NL East Question #3

2011 MLB Season Preview

Biggest questions in the NL East:

3. Can Mike Stanton develop into a great player to go along with Hanley Ramirez?
The Marlins gave you their answer to this question in the offseason when they traded Dan Uggla to division rival Atlanta for a utility player in Omar Infante. The Marlins must believe that Stanton is the real deal and will continue to develop in his second year in the majors.

At just 20 years old last season, Stanton hit 22 homeruns and drove in 59 RBI on a team that struggled offensively. However, there were some concerns for Stanton. He hit only .218 against left-handers. Stanton’s strikeout to walk ratio was 4/1, with his season total of 123 strikeouts in only 359 at bats (almost 35%). Additionally, Stanton only had 5 stolen bases for a player that was supposed to be a threat on the base paths.

The Marlins are going to have a hard time contending in the East, but any chance they have will be centered around Ramirez and Stanton. Without Uggla, Stanton will have pressure on him this season that he didn’t have last season. Stanton will be batting in the middle of the order, and will have to drive in runs from the start of the season. That is asking a lot for a 21 year old.

The amazing rookie class of 2010, which included the likes of Jason Heyward, Mike Stanton, and Buster Posey will prove themselves on the major league level by making adjustments in 2011 and continuing to improve. However, I believe that Stanton’s will be the most difficult sophomore season because he doesn’t have as much help in the lineup as these other sophomores. Stanton will strikeout more than 100 times again in 2011, and his average will stay somewhere in the .260 to .270 range until he learns to be more patient at the plate. I’m not sure why, but Stanton reminds me a lot of Jeff Francoeur. Let’s hope, for his sake, that he can do a better job adjusting to major league pitching.

22 short days until the Braves and Nationals get the 2011 season started!