Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Sports Geek.
We are ten days into the Major League Baseball season and there are some things happening that do not surprise me. Albert Pujols is raking the ball. The Houston Astros are terrible. The San Francisco Giants have an awesome pitching staff. Chipper Jones already has a nagging injury. I could go on and on. But for the purposes of this debate, we are looking at possible sleeper teams in baseball this season. Babe Ruthless has chosen to go with the Royals, while Sports Geek has decided to go with the Rays. Both of are good picks in contrasting ways. But I am going to go with the Florida Marlins.
Did you know that last season’s Florida Marlins team won 87 games? I happen to know that since I follow the National League East quite regularly. The Marlins seemingly fly under the radar every season, and that is one of the essential reasons why they have to be considered a sleeper. Despite having a solid team returning, do you want to guess how many fantasy players from the Marlins are actually on a team in The Sports Debates fantasy league? I counted three, with those being the obvious choices of Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson, and Dan Uggla. No one really knows about this team, and that includes the residents in South Florida, as the Marlins historically rank near the bottom of the league in attendance.
We have shown the Marlins a little bit of love in the past month. I highlighted the N.L. East as the best division in baseball a couple of weeks ago, and just last week Sports Geek said that the Marlins had the “best rotation for the money.” That rotation starts with Johnson, obviously, but veterans like Ricky Nolasco and Nate Robertson can definitely win double digit games.
Everyone knows about Ramirez and Uggla, but did you know that last season’s National League Rookie of the Year plays for the Fish? That’s right! Introduce yourself to Chris Coghlan. He is off to a slow start this season, but in 2009 he was a nuisance for opponents as he seemingly always was on base. I like to call him a “contact hitter specialist.” Some like to call him a “professional hitter,” but I do not think that gives him enough credit.
Another player who is off to a hot start this year is Jorge Cantu. Cantu already has 13 runs batted in this season. He has at least one RBI in eight straight games. He also flies under the radar. Until writing this argument I did not realize that he had 100 RBI last season.
All of these guys are managed by Fredi Gonzalez, who I think could be on the short list to replace Bobby Cox in Atlanta next year. Gonzalez was a third base coach for the Braves from 2003-2006. His ability to get these young guys in Florida to come together is underappreciated by a lot of people, but it is hard to ignore the results.
The fact that you probably do not know much about the Marlins is what makes them a sleeper. But if they make a serious run towards the postseason, which is quite possible, then you just may hear more about those elusive Marlins that no one can reel in!
