This number appears to be way too high. The Marlins will miss Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera big time. If they think Mark Hendrickson and Jorge Cantu are capable of replacing the pair they traded to the Tigers they are dead wrong. The Marlins will waste a decent offense and a good bullpen because they will have the worst starting pitching in the majors leagues this season, period. Take the under with confidence.

We have all heard the hype revolving around 24-year old lefty swinging Jeremy Hermida but he has yet to live up to it because he always seems injured. He played in 123 games for the Marlins last season and he was 127 for 429 (.296 avg, .870 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 18 homers and 63 RBIs. He often looked lost in RF as he made an amazing 9 errors in 116 games there last season. The Marlins might have to replace him late in games because of his awful defense.

Cody Ross played very well in RF last season for the Marlins. He played in 19 games there and he only made 1 error while showing outstanding range. He would take over if/when Hermida gets injured.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: B-

The hope was that Cameron Maybin would be the starting CF from day #1 for the Florida Marlins but he was dispatched to AA-ball early this week. That means that the Marlins will go with Alfredo Amezaga and Cody Ross until Maybin is ready to go. 30-year old switch hitting Amezaga will probably play CF against righty pitchers. He played in 133 games for the Marlins last season and he was 105 for 400 (.263 avg, .682 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 2 homers, 30 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Amezaga also showed outstanding range in 87 games in CF but he did make 5 errors last season.

27-year old righty swinging Cody Ross really stepped up last season for the Marlins. He played in 66 games for the Marlins last season and he was 58 for 173 (.335 avg, 1.064 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 12 homers and 39 RBIs. One has to wonder if last season was a fluke because in 187 career games in the majors Ross has a .261 batting average and a .829 OPS. Ross played in 36 games in CF last season and he only made 1 error while showing below average range.

21-year old righty swinging Cameron Maybin was rushed to the major leagues last season without ever playing in AAA ball and it showed. He played in 24 games for the Tigers last season and he was 7 for 49 (.143 avg, .473 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. Maybin also whiffed an amazing 21 times in the majors. Maybin dominated in 91 games in Rookie+A+AA ball last season as he was 102 for 323 (.316 avg) with 68 runs scored, 14 homers, 53 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Look for Maybin to get his shot around June if he plays well in the minors.

24-year old lefty swinging Alejandro DeAza was the starting CF at the start of last season. But he got injured and never regained his stroke at the plate when he returned. He played in 45 games for the Marlins last season and he was 33 for 144 (.229 avg, .574 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 0 homers, 8 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He showed below average range in 35 games in CF for the Marlins last season but he only made 1 error there.

25-year old righty swinging Brett Carroll got his first taste of the major leagues last season and it didn’t go too well. He played in 23 games for the Marlins last season and he was 9 for 49 (.184 avg, .435 OPS) with 10 runs scored and 2 RBIs. He showed outstanding range in CF in 12 games for the Marlins last season but he did make 2 errors. Carroll played in 118 games in AA+AAA last season and he was 127 for 417 (.305 avg) with 69 runs scored, 22 homers and 82 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: D

29-year old righty swinging Josh Willingham will be the starter in LF for the Marlins again in 2008. The converted catcher still appears to be learning LF but he can hit the baseball. He played in 144 games for the Marlins last season and he was 138 for 521 (.265 avg, .827 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 21 homers, 89 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. He only made 3 errors in 137 games in LF but he showed very poor range. The Marlins would be smart to sub for him late in games on defense.

40-year old Luis Gonzalez will back up Willingham in LF and be the ace pinch hitter off the bench for the Marlins. He played in 139 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 129 for 464 (.278 avg, .792 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 15 homers and 68 RBIs. He only made 1 error in 127 games in LF but he also showed below average range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: B-

Jose Castillo and Jorge Cantu are locked in a battle this spring to see who will be the starting 3B for the Marlins this season. 27-year old righty swinging Jose Castillo is the much better defender but Jorge Cantu is the superior hitter. Castillo played in 87 games last season for the Pirates and he was 54 for 221 (.244 avg, .605 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 0 homers and 24 RBIs. Castillo made 4 errors in 34 games at 3B last season for the Pirates but he showed outstanding range.

26-year old righty swinging Jorge Cantu played in 52 games last season for the Devil Rays & Reds last season and he was 29 for 115 (.252 avg, .688 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 1 homer and 13 RBIs. Cantu only played one error-free game at 3B last season. Cantu is just a couple seasons removed (2005) from whacking 28 homers and knocking in 117 runs in a season for the Devil Rays.

Alfredo Amezaga will get some time at 3B this season also as he played 12 error-less games there while showing outstanding range. Veteran Jason Wood might also get some time at 3B as he played 7 error-less games there but he showed poor range.

27-year old lefty swinging Dallas McPherson will probably start the season in AAA after missing all of last season with a bad back. McPherson has now played in 117 games in his major league career and he is 89 for 360 (.247 avg, .755 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 18 homers and 45 RBIs. He also has whiffed 121 times in his major league career to date and that will need to change if he’s going to stick in the majors when he makes it back.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: D-