Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera will not be reporting to Marlins spring training this year after being dealt to the Tigers in an eight-player blockbuster deal. The Marlins are clearly planning for the future, but how long before this rebuilding project has them ready to contend again? Find out in Jimmy Boyd’s 2008 Florida Marlins predictions. Sportsbook.com has the Florida Marlins at 150 to 1 odds to win the 2008 World Series Championship.
Starting Rotation/Bullpen – We used to always know who would be getting the ball on Opening Day for the fish. For three consecutive years, it was Josh Beckett. After Beckett was traded to Boston, it was Dontrelle Willis for two years. Now that the D-Train is a Tiger, this year’s opening day starter is anybody’s guess. Josh Johnson or Anibal Sanchez could have taken the ball on opening day, but both are coming off season ending surgeries. Johnson will likely miss all of 2008 following Tommy John surgery and Sanchez could miss the first few months following shoulder surgery.
That leaves Sergio Mitre and Scott Olsen. The sinkerballer, Mitre, is probably no better than a fifth starter on most contending teams. There’s no doubt that lefty Scott Olsen has some talent, but his mental toughness is a huge question mark. Andrew Miller came over from Detroit in the big winter trade and will take one of the spots, 25-year-old Ricky Nolasco will take another. Rick VandenHurk likely rounds out the starting five. It looks like the Marlins will be rocked a lot in 2008.
With 32 saves last season, Kevin Gregg proved that he could be an effective closer for the fish. The relievers in general will be pitching too many innings this season as we predict the starters will have a rough go of it. A tired pen is usually not a productive one. Justin Miller, Matt Lindstrom, and Taylor Tankersley all have proven to have good stuff.
Batting Order – It looks like centerfielder, Cameron Maybin, acquired from Detroit will lead off for the fish. It is apparent that he still needs more seasoning after hitting just .143 last season. Right fielder Jeremy Hermida will be a solid number two hitter for this club and I would like to see him in the lead off spot. He has a great eye at the plate and some decent wheels. He hit .296 last season with 18 homeruns and 63 RBIs. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez had 165 at bats in the three slot before retuning to the lead off role last season. He is one of the Marlin’s best assets and a young guy they are looking to build around. He batted .332 with 29 homeruns and 81 RBIs.
Leftfielder Josh Willingham is the most anonymous cleanup hitter in baseball. He had 21 homeruns and 89 RBIs last season and if you’re not a Marlins fan, you’ve probably never heard of him. First baseman Mike Jacobs is yet another Marlin with 20 homerun potential. He hit 17 last year. Dan Uggla is the best number six hitter in baseball. He had 31 round trippers and 88 RBIs in 2007. With back-to-back big seasons, we know this guy is for real. Jorge Cantu didn’t have a great 2007 with stops at Tampa Bay and Cincy. If he can return to his 2005 form when he hit 28 homeruns and added 117 RBIs with the Rays, he’ll easily win the starting job at third. Catcher Mike Rabelo is a question mark in terms of his ability to contribute offensively but looks to be the everyday catcher.
Cabrera is gone, but the Marlins still have six guys with 20-plus homerun potential. Florida will score some runs this season, but it will give up too many to stay in ball games. Losing Willis hurts the pitching staff enough and now the fish must wait for Johnson and Sanchez. I think the fish sink before they swim in 2008.
Jimmy Boyd is coming off the best MLB season of his career profiting clients over $50,000 from opening day through the World Series. Does that seem too good to be true? There’s only one way to find out and we guaranteed your bankroll will speak for itself.
Sportsbook.com has posted the following MLB betting odds on various 2008 Florida Marlins Predictions:
Odds to win NL East: 40/1
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant: 70/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series: 150/1
