Joe Frisaro covers the Florida Marlins for MLB.com and he was nice enough to answer questions on the 2008 Florida Marlins.
Baseball-Rumors: How disappointed are fans that both Cabrera and Willis were dealt?
Joe Frisaro: Naturally losing two players who had been the face of the franchise hurts. They also were the final two links to the 2003 World Series squad, and they represented the future for the franchise. Fans of this team are used to seeing top names go, and that obviously is a reason why attendance remains at or near the bottom of the league. But to the organization’s credit, they’ve been able to bring in top players to replace those who move on. Until a new stadium is finalized, economic hardships will be a reality for this club. Fans don’t like to hear that, but the business side of this sport causes teams to make harsh decisions. You just hate to see two stars and proven winners like Cabrera and Willis leave when they were both two years away from free agency.
Baseball-Rumors: Hanley Ramirez is quickly becoming a fan favorite, not to mention he's one of the best young shortstops in the game. How impressed have you been with him from 2006 to 2007?
Joe Frisaro: Very impressed. He’s not just one of the top young shortstops in the game, he’s one of the best overall players. You would be hard pressed to find any objective GM who wouldn’t take Ramirez over any other shortstop in the league, and I’m including Jimmy Rollins, the MVP of a year ago. Ramirez does need to work on being more focused on defense, but offensively he is a true force who can contribute in so many ways. What people don’t know about him is he’s highly motivated to be the best. That competitive drive , I feel, will make him the premiere shortstop in the game. I am a bit concerned, though, about how he will handle dropping to third in the order, if indeed manager Fredi Gonzalez moves him out of the leadoff spot. When he is batting first, he is a threat to steal 50 bases along with post remarkable all-around numbers. If he is asked to be a true middle of the lineup hitter, striving to drive the ball out of the park may end up dropping him from a .330 hitter to a .300 hitter.
Baseball-Rumors: One of the prospects the Marlins got in the Cabrera/Willis deal was Cameron Maybin, who was one of Detroit's top outfield prospects. Are you expecting to see good things from him?
Joe Frisaro: From people that I’ve spoken to who have seen him play, they all use the word “freak” to describe Maybin. Physically, he is a marvel, being tall and athletic. Like Hanley Ramirez, Maybin is regarded as a player who eventually will steal 50 bases and hit 30 homers. Still, he won’t turn 21 until April. Ramirez won NL Rookie of the Year at age 22. So it is a matter of whether he will be truly ready to step in as a starter on Opening Day. The Marlins will give him every chance to win that job. But this is a production sport. If he produces in Spring Training, he will win the job. If not, a couple of more months in the Minor Leagues will be in order before he takes over every day.
Baseball-Rumors: Scott Olsen has shown flashes of being one of the better young pitchers in the game. Has he just not put it all together yet?
Joe Frisaro: Olsen is a fiery competitor who has let his emotions get the best of him. He’s now 24, and in interviewing him in December, he talked about having to grow up sometime. This is a big year for him, because he now is being put in a leadership spot on a team that gives opportunities to young players. He will have a new pitching coach in Mark Wiley, who has the challenge of keeping Olsen’s mind focused on his mechanics and staying poised enough to be productive.
Baseball-Rumors: Another young pitcher that's getting a lot of talk is Taylor Tankersley. What's your scouting report on him.
Joe Frisaro: Tankersley had his ups and downs in ’07 after he was so effective in ’06. The difference was he opened last Spring Training with a shoulder problem that led to him opening the season on the disabled list. His velocity didn’t really match his ’06 readings, when he was more of a 93-94 mph pitcher, compared to 90-91 mph last year. Still, he battled and had his moments being effective. If he is healthy, he should regain that confidence and command, and be a vital part of the bullpen.
Baseball-Rumors: Dontrelle Willis seemed to be the vocal leader of the Marlins the past few seasons, with him now gone, who do you think takes the reigns?
Joe Frisaro: That’s a good question that won’t be answered until the players arrive in Spring Training. In talking to some of the players, they point to veterans like Kevin Gregg and Matt Treanor. This team doesn’t have a lot of overall experience. Gregg, though, is a steady and heady player who is greatly respected. Treanor, being a catcher, and someone who was in camp with the ’03 Marlins knows what it takes to be a winner. Mark Hendrickson, who was just signed to join the rotation, is a veteran, but he will go through a process of acclimating himself to the squad. I think new catcher Mike Rabelo will step up and be vocal as well.
