From: tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer)
Subject: Re: Post-Draft Thoughts (was:Reaction to Rockies Draft)
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 17:25:22 GMT

In article <Bxwzw6.IJE@encore.com> jsosa@encore.com (Joe Sosa) writes:
>
>The trades for the Marlins:
>They send Greg Hibbard of the White Sox across town to the Cubs for two good
>infielding prospects:  Gary Scott, a sure-fire starter at third, and Alex
>Arias a definite probably in a year or two.  But Arias will play behind....

This looks like a great trade to me!

>Marlins send catcher Eric Helfand (from Oakland) to Oakland and a PTBNL 
>(player-to-be-named-later) for Walt Weiss, shortstop.

Dunno about this one.  But I guess a ballclub needs *some* veteran
influence.  And Weiss will be a fine backup for Arias (once things get
straightened out...).

>C	Steve Decker

A little on the old side, but there's really no question that he can
hit (for a catcher).

>1b	Jeff Conine

Looks like quality.  How old is he?

>2b	Bret Barberie

A steal!  Quality leadoff hitter, even if he only hits .230.  He even
has decent speed.

>SS	Walt Weiss

Yawn.  Nothing special, but Arias looks like what Weiss used to be...
They are solid here.

>3b	Gary Scott

He won't turn the world on its ear, but he should be able to handle
the majors.  You don't expect *that* much production out of 3B.  And
he's still reasonably young.

>LF	Monty Fariss

He can hit.  Somebody teach him to field, and they are set.

>CF	Chuck Carr

Who is Chuck Carr?  Ah.  Another no-talent speedy CF.  But he hit
decent in AAA last year, and is still reasonably young.  I've seen
worse.

>RF	Junior Felix

Not too great...  But he'll hold the position until somebody else
arrives.  In fact, the OF is generally weak.  But OFs are easier to
find than IFs.

>St.Pit	Pat Rapp, Dave Weathers, Jack Armstrong, Scott Chiamparino,
>	Jose Martinez, Ryan Bowen

Wow!  Rapp looks very good.  Chiamparino is good if he has returned
from the injuries.  Jose Martinez looks like a steal!  Weathers has
definite talent.  Armstrong is a head case, and *I* think he sucks.
But at least he has an arm.  Bowen doesn't look quite so hot, but he's
only the #6 starter on this team...

>Md.Rel.	Cris Carpenter, Jim Corsi, Trevor Hoffman

Adequate, I suppose.  Who really cares about middle relief on an
expansion team?

>Closer	Bryan Harvey

I hear the Braves are looking for a closer.  Justice <-> Harvey?  It's
a possibility, and would make this Marlins OF a *lot* stronger.  Let
Felix play as the fourth OF.

>I like what the Marlins have done in the middle relief and closer area.  These
>are established players, and when handed the ball should do a good job in
>getting opposing players out.  It does good when a starting pitcher pitches
>a good game, has the lead, but gets in a jam only to have the relief come in
>and get him out of the jam and seal the win.  These are young starters, they
>won't have to worry about the closers blowing their lead when they leave the
>game, that will help their mental state of it.

Yes.  And I *very* much like their young starting pitching!

>Rockies probable starting lineup?
>
>C	Joe Girardi
>1b	<None drafted, but that's why they got Andres Galarraga>

Both suck.

>2b	Eric Young

Only quality hitter on the team?

>SS	Freddie Benevides

UGH!  He's old and has *never* shown any potential

>3b	Charlie Hayes
>LF	Jerald Clark
>CF	Alex Cole
>RF	Dante Bichette

Fine for next year.  But *zero* future.

>Comparing the two, I like the Marlins (with a touch of bias).
>
>Plenty of free agents will still find their way to these two teams I feel.
>Time will tell come December and January.

Agreed.  IMHO, if the Marlins are willing to field a $20 million
salary, they could quite conceivably contend!  Though their chances
are better aiming at 1994 than 1993 (give the kids a chance to adjust
to the majors and mature another year).  The Marlins have more talent
than the Dodgers or the Red Sox or the Mets or the Tigers, and they
have a *far* lower salary.  They lack superstars, but those can be
signed (for a price, but I contend that under the current free agency
rules, superstars are the *only* free agents really worth signing).

The Rockies are the Mariners of the future.

-Valentine