2007 Florida Marlins season
Encyclopedia
The Florida Marlins
' 2007 season
began with the team with the league's lowest payroll trying to improve on their promising 78-84 record in 2006
. Despite the success of the team under manager
Joe Girardi
, he was fired and replaced with Fredi Gonzalez
.
Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest
said that the team's goal from the start of the season was to compete in the playoffs.
The Marlins had two goals to address during the 2006 offseason: they needed a new closer because '06 closer Joe Borowski signed with the Cleveland Indians
as a free agent, and the Marlins saw the need for a new center fielder. They had platooned Eric Reed
, Reggie Abercrombie
, Chris Aguila
, Cody Ross
, and Alfredo Amézaga
in the position in 2006, with backup shortstop
Amézaga making most of the starts at that position later in the season. The Marlins had added some new relief pitchers
since 2006, trading Chris Resop
to the Los Angeles Angels
for Kevin Gregg
and shipping prospects Jason Vargas
and Adam Bostick to the New York Mets
for Henry Owens
and Matt Lindstrom. Lindstrom has been a closer during his time in the minors and has a fastball that reached 100 mph on radar guns in winter league play during the 2006 offseason. The Marlins saw much competition for their closer role, with Ricky Nolasco
, Renyel Pinto
, Mike Koplove
, Gregg, Lindstrom, and Owens all candidates for the job. In April, newly-acquired Jorge Julio
was named closer, but on May 13, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
for Byung-Hyun Kim
.
The Marlins signed center fielder
Alex Sanchez to a minor league deal in the offseason, who competed for the Marlins' center field job with Reed, Abercrombie, Ross, and Amézaga. Beinfest said that the Marlins tried to trade for a proven center fielder but were asked for too much in order to get one. However, Sánchez was released at the end of spring training and the starting role was handed to rookie Alejandro De Aza
.
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
' 2007 season
2007 Major League Baseball season
The 2007 Major League Baseball season, began on April 1 with a rematch of the 2006 National League Championship Series; the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets played the first game of the season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, which was won by the Mets, 6–1...
began with the team with the league's lowest payroll trying to improve on their promising 78-84 record in 2006
2006 Major League Baseball season
In , the Major League Baseball season ended with the National League's St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series with the lowest regular season victory total in history. The American League continued its domination at the All-Star Game by winning its fourth straight game; the A.L. has won nine...
. Despite the success of the team under manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. During a 15-year playing career, he played from 1989–2003 for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
, he was fired and replaced with Fredi Gonzalez
Fredi González
Fredi Jesus González is the current manager of the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball. Gonzalez is also the former manager of the Florida Marlins 2007–2010. For the four years prior to 2007, he was third base coach for the Atlanta Braves.-Biography:Gonzalez grew up in Miami, Florida, where he...
.
Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest
Larry Beinfest
Larry Beinfest is the President, Baseball Operations of the Miami Marlins, a Major League Baseball franchise in the National League East.-Early life & playing career:Beinfest was born on March 3, 1964 in Encino, California and raised in Chatsworth, California...
said that the team's goal from the start of the season was to compete in the playoffs.
The Marlins had two goals to address during the 2006 offseason: they needed a new closer because '06 closer Joe Borowski signed with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
as a free agent, and the Marlins saw the need for a new center fielder. They had platooned Eric Reed
Eric Reed
Eric Shane Reed is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He is an alumnus of Texas A&M University...
, Reggie Abercrombie
Reggie Abercrombie
Reginald Damascus Abercrombie is a former Major League Baseball outfielder now playing for the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.-Professional career:...
, Chris Aguila
Chris Aguila
Christopher Louis Aguila is a Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played parts of three seasons in the majors with the Florida Marlins and part of the season with the New York Mets...
, Cody Ross
Cody Ross
Cody Joseph Ross is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has played with the Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds , and Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants...
, and Alfredo Amézaga
Alfredo Amezaga
Alfredo Amézaga Delgado is a Major League Baseball utility player for the Florida Marlins organization. In his career he has played 265 games in the outfield , 115 games at shortstop, 71 games at third base, 60 games at second base and 6 games at first base...
in the position in 2006, with backup shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Amézaga making most of the starts at that position later in the season. The Marlins had added some new relief pitchers
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
since 2006, trading Chris Resop
Chris Resop
Christopher Paul Resop is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Florida Marlins:Resop was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 4th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft....
to the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
for Kevin Gregg
Kevin Gregg
Kevin Marschall Gregg is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-High school career:...
and shipping prospects Jason Vargas
Jason Vargas
Jason Matthew Vargas is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. He has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Florida Marlins, part of one season in the major leagues with the New York Mets and the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.-College...
and Adam Bostick to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for Henry Owens
Henry Owens
Henry Jay Owens is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins. He bats and throws right-handed....
and Matt Lindstrom. Lindstrom has been a closer during his time in the minors and has a fastball that reached 100 mph on radar guns in winter league play during the 2006 offseason. The Marlins saw much competition for their closer role, with Ricky Nolasco
Ricky Nolasco
Carlos Enrique "Ricky" Nolasco is an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins. He is listed as 6'2" and 220, and made his major league debut on April 5,...
, Renyel Pinto
Renyel Pinto
Renyel Eligio Pinto is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He made his major league debut on May 18, .-Career:...
, Mike Koplove
Mike Koplove
Michael Paul "Mike" Koplove is a sidearm relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres organization.Koplove throws with a different arm angle than most pitchers...
, Gregg, Lindstrom, and Owens all candidates for the job. In April, newly-acquired Jorge Julio
Jorge Julio
Jorge Dandys Julio Tapia is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles from 2001–2005, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006, and the Florida Marlins in 2007 before being traded...
was named closer, but on May 13, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for Byung-Hyun Kim
Byung-Hyun Kim
Byung-Hyun Kim is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. He is best known for his years with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox. In 2001, Kim took over mid-season as the Diamondbacks' closer and saved 19...
.
The Marlins signed center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Alex Sanchez to a minor league deal in the offseason, who competed for the Marlins' center field job with Reed, Abercrombie, Ross, and Amézaga. Beinfest said that the Marlins tried to trade for a proven center fielder but were asked for too much in order to get one. However, Sánchez was released at the end of spring training and the starting role was handed to rookie Alejandro De Aza
Alejandro De Aza
Alejandro Alberto De Aza Ceda is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Chicago White Sox. He is known for his speed and defensive skills in center field.-Minor league career:...
.
Roster
| 2007 Florida Marlins | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches (bullpen coordinator) (bullpen) (first base/infield) (pitching) (third base) (hitting) (bench) |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|
Players Selected
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Matt Dominguez (3B) | Chatsworth High School | |
| 2 | 76 | Michael Stanton (CF) | Notre Dame High School | |
| 3 | 106 | Jameson Smith (C) | Fresno CC | |
| 4 | 136 | Bryan Peterson (RF) | UC-Irvine | |
| 5 | 166 | Steven Cishek (RHP) | Carson-Newman College |