Florida Marlins All-Time Team: Second Base

[Dave Gray]

Here's where we are:
1B - Derrick Lee

Time to pick a second baseman.

The full list of players can be found here: http://mlb.mlb.com/fla/history/players.jsp?sortby=position&filter=4

I see a few names that might fit, with possibly Luis Castillo or Dan Uggla at the top.  Maybe Craig Counsell.

Make your case...

[Brian Fein]

I think Uggla is the only choice here.  Castillo was a critical piece of the 2003 championship team with his speed on the bases, but Uggla has been a recent staple.

Although, the past 2 seasons - ever since his flub at the all-star game - he has been poor, batting around .230 and moderate power.  Nowhere near how awesome he was 3 seasons ago when he had 25 HR's at the break.

So I think maybe you could make a case for Uggla or Castillo, but I choose Uggla.  Even with his decline of late, I think he's probably still the best the Marlins have ever had.

[Sunstroke]

HIS NAME IS DAN UGGLA!!

I really like Uggla, and am sorry he's no longer with the Marlins. 2B's with that sort of pop really don't come along very often, and I thought his defense was finally starting to be pretty decent less of a total liability.

[Dave Gray]

I'll vote Castillo, I guess.

[Brian Fein]

^^ going to give any discussion or reasoning for your choice?  Maybe I can be persuaded...

[Dave Gray]

Not really.  I'm kind of a fraud when it comes to Marlins baseball.  My frame of reference is really only what I watched when the team was good. 

[SportsChick]

It's a tough choice but I think I'd have to lean toward Castillo. His batting average was far superior and while he didn't hit for the same power as Uggla, he was far more of a threat on the base paths which can be just as exciting.

I think that Uggla started out strong but after the all-star collapse, his offense in teal did the same thing.

[Brian Fein]

Time to do some real analysis now:

Luis Castillo:
played 1114 games over 10 seasons with the Marlins (1996-2007), 3 Gold Gloves, 3 All-Star selections, and 1 season of MVP consideration (although finished 21st in the voting).
Batted .293 in those 10 seasons with 20 HR and 271 RBI, but added 281 steals and scored 675 runs.

Dan Uggla:
played 769 games over 5 seasons with the Marlins (2006-2010), finished 3rd in Rookie of the year voting (the Marlins had 3 of the top 4 that season), a Silver Slugger (2010), 2 All-Star selections (2006, 2008) and MVP consideration in 2010 (finished 17th in voting).
Batted .263 with 154 HR's and 465 RBI and 19 steals and 499 runs.

So, comparing seasonal averages:
Uggla: .263 avg, 30.8 HR, 93 RBI, 3.8 SB, 100 R
Castillo: .293 avg, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 28 SB, 67.5 R

On a per-season average, Uggla appears to be the clear winner here, although they are speed vs power, as Castillo was a leadoff hitter much of his career and Uggla was in the middle of the lineup more often.  In addition, Uggla posted on average 152 K's per season, while Castillo only 63 K's per season.

In the field, Castillo had only 94 errors in 10 seasons, while Uggla committed 73 errors in only 5 seasons.

[SportsChick]

Sticking with my Castillo selection. I may be swayed because of the last couple of years Uggla was in a Marlins uniform. they were disappointing. Knowing what he could do while he did very little of it is a bit frustrating as a fan.

[Brian Fein]

Another note I found interesting...

Luis Castillo is one of only 2 players who won 2 rings with the Marlins.

Name the other...

[Sunstroke]

^^^ I only know this because it's my favorite all-time Marlin you're talking about...Jeff Conine.

[Dave Gray]

After looking at the stats, I think that I feel even better about my Castilla choice.  It's a different kind of player, but I like him in the field and on the base paths.