MLB Season Preview: 2009 Florida Marlins

The Florida Marlins are the baseball franchise equivalent of the fifth wheel.

There's the hot young couple (Philadelphia and New York) getting all the attention, having all the fun, and, yes, doing all the bickering.

And then there's kid brother Florida, with the potential to show someone a real good time but just can't close the deal.

Will they cut in this year?

OFFENSE: B-

You can't watch or read a story about the Fish without hearing about SS Hanley Ramirez and CF Cameron Maybin, and with good reason. So, here's another one.

Ramirez is getting moved down to the third spot in the lineup, where he probably should've been for a while given his numbers (.301, 33 homers, 67 RBI, 35 steals).

And Maybin can take his spot in the leadoff role, and, if his brief stint last year is any indication (eight games, .500 average, four steals), he'll be a candidate for breakout player of the year.

Now, add them to All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla (.260, 32, 92), 3B Jorge Cantu (.277, 29, 95), and RF Cody Ross (.260, 22, 73), this offense could roll on and over opposing pitching like a freight train.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 1 Maybin CF 2 Hermida RF 3 Ramirez SS 4 Uggla 2B 5 Cantu 3B 6 Ross RF 7 Baker C 8 Sanchez 1B 9 Pitcher's spot

STARTING PITCHING: C-

Much like the rest of the team, the Marlins have a lot of investment in the youth movement, led by Ricky Nolasco (15-8, 3.52 ERA). Florida will need another great year from him and for Josh Johnson (7-1, 3.61), Chris Volstad (6-4, 2.88), Anibal Sanchez (2-5, 5.57, and the owner of a no-hitter), and Andrew Miller (came over in the Cabrera/Willis trade, went 6-10, 5.87) to continue to improve, or at least continue being solid to have a chance to compete. In a division with guys like Cole Hamels, Johan Santana, and Derek Lowe, the kids are going to have to become graybeards in an awful hurry.

PROJECTED ROTATION: Nolasco, Johnson, Volstad, Sanchez, Miller

BULLPEN: C-

Kevin Gregg closed out 29 games last year. For his efforts, he got to go to the Chicago Cubs and set up Carlos Marmol for fear of a big contract, and Matt Lindstrom will now take over. He brings with him what most of the staff brings: a blazing fastball (triple digits, it is!) and a lot of inexperience. In fact, the person with the most experience in the bullpen is Scott Proctor, and he's not expected to bring a whole lot more than guidance. The baseball fans of Miami will be learning the names of Renyel Pinto, Leo Nunez, Logan Kensing, Jose Ceda, and Burke Badenhop along with the rest of baseball. Time will tell if it will be for good or bad reasons.

CONCLUSION

The Marlins have the talent, what they don't have is a budget bigger than a shoestring.

They let Miguel Cabrera walk away for prospects, and 127 RBI could've come in handy.

Gregg is a proven commodity at closer, and because he might have gone up in price, he left.

What happens when the other young talent comes to the pay window?

And because of that, and with competing with two open checkbooks in Philly and the Big Apple, they are going to be just left out yet again.

PREDICTION: 83-79, third in National League East