Countdown to Opening Day: #29 Miami Marlins

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#29: Miami Marlins: Fernandez can't fix Marlins' mess alone

PROJECTED LINEUP
2B Rafael Furcal
CF Christian Yelich

RF Giancarlo Stanton
1B Garrett Jones
LF Marcell Ozuna
C Jarrad Saltalamacchia
3B Casey McGehee
SS Adeiny Hechavarria

PROJECTED ROTATION

Jose Fernandez
Jacob Turner
Henderson Alvarez
Nate Eovaldi
Tom Koehler

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Steve Cishek

Set-up: Carlos Marmol

Top Prospect: Andrew Heaney (LHP)

If you are looking for a spectacle and wins are secondary Miami is the place to be. Sprinkled in to one of

Jose Fernandez

the weakest collections of talent are some of the most entertaining young players. Giancarlo Stanton can still hit the sculpture in the center field with the long ball and Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez has dominating stuff. Add in the 22 year-old Christian Yelich who had four homers and 10 steals in 62 games, the Fish do feature some incredible up-and-comers.  However you do not build a stadium, sign several free agents only to trade them the following year, and come back to relevance right away. Not even adding veterans Rafael Furcal and Jarrad Satalamacchia can turn this organization around right away. All that does is give them two players with letters down their arm in Salty and Adeiny Hechavarria. Sure, every fifth day they will have a chance to win with Fernandez, but Dade County should expect nothing more than another season in the cellar.

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Jacob Turner finally lives up to his 9th overall selection in 2009 and gives the Marlins one of the best one-two punches in the National League. He and Jose Fernandez keep the Fish fighting all year long. The outfield trio of Stanton, Yelich, and Jake Marisnick make for are group to get giddy about for years to come.

Christian Yelich

REAL TALK - There is no depth on this major league roster. The pitching staff is weak 2-through-11, not counting Fernandez and closer Steve Cishek, and injuries are bound to happen. One guy goes down and suddenly the Marlins are exploited to the tune of double-digit losing streaks. The same could be said for the offense. Giancarlo Stanton has not played more than 130 games the last two seasons and Rafael Furcal has not reached 130 since 2009. All they can hope is they find mid-season trade value in Garret Jones or Jarrad Saltamacchia and turn them into more prospects. Becuase that is what the Marlins need - more young talent.

Breakout: Christian Yelich (OF)

Bust: Rafael Furcal (2B)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Jacob Turner (RHP)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 62-100 (5th in the NL East)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 67-95 (5th in the NL East)

**Check back tomorrow for the Chicago White Sox*