Post by fish on Aug 22, 2023 6:09:05 GMT -5
When Marlins President of Baseball Operations Matt Andersen decided to tear down the Marlins last year, in an effort to build an
organization more able to sustain success, one of the first teams he reached out to was the Pittsburgh Pirates, known for their
propensity to make big deals, often with little concern for future Pirates teams. Andersen had something the Pirates wanted and
he felt like they had something that he wanted too. Andersen wanted draft capital, and the Pirates were open for business, but
he also had his eyes on a young SS that he felt that they had called up too early, and who was unsurprisingly struggling in his
rookie season, Johnny Peralta. In a deal that sent pitcher Tim Hudson, who, while always been a consistent arm, had never really
lived up to his ace expectations, and gold glove winning SS Jack Wilson to Pittsburgh, the Marlins acquired Peralta, a few other
minor leaguers, and the Pirates first three draft picks in the 2006 draft. Now, Peralta is the Marlins lone All-Star. After spending
most of 2005 in AAA, Peralta was the opening day SS and he's done nothing but hit since he's been here, hitting .297 with
20 doubles and 13 homers in the first half. While Wilson has turned himself into, not only a gold glove SS, but also a .300 hitter
and Hudson continues to be consistent, the Marlins are certainly happy with Peralta as well, whos only 24 years old. This looks
like a trade that benefited both teams.
Comings and Goings. After Khalil Greene's big league career got off to a dreadful start, the Marlins sent him back to AAA to
try to regain his confidence. He's done nothing but hit since he got there, posting a .374/.463/1.110 with 10 home runs in
only 187 AB's, and now he's back in Miami for another look. The Marlins will probably try to get looks at some of their younger
bats the rest of the way to see what they have going in to 2007. Look to see consistent at bats for Greene, Delmon Young and
Jesus Guzman the rest of the way. LH RP Mike Venafro was optioned. Venafro was brought back to be a second lefty in the
Marlins pen on a one year deal after a solid run in Miami the previous 3+ seasons, but this year he can't seem to find it. This
probably marks the end of Venafro's run in Miami. The move leaves the Marlins with a six man pen, which may leave them a
little short, but they'll run with it until they can't. At some point I'd guess some of the veteran bats that were brought in will
be sent out to make room for another arm.
In a move that seems to have gone largely unnoticed, it seems like Jason Kershner has taken over the closer job from Jorge
Campillo, getting, and converting, the last three save opportunities. It may be that the Marlins are trying to showcase
Kershner, who's in the last year of his contract, for a deadline trade, but Campillo had really struggled in his first look as
the undisputed closer. It's been known that the Marlins have seen Campillo as their closer of the future for a while now, but
one has to wonder if he's better suited for a middle role. Kershner has been absolutely dominant this year, having even more
success vs. righties than lefties. With Venafro having been sent out, it does leave the Marlins without a lefty for the middle/
setup innings, but at this point, Kershner has proven to be the only pen arm the Fish can trust.
Finally, as we move towards the trade deadline, the Marlins are also starting to put together lists of names to take over
the manager role next year. The Marlins have gone 15-32 since Ivan Rodriguez took over, and at times they've looked
a little better, but certainly not good enough to where one feels like Rodriguez is a slam dunk to remove the interim tag
at the end of the season, assuming that Pudge even wants the job. The dog days of summer are here and the only thing
the Marlins are competing for is a high draft pick. Dolphins training camp will be starting shortly and we'll see if second
year head coach Nick Saban made the right decision bringing in QB Dante Culpepper over Drew Brees, who ended up in
New Orleans. Coming off a 9-7 record, hopes are high. Which at least is something. Something Marlins fans wish they had.
organization more able to sustain success, one of the first teams he reached out to was the Pittsburgh Pirates, known for their
propensity to make big deals, often with little concern for future Pirates teams. Andersen had something the Pirates wanted and
he felt like they had something that he wanted too. Andersen wanted draft capital, and the Pirates were open for business, but
he also had his eyes on a young SS that he felt that they had called up too early, and who was unsurprisingly struggling in his
rookie season, Johnny Peralta. In a deal that sent pitcher Tim Hudson, who, while always been a consistent arm, had never really
lived up to his ace expectations, and gold glove winning SS Jack Wilson to Pittsburgh, the Marlins acquired Peralta, a few other
minor leaguers, and the Pirates first three draft picks in the 2006 draft. Now, Peralta is the Marlins lone All-Star. After spending
most of 2005 in AAA, Peralta was the opening day SS and he's done nothing but hit since he's been here, hitting .297 with
20 doubles and 13 homers in the first half. While Wilson has turned himself into, not only a gold glove SS, but also a .300 hitter
and Hudson continues to be consistent, the Marlins are certainly happy with Peralta as well, whos only 24 years old. This looks
like a trade that benefited both teams.
Comings and Goings. After Khalil Greene's big league career got off to a dreadful start, the Marlins sent him back to AAA to
try to regain his confidence. He's done nothing but hit since he got there, posting a .374/.463/1.110 with 10 home runs in
only 187 AB's, and now he's back in Miami for another look. The Marlins will probably try to get looks at some of their younger
bats the rest of the way to see what they have going in to 2007. Look to see consistent at bats for Greene, Delmon Young and
Jesus Guzman the rest of the way. LH RP Mike Venafro was optioned. Venafro was brought back to be a second lefty in the
Marlins pen on a one year deal after a solid run in Miami the previous 3+ seasons, but this year he can't seem to find it. This
probably marks the end of Venafro's run in Miami. The move leaves the Marlins with a six man pen, which may leave them a
little short, but they'll run with it until they can't. At some point I'd guess some of the veteran bats that were brought in will
be sent out to make room for another arm.
In a move that seems to have gone largely unnoticed, it seems like Jason Kershner has taken over the closer job from Jorge
Campillo, getting, and converting, the last three save opportunities. It may be that the Marlins are trying to showcase
Kershner, who's in the last year of his contract, for a deadline trade, but Campillo had really struggled in his first look as
the undisputed closer. It's been known that the Marlins have seen Campillo as their closer of the future for a while now, but
one has to wonder if he's better suited for a middle role. Kershner has been absolutely dominant this year, having even more
success vs. righties than lefties. With Venafro having been sent out, it does leave the Marlins without a lefty for the middle/
setup innings, but at this point, Kershner has proven to be the only pen arm the Fish can trust.
Finally, as we move towards the trade deadline, the Marlins are also starting to put together lists of names to take over
the manager role next year. The Marlins have gone 15-32 since Ivan Rodriguez took over, and at times they've looked
a little better, but certainly not good enough to where one feels like Rodriguez is a slam dunk to remove the interim tag
at the end of the season, assuming that Pudge even wants the job. The dog days of summer are here and the only thing
the Marlins are competing for is a high draft pick. Dolphins training camp will be starting shortly and we'll see if second
year head coach Nick Saban made the right decision bringing in QB Dante Culpepper over Drew Brees, who ended up in
New Orleans. Coming off a 9-7 record, hopes are high. Which at least is something. Something Marlins fans wish they had.
