Si is reporting Three Observations
1. The Marlins are dangerous...
... as they always seem to be. Still, the Fish haven't been to the postseason since 2003, their most recent world championship season. GM Larry Beinfest sees them returning to the promised land with improved starting pitching. "Offensively, we're going to score runs," he says of his club, which won 87 games last year thanks in large part to an offense that ranked in the league's top five in runs scored, team average, and on-base percentage. "The way we're going to get to 90 wins and play in October is with starting pitching. It's an area that let us down a year ago." Beinfest sees ace Josh Johnson having another strong year after going 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA and Ricky Nolasco establishing himself as a frontline starter. "We're relying on them to have a legitimate front end of the rotation," says the GM. "We need Ricky to be who he was over the second half. We need other guys to step forward -- guys like Chris Volstad, Anibal Sanchez, Rick VandenHurk, Sean West. Now they've been in the big leagues a couple years, it's time for them to take the next step."
2. Cameron Maybin's time has come, too
The Marlins offense was good last year but can reach a new level with a breakout year from their dynamic 22-year-old center fielder. The big hurdle for Maybin is cutting down his strikeouts -- he won the starting job in center field coming out of spring training last year but after just 26 games (during which he struck out 31 times in 95 plate appearances) was demoted to New Orleans. Maybin has looked good this spring, and entering the season he has the job again and is slotted second in the order behind Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan and NL MVP-runner up Hanley Ramirez. "Cameron showed in improvement with his discipline and pitch recognition in the minors and in September [when he was called up]," says Beinfest. "Something that really stood out was that he wasn't going after pitches in the dirt anymore. He's still a young kid, but I think he's ready to step up."
3. Future is bright for the Fish
They signed their best pitcher, Johnson, to a four-year, $39 million contract in January. Their best offensive player, Ramirez, is locked up until 2014. With a new ballpark on the away in 2012, the days of the Marlins building winners only to tear them down is over. This is a team that is positioning itself well in the NL East, with a lot of young talent at its core. "They always do well, but on a shoestring budget," says an NL GM. "It's a little scary to think about what they can do with a little money in their pockets."
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/albert_chen/03/26/marlins.postcard/index.html#ixzz0jZSBI9El
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