Marlins Beast (and least) of the Week

The Marlins Beast of the Week is…

Jorge Cantu, 3B. Cantu had a monster of a week, hitting .407, .379, .889 with 3 HR and 7 RBI. He is an important part of the Marlins’ lineup, hitting .287, .340, .494 for the year with 11 HR and 34 RBI.

Runners-Up: Dan Uggla, Justin Miller, Scott Olsen

And the Marlins least of the week is…

Jacques Jones, OF. NL Beast praised the Marlins for picking Jones up off of waivers last month. But Jones has not come through since then, and had a terrible week for the Fish, hitting .083, .214, .083 in 12 at-bats. That won’t help his .153 batting average on the year.

Runners-Down: Ricky Nolasco, Matt Treanor, Jeremy Hermida

How ’bout those standings

Another week has passed and the Florida Marlins are still in first place. We’ve talked again and again about how surprised we are here at NL Beast that the Marlins have continued to overachieve as much as they have so far this season. We’ve said that the Marlins have the pieces to achieve and that they should be a real contender as soon as next year. We’ve said it can’t last this season, and that it’s a nice story until the Phillies, Braves, or Mets step up and regain the top spot in the division.

 

But every week proves us wrong as the Marlins keep winning. They’ve been criticized for beating up on the bottom of the barrel. Then they sweep the Diamondbacks. Their pitching has been criticized as young and inexperienced. Then Andrew Miller outpitches Brandon Webb. Their offense has been described as resting on Hanley Ramirez. But it is Dan Uggla who is setting the pace not just for Marlins hitters but for Major League Baseball. Make no mistake about it, the Marlins are a dangerous team.

Marlins Beast (and least) of the week

The Marlins Beast of the Week is…

2B Dan Uggla, again. We’ve spent enough time explaining why this former Rule-V draft pick is a Beast (he won the distinction of Beast of the East the last two weeks running), so here are his stats from the last seven days: .333, .417, .905, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 1.321 OPS (ridiculous).

Runners-Up: Jorge Cantu, Kevin Gregg, Andrew Miller

The Marlins least of the week is…

1B Mike Jacobs. Nine strikeouts in 19 at-bats is just not going to cut it. Jacobs’ stats for the week: .158, .158, .158 (is this possible?), 0 HR, 0 RBI, .316 OPS. Jacobs is a crucial bat for the Marlins; he needs to improve for the Fish to stay hot.

Runners-down: Jeremy Hermida, Hanley Ramirez

Around the Beast

Nationals 5-Brewers 1

Jeff Suppan pitched well for Milwaukee until the sixth, when the [long-absent] Washington offense came alive. After J.J. Hardy mishandled a double-play ball, the Nats broke through, scoring on doubles by Ryan Zimmerman and Jesus Flores and on a Lastings Milledge sacrifice ground ball. Wily Mo Peña his his first home run of the year earlier in the first inning, and Suppan drove in the Brewers’ only run of the game.

Odalis Perez pitched well for the Nationals (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 84 P) but left with a no-decision. Brian Sanches, just called up from Triple-A Columbus, struck out the side in the sixth and was credited with the win. Saul Rivera, Luis Ayala, and Jon Rauch closed the door for Washington.

Rockies 5-Mets 4 (F/13)

The Mets dropped their fifth straight game as Matt Holliday hit a walk-off single in the 13th off of Aaron Heilman after homering off of Billy Wagner in the ninth to tie the game (Wagner’s second blown save of the year). It was a back and forth game as neither team dominated on the mound.

Oliver Perez was all over the place for the Mets, going 5 innings allowing 6 hits for 4 earned runs, walking 8 and striking out only 2, and allowing a home run on 110 pitches (just 56 for strikes). Rookie starter Greg Reynolds never dominated for the Rockies, going 6 full innings allowing 4 earned runs on 4 hits, walking 3, striking out 5, and allowing 2 home runs on just 84 pitches thrown. He left the game after allowing back-to-back home runs to Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis (who replaced the injured Marlon Anderson) in the 6th.

Driving in runs for the Mets were Luis Castillo, Delgado, Tatis, and Jose Reyes, who got in the home plate umpire’s face after being called out on a very low strike three in the 13th. Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes, and Holliday drove in runs for the Rockies.

Astros 5-Phillies 4

Brandon Backe was superb for the Astros, giving up just one run in 7.1 innings pitched, striking out 6 and walking one. Adam Eaton didn’t pitch terribly for the Phillies (7.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO,2 HR, 96 P), but couldn’t keep the ball in the park, giving up two home runs to Hunter Pence.

Also driving in runs for the Astros were former Phillie Michael Bourn (who also stranded three on base), and Carlos Lee (his 36th of the season). For the Phillies, Pat Burrell homered in his second-straight game and Pedro Feliz and Jimmy Rollins also drove runs in.

Diamondbacks 11-Braves 1

Doug Davis returned from cancer surgery in unbelievable fashion, shutting the hot-hitting Braves lineup down for 7 innings, allowing just one earned run on 5 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4 on 89 pitches. His team responded, taking batting practice off of Jo-Jo Reyes (5.0 IP, 6 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 3 HR) and Chris Resop (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR).

Homering for the D-Backs were Stephen Drew, Eric Byrnes, Conor Jackson, Chris Young, and Mark Reynolds. Whew. Kelly Johnson drove in the only Atlanta run of the night.

Giants 8-Marlins 2

Scott Olsen finally came back down to Earth, surrendering 5 earned runs off of 8 hits in just 3.1 innings pitched, walking 3, striking out 2, and allowing a home run on 81 pitches. Olsen drops to 4-2. He was relieved by Doug Waechter, Renyel Pinto, and Tyler Tankersley, who all pitched much more effectively. Dan Uggla homered for Florida (his 15th of the year) in the ninth, driving in both Marlins runs of the evening.

Barry Zito finally got his first win of the season, giving up just one earned run in 6.1 innings of work, walking 4 and striking out 5. Bengie Molina and Jose Castillo homered for the Giants. Aaron Rowand drove in three runs, and Rich Aurilia drove in two more for San Francisco.

Brett Carroll had to leave the game in the fourth inning after separating his right shoulder. He’ll be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

 

Beast of the Week

Congratulations to Dan Uggla, the first ever back-to-back Beast of the Week winner. This guy is putting the Marlins on his back. As long as Uggla continues to play so well, expect the Marlins to be competitive.

And a pat on the back to Aaron Heilman for being the most efficient Least of the Week in NL Beast history. Aaron was able to clinch the award with only 1/3 of an inning of work. Way to go, Aaron!

Marlins Beast (and least) of the Week

The Marlins Beast of the Week is…

Dan Uggla, 2B. Whatever Dan Uggla is drinking, the entire team needs to start following suit. For the past week, Uggla hit .545, .615, 1.000 with 2 HR and 4 RBIs for an OPS of 1.615. He is now fourth in Major League Baseball for OPS on the year (1.066). How do you describe Dan Uggla? Beast.

Runners-Up: Wes Helms, Matt Lindstrom, Mike Jacobs

And the least of the week is…

Alfredo Amezaga, Util. Amezaga, who is platooning with Cody Ross in center field, did not have a good week (.211, .211, .263). It has been speculated that Jacques Jones could win the starting job altogether, shifting Amezaga back to his role as utility infielder off the bench. That would probably be better for everyone.

Runners-down: Hanley Ramirez, Taylor Tankersley, Mark Hendrickson

Around the beast

Marlins rally not enough against Reds

Despite three early homers by Jeremy Hermida, Hanley Ramirez, and Dan Uggla, the Marlins were not able to hold a lead against the Reds.  The Reds scored a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 4-3 lead, but Uggla tied it up with a sac-fly in the 7th.  In the top bottom of the 7th Taylor Tankersley gave up two 2-run home runs to Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips.

In the top of the 8th the Marlins gave their best effort to tie the game, rallying with two outs.  Luis Gonzalez scored two on a single to center and Mike Rabelo knocked in another after an error by Ken Griffey Jr. But that would be all for the Marlins, who left two on base to end the inning.  Francisco Cordero notched his sixth save of the season, securing the Aaron Harang‘s first win since April 10th.  Tankersley picked up the loss, breaking a 7 game winning streak for the first place Marlins.

Final score: Reds 8-Marlins 7

Braves split double header against Pirates in two lopsided affairs

In game 1, the Pirates shutout the Braves, needing only a Freddy Sanchez bases clearing double in the 3rd to get the job done.  Despite 5 walks and 3 fielding errors, Zach Duke let up no runs and only 5 hits in six innings of work to get his second win of the year.  Jair Jurrjens only lasted five innings and recorded his third loss of the year.  Adam LaRoche knocked a ball out of the park in the 8th inning against Jeff Bennet, icing the win.  It was the sixth in a row for the the streakingPirates.

Final Score: Pirates 5-Braves 0

The Pirates would not have as much luck in game 2.  Tim Hudson pitched a gem, going 7 innings, allowing no earned runs, only 2 hits, two walks and striking out 5.  The only runs the Pirates managed all day was on an error in the first inning Braves first baseman Greg Norton. The Braves shook off their offensive struggles from game 1 and crossed the plate 8 times in the win.  Steady hitting throughout the lineup helped the Braves break a three game losing streak; a streak that came right after winning 6 in a row at home.

Final Score: Braves 8-Pirates 1

-Greg Berlin

Beast of the East

Congratulations to Dan Uggla, who becomes the first ever Florida Marlin to be named Beast of the East.

And GWU-alum Mike O’Connor…NL Beast loves the Colonials but doesn’t love your last pitching performance. You are the least of the east…goodbye.

Division Roundup [South of the Mason-Dixon Line Edition]

Almost everyone in the division won tonight (thanks for spoiling the party, Washington).

Braves 5-Padres 2

Tim Hudson had another good start, going 7 full innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. He was helped by an all-around offensive effort, including the go-ahead RBI single by newly acquired Greg Norton. Also driving in runs for the Braves were Mark Kotsay, Kelly Johnson, and Yunel Escobar. Manny Acosta shut the door for Atlanta, saving his third of the year.

Marlins 6-Brewers 2

The Marlins keep surprising, well, everyone with their starting pitching. Rookie Burke Badenhop had a strong outing, going 5.2 and surrendering just 2 runs on 5 hits, walking 1 and striking out 7. His team backed the effort well, with Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla each going yard. Mike Jacobs‘ two-run double in the third started the Marlins rally, but Jacobs soon had to leave the game with tightness in his quad. Milwaukee sluggers Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder combined to go 1-8 on the night.

Astros 4-Nationals 3

The Nationals dropped their second straight in Houston, despite a coming-out party by Ryan Zimmerman. The Z-Man homered twice, in the first and in the sixth, driving in 3 RBIs on the night. Odalis Perez didn’t pitch badly (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) but he was simply outmatched by Houston ace Roy Oswalt (7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO). Outside of the Nationals first three batters, the team combined for one hit on the night (Wily Mo Peña). Paul Lo Duca left the game after re-injuring his right hand (see previous post). Joel Hanrahan took the loss for Washington.

Sunday Division Roundup

Mets 5-Diamondbacks 2

One of the better pitching matchups of the year as Johan Santana squared off against Dan Haren in a pitchers’ dual that exploded in the 9th for the Mets. Santana was his classic self, going 6 full innings striking out 8 and walking 4, giving up just 1 earned run. Haren was almost as good, going 6 full giving up 2 runs on 2 hits (one a homer to David Wright in the 4th), striking out 7 and walking 1.

Jorge Sosa picked up the win for the Mets (he’s 4-1, unbelievably) and Billy Wagner notched his seventh save of the season after Arizona 1B Connor Jackson made a crucial throwing error in the top of the 9th that started a 3-run rally for the Mets. Bringing in runs for the Mets were Jose Reyes, Wright, and Marlon Anderson. Chad Qualls took the loss for Arizona. What a statement for the Mets, as they take the series off of the NL-leading D-Backs.

Phillies 6-Giants 5.

Charlie Manuel got his 500th win as the Phils took the game on a San Francisco error in the bottom of the ninth that brought in the winning run. Carlos Ruiz tied the game up in the 8th, allowing Brad Lidge to pick up his first win of the year. Cole Hamels allowed 4 runs on 7 hits through 6 innings, but he did have 5 strikeouts and no walks. Young Giants starter Tim Lincecum was better, surrendering no earned runs in 6 innings of work, striking out 5 and walking 2. But it was errors that would prove costly to the struggling Giants, who drop to 14-18. The Phillies remain a half-game up on New York and Florida.

Marlins 10-Padres 3

The big bats came to play today as Dan Uggla hit an RBI double and a home run to keep the Marlins tied with the Mets for second place in the division. Hanley Ramirez was 2-4 and scored 2 runs, and Matt Treanor was 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Young southpaw Andrew Miller finally pitched well for the Fish, getting his 2nd win and allowing 2 runs on 6 innings of work, striking out 4 and walking 2. Greg Maddux dropped to 2-3, allowing 11 hits for 5 runs, 4 earned, for 5.2 innings of work.

Braves 14-Reds 7

The Braves had 19 hits on the day, outhitting the Reds almost 2:1 and surviving a rocky outing by Tom Glavine. Chipper Jones contributed his fair share with a 3-run home run and a 2-run single. Also coming through big for the Braves were Mark Kotsay who homered and had 3 RBIs and Kelly Johnson, who was 4-6 with 2 RBIs. Glavine lasted just 4.2, surrendering 6 earned runs on 7 hits, striking out 3 and walking 5. Royce Ring picked up his first win of the season for Atlanta. As bad as Glavine was, Reds starter Bronson Arroyo was far worse, pitching just an inning and a third, giving up 7 earned runs. Josh Fogg came in for mop-up duty and didn’t pitch much better, giving up 5 earned runs on 6 hits in 2.2 innings.

Nationals 5-Pirates 2

Tim Redding continued his dominant streak, picking up his 4th win and allowing just 1 earned run on 6 innings of work, striking out 5 and walking 1. He was opposed by Pirates ace Ian Snell, who dropped to 2-2 after allowing 4 earned runs on 10 hits with 2 strikeouts and a walk. Aaron Boone hit his first home run as a National, filling in at third for the day as Ryan Zimmerman ended his Major League leading 205 consecutive game streak. Also driving in runs for the Nats were Nick Johnson, Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, and Wily Mo Peña. The Nats are red-hot, having gone 8-3 on the last homestand.

-Jonathan Kraft

Marlins Beast (and least) of the Week

The Marlins Beast of the Week is…

Jeremy Hermida, RF. Hermida had a formidable week (.435, .480, .565), compensating for the injured Josh Willingham. His bat is becoming integral to the heart of the Marlins lineup, and his OPS of 1.045 for the week is phenomenal.

Runners-Up: Dan Uggla, Doug Waechter

The least of the week is LHP Andrew Miller, who continues to struggle on the mound for the Marlins. He started one game this week, and went just 3 innings, giving up 6 runs on 9 hits with no strikeouts and 2 walks. His ERA stood at 18.00 for the game.

Runners-Up: Hanley Ramirez, Alfredo Amezaga

The Rest of the East [Postgame Wrapup]

Pirates 11-Nationals 4: The lights went out on the Nats tonight–both literally and figuratively. This one started ugly for John Lannan, and ended ugly for the Nationals overworked bullpen. Lannan lasted only 3 innings, giving up 6 runs, 5 earned, on 6 hits, walking 2 and striking out none. For the record, NL Beast called the meltdown. Manny Acta decided to employ the starter by committee approach, as Mike O’Connor pitched 3.2 in relief for Lannan. For the Pirates, Jose Bautista homered twice on the night.

Braves 2-Reds 0: Nice pitchers dual in Atlanta tonight, as Tim Hudson squared off against young Edison Volquez. Any question of Tim Hudson’s health was resolved tonight as the sinkerballer pitched a complete game, striking out 10 and walking no one. Wow. Brian McCann‘s 2 run blast was all the offense the Braves needed to defeat the Reds.

Marlins 6-Padres 4: Dan Uggla homered twice, notching 4 RBIs on the night as the Marlins defeated San Diego. Mark Hendrickson got the win, going 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. Justin Germano got knocked around by the Fish, letting up 6 runs, 5 earned, including 3 home runs, in 5.2 innings of work.