2009 Marlins PT II

The Marlins did not make the playoffs but this group of ball players have been an excitement to watch the whole year. Being through ups and downs, this group of players have turned out to be more like a family. And this is one key role that helps a team build success. From leader Hanley Ramirez to rookie Chris Coghlan. This team is full of talent and I can't wait to see them next season and the ones to come. Of course, it was sort of a failure because we didn't make it to the post-season but we were in it until the end. Thank you for a wonderful and fun season!

NL East: Top 3 Rookies

The 2009 season is about to end and the season awards are near. One close race, other than playoff spots, is the NL Rookie of the Year. A lot of voters have pitchers J.A Happ from the Phillies and Tommy Hanson from the Braves to be the top leading contenders. Others in contention are Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee. How about Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan? Would he be able to beat out his fellow NL East rivals for the ROY award?

Phils pitcher J.A Happ:

• 11-4 record
• 2.79 ERA
• 3 CG (2 SHO)
• 112 SO
• .236 AVG
• 54 BB

Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson:

• 10-4 record
• 2.85 ERA
• 100 SO
• 43 BB
• .230 AVG
  

Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan:

• .311 BA
• .831 OPS
• .448 SLG
• .383 OBP
• 146 Hits
  
• 51 BB
• 76 SO

All 3 of these rookies have helped keep their teams alive in the playoff race and have put up very impressive numbers for rookies. It will be a pure joy to see these players grow and become part of the future of baseball.

Cutler On The Right Track

On getting on the bad side of Bears nation!

Week 1 wasn't what many people planned. Jay Cutler=Jim McMahon right? Well Sunday night was more like Jay Cutler=Rex Grossman. Playing at Lambeau Field is never easy and if you're the Bears, it doesn't get any better.

A lot of people have picked the Bears to win the tough NFC North, but a lost to the division rival Green Bay Packers isn't a good start. Jay Cutler, making his regular season debut for the Bears, looked like if he was making his NFL debut! Going 17-36, 277 yards and with a completion percentage 47.2. Think that looks bad? A rating of 43.2, 1 touchdown and the best stat, 4 interceptions. The last pick thrown sealed the game for the Packers.

The other QB playing in the game, Aaron Rogers, played like if Brett Favre never existed. He didn't throw for 400 yards but the 184 yards was just enough. No picks like what Farve will usually do and other familiar thing, a 50-yard bomb to WR Greg Jennings for a TD. Let me tell you, Aaron Rogers could win a MVP this season.

Remember Cutler's old team? The Denver Broncos! Going to be one of the "worst" teams in NFL? They showed good signs that they do not need Cutler to bring wins to Denver. Their defense played well against a talented offensive team, the Bengals, with Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco (or Johnson). Kyle Orton started his first game with the Broncos, but wasn't 100% with a banged up throwing hand. He started off slow(when I was following the game, he was scaring me with fewer than 80 yards in the 2nd quarter) but ended strong with 243 yards and the only touchdown, which happened to be the game winning touchdown with 11 seconds left. A tipped pass attended for WR Brandon Marshall, was caught by the other Brandon (Stokley) and made the dramatic touchdown and lead the Broncos to the first win of the McDaniels era.

Must Win!

On Sunday, the Marlins were on the verge of sweeping the Nationals once again and could've gain ground on the Wild Card and the division. BUT, it wasn't that easy.

Anibal Sanchez pitched well compare to his last start(also was the 3 year anniversary of his no-hitter vs the D-Backs in his rookie year) going 6 innings, 4 hits and 0 runs allowed. Chris Coghlan and Hanley Ramirez continue hitting as if they were hitting on a t-ball. They just don't stop hitting! So solid starting pitching and the hitting was going well and they were playing the Nats! Couldn't be that hard for the bullpen right?

Renyel Pinto loaded the bases and earned the tying runs that made the score 2-2(Kiko Calero allowed the runs but wasn't earned). Right after that, the Fish bats came alive and scored 2 runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead. Bottom of the ninth now: Leo Nunez, the Marlins "closer" came in to try to seal the win and get the sweep.

First pitch. Bam, homerun. Game turned to 4-3. Two batters later, Ryan Zimmerman, who has is little history of walk-off wins vs. the Marlins killed the team once again. Two run shot that won the game for the Nationals and that was the 6th blown save for Nunez.

This late in the season, it is VERY CRITICAL to take advantage of these "easy" games. The Marlins can't afford to lose a game to a team who might lose 100 games and their pitching has to step up their game and show to the Marlins faithful that they do belong in a major league roster and have the fans respect. You can't do that if you blow a game in the 9th. I understand you can't win all the games, but this time of year, you have to pitch to every batter with nasty stuff and pitch if it was the last time you'll ever pick up the ball. I still believe though! GO MARLINS!