Star team and being a large factor in the regular season success of the LA
Dodgers. After leading baseball in stolen bases (64) and triples (12) this past season,
Gordon was shipped out to Miami with Dan Haren for top prospect Andrew Heaney and
prospects.

Gordon was a hitting machine in 2014, and the best thing about him is the
improvements he made from 2013. As seen by the spraychart, he had a tremendous
ability to hit the ball to every square inch of the field with a threat to reach base.
According to FanGraphs, Gordons ground ball/fly ball ratio catapulted to a 3.13 in 2014,
compared to a 1.63 showing the year prior. His infield hit percentage also climbed 1.6%
between years, and his bunt for hit percentage saw an astonishing 15.3% increase as well.
With all those numbers on an upward trend, and with speed like Gordons, he will create
havoc for any opposing defense, whether it be on the base paths or coming out of the
batters box.
Dan Haren
Haren, the other piece of the Gordon swap, is a quiet yet stellar part of their
offseason. Haren brings veteran leadership to a relatively inexperienced rotation and
roster as a whole, being 34 compared to a roster with the average being 27 years of age.
Hes a three time All-Star who knows what it takes to be one of the best in the game,

which will help the likes of Fernandez, Alvarez, Nicolino, et al. Good pickup for the
Marlins, and he will be contributing in the back end of the rotation when healthy.
Mat Latos
The 27 year old has been pretty solid his six years in the league, owning a 3.34
ERA. He stepped up his game in 2012 and 2013 with Cincinnati, starting over 30 games
in both years and putting up 14-win seasons in each of them. He was hurt for the majority
of last year, however, so it will be intriguing to see how he does in his first full year back.

He throws at slightly above average velocity for all five of his pitches, but the
thing that separates him from most pitchers is tat he has five pitches. His fastball and
cutter complement each other nicely, and his slider and power-esque curve work well
together as well. He has respectable command of all five, so he really just needs to take
care of his body and he can be a two or three man for the Marlins this year.
Michael Morse
Is it just me, or is Michael Morse better than people give him credit for? Aside
from the fact that he is unbelievably strong, he also can maneuver both the outfield and

first base with ease. His home run numbers are pretty solid, his average is respectable,
and he has substantial gap and RBI power.

Morse puts most of his ground balls on his pull side, but most of his balls to the
outfield are opposite field or to center. Hes probably rolling over a little too much, so if
he can elevate some of those inside pitches and take them to left as liners, he can excel
even that much more. Hes got great power to the center third, as he loves left-center field
when going deep and right-center for doubles. Hes got the strength, so if he can fine-tune
his ability to take pitches where theyre thrown, he can be a solid starting first baseman
with championship experience for this young Marlins team.
Ichiro Suzuki
I have a personal bias, because Ichiro is undoubtedly one of my favorite players in
baseball history. Yes, hes 41 years old. Yes, he wont start on a consistent basis. But, he
will give this team everything he has to offer. His career is without a doubt coming to an
end, and as saddening is it is, this Marlins jersey could be the last uniform the future Hall
of Famer ever puts on. Loria understands that. Let the man play when he wants, because

he has done baseball a service of being the purest of the pure in an era tainted by Human
Growth Hormone. Hell back up the likes of Yelich, Ozuna, and Stanton, but he will get
some chances to show us that he still is the same Ichiro that the world fell in love with in
2001. He still had the durability to play 143 games in 2014, so dont be surprised to see
him out there more often than expected.
Martin Prado
Mr. Utility strikes again. I think this man could play seven positions in seven
games if he really wanted to. He will serve anywhere needed, because he can (and he
doesnt have too shabby of a bat either). The 31 year old posted a .321 OBP last year with
12 HRs and 58 RBIs between Arizona and New York.

Prado struggles inside more than anything, so he should probably bring a couple
more bats than usual and spend this Spring Training taking those inside pitches down the
left field line. Other than that, he seems like a pretty solid acquisition for Miami. Expect
him to start at third to start the year and fill the gaps when needed.
The Other Young Guy: Justin Nicolino

Nicolino isnt a household name quite yet, but he will be a solid contributor in
Miami for a while. The twenty-three year old has already spent four years in Toronto and
Miamis farm systems, appearing in ninety-eight career games and posting a 2.64 ERA
with a 1.103 WHIP and 4.38 K/BB ratio. Standing at 63 and with a lean build, he has
the ability to throw a tailing fastball in the low 90s with above average command.
MLB.com praises him for his intelligence and poise on the mound. Considering
baseball is almost entirely mental, he already has a step up. He will be in the bigs by the
middle-end of this year, and he will be a steady asset for the Marlins.
The Even YOUNGER Guy: Tyler Kolek
I love this guy. Probably because hes 65, 260lbs, and throws 100+mph at the
age of nineteen. They grow them big down in Texas, and Kolek epitomizes that notion.
He throws a slightly below average curveball, a slightly above average slider, and no
changeup, considering you dont need to be finessing hitters when youre throwing 103 in
high school. He struggled in the Gulf League off the bat, going 0-3 with a 1.59 WHIP, but
just remember, hes still a nineteen year old kid. If he wants to be successful at the big
league level, he will need to perfect that slider and get a changeup into the mix, or maybe
add another fastball to the repertoire, along with bettering his command on every pitch.
Hes probably too durable to be a closer, so with a couple years in the minors under his
belt, expect him to hop into the starting rotation with a handful of other top prospects and
emerging stars. MLB.com has his ETA being in 2018, so dont get TOO excited just yet.