Treanor Hurt, John Baker Up

Matt Treanor looks like he'll be going to the DL. He injured an abdominal muscle last night while trying to avoid being hit by a ground ball...the outcome? The ball hit him and he hurt himself. Double whammy.

This puts the Marlins catching situation in an interesting spot. Treanor's hitting may have been mediocre (at best), but his fielding was spectacular. His presence behind the plate will be sorely missed.

I thought Mike Rabelo might be recalled, but it seems the Marlins want him to work things out. That's the right move. Instead, the popular John Baker will get his big shot. I'm not sure what the distribution of starts will be between Hoover and Baker, but I wouldn't be surprised if Baker gets a good number.

Matt Birnbach - a longtime Baker proponent - provides us with some commentary on John Baker:

"John Baker trained hard this off season trying to get in shape for Marlins camp and maybe an outside shot at making the team. He didn’t see too many at bats in Spring games as he lost out to Matt Treanor and Paul Hoover (Mike Rabelo had to rehab in the minors first.) As of his calling up, he was hitting .316/.394/.492 with 21 extra base hits (6hr) in 193 at bats. Against lefties, he was hitting .382/.443/.455 in 55 at bats.

It will be interesting to see what the 27 year old rookie can do. It’s been a long time coming for him, and if he gets off to a hot start, he might have himself a job for awhile."

Rabelo Sent Down, Hoover Up

We at The South Florida Fan haven't exactly been the biggest fans of Mike Rabelo. Unfortunately for Rabelo, it had little to do with him. I was frustrated with the Marlins' insistence on asserting Rabelo as a marquee member of the Cabrera-Willis trade, despite no evidence to prove he was worth anything.

It's been a steep descent for Rabelo. He went from having the starting job, to becoming Treanor's backup, to now starting for AAA Albuquerque. To make matters worse, this comes on the heels of a mind-numbing bungle in his last Major League game (he forgot to tag the runner at home, thinking there was a force). For the sake of his career and his confidence, I hope that doesn't stand as his last day in the Majors.

In the meantime, Paul Hoover comes up to take his place. This not only solidifies Treanor's role as the lead catcher, but also gives him a greater share of the starts. Hoover is in tonight, but expect Treanor in nearly every game from tomorrow onwards.

Will the Tigers Rue the Day?

It is an interesting question. One that was laughable over the winter and has become more and more serious as this strange season has progressed.

Will the Tigers rue the day that they traded Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo, Burke Badenhop, Eulogio De la Cruz and Dallas Trahern for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis? I think they already do.

The pitching-needy Tigers sent a wildly ineffective Willis to the minors today. Cabrera just keeps eating his way towards worsening numbers and more games at DH. Slow-footed Detroit is the biggest bust in baseball.

Meanwhile, without Cabrera the Marlins are better offensively than they were a year ago (the Fish lead MLB in homers). They replaced Willis, the spark of 2003's magical run, with Miller, who even in his youthful inconsistency has been eons better than the man-who-used-to-be-called-the-D-Train this season. The potential of Miller, Maybin, De la Cruz and Badenhop outshine Cabrera and Willis at this point.

With tonight's win the Marlins are six games over .500 and three games out of first. The Tigers wallow at 27-37, 10 games behind the surging White Sox in the AL Central.

Would Cabrera (.270/8 HR/36 RBI) and Willis (0-1/10.32 ERA/21 BB/5 K) have been this bad had they remained in South Florida? Would the Marlins be so close to the top of the league with the moody Miggy and off-track D-Train still in town?

Sure, Cabrera is underachieving as his weight and batting average remain in far-too-close proximity. He probably will regain some semblance of his old self. No, Dontrelle isn't this bad, although his final days in teal weren't so pretty either. But the trade that was supposed to sink the Marlins to the NL seafloor and boost the Tigers to the World Series isn't delivering expected results.

I wonder if Detroit regrets it already.

Hanley's Back! So are the Marlins!

I was mentally prepared for another disappointing loss. I wasn't even surprised. It was total resignation drenched over my face, the acceptance of a once-promising season going clumsily down the garbage disposal (yes, it's not just a drain, it's a painful one with slicers).

Then something happened. Down 4-2 in the 9th, superstar Cody Ross (the hottest player in MLB right now) starts things off with a single to left. Okay, there's something. Then Mike Rabelo (of all people) launches a bomb into right center. HOLY SH*T!!!! A couple batters later, Cantu doubles and then Hanley, the goat of May, blasts his second homer of the day. WOW!

In a road trip so marred by blown leads, it was about time the Marlins got one back. Suddenly, the Marlins can turn this into a 4-6 trip tomorrow night, which is a whole lot better than 2-8. Now if only the Phillies would lose a game.

From the Jaws of Defeat

The Marlins were headed down a similar path, a gruesome pattern that had repeated itself for four straight miserable games. Here's the format:

1. Fall behind
2. Tie the game
3. Fall behind again
4. Almost come back, but lose in heartbreaking fashion

Trailing 3-2 in the 7th inning with the bottom of the lineup at the plate, I wasn't exactly confident. Then Gonzalez laces a single, Rabelo walks on 4 pitches (about all he's good for these days), and in steps Wes Helms. Yes, the same Wes Helms who the Marlins got for absolutely nothing. And he CRUSHES an 0-2 curve into the left field seats.

It was truly exhilarating. Back to winning ways, back to alone in first place, back to confidence. Was it Jay Warman's presence that turned things around? Was it Reader Paul's conclusion of his law school exams? Whatever it was, the Marlins got one back!

20-14 Marlins? Yep!

Just a week ago, the curtain seemed to be falling on the Marlins' early-season masquerade. With the injuries to Jacobs and Willingham (still not back) catching up to them, "bad, ill and no" still floundering, and Kevin Gregg imploding, things did not look good. The home sweep at the hand of the Dodgers dropped them to 15-13. Storybook season in major jeopardy.

Then something happened. Was it inferior competition? Was it that Fredi Gonzalez switched the lineup around, igniting Hanley and Uggla to emerge from their slumps while increasing RBI production? Was it that in the same week, Andrew Miller and Burke Badenhop both turned in decent performances?

I think it was a combination of those things. Either way, the Marlins are sitting pretty once again. The only negative? Their NL East rivals, off to disappointing starts, have all heated up. The Braves win every day, the Phillies have played solid ball, and the Mets will be there to the end. 20-14 doesn't mean anything permanent, but it sure as hell beats 17-17.

Game Note: After going 2-3 with a HR, Matt Treanor is making a strong case for starting (or at least getting equal time). Let's take a look at Treanor vs. Rabelo now:

Treanor: .288/.362/.385 (How about that OBP!)
Rabelo: .238/.286/.302

Hmmm. Did I say equal time? There's no reason in the world not to start Treanor right now. The organization's quest to "save face" on the Tigers deal with Mike Rabelo is getting - as a friend would say - ridonculous.

Treanor or Rabelo...or John Baker?

Matt Treanor has been striking out with the regularity in which he eats his meals (thrice a day, with maybe a midnight snack), and Mike Rabelo hasn't been much better. Behind the plate, Treanor has been solid, Rabelo weak (and unprofessional, as shown when he spiked the ball on Tuesday night). Neither has persuaded any fans that he should be the starter, though Treanor is a competent backup in this league.

Future Fish has been touting the name John Baker since the beginning of this year. Yesterday he again made the case. Here's an excerpt:

"And what’s our friend John Baker hitting in Albuquerque you ask? He is hitting .414/.500/.569 with 7 extra base hits in 58 at bats. Remember last year when he couldn’t hit lefties and I suggested maybe he would be a good platoon partner? He’s 8 of 14 off southpaws with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. Against righties, Baker is hitting .364/.440/.545 in 44 at bats. He’s flat out dominating the league right now."

As Future Fish admits, those numbers are in the inflated PCL, but they can't be ignored. Why not give Baker a try?

Of course, the Marlins have been trying to prove Rabelo's worth since they dealt Cabrera and Willis for him last summer. Sometimes a franchise needs to eat its mistakes and move on. Let's hope John Baker gets an opportunity soon.

Marlins Hitter Evaluations: 2nd Edition

After being prodded enough by Jay Warman and a few readers, I've decided to come out with the next edition of Marlins Hitter Evaluations. You may recall that in the first edition, I had some choice words for Jorge Cantu, while praising Robert Andino to no end. Things have evened out a bit, so prepare yourselves for a brunch-like meal of crow:

1. Hanley Ramirez: .333/.406/.622, 20R, 17RBI, 7HR, 8SB - The average has dipped, but the power has become explosive. Even more impressive are the 7 steals since my last edition. The best news? His defense has improved considerably from last year. My only concern is that he's becoming homer-happy, turning himself into an all-out slugger instead of the placesetter they need him to be.
Full Season Projection: 147R, 125RBI, 52HR, 59SB (Wow!)
Grade: A+ (Previous Grade: A+)

2. Dan Uggla: .262/.333/.488, 10R, 10RBI, 3HR, 8 Doubles - Uggla has been on an absolute tear over the last two weeks, benefiting in part from The Great Andino's bat. The OBP is steadily rising, while the power continues to show. This generation's "Charlie Hustle" is now on track for another excellent season.
Full Season Projection: 77R, 77RBI, 23HR, 61 Doubles
Grade: B+ (Previous Grade: D+)

3. Mike Jacobs: .277/.307/.614, 13R, 17RBI, 7HR, 7 Doubles - The much-discussed Mike Jacobs is rarely walking (4BB), but he's taking advantage of everything he swings at. Jacobs not only carries the distinction being the Marlins' top slugger, but he also hit the fastest HR in the majors this year (4/11/08 at Houston).
Full Season Projection: 100R, 130RBI, 54HR, 54 Doubles
Grade: A (Previous Grade: B-)

4. Josh Willingham: .329/.396/.659, 15R, 16RBI, 6HR, 5 Doubles, 2 Triples, 2SB - Willingham has been steadily and consistently mashing the ball. While Hanley and Jacobs have gotten all the attention, Willingham has been nothing short of phenomenal. Just look at those numbers!
Full Season Projection: 110R, 118RBI, 44HR, 15 Triples, 15SB
Grade: A+ (Previous Grade: C)

5. Jeremy Hermida: .246/.295/.421, 8R, 10RBI, 2HR, 4 Doubles - Hermida's totals are down because he missed the first week of the season (see projections). That being said, the OBP is disgusting for a player of his caliber. The power has been nice, but he needs to start lacing more singles and walking a whole lot more.
Full Season Projection: 88R, 110RBI, 22HR, 44 Doubles
Grade: C (Previous Grade: Was on DL)

6. Jorge Cantu: .325/.381/.532, 12R, 8RBI, 3HR, 7 Doubles, 2SB - WHAT??? Where the hell did this come from? I can't argue against this anymore. While it would be foolish to expect him to keep this up and his defense is still poor, this man deserves the highest accolades. By the way, crow has a bitter taste.
Full Season Projection: 96R, 64RBI, 24HR, 56 Doubles, 16SB
Grade: A+ (Previous Grade: F)

7. Alfredo Amezaga: .306/.424/.429, 8R, 5RBI, 4 Doubles, 10BB - The average and slugging have dropped, but that .424 OBP is stupendous! For a speedy singles hitter to get on base at that rate, all we can do is applaud. The defense has been terrific too. He has earned the nickname Amazin' Amezaga tenfold.
Full Season Projection: 64R, 40RBI, 32 Doubles, 80BB
Grade: A+ (Previous Grade: A+)

8. Cody Ross: .146/.163/.220, 3 Doubles - It's been a slump-ridden season for the likable Ross. I still believe he'll pull out of it (see our piece on his Wonder Boy moment). Don't be discouraged, codyross.org. We still believe!
Full Season Projection: 29 Doubles
Grade: F (Previous Grade: F)

9. Matt Treanor: .211/.268/.263, 3R, 2 Doubles, 1RBI - No matter how often Misti May gives it to him, the power just won't come (okay, that was wrong...I meant gives him encouragement). Even so, he's been an impenetrable fortress behind the plate, and his defense makes him worthy of a roster spot.
Full Season Projection: 41R, 14RBI, 27 Doubles
Grade: D+ (Previous Grade: D+)

10. Mike Rabelo: .216/.250/.324, 4R, 4RBI, 1HR - Another near waste of space in the lineup, at least Rabelo has a little power (just a little). Any gains he may have made there on Treanor, however, are quickly forfeited by his much inferior defense.
Full Season Projection: 55R, 55RBI, 14HR
Grade: D+ (Previous Grade: Was on DL)

Others:
Luis Gonzalez - Any drop in average has been more than made up for by his patient plate appearances in key situations, power, and salubrious clubhouse influence
Robert Andino - The Great Andino hasn't gotten much playing time, and his numbers are a lot more human. We'll still never forget his walkoff shot and stellar defense. Also, he gets credit for giving Dan Uggla his magic bat.
Wes Helms - Wes hasn't shown much yet, but we should give him time to work out of his slump

MVP: Hanley Ramirez/Josh Willingham (a tie)
Most Improved: Dan Uggla
LVP: Cody Ross
Most Likely to Improve: Cody Ross
Most Likely to Decline: Jorge Cantu
Most Likely to Break Out: Jeremy Hermida
Who to Watch: Dan Uggla

Treanor or Rabelo?

Eighteen games into this young season, the Marlins are faced with a conflict as to who should be considered the starting catcher.

Matt Treanor, better known for his marriage to Volley Ball star, Misty May, began the year as the #1 catcher on the depth chart because Mike Rabelo, acquired from the Detroit Tigers this off-season, was on the 15 day disabled list with a left knee sprain. Rabelo made his Florida major league debut on April 11th against the Astros and went 2-5 with a HR. Rabelo has made the majority of the starts after coming out of injury, playing in 6 games. Treanor, on the other hand, has started 10 games this season, but only 3 since Rabelo's return.

Treanor is without question the better, defensively, of the two. He has been terrific at blocking the plate and picking out balls in the dirt. People don't realize this, but there were a few games this season, including last Wednesday's 6-5 win against the Braves, where Treanor made some crucial stops on breaking pitches from various Marlins relief pitchers with runners on 3rd. Also, Treanor has shown to have a strong arm to 2nd base, and has picked off 5 base-stealers this season.

However, Treanor, batting .229, has struggled at the plate over his career in the big leagues with very little power and an inability to come through with runners in scoring position. For example, in today's game against the Nats, he came up four times, doubling, walking, and striking out twice. His double came with two outs in the 2nd inning with the pitcher Scott Olsen on deck. His two strike outs came in the 4th and 8th, each with one out and a runner on 3rd.

Rabelo is a guy who is known to have power and is supposed to be a better hitter than Treanor. Currently he is batting .160 with 1 HR, but has only appeared in 7 games. In Saturday's game against the Nats, Rabelo was able to get the ball in play with one out and Jorge Cantu on third in bottom of the 6th. Unlike Treanor, he didn't strike out and managed to score the run.

So far, Rabelo has been anything but efficient defensively. In the 9th inning on Saturday, he let two Kevin Gregg pitches in the dirt get by him, one of them allowing the runners to advance to 2nd and 3rd. This proved costly as Austin Kearns singled to right with 2 outs, evening the game at 5-5. It would have only made it 5-4 if Rabelo had stopped the wild pitch. Treanor likely would have. Fortunately, the Marlins were able to win it in the bottom of the inning on a Wes Helms walk-off single.

All in all, each player has his upside and downside. Treanor is more experienced and more skilled defensively while Rabelo is probably a little better of a hitter with much more power.

For now, I say let's just give them even playing time. Eventually we'll see who is more essential to the team.

Rabelo's Back...Are We Gonna Be In Trouble?

The Marlins Organization's praise for Mike Rabelo is almost as astounding as it is ludicrous. Some attribute this to an attempt to save face; he was the third biggest name in the Cabrera-Willis trade, behind Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. Personally, I hope that's the reason, but I'm not so sure.

I'm legitimately worried that the team is overvaluing him. It's really quite baffling. He was never considered a major prospect, and he's done nothing in his minor league career (or extremely limited major league career) to suggest he's anything more than a career backup.

Why not make him earn a spot, let alone start a few games? It's not like Paul Hoover wasn't getting it done. As Fish Stripes espouses:

"That's right the Marlins are bringing up a catcher who hit .200/.250/.267 in class A during rehab and sending down one who was batting .429 in the majors. "

That just about sums up my feelings on this absurd situation. Matt Treanor may not be a powerhouse of a hitter, but at least he plays good defense. I'd rather take his hole in the lineup than a lesser black hole.