I claimed the Marlins needed more pitching; they didn’t do a bad thing by picking up Nick Johnson. But getting swept by the Washington Nationals is just unbelievable. In the first game of the series the Marlins blew a 4 run lead when the Nationals scored 6 runs in the 8th. In the second game the Marlins couldn’t get the bats working to tie the game up. And the third game the marlins were tied in the 8th and let the game go with a 4 run 8th.

In 3 games the Fish blew 2 games with huge innings from the opposing team. That’s the Marlins bullpen if we want to make a playoff run they got to have a reliable bullpen. Kiko Calero can’t be an every night guy. Brian Sanchez is to new to call him reliable; Pinto is a poker game you never know how he’s going to throw. Leo Nunez is great for a young guy but in 48 innings with 21 earned runs and 39 hits, it unacceptable for a one inning reliever.

With Nunez every time there are runners on base the other team drives them in. He struck out 45 and walked 20 that is very good. But 21 earned runs in 39 hits is not good, he’s a reliever/closer. Nunez is getting outs but 15% of the time when Nunez is on the mound runs are scored on him. Leo pitches one inning a game either the 8th or 9th, 15 % looks good but it’s not good he needs to come in and shut it down for one inning that’s his role.

If Nunez drops that 15% to 10 % it makes a huge difference he eliminates one third of the runs scored on him, it gives the Marlins a few more games and that’s crucial in the wild card race. The role that’s he plays for the Fish he’s needs to pitch with less mistakes for that 1 inning he steps on the mound. If he can’t do that by the end of the month I say send him down to the minors.

The Marlins are in the race for a playoff spot they need to manage like they want to be at the front of the race. This part of the year has no room for lots of error, before the break is when you take the chances to find the strengths of your team not the second half. I like Nunez and think he going to be great but the Marlins are a major league team and need to run it like one especially in the second half. For example Nick Johnson was brought in to hit not steal, Cantu or Johnson need to be put in the outfield and either Helms or Coghlan need to be put at 3rd. I’d like to see Cantu go to 1st, Johnson go to right field, and Helms go to 3rd. My point was made (Manage like a major league club).

 Every new NFL season comes with new expectations, I expect a lot from the Titans back field this season. Chris Johnson had an impressive rookie season last year, rushing for 1,228 yards. He ranked 8th in the NFL in rushing yards last season and averaged 4.9 yards a carry. For Johnson being a rookie, he was very reliable carrying the ball 251 times and only coughing it up once. Johnson is so valuable to this football team this season and in the future.

The Ravens couldn’t stop Chris Johnson in the AFC Divisional playoffs. Did you see that play when the Raven’s linebackers tried to bend Johnson in half, when he was already down? The great Ravens defense had to play dirty on a rookie, that’s how good Johnson is.

Lendale White broke my heart last year coughing the ball up in the red zone in the playoffs, I felt that’s what cost the Titans the game. But I still have faith in White because he was so big for the Titans in the regular season with 200 touches and 15 rushing touchdowns. White is so useful to the Titans in the red zone, but he’s got competition this year with Jevon Ringer.

Jevon Ringer was great when he played at Michigan State. He was exciting and explosive; he made things happen and could score at any point in the game. I’m really anxious to see what Ringer does when he gets his hands on the ball.

The Titans running game should improve this season because professionals learn from there mistakes. I’m sure White has been thinking about that game all off season long and Johnson has been working to become better. Jevon Ringer is a guy that’s trying to make a name for him self and show the league that he’s better then a 5th rounder. All I have to say is listen for the foot steps of these running backs in the Music City because there gonna be tap dancing up the field.

Seeing a wildcat formation come to life from college to the NFL, I expect to see something new this year with a 2QB type scheme. I think the Titans should hang onto Vince Young and mix things up with a 2 Quarterback scheme with Kerry Collins. With Jeff Fisher’s hands on the controls I think he could very well pull something off with this. Kerry Collins is no Payton Manning but he is a smart QB and accurate also. Vince Young is a powerful and speedy quarterback and he has a gun but is not very accurate and I’m sure he’s been working with that over the off-season. With a quarterback controversy in Tennessee I believe the Titans should work out a 2 quarterback offense.

With how Duke has been pitching and the price we can get him at. Shouldn’t the Fish start looking at the guy? I think so, at least I know the Marlins shouldn’t let the Braves get Duke. Pittsburgh has traded about everyone, so obviously the Pirates are rebuilding.

So why don’t the Marlins send a few guys over there for Zach Duke. He pitched another good game last night going 7 innings and no earned runs in the 0-1 loss to Matt Cain and the Giants. I hope someone in the Marlins organization recognizes Duke and the Fish go on the pursuit for Duke.

Don’t count the Titans defense out cause they lost Haynesworth, he was a key to the 13-3 AFC south champs. Unfortunately there’s more to that defense then Albert. For instance, that shadow of a secondary that follows receivers everywhere. Cortland Finnegan coming off a pro bowl season, he’s a magnet out there.

Across is another cover cornerback Nick Harper, plus you have those two safeties back there strong safety Chris Hope backed up Troy Polamalu in the pro bowl last year. So he must be doing something and you can’t forget about Michael Griffin, he finished the season with 75 total tackles and 7 INT’s. Ask me... that’s better then most guys in the league, if the league leader had 9 INT’s which was Ed Reed sounds like Griffin put up pro bowl numbers. The Titans even added a speed corner to there secondary DeMarcus Faggins.

Now let me explain to you why this defense only aloud 14.6 points a games last season which was 2nd in the NFL to the Steelers.

The linebackers on this team are pretty quick, they cover ground. Keith Bullock had 98 total tackles, that isn’t bad for a 10 year veteran. Stephen Tulloch is a force in the middle with 84 total tackles and you can’t forget about David Thornton, Ryan Fowler isn’t too bad either for Tulloch’s back up.

Now on to this underrated frontline, this vicious, dangerous, and powerful Kyle Vanden Bosch only played 10 games last year but pulled out 4.5 sacks. The man is a beast 6’4 278 lbs and pretty quick at that right end.  At the other end you have Jevon Kearse which is always a force when healthy. Just in case, the Titans have a young powerful Jacob Ford to back Kearse up. Ford played 14 games and started 3 but he still made 26 total tackles with 7 sacks. The middle of this line lost Haynesworth but don’t count them out cause Tony Brown is a beast down there with 52 total tackles. Take it into accountability that Haynesworth overshadowed brown but you will see Browns true talent during this season.

This defense lost a superstar but in situations like this players step up that are surrounded by a defense like this one.

By Michael Belanger

Man what a frustrating outing for Zach Duke, he was simply amazing tonight in the 0-1 loss against the Giants. Duke pitched 7 shutout innings, Allowed 6 hits and walked 1 batter.

This 26 year old left handed pitcher is defiantly special, currently with a 9-9 record. He has been at the bad end of the string all season long. In 6 of his 9 losses the Pirates have lost by 2 or less runs. Once again tonight his offense couldn’t put runs up on the board. Now that the Pirates are rebuilding there is no one to drive in the runs. For the Giants, Cain was on the mound, he pitched a brilliant game with a complete game shutout allowing 3 hits.

I’ve have been saying that the Marlins should trade for Duke. Which would provide another solid arm to the rotation; no-one seems to agree with me. Duke is turning into a solid arm in the majors, and deserves to win. He’s dropped his ERA to 3.26 tonight, and pitched 147 innings allowing 35 walks this season. I’m just trying to show some shine on this guy because no-one is noticing him.

I’ve heard the braves are looking at him but who ever gets him will defiantly get something in return.

By Michael Belanger

I’m pushing for the marlins to go get Zach Duke because he’s a reasonable fit for the Fish. Unlike a Roy Halladay with an outrages price tag that will only last half a season. I’m screaming for Duke because of what he does in Pittsburgh. He’s 9-9 so far with a 3.42 ERA, pitched 140 innings only walking 34 batters and struck out 74. In 20 starts he has 3 complete games and one complete game shutout. The guy has only aloud 13 homeruns and 137 hits and has a .266 average against batters. Zach duke is only 26 years old and the Pirates are paying him $2,200,000. That’s in the Marlins price range and with Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, and Chris Volstad, Duke’s could be the marlins 4th solid starter. He’s more then a half of season pick up, he’s a player the Marlins could keep around. 6 out of Duke’s 9 losses, the Pirates lost by 2 or less runs. With the Marlins offense Duke could be the missing piece to the puzzle to making a playoff run and help an even more solid and reliable rotation. The Marlins need to see Duke as a opportunity to make things happen. He’s a pick-up that’s perfect for now and the future.

With the trade deadline coming up the marlins need to get some bullpen pitching someone to hold and possibly close games. The Marlins need to pick up someone to help Leo Nunez out. He’s a good young pitcher but he’s prone to make mistakes out there. With Matt Lindstorm coming back next month he might or might not come back on tempo, but ether way the Fish need to go get an arm for these situations.

There is a lot of talent on the team, half way through the season we are currently standing second in the NL East. It looks like the cylinders are starting to warm up with Hanley doing what he does, Cantu and Uggla driving in runs, also Ross has been stepping up when other players haven’t been and Hermida isn’t doing bad at all, batting 250. and 38 rubies. I feel Hermida could be amazing though he’s a guy that the Fish should stick with for awhile. It seems with the Marlins either one thing is working and the other things aren’t, the division is elite it is probably the hardest in baseball with all the talent from all the pitching to all the position players. If the Marlins want to stick around in the race for the division or the wild card they need all cylinders clicking and that mean pitchers performing and the lineup hitting.

I believe the Marlins can make the playoff not only because I’m a fan but they have a team that is capable of doing something. Another problem is stranded baserunners, for instincts; Bonifacio needs to steal more when he gets on. With his speed the guy should definitely have more then 18 bags. It’s like the Marlins don’t like taking chances Freddy Gonzalez need to trust Bonifacio’s wheels more often. But that is not the only problem with Bonifacio it seems every time he gets on it’s a infield single. He needs to keep that back foot planted and hit with his hips, instead of taking off before he even makes contact. He can really make the game exciting but I believe that he can be a .290 to a .300 hitter with that speed. If he puts that ball in the gap he can get extra extra bases turn a single into a double and a double into a triple. Bonifacio is just pure speed.

Let me get back to this bullpen starting with Renyel Pinto his stats look good but for someone who relieves the guys has pitched 33 innings and he has 25 walks. Ill give it to him because he has 32 strikeouts but you never know if he will throw balls or strikes. He seems to work the count instead of just throwing strikes to get outs so we can get the game over with. All and all the Marlins bullpen is pitching great but we need another guy to get in there that is a solid fit for a hold. It just makes that much of a difference. Like Kiko Calero,  he gets the job done about every time with a 1.72 era in 37 innings pitching, that’s a solid guy we picked up. If we can get another guy to be a solid reliever that would be big.  

 I’d also like to see the Fish try and get Zach Duke from the Pirates. He’s a young pitcher with lots of potential and could use a team that could hit the ball and help him out a little bit. Plus the Pirates are trying to rebuild and the Fish have young guys they could trade for Duke. Duke would make the rotation unbelievable and the Fish need another reliable arm with Anibal Sanchez hurt and Andrew Miller in the minors. Another pick up the Fish are just turning there heads to is Juan Pierre. The Dodgers got him on the bench half the time and he’s on base a third of the time. We have Ross and Hermida and if we added Pierre, man that’s speed, average, and more coverage to the outfield. Also possibly a mentor to the Marlins young prospect Cameron Maybin. Who I believe is a star in the making, he’s just nervous at the big stage and just needs to get the jitters out and calm down. I see a 20 to 30 homerun guy out of that long stride; kind of see a young Griffey to be honest.

To conclude this, the Fish could take a big step right now by picking up an arm or two to help them make a playoff run because there going to need something in the division they play in. I truly believe we can win it all if the Fish get hot because Hanley is superman for the Fish. Right now he’s aiming for the batting title and he doesn’t look like he cooling down. The Marlin's fans know that the Fish can hit but they need to start hitting through the lineup and show that the Marlins are contenders too. No one ever gives them a chance just look at the 1997 and 2003 teams. Two of the biggest upsets in baseball history, the Fish never had a shot. As a wild card team both times they did the unthinkable, just look how young this team is and the ups and downs they had this season and there still in it. The door is open for them they just need to walk through it and be the contender that there capable of being.

                                                                                                                                                       Michael Belanger