How the Miami Marlins can Improve from Within: Position Players
By Ehsan Kassim
Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Donovan Solano (17) a catches Washington Nationals left fielder Scott Hairston (not pictured) fly ball in the sixth inning in game two of a baseball doubleheader at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Second Base:
NO MORE DONOVAN SOLANO, PLEASE!
Okay maybe Solano can be a useful utility player, but the days of him starting at second base should be over. Solano is not a very good hitter and his numbers are heavily influenced by a unsustainable BABIP when he gets hot. While his defense is a nice thing to have, it’s not enough to warrant starting him everyday.
Last off-season, the Marlins decided to sign Rafael Furcal and pray to the baseball god’s that he’d stay healthy. The baseball god’s instead spit in the Marlins direction and said they don’t perform miracles that big. They advised owner Jeffery Loria to turn to Tim Tebow for this, but Loria refused when he realized Tebow wanted to be compensated with cash.
Anyways, jumping back on topic, the Marlins should go the opposite direction of their plan a season ago and go with youth over experience.
The best platoon situation for the Marlins for the upcoming season would involve banished second baseman Derek Dietrich and breakout prospect Austin Barnes.
Dietrich has handled the Triple-A level as well as he can the past two seasons, proving he needs to be hitting against major league pitching, instead of rotting away in the minors. His 160 and 158 wOBA the past two season’s at the level are as about as good as it’ll get in the minors.
In the majors, Dietrich has proven he can handle his own as a hitter, as he was one of the top hitters for the Marlins in his stint in the majors to begin the season. His power would do wonders for a Marlins lineup that has struggled to generate offense for much of the season.
While his defense is not too great at second base, if the team allows him the playing time, his offensive skill can more than make up for those shortcomings.
Dietrich, a left handed hitter, would primarily play against right hand pitchers, taking advantage of his bat against opposite hand pitchers.
On the other side of the platoon, the Marlins could use the quick emerging Austin Barnes, who has done nothing but his since being drafted by the Marlins out of Arizona State University in 2011, with his most impressive season coming this year.
For the 2014 season, Barnes owns a .296/.406/.507 slash line in 348 PA’s in Double-A Jacksonville, following up a .317/.385/.417 slash line in Jupiter. Barnes has a combined 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases between the two levels.
Probably more compelling than his bat is the versatility he has displayed. Not often do you find a middle infielder that can also play the catcher position. Barnes has throw out 36% of base stealers in his four-year minor league career, with his worst campaign at 30% taking place this season.
While he has ceded the majority of his starts at catcher to Realmuto in Double-A, Barnes has still racked up 29 games behind the plate, 30 at second base, and 15 at third base.