FanNation | LordBishop34's Marlins Talk | How far can the Marlins go?

Alot of people are saying this can't last. The Marlins can't stay NL leaders. Eventually we will settle down at the bottom of the NL East. Hell we arn't even getting respect on the SI Power Rankings that has us losing power,now ranked 13th, even though we are still winning and leading the NL East.

We do have some glaring issues. Our starters team ERA is too high, we do make too many errors, and we do strike out too much. All these things are true, and yet we are still winning.

These are things that will improve, look at the starters. After Hendrickson and Olsen, it really drops off. Not because they are bad pitchers, but because they get themselves in trouble. If Badenhop doesn't allow the Braves to get to him early, he walks out a winner and we sweep the two game series. Nolascos last start, he did great until his last inning or so when he let it slip away, again that would have been another series sweep. Miller seems afraid of the strike zone, even though he has great stuff. With time each of these guys should get better.

Even if they don't, there are other things to consider here. We have three high quality starters on the DL due to come off during the season, including Josh Johnson, whom I think everyone would love to see out there again. And we have Chris Volstad sitting in the minor leagues just itching to get called up. The starting rotation will get better as the season goes along, this will translate into more wins not less.

The D is slowly getting better, even though we make alot of errors. We are still a stronger fielding team then last year, especially at 3B.

As for the strike outs, well this team has power and will swing at a pitches they shouldn't. But we are already seeing this improve, as we have seen steady improvement with Willingham Uggla and Jacobs as the season has gone on with each, swinging at less garbage causing there batting averages climb out of the cellar.

Our weakest areas are going to get better, we are going to get better. So how exactly does that translate to a losing team in the end? It doesn't. Most of those so called experts see one thing..payroll. Because we don't have a bunch of overpaid players on our team we can't and shouldn't win. The talent is there, we are easily the one of the most talented teams in MLB, its a question of maturity and health in the end. If we can mature and stay healthy this team is going to compete this year.

I am not going to say we are going to win the World Series, but there is no way this is a cellar dweller team. I believe at bare minimum we are a .500 team, but it also wouldn't surpise me if we won the NL East either.

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April 26, 2008 09:55 AM ET

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"Our starters team ERA is too high, we do make too many errors, and we do strike out too much. All these things are true, and yet we are still winning."

And that's the reason why they'll probably falter. They got talent, young, and pesky, but it seems they don't have enough firepower yet to contend. It's too early in the season anyway.