2012 Miami Marlins Predictions
After three straight seasons with at least 80 wins, the Marlins dipped to 72-90 and last place in the National League East. With a new ball park, new logo and new manager (Ozzie Guillen), they are hoping to put a new and improved team on the field in 2012.
Projected Pitching
Starting rotation: Josh Johnson (R) – Johnson is a legit ace when healthy but has only logged one 200-inning season in his career. He made just nine starts in 2011 before going on the shelf with shoulder issues. The Fish are hoping he can be at least as good and as durable as he was in 2010 when he went 11-6 with a 2.30 ERA and logged 183.2 innings.
Mark Buehrle (L) – Buehrle has been consistently good for over a decade. He’s won at least 10 games and logged at least 200 innings each of the past 11 seasons.
Ricky Nolasco (R) – He was a respectable 10-12 with a 4.67 ERA in 33 starts in 2011 but gave up an NL-high 244 hits.
Anibal Sanchez (R) – He went 8-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 32 starts last season and finished third in the majors with 9.26 strikeouts per nine innings.
Carlos Zambrano (R) – The Marlins have taken a gamble on the hot-hotted former Chicago Cub, who has won 11 games or more seven of the past nine seasons.
Closer: Heath Bell (R) – The Marlins are counting on bell to shut the door in the ninth. He saved 132 games for the Padres the past three years.
Projected Lineup
John Buck (Catcher) – Buck started 129 games behind home plate in 2011 and finished fourth among NL catchers with 16 homers. Still, he has plenty of room for improvement as he batted just .227.
Gaby Sanchez (First Base) – Sanchez made the All-Star team last season and finished with a .266 average, 19 home runs and 78 RBIs.
Omar Infante (Second Base) – Infante batted .276 with 24 doubles, eight triples, seven home runs and 49 RBIs. His offense is a plus as he’s one of the smoothest operators in baseball at two-bag.
Hanley Ramirez (Third Base) – The three-time All-Star will slide over to third with Jose Reyes in town. Ramirez will be looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued season in which he batted .243 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs in 92 games.
Jose Reyes (Shortstop) – Reyes, a four-time All-Star, is a triples machine. He batted .337 with 16 triples last season. He’s also an upgrade defensively.
Logan Morrison (Left Field) – The 24-year-old has a lot of potential. He showed some nice pop at the plate with 23 home runs and 72 RBIs last year.
Emilio Bonifacio (Center Field) – Bonifacio, who has unreal speed, batted .296 and led the league with 45 infield hits.
Mike Stanton (Right Field) – Stanton, who finished fifth in the NL with 34 round trippers in 2011, will man right field and hit cleanup.
Prediction – 3rd Place NL East: The Marlins have enough talent to finish second in the East and challenge for the NL wild card, but chemistry will likely be an issue early on with so many new pieces. MLB odds makers have listed the Marlins at to +750 win the NL East.
