Florida Marlins 2010 Preview: Batters

Ah, the season is FINALLY here. Its been a long (and cold for some) winter but Spring Training has arrived and the regular season will be upon us before you know it. Its time to take a look at the 2010 Florida Marlins! The Marlins are an annual pennant contender but fall apart late in the playoff race, not to mention the fact that they are in a division with the Phillies and the Mets. Could this be our year? Lets find out!

C - John Baker

He and Ronny Paulino will split the starts at Catcher but Baker will be the go-to-guy. He has a strong arm but look for his hitting to be his area of improvement from last season where he hit .271 with a mere 9 homers. Now he isn't known for his power but he is a solid contact hitter and gets good hits in the crunch times of games, when it counts the most. Look to see him hit 2nd in our Batting Order, with decent speed and great contact, he will be able to move along the lead-off guy consistently.

1B - Logan Morrison

This is going to be the competition position. Three guys on the roster can play this spot: Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison, and Jorge Cantu. Jorge spent the most time in the Majors last year but also plays very solidly at 3rd Base, where there is also a potential position battle. Sanchez is good, but Morrison's studly year last year in AA Jacksonville and the fact that he is ranked the 17th overall national prospect at the young age of 21 gives him the edge. In Jacksonville, LM batted .277 and knocked 8 Home-runs, very good for a minor leaguer. We'll see if he pans out but dont be surprised to see this kid be atop everyone's fantasy draft boards very soon and a very solid player be developed out of the kid. He has a ton of raw talent and hopefully someone can work wonders with it.

2B - Dan Uggla

Florida's all-star 2nd baseman doesnt have any real competition for his starting spot. Chris Coghlan can play 2nd base but why remove him from LF? The Marlins signed Uggla to a 1 year deal so lets hope our slugger can go out with a bang. Last Year Uggla hit .243 which isnt great but clocked 31 Homers and 90 RBIs. His fielding concerns some people and that seems to be what is holding him back from being a top 2nd baseman, which he has the talent to be. If he can reduce the number of errors and give our pitchers a break, than he will be a contributing member to the Fish. He can hit for power and if he can make more consistent contact, he will thrive.

SS - Hanley Ramirez

This was not a tough one, at all. Manny's little brother absolutely dominated everybody last year and that is what has given him the title of 2nd best player in the league behind Albert Pujols. Ramirez hit a league-leading .342 and smacked 24 dingers. He'll bat 3rd in the Marlins lineup and Fish Fans everywhere will depend on him to dominate and lead the team. Han-Ram can fly around the bases too, racking up 27 stolen bases as well.

3B - Jorge Cantu

One of the Marlins clutchest hitters, Cantu barely edges out Emilio Bonifacio and Gaby Sanchez for this spot. Cantu fits better at 1st than at 3rd but we are better off with him at the Hot Corner than Bonifacio and I think LM can hold his own at first. CanTU! slugged 16 HR;s while batting .284 last year. He spent most of the year at 1st until the Marlins acquired 1B Nick Johnson from the NOTionals in a Deadline-Day trade. Then Bonifacio got the boot to the bench and Cantu was moved to third. If CanTU can stay clutch and get hits when it counts, then his spot is secure.
YES HE CanTU!

LF - Chris Coghlan

The 2009 NL Rookie of The Year looks to come back and be better than ever in 2010. And he has all the tools to do so. He is a fantastic fielder, is speedy on the diamond, and can hit for power as well as for contact. He hit a resounding .321 average last year with 9 HR's and 8 stolen bases. Last year, however, he was just settling in to LF where he had never played before. He is a 2B who was thrown in LF to make room for Dan Uggla. And what a decision! If Coghlan can match or better last years performance than we are set in LF. He is also a positive guy who is great to have in the Locker Room, another plus of this 24 year old stud.

CF - Cody Ross

Another of the Marlins' clutchest players, Ross currently gets the start in CF. Expect however, a move to RF sometime this year to make room for SuperStar prospects Mike Stanton and Cameron Maybin. Ross played like a Gold-Glove potential player last year and earned serious compliments. He made every catch and every throw, when it had to me made. He also hit .27o and 24 Round-Trippers. In my mind, Ross is the perfect utility guy in fantasy leagues. He is the Marlins most clutch player at one time last year hitting back to back walk-off Home Runs against the Cubs late last season. Poor former Marlins Kevin Gregg!!

RF - Brett Carroll

For now, Carroll will start in Right. The Marlins have Mike Stanton, the teams #1 Prospect who can do right and center as well as Cameron Maybin who can hold his own in CF so expect Carroll not to last long. Cody Ross will be the RF very soon. Carroll was a decent Utility guy, coming in to pinch run, or pinch hit every once in a while. He hit 3 HR's and bat .234 last year. He wont do much and wont have to, luckily.

Riding the Pine: Key Bench Guys

Cameron Maybin - Maybin is a solid LF/CF who has been troubled by inconsistency and injuries in his short career. If he can turn it up, he will be a great OF and take over for Brett Carroll or Cody Ross soon.
Emilio Bonifacio - Not exactly a great power-hitter but he can suffice as a 3rd baseman and a lead-off man. He is a good utility guy and can fly around the basepaths. He hits well for contact but only hit 1 round-tripper last year. He also made several clutch plays to save games last year
Mike Stanton - A three sport star in highschool who has already hit a walk-off HR this spring training. Stanton was 2nd in the minors last year with 39 Home Runs! He will hopefully step in soon in the Marlins OF and prove himself as the Marlins #1 prospect!
Wes Helms- an average 1B/3B who can hit well for power and makes a good DH for AL road games.
Gaby Sanchez - Strong Corner Infielder who will compete for starting spots at both positions. If he pans out, he will be great.
Ronny Paulino - A situational catcher, not a great hitter but does what he has to do.

Lets Go Fish!

Go Marlins 2010!