2009 Florida Marlins

Youth. Key word for the Marlins this season. The Marlins have the the second youngest pitching staff in all the league with an average of 24.2. The fish are one of seven teams in the majors with a pitching staff under 30. Ricky Nolasco, the ace of the club from last season had a solid outing in his first start of the young season pitching six innings, seven hits, five earned runs, and six strikeouts with no walks. In the second game of the season, the Marlins threw out Josh Johnson to pitch against the Nats. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, the 6-foot-7 twenty-five year old had no signs of rust. Pitching 6 2/3 shutout innings. The Nationals got seven hits off J.J, but struck out eight times while facing Johnson. To add to those stats, he allowed no walks during the game. First sweep of season? A young right handed pitcher was given the task to start the season 3-0. Chris Volstad, a twenty-two year old from Palm Beach Gardens is preparing for his first full major league season. How did he start? After a shaky first inning, Volstad calmed down and showed signs of being the face of the team for years to come. In five innings of work, he allowed two runs, one earned, two hits, four walks and seven K's, leading the Marlins to a 6-4 win and earning their first sweep of the season. Not to mention Anibal Sanchez, who could be the starter for the Mets game, threw a no-hitter in his first season in the show. There's more. Hanley Ramirez, the franchise player, could be a future MVP for being a five-tool player. Batting third in the lineup, he brings power and speed in the middle of the lineup. Just being twenty-four, he is projected to be a 30-30 player batting in the third whole. He is still a student of the game, but when he is done learning. Move out of the way A-Rod. In the off season the Fish traded Josh Willingham and south-paw Scott Olsen to the Nationals for a speedy middle infielder by the name of Emilio Bonifacio. Emi who? Who in the heck is that? Coming in spring training the Marlins were in doubt with who will be playing at the hot corner this season. Bonifacio, never playing a game at third, worked hard enough to earn the job. Now batting first in the lineup, it brings back memories of the Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo when the blazing speed was at the top of the lineup. He didn't disappoint the fans by having an inside the park home run the first game of the season. Dan Uggla, the power-hitting second baseman, can very well be the best hitting second basemen in all of baseball. Who wouldn't like to have a 30-35 home run hitter batting fifth in a lineup full of talent. Talent? Cameron Maybin, the starting center fielder, is a 'rookie of the year' candidate. Another speedster on the team, Maybin is just starting a promising career. Power, Speed, Defense, Pitching, the 2009 Florida Marlins are lock and loaded to make a run in the NL East and being a contender in all of baseball to play in the "Fall Classic" and bringing a third World Series title to sunny South Florida.