Fredi's Outfield Comments Perplexing

Even on a day that was washed out by rain, the Marlins found a way to get me talking. Within this piece from the Miami Herald, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez openly stated that only Cody Ross and Chris Coghlan were assured starting jobs in the Marlins outfield. Simple math and the process of elimination leaves one name ominously out in the cold: Cameron Maybin.

Maybin, you'll remember was proclaimed the opening day center fielder a year ago, struggled mightily through the start of 2009 and spent the majority of the season at AAA New Orleans. He came back in September, and seemed to demonstrate capability and a readiness to reprise his role in the opening day lineup.

That's why Fredi's comments are perplexing. Based on performance, no, Maybin doesn't deserve a guarantee; however, based on pedigree, expectations and overall importance, Maybin needs to start, and even more importantly, Maybin does not need to be constantly looking over his shoulder worrying if wunderkind Mike Stanton is going to take his spot in the lineup.

Could Maybin's groin injury play a role in this? Absolutely. The Marlins might feel that Maybin needs the spring at-bats, and if he doesn't get to a certain number of AB's, extended spring training and a rehab stint might not be the worst thing for Maybin, but think of the can of worms that opens.

Let's assume that Maybin isn't ready to go, Stanton opens the season with the big club and thrives, three weeks in Stanton's playing great, Maybin's ready to come back and Coghlan and Ross are healthy. Can you send Stanton down? Would you want to make that call? I sure wouldn't. Maybe somehow, someway, the convoluted first-base situation is somehow solved by this as the odd-man out ends up at first, and the Marlins just delay the inevitable outfield rearrangement that seems to be coming sooner than we expected given not only Stanton's hot spring, but also the organization evidently buying into it as more than just a spring mirage.

Competition is a great thing, lighting a fire under someone is never a bad move, but when the organization has so much invested in Maybin succeeding, making him now look over his shoulder before the regular season has even begun is not a great way to keep his confidence high.