Five Burning Questions for the Florida Marlins

The Florida Marlins have always been the enigma of baseball.  They have won two World Series Championships in their fledgling history, continuously harbour baseball's lowest payroll, and yet win games that they are not supposed to.  

With the 2009 Major League Baseball season upon us, I delve into the five most burning questions facing the Marlins this season.

1. How does Matt Lindstrom handle the closer's role?

Everyone knows the key to the bullpen, and for that matter consistently winning games, is a reliable closer.  In years past, the Marlins have scoured the free agent ranks to find established, serviceable, but declining veterans to fill this roll. 

Ugueth Urbina started the trend in '03, followed by Armando Benitez and then Kevin Gregg.  Gregg is now with the Cubs and so the closer role falls to flamethrower Matt Lindstrom.  Lindstrom was inconsistent at times last year, especially while filling in for an injured Gregg. 

A closer can easily be the difference in 12 to 15 games a year, and that doesn't spell success for the Marlins right now.  No one doubts Lindstrom's stuff, he throws 100 mph, but a lot of people wonder if he is ready for the closer role right now.

2. Who patrols the spacious Dolphin Stadium outfield this year?

The Marlins' outfield will look very different this year compared to last. 

Josh Willingham is no longer with the team while superstar-in-the-making Cameron Maybin should take over everyday duties in center.  Last year's starter in right, Jeremy Hermida, likely replaces Willingham in left.  That leaves a platoon of do-it-all Alfredo Amezaga and light-hitting Cody Ross to patrol right. 

The outfield defensively should be much better as Maybin is a Gold Glove-caliber center and Hermida should benefit from the smaller area to patrol in left. 

The offensive numbers are what worry Marlins executives.  Jeremy Hermida has never measured up to the potential when he was named the top prospect in the Marlins system a few years back, and is streaky at the plate. 

Maybin remains a free swinger and his outrageous numbers from a late season call-up in '08 are surely an abnormality. 

With so much of the offense coming from the infield positions, the outfield doesn't need to play like All-Stars, but they do need to complement the lineup and help the Marlins score some more runs this season.

3. How does the starting rotation handle increased pressure to perform?

Last years starting rotation didn't have a lot of pressure on them.  Rookie stud Josh Johnson wouldn't join the team till midseason while still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and '08 rookie and South Florida native Chris Volstad also didn't join the rotation till July. 

Each will have the pressure of performing for a full season at the same level. Ricky Nolasco seems primed to anchor the rotation again after a superb season last year.

Former UNC star Andrew Miller and Anibal Sanchez will most likely fill out the rotation, with Rick VandenHurk competing for starts as well.  Each had poor '08 seasons with ERA's over 5.00, and there will be quick changes if that happens again. 

If Johnson and Volstad follow up with solid performances in '09 and Miller and Sanchez can eat some innings, the rotation stands to be the backbone of this team (think Tampa Bay Rays of last year).  If not, watch for the bullpen to get overused again early in the season.

4. Can the Marlins stay in the race long enough to force management to add payroll at the trade deadline?

Marlins management has shown the willingness to add some payroll late in the year for a playoff push.  GM Larry Beinfest has been nothing short of brilliant for putting together the talent on this team and has a keen eye for midseason pick-ups. 

The Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez acquisition in '03 was huge as he was a key contributor to the championship run. 

If the Marlins stay close enough to the division or wild card race deep into the year, look for them to make a big splash in the trade market after not reeling in Manny Ramirez last year. 

5. Do the Marlins sign key players to long-term deals to help keep the recent upswing in talent going up?

The Marlins are young and talented.  That is the good news.  The bad news is as talent gets older, it gets more expensive. 

Second baseman Dan Uggla deserves a long-term contract, but he might not get it.  If CF Cameron Maybin performs well early, look for a Hanley-esque deal to get him wrapped up for a long time. 

Other young players that may sign for longer and cheaper may stand a better chance of getting a long-term deal.  Then again, these players will be at least arbitration eligible for the next few years and so classic thinking would be to sign Uggla and keep those other players for a few years at a low cost, then let them go.

As with every year, the Marlins will present a tough matchup to many teams spending 300 percent more money than them.  The Marlins don't appear to be title contenders this year, but success from some key players may be just the stepping stone to another world championship very soon.