The Marlins must still add bats to their lineup

Even with the current winning streak of three games, the Miami Marlins still lack a potent bat in the middle of their lineup. Will this team find help in the minors?

Despite the fact the Miami Marlins are riding the wave of a three-game winning streak, of which two games won against the New York Mets were by shutout, the team still lacks consistent hitting and run production.

It seems odd to talk about Miami’s inconsistencies at the moment, but there still isn’t enough power in the middle of the batting order and veterans are giving way to youth and inexperience. This was the game plan all along, but the team also hoped the starting rotation would be more dominant, which would hide the team’s issues with moving batters around the base pads.

The Marlins are not a team that can win games with one swing of the bat.

Judging by the current roster, the need for more power and contributions may come from the minors, as Joe Frisaro of MLB.com and others (like here at Marlin Maniac) have discussed this season.

"“In recent weeks, Jon Berti and Harold Ramirez have been called up from Triple-A New Orleans, and are playing regularly, and Garrett Cooper was reinstated from his second injured list stint,” Frisaro explained.More from Marlins NewsMiami Marlins news: Another target goneWhy didn’t the Miami Marlins sign JDM?Miami Marlins rejected Boston‘s trade offerMiami Marlins are pursuing Michael ConfortoMiami Marlins need to spend to win“All three are getting more playing time, with Berti leading off and playing center field and Cooper in right field, hitting second. Ramirez is playing left field, and he has been used mostly in the bottom part of the order.”"

Cooper may be the biggest and most pleasant surprise since has dealt with more injuries than he has had playing time. The hope is the imposing figure at the plate can smack a few balls over the fence at Marlins Park. If he remains healthy the rest of the season, the team hopes Cooper becomes a catalyst for offensive firepower.

In the wake of the success of the younger players on the roster this past week, the playing time for veterans like Curtis Granderson and Martin Prado has fallen off. Manager Don Mattingly is showing more confidence in giving his up-and-coming players more at-bats.

And when it is needed there are more players on the farm who could help as the team nears the All-Star break. Right now, while still in last place in the National League East, Miami is at the bottom of many major offensive categories — like runs (118), on-base percentage (.281) and slugging percentage (.312).

You cannot out-hit your opponents with those numbers, which means the pitching staff becomes more important to the success of the next four months.

Mattingly told Frisaro and the press he and Michael Hill, the team’s president of baseball operations, discuss the team’s current roster and where the organization is headed for this season and beyond.

"“Some of the things Mike and I talk about is which direction do we want to go,” Mattingly said. “Is it play Harold every day? Play Cooper every day? Who do you want to see, in general? With that, trying to win games. Those are conversations that we do have about exactly who the organization wants to see, and what we’re trying to find out.”"