May 18, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins mascot Bill the Marlin performs prior to a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

On May 17, 2013 my wife and I hopped into our car and began our 3 ½ hour drive down to South Florida from Orlando. Why did we do this? Well to catch the 3 game home stand of the Miami Marlins vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks! Now people might be asking themselves why would I drive down to Miami to watch the Marlins when I have the Rays only an hour away… 1. I’m a Marlins fan, 2. I love the city of Miami, 3. I can go visit family (who were in Gainesville visiting my older brother and didn’t tell me), 4. I always have fun at Marlins Park, and 5. I LOVE THE MARLINS! So let’s break down what happened on this trip which made it so much fun.

Aug 17, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Livan Hernandez (61) pitches in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1

I pulled up to my parents place around 2 pm when my phone rang. On the other side of the line was a Marlins employee, who said that since I bought a Cuban Heritage ticket I won a chance to meet a former Marlin of Cuban descent. I said cool and asked who it was. LIVAN HERNANDEZ!!!! I flipped!! Livan is my all time favorite Marlins player and I finally get a chance to meet him. As soon as we unpacked the car we headed down to Marlins Park. Once I got there I got there I got to meet former Marlins Cuban player Livan Hernandez and current Marlins Cuban player Jose Fernandez. Afterwards we headed into the park where I got the coolest giveaway ever— a Miami Marlins Cuban Heritage café mug. This thing is so cool! When we headed to our seats we saw that our area had a Cuban band, kids from schools all over Miami-Dade County, and fellow Cubans. We lost 9-2, but oh my was the Cuban section loud! The band never stopped and the kids were jumping up and down having a blast. The night finally ended with an amazing fireworks show.

Game 2

The day started with a quick trip to the Swap Shop where I picked up a Marlins Bobble head and a Marlins Lawn Gnome. Then it was off to the park. We stopped by the Marlins store first because every Friday and Saturday there are players signing autographs. While we waited, my wife and I got into a conversation about who is currently the best Marlins player not on the DL. I said to that each player brings something to the club (I know very PC answer), but my wife said Justin Ruggiano. Not 30 seconds later Justin shows up to sign autographs! She had a good laugh at the perfect timing talked about how she thinks he is the best player on the team. Justin disagreed and said it is Miguel Olivo. We continued into the park where we met up with some friends and started watch the game. This was my kind of game. Despite the first pitch being out of the park, from there on out it was a pitching dual. I love those kinds of games! Marlins ended up losing 1-0, but the time I had with my friends and wife during the game, and it being a pitching dual to the very end, was just so much fun.

May 18, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Marcell Ozuna (48) dives to first base safely past Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) as first base umpire Brian O

Game 3

We headed to Davie to pick up some friends before the game. We parked and walked into the park where we got free MLB Network/Marlins draw string bag (you can never have to many Marlins bags). We sat and talked for a good while about the future of the team, what needs to be done to have a winning team again, and more baseball stuff. Then the game started and what a game! Boy was Ricky Nolasco on point today. It was great to see him pitch that well, and to be in the park as it happened was even better. He struck out 11 Diamondbacks. 11! To see Marcell Ozuna crush that double to give us the lead was awesome as well. The crowd was really into this game! The Marlins won 2-1. After the game we headed out to stand by where the players leave. Rob Brantly and Marcell Ozuna stopped and talked to everyone signed everyone’s stuff. They are two very classy young men. We ended our night enjoy a nice dinner talking about the Marlins. The next day we headed back home to Orlando.

So what is the point to all this? These were 3 very different games, and each had it own form of fun. According to everyone, the Marlins aren’t going to do anything this year. Maybe they are right, maybe they are wrong, but they are still our Marlins and it is still such a blast to go watch a game at Marlins park! Win or lose the experience at the game is amazing. The park itself is beautiful, we get to watch baseball, and the people at the games always seem to be in a talkative mood. And to be honest tickets are not that much. The Marlins are always giving away tickets, and stub hub has tickets for as low as $6. So go out and enjoy a night at Marlins Park; win or lose you will have fun.

First baseman Greg Dobbs has been part of the Marlins problems at first base, not the solution. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Baseball is unique for one very interesting reason unlike any other sport defensive position determines offensive output.

That is to some extent true in basketball where a one you’ll take a plus defensive center like Roy Hibbert or Marc Gasol or a lock-down perimeter defender like Tony Allen or Avery Bradley and sacrifice some offense in order to get above average defensive play. But baseball is truly deterministic in relating offensive production to defensive position, or at least it has been traditionally and historically. Corner defensive players, first and third basemen as well as left and right fielders are expected to provide offensive production. While players that play “up the middle” catchers, second basemen, shortstops and center fielders are above all valued for their defensive value in expense of offensive production.

The Marlins problem with offensive production and run creation can be traced back as late as even last year to the corner infield “power positions.” Since 2012, Gaby Sanchez, Greg Dobbs, Logan Morrison and Carlos Lee have played the majority of games at first base for the Marlins. In the meanwhile at the hot corner, Hanley Ramirez, Placido Polanco and Greg Dobbs have played the majority of time and plate appearances. Fernand Braudel a historian speaks of a analyzing history in the “longuee duree” the long term. It is easy to apply the some concept to baseball and the problem of run creation that seen as finding the symptoms and not necessarily the disease. It is instructive to isolate the symptom, not scoring runs and finding the disease, lack of power from the corner infield positions. Nominally an over reliance on Greg Dobbs and the injury situation at first base so far this season.

In the past calendar year, in order to give some needed context are the median production of all first baseman since May 23^rd of last year. The chart below shows the ranking of the best, 11^th,15^th , 21^st and 30^th ranked teams in HR, wOBA, OPS, wRC+ and WAR. Teams like the Reds, Tigers, Nationals, Cubs and Pirates feature prominently on the chart and that is no surprise with good first sackers like Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Adam Laroche, Freddy Freeman and Anthony Rizzo. The Marlins on the other hand are last in wOBA, OPS, wRC+ and rank 29^th in WAR at -1.4 and 25^th in home runs with 18. The reason I put the chart below is to show the drop-off in production and run creation from Prince Fielder to Justin Morneau and Freddie Freeman is .79 points of wOBA and 50 wRC+. But the disparity in WAR, which accounts for all facets of the game is even more astonishing. Joey Votto even injured with some help contributed 7 wins above replacement or AAA level.

The Marlins who have manned first base during the same period have cost the Marlins -1.4 WAR or are playing below replacement level which amounts to a 8.7 win difference. It is also important to keep in mind that the fall of from Votto to Pena and Loney is about 5 wins and the drop off from the Rays to Marlins is 3 wins. In absolute terms compared to the top of the league, the Marlins have been dreadfully unproductive. While they have been relatively bad there lots of teams that are missing 3 WAR from the median and 5 WAR from the top of the league.

Ranks for all First Basemen

The problem is clear to be seen and has been reinstated very forcefully, the first base position offensively has been an albatross around the Marlins neck. That is undeniable and the club itself has tried to fix this problem with the signing of Casey Kotchmann, Joe Mahoney et al. Injuries haven’t helped and are a major cause of the problem to begin with but it is to see how the return of Logan Morrison to the lineup as early as next weekend can be a cause for encouragement Since coming up to the major league club in 2010 LoMo has a .250/.339/.442 triple slash line, .781 OPS, a 11% walk rate to go along with .192 ISO, .341 wOBA, 113 wRC+ and 1.6 WAR. LoMo’s career track record. Both injured and healthy places him somewhere in the middle third of MLB first basemen. Which is a great improvement from the position the Marlins are in now having nearly the worst production from first basemen in the entire league.

Fixing the problem at third base has been a thorn in the Marlins side since we traded Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers after the 2007 season. In that stretch the most consistent contributor at the hot corner for Florida/Miami was Jorge Cantu with appearances by Hanley, Boni, Dobbs, Uncle Wes Helms and others. In 2013 the Marlins have settled on the over-the-hill Placido Polanco as the solution to the problem. A problem that is only magnified by the lack of production and the injuries. Polanco this year has played to important a role in the offense often batting 2, 3 or 4 in the lineup something that has to be worrying to fans, management and Mike Redmond. I am working from the supposition that Placido Polanco has to be replaced as the Marlins third baseman. But the question I want to arrive at is who should replace him?

The competition is between a “raw” prospect in Derek Dietrich against a very bland and unexciting Donovan Solano with the caveat that the loser ends up in the lineup anyone only at second base. Another way to put this is that Solano’s return may not be exciting or something that Marlins fans should be sitting on the edge of their seats for but it is still relevant and important to improving run creation. It is a fact in 2013 and for the next few years the Marlins will struggle while they “rebuild” but “rebuilding” can also happen during the season and that’s what we must focus on as May ends and turns into June.

Marlins Competition for 3B and 2B Starting Jobs.

No matter what happens from now on, something is true and can’t be underestimated the Marlins must improve their production from the corner infield to get better. The only way that will happen is players like Logan Morrison and Donovan Solano getting healthy as May turns into June and what that does. Namely putting Greg Dobbs and Placido Polanco into the the roles they should be fulfilling either on the bench or even out of baseball entirely. To end on a truly positive note, just remember Giancarlo is jogging and things can’t get much worse. And remember….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo

May 22, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Alejandro De Aza (30 is forced out by Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (15) during the third inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins will hope an interleague series with the Chicago White Sox can change their fortune as they look to end the month of June on a positive note. Both the Marlins and White Sox have had disapponting 2013 seasons to this point, but the Sox have a much better chance to turn things around.

To preview the series between the White Sox and the Marlins, I had an email chat with James Fegan, editor of South Side Showdown, the Fansided White Sox site. Justin and his staff do a wonderful job also of covering everything Sox-related, from the latest news to full-analysis on just about everything.

James and I chatted about everything from former Marlins and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen to the almost as embarrassing offense as the Marlins.

Without any further ado, here is my chat with Justin:

Oct. 3, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen (13) heads back to the dugout after a pitching change during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Park. The Mets won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Ehsan Kassim: How is Robin Ventura doing in his second year on the job? Do you guys ever miss Ozzie?

James Fegan: The big thing for Robin with all the players, and even some people in Baseball Operations who felt their information was dismissed by Ozzie, is that he’s very even-keeled and subdued. People know what to expect from him, everything he says is very measured. His outrage tends to build over time and is vented in predictable ways. This, and him not being in a simmering feud with the GM, earned him a lot of the credit when the team played a lot sharper–less errors, less botched outfield relays, that type of stuff–in 2012.

Nowadays, the team leads the league in errors despite Ventura’s rigorous practices still being in place (maybe it was luck all along) and they also can’t hit so any game they’re in is a nail-biter. This places added scrutiny on him being fairly archaic tactic-wise, prone to over-tinkering with his relievers, and overly trusting of poor-hitting veteran reserves…you know, like every single manager in the world.

I’d say he’s average, but was definitely the right change of pace at the time he was hired.

Ehsan: The White Sox have the worst offense in the majors currently (I count the Marlins as a AAAA team), what has been the problem for them so far?

James: Yeah, it’s a lot more embarrassing when this what you come up with when you’re “trying” to win a division. The whole team has really unified behind a hacktastic, impatient approach and the home run power they tout–or at least the power necessary to hit it out of U.S. Cellular–isn’t making up for it. Across the board, nearly everyone’s strikeout rate is a stretch beyond career norms and their walk rate is a bit below.

At a less broad level, the power core of this lineup–Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn–have both been miserable. Besides for the first half of last season, this is who Dunn is now. He strikes out well over 30% of the time, has lost most of his ability to hit doubles (look it up, it’s weird. Even when the HR total returned last year) and is brutalized by the shift to where even a .200 batting average is a dream. Obviously batting average is not the end all, be all, but it’s hard to get on base at a decent rate hitting under .200. He’s recovering a bit from a disastrous attempt to get more aggressive early in the year, but still hitting .163/.256/.405.

Konerko is 37 and is finally starting to look it. His power, patience and contact rate are all down and while he’s slumped before and looked like he found his ability to turn on pitches again Wednesday night, I’m not optimistic he can execute his role anymore.

Ehsan: On the other hand, the Sox rotation has been amazing. What has been the key to their success?

James: Anyone and everyone who looked like they have had a passing chance at developing into a starter the past year, has done so. Call it the Cooper influence, but…

–Chris Sale has gone from an exciting prospect to the without-a-doubt ace of the staff.

–Jose Quintana was a minor league free agent with little more than a 90 mph fastball that he could spot, and he just took a no-hitter into the 7th against the Red Sox and owns a 3.69 ERA (in a severe hitter’s park) over 188 career MLB innings–and is still just 24.

–Hector Santiago was stuck in A-ball for three seasons, was a failed closer and garbage-time reliever last year and is now striking out over a batter per inning.

—Dylan Axelrod was pitching in independent league ball not too long ago, has about the least impressive complement of stuff you’ll ever see from a major leaguer and is only in the rotation because of Danks’ injury, yet has only had two bad outings all year.

Ehsan: How are our old friends Alejandro De Aza and DeWyane Wise doing for the Sox?

James: Alejandro is a source of frustration. Everyone was delighted that he managed to stick as a highly-serviceable leadoff man last season, but this year his strikeout rate has ballooned, as the book on his vulnerability to low-and-in breaking balls is out. An odd spike in power is the only thing keeping him playable, but a .295 OBP is no good at the top of the order. His odd discomfort with center field also gives Ventura more reason to play Dewayne Wise.

Wise got a guaranteed contract this season based on a flukey hot streak–which still wasn’t very good at all–and some key hits in the stretch run of 2012 and now provides something the White Sox could get at least two younger guys in AAA to do for less money: good outfield defense, pinch running and a pretty worthless left-handed bat.

Ehsan: With the Sox sitting at 21-24 and in fourth place in the Central, are they looking to become sellers at the deadline? If so, who could be available?

James: The White Sox have resisted rebuilding as much as possible since Kenny Williams took the GM seat in 2001, and since Rick Hahn took over this winter, there’s been nothing to suggest that the approach of piecemeal rebuilding (not actively tearing down but slowly adding prospects through the draft and international free agency) has fallen out of favor.

In a sick way, I would like them to fall behind enough that their hands are forced into fire sale. But even with their poor start, this team probably pitches too well to not finish within spitting distance of .500.

It hurts to say it because he’s the only consistently enjoyable offensive player, but I can’t imagine a more attractive trade chip than Alex Rios. He’s a big bat a team could convince themselves is capable of moonlighting in center field, and he’s got just the right amount of contract left to neither feel like a burden nor a potential albatross. Jake Peavy is an easy choice too and has stated a willingness to be move. Like Rios, he is signed through 2014 with an option for another year.

Jesse Crain is a bullpen rental, but having a career year thus far.

A big thank you to James for taking his timeout to talk to us. We at Marlin Maniac wish all White Sox fans the best of luck in the upcoming series. If you get a chance, please check out South Side Showdown for the questions I answered for James.

“If you don’t know by now I’m talkin bout chi-town” #bumpinkanye#vswhitesox#windycity
– AJ Ramos (@theajramos)
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Marlins: Manager Mike Redmond prepared to use “everybody” in closer role | Sun-Sentinel

Steve Cishek was recently removed from the closer role leaving fans with one question—who replaces our Team USA 2013 representative?? The answer, according to Mike Redmond, is everybody! That’s a neat idea, pitching a whole lot of people at once. Hate to burst your bubble Mike only one guy can pitch a time, bonehead! Juan C. Rodriguez details other closer candidates.

Marlins Face White Sox — Minus Ozzie Guillen | Miami Herald

In light of the upcoming Marlins/White Sox series, George Richards for the Miami Herald asks, “Remember Ozzie Guillen?” Well, do you? The manager from last year, who was funny? Ozzie Guillen. O-Z-Z-I-E. Remember him? Richards outlines a couple storylines between the three teams and the former manager.

Slowey exits with left lat strain | Fish Pond 

Another crushing blow to the Marlins, the Miami ace went down Wednesday with a lat strain. Kevin Slowey clawed his way to the top of the Miami pitching ranks as a non-roster invitee, and has been described by Joe Frisaro as the “steadiest” starter and called his pre-injury innings “impressive.”

Series preview: Marlins at White Sox | Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune published a short preview of their series against Miami. The post expands on the pressing issues going into the matchups such as “Who’s hot” and “Who’s not.” The two have also only met up for a series on nine occasions all time.

Here at Marlin Maniac:

Prospect Profile: Anthony DeSclafani

Former Gainesville resident David Polakoff posted a write up of 23-year old righty Anthony DeSclafani a couple days ago. DeSclafani was the final throw-in in the infamous Blue Jays trade in November, and currently pitches for the Jacksonville Suns-AA.

Down On The Farm Miami Marlins Daily Report: May 22nd

Editor Ehsan Kassim posted the results from Miami’s minor league affiliates. Some of the highlights include the roster adjustments in the wake of Andrwe Heaney’s return and Logan Morrison’s rehab.

Marlin Maniac Contest: You Be The Miami Marlins General Manager

Hey, readers! You should do this contest. Be the Miami GM—show everyone what you’re made of. The rules are pretty self-explanatory, just pretend you’re the General Manager of the Miami Marlins and the staff here will vote on our favorite submissions. What are you waiting for? Do this!

May 21, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Delmon Young (3) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins were shutout for the ninth time in the 2013 season on a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.  Cliff Lee was brilliant on the mound for the Phils tossing a complete game and allowing only 3 Marlins hits on the night.   Not only could the Marlins muster just 3 singles, 2 of those never left the infield.

Just to make matters worse, Marlins starter Kevin Slowey left after the fifth inning due to a back injury.  Slowey had limited the Phils to only one run to that point, scattering six hits and walking none while recording six strikeouts.  After having surrendered 11 earned runs in his two previous starts, it appeared that Slowey was returning to the form he had displayed earlier in the season before the injury struck.

On offense the Marlins only threat occurred in the second inning when they loaded the bases on a single by Marcell Ozuna followed by a walk and hit by pitch.  That is as far as it went though with Lee inducing the next hitter, Nick Green, to ground into a double play and then getting a pop out to end the inning.   The double play was the Marlins’ 47^th hit into on the season which ranks them second in the National League behind only the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Derek Dietrich and Miguel Olivo had the other two Marlins hits on the night.  The Marlins now have a team batting average of .222 on the season and an OPS of .599.  That .599 OPS would rank in the top 10 of all time worst OPS by a team if the season ended today.

Cliff Lee improved his record to 5-2 while Slowey dropped to 1-5 on the season.

Up Next: The Marlins will travel to Chicago for an interleague series with the White Sox this weekend.  The Friday starter will be Tom Koehler (0-2) for the Fish and John Danks (0-0) making his season debut for the White Sox.