Quick Baseball Hits

-The Marlins have a litany of problems, but speed and defense is not near the top of my list. In fact, the bigger problem I have is Marlins braintrust thinking that they could transform a "homer or strikeout team" into the 2003 Fish overnight. That's why the deal for Emilio Bonifacio deal was so dumb. One guy doesn't change the landscape of your team. Only a complete overhaul would. Which doesn't make sense.

The reality is that Dan Uggla(who could be gone by July) will never be a good defensive second baseman, and has major holes in his swing. Jeremy Hermida and Cody Ross will always be below average outfielders, and will always strike out a lot. Chris Coughlan fits that profile right now. This is what happens when you operate a team with ZERO payroll, and rely on guys with off-the-charts talent, but could use an extra year in the minors. You bet some of that blame goes on Larry Beinfest and Michael Hill. Which is why they should not rush Cameron Maybin back, and they should scrap any notions to infuse this roster with speed and defense, and just accept it for what it is. Speed doesn't win you a championship anymore, and frankly defense doesn't either in the steroid era. Homers and power pitching does.

That's why the Marlins stink right now. Because they are 14th in the NL in OPS(an anemic 707), and the vaunted starting rotation is in reality one ace(Josh Johnson), a good middle-of the rotation arm(Chris Volstad), a supposed No. 1 getting his brains bashed in(Ricky Nolasco), an always injured starter(Anibal Sanchez) and to this point, a lefty bust(Andrew Miller). That's not getting it done.

Other tidbits:

-As a Met fan, Omar Minaya PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not trade Bobby Parnell for Mark DeRosa. Or Nick Johnson. Or Todd Helton. I said it before the year and I will say it again: The Mets are not a contender. They need to spend a year rejuvenating the farm system, even if it means temporarily getting worse. They should have shopped Delgado. David Wright's value is taking a nosedive by the second. And as much I hate to say it, Steve Phillips isn't completely off-base in suggesting dealing Carlos Beltran. He's the top player who could give you a lot of value right now.

-Let's see eight straight victories for the Yankees after a horrible start. Wasn't that the script every year under Joe Torre? So can people get off Girardi's back now?

-And why in the world would the White Sox trade for Jake Peavy? Other than Carlos Quentin, Josh Fields, and Gavin Floyd, there are no up and coming players, except three that could be off to San Diego. Congrats Kenny Williams, you will once again be the best team in a laughable AL Central, and then get promptly dismissed in the ALDS again. And then toil around in 60-winville for the next three years.