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AKA Coastal
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- Aug 7, 2008
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Well, he's going to get plenty AB's this year. I'm not sure this is the smartest move. Puts a lot of pressure on him IMO. Maybe he'll have a Chris Young type season. Big power with a lower average. Hanley is being moved to the third spot.
Miami Herald
Cameron Maybin's number one goal with the Marlins is simply to make the team out of spring training. If he is the first batter announced for the Marlins on Opening Day, it would make it all the sweeter.
''If I'm in there, I'll definitely be excited,'' Maybin said. ``But if I'm leading off, I will be even more excited.''
With Hanley Ramirez's expected drop to third in the order, chances are good that Maybin will become the new leader of the pack.
Emilio Bonifacio is another possibility, al though a roster spot for him is not as certain.
''If that's where they think I can help the team, I have no problem stepping into that leadoff role,'' Maybin said of the Marlins. ``We had a guy [Ramirez] who did it well the last couple of years, so there's a lot of advice I can get from him.''
Although manager Fredi Gonzalez has declined to reveal his lineup plans, he has provided strong hints that a first-to-third move for Ramirez is in the works. Maybin is the logical choice to take over the top spot, even though his leadoff experience is negligible.
Maybin, 21, said he led off in high school, which wasn't that long ago. Otherwise, his visits to the top have been sporadic and infrequent. When Ramirez was out of the lineup with shoulder soreness late last season, Maybin took his place in the leadoff position and went 12 for 25.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Nobody could expect Maybin to continue at a .480 clip. But the impression he left from his September audition was considerable.
''Look, we'd all love him to hit .320 and have a .400 on-base percentage,'' Marlins hitting coach Jim Presley said. ``We'll have to be realistic about it. He's got some learning to do. But this kid has athleticism, and he's intelligent enough to [bat first] for us.
``I mean, this is a smart kid. From the neck up, this kid's pretty good to go along with his physical skills.''
In Ramirez, the Marlins have been blessed with one of the best leadoff hitters in the majors the past three seasons. Ramirez not only combined speed and a penchant for getting on base, two key ingredients for a leadoff hitter, but he also added a power element that few others possessed.
''Eight to 10 times a year, it's going to be 1-0 first pitch,'' Presley said about Ramirez's ability to lead off a game with a home run.
Maybin isn't devoid of power himself. After all, his first major-league hit was a home run off Roger Clemens when he was still with the Detroit Tigers.
Maybin hit 13 home runs last season for Double A Carolina, and a couple of his homers last spring training were blasts.
But Maybin also struck out often, whiffing an average of once for nearly every three at-bats, especially early in the year for Carolina. As the season progressed, he made strides to overcome his strikeouts.
''I was hitting a lot of home runs and getting a lot of strikeouts,'' Maybin said.
``So I just started trying to make more contact. It was just me cutting down on my swings and just trying to get back to the same approach I had when I was with the Tigers organization. I took what they gave me, and I took my base hits. And I don't think there's anything wrong with just taking a base hit.''
LESSON LEARNED
Maybin said he will keep that approach regardless of whether or not he leads off.
''That's what I was working on the whole year, seeing more pitches, strike-zone discipline, making more contract and using the whole field,'' he said.
``And that's what I will continue to do. It'll benefit me if I keep that approach.''
Bonifacio could also factor into the leadoff equation if he wins a roster spot.
''Bonifacio could do it,'' Presley said. ``He's your typical leadoff guy. He can fly.
``I haven't seen him as much as Cameron, but I like both of them.''
Maybin, though, has the edge for the leadoff role.
''For Maybin, it's getting on base, stealing a bag, taking a walk,'' Presley said.
``He's going to bunt a little bit. Still, there's a lot of things he has to learn. And, let's face it, he'll struggle at times.
``But he's a good enough athlete and good enough hitter that he'll make the adjustments.''
Miami Herald
Cameron Maybin's number one goal with the Marlins is simply to make the team out of spring training. If he is the first batter announced for the Marlins on Opening Day, it would make it all the sweeter.
''If I'm in there, I'll definitely be excited,'' Maybin said. ``But if I'm leading off, I will be even more excited.''
With Hanley Ramirez's expected drop to third in the order, chances are good that Maybin will become the new leader of the pack.
Emilio Bonifacio is another possibility, al though a roster spot for him is not as certain.
''If that's where they think I can help the team, I have no problem stepping into that leadoff role,'' Maybin said of the Marlins. ``We had a guy [Ramirez] who did it well the last couple of years, so there's a lot of advice I can get from him.''
Although manager Fredi Gonzalez has declined to reveal his lineup plans, he has provided strong hints that a first-to-third move for Ramirez is in the works. Maybin is the logical choice to take over the top spot, even though his leadoff experience is negligible.
Maybin, 21, said he led off in high school, which wasn't that long ago. Otherwise, his visits to the top have been sporadic and infrequent. When Ramirez was out of the lineup with shoulder soreness late last season, Maybin took his place in the leadoff position and went 12 for 25.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Nobody could expect Maybin to continue at a .480 clip. But the impression he left from his September audition was considerable.
''Look, we'd all love him to hit .320 and have a .400 on-base percentage,'' Marlins hitting coach Jim Presley said. ``We'll have to be realistic about it. He's got some learning to do. But this kid has athleticism, and he's intelligent enough to [bat first] for us.
``I mean, this is a smart kid. From the neck up, this kid's pretty good to go along with his physical skills.''
In Ramirez, the Marlins have been blessed with one of the best leadoff hitters in the majors the past three seasons. Ramirez not only combined speed and a penchant for getting on base, two key ingredients for a leadoff hitter, but he also added a power element that few others possessed.
''Eight to 10 times a year, it's going to be 1-0 first pitch,'' Presley said about Ramirez's ability to lead off a game with a home run.
Maybin isn't devoid of power himself. After all, his first major-league hit was a home run off Roger Clemens when he was still with the Detroit Tigers.
Maybin hit 13 home runs last season for Double A Carolina, and a couple of his homers last spring training were blasts.
But Maybin also struck out often, whiffing an average of once for nearly every three at-bats, especially early in the year for Carolina. As the season progressed, he made strides to overcome his strikeouts.
''I was hitting a lot of home runs and getting a lot of strikeouts,'' Maybin said.
``So I just started trying to make more contact. It was just me cutting down on my swings and just trying to get back to the same approach I had when I was with the Tigers organization. I took what they gave me, and I took my base hits. And I don't think there's anything wrong with just taking a base hit.''
LESSON LEARNED
Maybin said he will keep that approach regardless of whether or not he leads off.
''That's what I was working on the whole year, seeing more pitches, strike-zone discipline, making more contract and using the whole field,'' he said.
``And that's what I will continue to do. It'll benefit me if I keep that approach.''
Bonifacio could also factor into the leadoff equation if he wins a roster spot.
''Bonifacio could do it,'' Presley said. ``He's your typical leadoff guy. He can fly.
``I haven't seen him as much as Cameron, but I like both of them.''
Maybin, though, has the edge for the leadoff role.
''For Maybin, it's getting on base, stealing a bag, taking a walk,'' Presley said.
``He's going to bunt a little bit. Still, there's a lot of things he has to learn. And, let's face it, he'll struggle at times.
``But he's a good enough athlete and good enough hitter that he'll make the adjustments.''
