30 Teams in 30 Days

Florida Marlins: The Young and the Talented

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked)

Don't Do It Again

Every year experts seem to discount the Marlins as legitimate playoff contenders, because they're "too young" or "too inexperienced" to compete. And while the Marlins haven't appeared in the playoffs since the 2003 campaign (yes, I know who they beat to get there so I'll spare you from having to take that obvious shot at me) they competed for a playoff spot until the end despite expectations in 2008. Last year they went 84-77, and finished 5.5 games out of the Wild Card, and they hit the third most home runs in baseball (208). This team has a ton of power (more on that in a minute) and a young pitching staff. It never seems like they're going to compete, but don't count them out.

Bombs Away

As previously mentioned, last year's Marlins hit the 3rd most home runs in Major League Baseball. And that's impressive, especially when you consider the cavern that is Dolphin Stadium where they play 81 home games. Three Marlins hitters clubbed more than 30 home runs last year (Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Mike Jacobs) and Jorge Cantu ripped 29 homers. Jacobs has moved on to baseball's abyss, err, the Royals. But this year's group still seems poised to pack some punch. They'll still have Ramirez, Cantu and Uggla in the lineup and Cody Ross too, who hit 22 dingers last year. And I have a feeling that Jeremy Hermida is going to have a breakout year. Maybe 30 home runs from the former 1st round pick. Not my only bold prediction for this preview, by the way.

Pitching Fishy

Last year the Marlins pitching staff was in the bottom 11 in ERA, posting a 4.43 team ERA. That mark also pegged them the 11th best pitching staff out of 16 NL teams. Not so great. Other concerning facts? They walked the 10th most batters in the majors (586) a year ago. They lost their closer to the Cubs bullpen (Kevin Gregg) and now have Matt Lindstrom moving into the role after he comes back from pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. With that name you'd think Lindstrom plays hockey, but in fact he is a relief pitcher. The starting staff is young, and each of their guys has shown promise at one point or another, but for the Marlins to make the playoffs this year they'll need to get these guys to win more games than they ever have. Lead by 15-game winner Ricky Nolasco, the other young guns will have to follow his lead. Assuming health, Josh Johnson could rack up 15 wins this year, considering in just 14 starts last year he went 7-1. After that though, that's where it gets shaky. Anibal Sanchez really struggled last year, and has just four wins over the past two injury plagued years. Chris Volstad and Andrew Miller will need to be solid on the back end as well.

Maybe Maybin

Cameron Maybin has been a top ten prospect in Baseball America for a couple of years now. So it's time to see how good this guy really is. He's going to get the chance to start in center field, by all accounts, and is supposed to be a five-tool guy. I know, I know. Most of these so-called five-tool guys don't ever work out. But maybe Maybin will be the shot in the arm that Florida needs if they want to make a run at the post season in 2009. I wouldn't be shocked to see a batting average around .280, an on base percentage around .360, and maybe 15 homers and 25 steals.

Bold Prediction

Ricky Nolasco will finish in the top five in the National League Cy Young voting at season's end. Trust me. This guy is dirty. He's going to have a monster year.

Up Next...Monday, Nationals

Why Jon Gruden Had To Go

The Buccaneers aren't many people's favorite team, outside of Tampa Bay.

They don't have a flashy running back, wide receiver, tight end, or quarterback.  Matter of fact, anyone flashy (or fun) on the offensive side of the ball.  What's more, the last one they had (see Cadillac Williams), just tore his second patellar tendon in as many knees (and years) and really only had four great games in the NFL.  The rest of the positions have been often productive, often valuable, but rarely fun.

Jon Gruden was fun.  He was a screamer, a yeller, a curser.  He'd make funny faces, scrunch up his nose, and seem to have a permanent scowl on that mug of his no matter what the situation.  In essence, he lived up to his nickname as Chucky.

And so with that said, it's difficult to see the last remaining fun sucked out of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  

But, it had to happen.  While it may seem as if this season's collapse did in Gruden (though really, coaches have been fired for less--losing four in a row to choke away a playoff berth is hardly job-saving), a closer look at his time in Tampa reveals that he really hasn't been as successful as one might have you to believe.  (What he's looking at, figures and numbers-wise, I have no idea).

While it is true that Gruden did have a winning percentage over .500 in his seven year stint, most of that came in that first Super Bowl season.  Now, not to take away from a championship, but, most of that was Tony Dungy's handiwork.  That team wasn't beating people with Brad Johnson and an offensive onslaught, it was D (Dungy's D) that made that team great.

So, we fast forward a bit.  Over the remaining six years, Gruden would go 45-53, and would lose both first round playoff games he was in.  What's worse (and more important), Gruden couldn't get the team to win when it mattered.  In the 6 Decembers following the Super Bowl, Tampa emerged with a winning record for the month only once.  Not good.

Finally, if you'd really like to get picky, Tampa, under Gruden, has shown a seemingly blatant disregard for developing young quarterbacks.  The Garcias and Grieses and Johnsons of the world aren't really a recipe for future success, and, with the only  young quarterback on the roster being Josh Johnson (the blankness of his profile says all you need to know), the Bucs are again faced with the prospect of returning another aging fogey behind center (be it Jeff Garcia or otherwise).  

Gruden will obviously land on his feet, and that's a good thing.  He's a fun coach, and a fun guy to have around.  But, in Tampa, his time had come, fun or no fun.