Stanton On Fire

Twenty year old wunderkind Mike Stanton is off to quite the start at AA Jacksonville: .338/.482/.800; no, that's not a typo, he's really on-basing .482 and slugging .800 for a tidy 1.282 OPS.

Over his last two games, he sent the minor league community into a frenzy with 5 homers in 2 games, including a 4/4 night.

This incredible tear hasn't changed the Marlins philosophy on Stanton, as beat writer Joe Capozzi blogs.

Now, there's no perfect science to making it "work" with a prospect. The Marlins have rushed guys with great results (Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis spring to mind), they've gone painfully slow with guys and gotten great results (Josh Willingham, John Baker) and then they've had it blow up in their face with Jeremy Hermida and, to an extent, Cameron Maybin, both of whom fall somewhere between rushed and slow-and-steady.

The Marlins are doing well to tread lightly right now; incumbent right-fielder Cody Ross has a track record for production and is a fan favorite. Chris Coghlan is the reigning rookie of the year, and despite his sluggish start is too talented of a hitter to bench or demote right now, and Cameron Maybin is a player that the Marlins have a tremendous amount invested in as he's the only truly long-term centerfield option in the organization; quite simply, they must see what they have in him. This depth just doesn't give Stanton a spot to even slide into the lineup.

Long term, Jorge Cantu's impending free agency and Uggla's 6th year arbitration award that should top $11 million means Stanton won't have to wait much longer for a job, but right now, there isn't a spot for the phenom, and that should tell you how talented this Marlins offense can be.