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Miami Marlins RTD: Team Season Awards; Thoughts on Marlins Press Conference

By Ehsan Kassim |
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Jun 12, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins president of Baseball Operations Michael Hill before a game against the Colorado Rockies at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to another Miami Marlins Round Table Discussion. On today’s agenda, we’ll be discussing the season awards for the Miami Marlins, thoughts on their press conference, as well as some predictions for the Major League Baseball commercials currently on-going.

1. What did you make of the Miami Marlins press conference on Tuesday? Any thoughts on the major stuff discussed?

Ehsan Kassim: This is the Tweet I fired off as I was reading the Marlins press conference on Twitter, and I’ll stick with that.

Daniel Zylberkan: At this point the Marlins making decisions that make no sense to any well-educated baseball fan is becoming normal and expected. Moving in the fences makes sense, only if you ignore the Marlins pitchers seem to give up a lot of flyballs, and Major Leaguers tend to turn flyballs into home runs with regularity. Re-signing Ichiro makes no sense outside of selling tickets, so a disaffected fan base can see someone reach a counting stat milestone.

Michael Sonbeek: I really don’t have a strong opinion on it. Same old stuff. I don’t think moving in the fences make sense and signing Ichiro was dumb.

Sean Millerick: To be honest, was still busy digesting the Dolphins press conference. But as far as this one goes, relatively unimpressed. Welcoming Jennings back as GM is fine, but the first press conference to matter this offseason will be the one that introduces the new manager. Moving the fences in is a mistake, with the possible exception of Stanton having explicitly pressured the club to do so. Welcoming Ichiro back is a welcome move, as his value to the organization must be measured beyond the ball field; a field he appeared on more than any other Marlin incidentally.

Christian La Fontaine: Not really anything to say I haven’t said before. Moving in the walls won’t help, and a new manager is pointless without a front office overhaul. If you like the Ichiro signing whatever, I don’t, but it doesn’t really matter that much.

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Mark Laming: Some minor stuff, nothing groundbreaking or that hasn’t been reported. There’s tons of misreporting and uncertainty about Jennings already, and that situation is still not clear. As for moving the fences in, it will increase offense for both the Marlins and the visitors, but it’s not going to tip the scales too far in on side or the other.

Next: Team MVP?

Oct 4, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) stands on second base after hitting a double during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. He would score a run on an error. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

2. Who was the Miami Marlins team MVP? Who was the team’s least valuable player?

Ehsan Kassim: Dee Gordon finished the season with a 4.3 fWAR, which led the team in 653 plate appearances. However, Giancarlo Stanton finished with a 3.8 fWAR in 318 plate appearances, and outside of a fluke September, the Marlins offense looked lost without his 27 home runs. This is not taking anything away from Dee’s great season. Casey McGehee was traded for two minor leaguers before the season. That should have been the end of him with the Marlins, but after he posted a -0.7 fWAR with the Giants in 138 plate appearances, the Marlins brought him back to post another -0.7 more fWAR in 120 plate appearances. McGehee made random starts over Derek Dietrich and Justin Bour late in to the season, for whatever reason.

Daniel Zylberkan: The Marlins best player in 2015 was Christian Yelich, who in spite of having a horrible first two months of the season, still finished the season with a .300/.336/.416 line. I would say the Marlins least valuable players were Ichiro, Jeff Mathis and Casey McGehee who combined to have -1.9 WAR. in about 600 PA.

Michael Sonbeek: The team’s most valuable player was Dee Gordon. The least valuable player was Ichiro.

Sean Millerick: Dee Gordon was the MVP beyond question. Flip a coin between Steve Cishek and Marcell Ozuna, depending whether or not you want to count players that were already jettisoned for who wins LVP honors.

Christian La Fontaine: Christian Yelich, he had a tough start to the year but his 2nd half wRC+ was 4 points higher the Dee’s. Considering Yeli’s performance was not wildly unsustainable I’ll give the edge to him. In just 94 PA’s, Donovan Solano produced -1.0 WAR, that’s impressive ineptitude.

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Mark Laming: After you get over the trade for him was horrendous Dee Gordon was the only consistent bat in the Marlins lineup all season and had a good year when nobody else did.

Next: Most Improved?

Aug 8, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Casey McGehee (5) reacts with teammates after scoring against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

3. Which Marlin improved the most in 2015? Which player regressed the other way the most this year?

Ehsan Kassim: Coming into the season, Adeiny Hechavarria owned a -2.2 fWAR. He finished the 2015 season with a 3.0 fWAR, which has brought his career fWAR into a positive number. Hech improved marginally at the plate, going from an 82 wRC+ to 86 this season. However, his defense took a huge step in the right direction. Jarred Cosart and his -0.3 fWAR, the worst mark on the pitching side for the team, regressed the most. Cosart proved that his September in 2014 was a fluke and the team continues to look bad for making the trade with the Astros last season.

Daniel Zylberkan: Adeiny Hechavarria was the Marlins most improved player, as he actually showed in the metrics that he really is premium defensive shortstop. He had the eighth highest WAR among all MLB shortstops with 8.0. The Marlins who had regressed the most was Jarred Cosart who finished the year with a 5.12 FIP and a 11.2% walk rate.

Michael Sonbeek: I think Justin Bour improved the most while Mike Dunn was the one that regressed the most.

Sean Millerick: A.J. Ramos more than rose to the challenge of taking up Cishek’s mantle as closer. Marcell Ozuna wins the regression prize, as his failure to progress this year had the greatest negative impact on the lineup.

Christian La Fontaine: Adeiny Hechavarria became a top class defensive SS this year, so he improved the most. Mat Latos had the most regression, going from a top end starter to nothing in one season. 

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Mark Laming: Carter Capps, who saw this one coming? He was unhittable after coming up. After you get past his strange pitching motion, he was dominant and unhittable. At one point he had opposing players cheering when they found out they didn’t have to face him again. His emergence was a bright spot for sure.

Next: Minor League Player of the Year?

Oct 4, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Adam Conley (61) throes a pitch during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

4. Who was the Miami Marlins minor league player of the year?

Ehsan Kassim: Marcell Ozuna posted a 147 wRC+ in 132 plate appearances, slashing .317/.379/.558 with 5 home runs and 18 extra bases. Ozuna hit so well in the minors it did not seem like he belonged down there and actually should have been in line with a raise (something called arbitration?) this off-season.

Daniel Zylberkan: I would like to go against the grain and say that K.J. Woods in his third full pro season looked really impressive with a .277/.364/.496 and 18 HR and 47 extra base hits.

Michael Sonbeek: Adam Conley.

Sean Millerick: Can I cheat and say J.T. Realmuto? Because that would help this case immensely.

Christian La Fontaine: Adam Conley I guess. 

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Mark Laming: K.J. Woods, he pretty much flew under the radar but provided great power numbers in Single-A Greensboro and has the makings of a big league slugger.

Next: Predictions for Playoffs?

Oct 7, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta celebrates with his son Cooper after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card playoff baseball game at PNC Park. Cubs won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

5. Predictions for the MLB playoffs?

Ehsan Kassim: I want to see a Cubs-Astros World Series, as those are the two teams I like the most left in the post-season. But I think it will be the Dodgers against the Jays, with the Dodgers winning in 6.

Daniel Zylberkan: I think the Blue Jays are really good and probably have the best chance of coming out of the AL. While the NL is more interesting and I’m inclined to agree with Back to the Future II and say that Cubs will win the World Series.

Michael Sonbeek: Dodgers over Jays in the World Series.

Sean Millerick: Same Rangers-Cardinals rematch, same result. But wouldn’t the Astros beating the Cardinals be the ultimate form of poetic justice?

Christian La Fontaine: I don’t know because nobody does, playoffs are random. I guess I want the Pirates over the Jays in the WS. (Editors Note: Pirates lost)

Mark Laming: Nobody wants to hear it, nobody likes to hear it, but the Cardinals are going to take the World Series this season. I can’t see any of these young and exciting teams taking down the vets and winning pedigree in St. Louis. I’ll take them in 6 over the Blue Jays.

Follow Marlin Maniac on Twitter @MarlinManiac for all your Miami Marlins news, opinion and analysis!

Next: Marlins-Phillies Series Preview

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