The Marlins are sending Josh Johnson to see Dr. James Andrews because he is still dealing with elbow stiffness.  This is a very bad thing for the Marlins as they have already lost Anibal Sanchez for part of next season.  Johnson has started 4 games this season for the Marlins and he is 0-3 with a 7.47 ERA and a 2.43 WHIP.  In 15.2 innings he has allowed 26 hits, walked 12 batters and whiffed 14.

The Marlins have designated Wes Obermueller for assignment and he definately earned it.  He has pitched in 18 games (7 starts) this season and he is 2-3 with a 6.56 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP.  In 59 innings this season for the Marlins he has allowed 72 hits, walked 36 batters and whiffed 35.  This is absolutely no loss for the Florida Marlins.

The Marlins young starting pitchers were supposed to be a team strength but it has turned into their biggest weakness this season.  Dontrelle Willis and Scott Olsen are the only two of the “Big Five” to remain healthy all season and they both have been awful.  The D-Train is 7-7 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP so far this season.  Willis seems to be just happy to be rich as it doesn’t seem to appear as if he cares as much about his job as he used to.  Look for the Marlins to trade Willis in the next couple of weeks if a team will pay the Marlins price for him.  Scott Olsen has been even worse than Willis this season as he is 6-7 with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP so far.  If Olsen just threw more strikes he would be o.k.  He has walked 50 batters in 103.1 innings this year and that is awful.  The other three young guns have all battled injuries but none of them have pitched good at all this season.  Anibal Sanchez (2-1, 4.80 ERA, 2.07 WHIP) is done for the season after he had shoulder surgery.  Josh Johnson (0-3, 7.47 ERA, 2.43 WHIP) and Ricky Nolasco (1-2, 5.48 ERA, 1.64 WHIP) both could return to action soon as they are both currently on the DL and when they get back they will have a lot to prove.  Wes Obermueller has been awful as he has tried to replace some of the injured starters this season.  Obermueller is 2-3 with a 6.44 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP which proves that he doesn’t deserve to be in the major leagues.  Rick Vanden Hurk (2-2, 8.38 ERA, 1.72 WHIP) and Taylor Tankersley (4-1, 6.65 ERA, 1.74 WHIP) have both been terrible this season for the Marlins and have earned their demotions to the minor leagues.

The Marlins have gotten good results from unexpected sources and they are lucky they have because some of their “better” pitchers have been pretty awful this season.  Sergio Mitre is the only starting pitcher for the Marlins that has pitched well this season.  Mitre is 3-4 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP so far this season.  Mitre has shown excellent control with his power sinker as he has only walked 19 batters in 88.1 innings this season.  It’s hard for batters to get any loft on Mitre’s pitches as he has only allowed 5 homers this season.  I have seen nothing to think Mitre won’t pitch decent in the 2nd half despite his past major league record.  Kevin Gregg has been a total shock to me as the closer of the Marlins as he was a mop up man for the Angels the last few years.  Gregg is 0-3 with 18 saves, a 3.02 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.  He has good stuff as he has only allowed 36 hits in 50.2 innings but he must do a better job of throwing strikes (25 walks) or he will get himself into trouble.  Gregg’s first half performance appears to be a mirage to me and it will be up to him to prove me wrong.  The Marlins pulled Justin Miller off of the junk heap and he has pitched well out of the bullpen for them.  He is 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP so far this season.  It will be interesting to see if he can keep up the good work.  Henry Owens was stolen in a trade with the Mets in the off-season and the Marlins need to get him healthy.  He is 2-0 with 4 saves, a 1.96 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP so far this season.

Joe Borchard and Jeremy Hermida have been the Marlins rightfielders for most of the season and they have been awful.  Hermida got a late start to the season because of an injury in Spring Training but that is no excuse for his poor performance in the 1st half of the season.  Hermida is hitting only .231 with 17 runs scored, 8 homers and 27 RBIs in 173 atbats this season.  He has hit for some power as you can see but he has whiffed 51 times this season and he is the worst defensive rightfielder in the major leagues right now.  Hermida needs to start living up to his glowing scouting reports of the past.  Borchard is just an awful baseball player and he always has been.  Borchard is hitting .198 with 19 runs scored, 4 homers and 19 RBIs in 167 atbats this season.  He also has whiffed an amazing 56 times this season.  The Marlins should just cut this guy loose because he has absolutely no upside….what you see is what you get with Borchard.

Miguel Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez have been carrying the Florida Marlins offense this season.  Ramirez has batted third part of the season but the Marlins have shifted him back to the leadoff spot which is where he seems to look most comfortable.  Plus he really couldn’t use his speed to full advantage batting third.  Ramirez is hitting .331 this season with 70 runs scored, 14 homers, 35 RBIs and 27 stolen bases this season.  Look for Ramirez to make everyone in the N.L. pay for snubbing him for the All Star Game.  Miguel Cabrera is one of the very best hitters in all of major league baseball.  He is hitting .324 with 52 runs scored, 18 homers and 61 RBIs so far this season.  At some point teams are going to get smart and quit pitching to him

It’s amazing to me that the Marlins have a 42-47 record this season which has them in 4th place in the National League East, 7 games behind the Mets.  The Marlins somehow have managed to win almost half of their games despite being tied for the major league lead in errors (73, tied with Tampa Bay), leading the major leagues in whiffs by their batters (744) and leading the major leagues in walks by pitchers (379).  The Marlins are where they are because of the outstanding performances of Hanley Ramirez, Miguel Cabrera and their bullpen.  The Marlins much hyped starting rotation has been horrible besides Sergio Mitre this season.  Look for the Marlins to have a rough 2nd half of the season.

Hanley Ramirez is the guy who makes it all go for the Marlins offense.  The Marlins were smart to put Ramirez back in the leadoff spot after batting him third for a while.  He has played in 84 games this season and he is 111 for 345 (.322 avg, .905 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 14 homers, 34 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.  Ramirez probably should have made the All Star team and he likely would have if he played better defense or if the Marlins were a better baseball team.

The Marlins have placed Josh Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in his right forearm.  This is another blow to the Marlins pitching staff as Johnson finally pitched a good game last night.  Johnson has started 4 games this season and he is 0-3 with a 7.47 ERA and a 2.43 WHIP.  In 15.2 innings this season he has allowed 26 hits, walked 12 batters and whiffed 14.  The Marlins have recalled outfielder Eric Reed to replace Johnson on the roster.  Reed has played in 13 games for the Marlins this season and he is 2 for 14 (.143 avg, .343 OPS) with 2 runs scored.  Don’t expect much out of him.

The Florida Marlins have placed Aaron Boone on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained MCL in his left knee.  He has played in 69 games this season for the Marlins and he is 54 for 189 (.286 avg, .811 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 5 homers and 28 RBIs.  The Marlins have recalled outfielder Todd Linden to replace Boone on the roster.  Linden has played in 49 games this season for the Marlins & Giants and he’s 18 for 83 (.217 avg, .527 OPS) with 7 runs scored and 4 RBIs.  Linden has also whiffed an amazing 31 times already this season.