Excuse the hiatus.

I apologize if it appears as if I have grown apathetic, this is not the case.

The fish have been doing great since last post. Specifically the pitching, but more specifically the bats.

But more specifically, the pitching. The Marlins "Big 3"(JJ, Nolasco, Anibal) have shown up this season and have significantly supported this squad for the matches to this point. Anibals no hit bid last night is just what he needed since his numbers seemed misleading due to his high K/BB ratio and ERA before the performance. Actually, he cut his ERA in half. Props to the Animal.

Ricky is another unsung hero. Putting in work every outing like he has to the best of his ability.

JJ is getting the Cy young this year. called it.

What is amusing is the presence of Stanton and the absence of Lomo, mirrors the earlier games where Logan Morrison played and Stanton was missing . Consequently, the bench has come in and filled in those holes quite nicely. Mid-Season form seems scary for the rest of the NL East. The fish are going to take the league by storm and they don't even see it coming.

DEFENSE?

Well, admittedly still not the strongest point despite the given evidence.

 
Its still early.

this is still the year.

Jose Reyes looks like a predator baby monkey

Not this again

The Marlins cannot go back to their ways of their immediate past. This is a different team. Similar pieces, different team. Errors are a curse that this team needs to break ASAP.  Uggly's gone for that specific reason.


JJ starts are supposed to be the best games played. Not to downplay the other pitchers, but JJ is the centerpiece to the clubs success. The team needs to find it in them to play like machines as JJ does every night he pitches.

The pen looked weak.


Muji got rocked by LaRoche ughhh
and theres nothing else to say about that.

But I can say that its early in the season, and that there are 156 games left. Not to mention The fish are holding on to second place(lol theres positivity in everything).

On the road we go.

Houston were comin for you.

Lets go

Lets get down to brass tacks, Gaby's hittin, Lomo's hittin, Donnie's showin up, Buck for MVP, even Emilio Bonifacio has the best AVG on the lineup. The rest of the lineup is already spoken for. Hanley is one of the most stellar hitters in the league, Infante and Cogz are on base seemingly always and Stanton isnt even hittin to protect Hanley yet. With consistency this lineup is one of the most dangerous lineups to have to face in the MLB.

Earning 8 BB this Marlins lineup showed patience again in their 7-4 come from behind W against The Natinals.

No post goes without mentioning the beloved bullpen(no pressure) which showed up again with a combination of 4 pitchers to throw 4 shutout innings, striking out 5 Natinal batters and allowing only 2 hits.

bats bat'n. arms throwin


defense?



JJ for the sweep

DONNIE BLEEPING MURPHY

Marlins record their first walk-off win of the season off of Donnie Murphy's RBI single to left center field. The Matchup was a pitchers duel between Jason Marquis(WAS) and Anibal Sanchez(FLA), as they kept both teams to just 2 runs. Anibal had a solid outing fanning 7 batters but also allowed a homerun in the 3rd which is a rare occasion considering he only allowed 10 HRs in over 190 innings last year.

A win's a win, but you cant ignore the fact that the Marlins had batting woes throughout this game. Failing to produce hits with RISP is a weakness the Marlins cannot afford letting other teams exploit. The lack of  production also exposes how important it is to have Stanton protecting Hanley in the lineup.

With that being said, Cogz seems to be handling center field just fine as he nabs the top spot on Web gems and MLB Premier plays in the first inning by stretching out and making a diving catch to end the inning and deprive veteran Rick Ankiel of a potential extra base hit and RBI.

The bullpen had another solid outing as five ams backed up Anibals 5 innings.Specifically newcomer Edward Mujica, who closed out the game and notched a W in his stat sheet by striking out 2 batters.

Volstad vs. Livan tomorrow.

LETS GO FISH

On the bright side... well...

After a stellar opening night, the Marlins failed to follow up and keep the good times rolling through the remainder of the weekend. Its almost as if everything they exercised on the first night got thrown out the window. Although the bats seemed to have grown frustrated and impatient hacking away at every knuckleball, and the bullpen seemed to have shut down in the nailbiter on saturday night, there was one specific performance that stood out and helped to look on the brighter side of things: Brian Sanches 4 innings of relief on sunday afternoon were a good sign of things to come.

In a rotation where the only solid presence is the ace, those 4 innings seem to be the most important 4 innings of the season as of yet (its been 4 days....but still). Sanches displayed stellar control and played to the umpires strikezone perfectly. he also added a hit to his 4 inning appearance where he had to really hustle out the throw to first lol.

The loss really reflected how the Marlins defense still has the same kinks that have cursed them for the past couple of years but be confident they will get it together. Once the Bats start swinging and making contact most young groups ride the train of enthusiasm and start making the right decisions with the confidence they gain.

Nationals comin to town. No fights.

k... maybe some fights

Marlins vs. Mets 6-2 W

Opening Night, there really is nothing like it. 41,000 people, limited parking, tailgates galore, and for the first time, MORE MARLINS FANS than Mets fans?! Must be a dream. The Marlins came out strong on their opening night showcasing what they are capable of doing for this 2011 season. Josh Johnson had a remarkable start taking a no-hitter into the 6th while the bats lifted the fish to a 6-2 win. Mainly the ax-work of former Blue Jay now Marlin monster catcher John Buck who belted a grand-slam over right center field in the bottom of the 4th.

Bucks GS wasnt the only impressive aspect about the batting lineup. Everyone brought quality at bats, bringing up Mike Pelfreys pitch count early in the game. By the 5th inning, Pelfrey had already thrown 97 pitches and dug himself into a 5-0 hole. Logan Morrison added a HR in the bottom of the 8th to top off the Marlins offensive beatdown(too much?w.e. its opening day!) on the Mets Mess. The entire lineup with the exception of JJ notched a hit and collectively earned 4 Walks.

JJ didnt need to hit anything with the performance he was giving. Two of the three strikeouts he recorded were to mets poster-boy David Wright. One swinging, one looking (had'm fooled). Not allowing a hit until the 6th inning and only walking 2, JJ was dialed in early in the game. Topping out at 97, JJ proved he is ready for the season.

Bullpen woes seem to be gone as the new addition Michael Dunn got some face time recording a strikeout in his Marlins regular season debut. Clay Hensley and Leo Nunez closed out the game in stellar fashion each recording a K as well.

JJ gets a W, bullpen lookin solid, runs produced by the middle of the lineup, youngns shown plate discipline. Couldnt have asked for more.

it looks like its going to be a good season.

THIS IS THE YEAR