JUPITER, Fla. — Cameron Maybin says his time is now.
The Florida Marlins realize their time — their next time — is probably at least a couple of years away. They admitted as much when they traded third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis to the Detroit Tigers in September for six players, including the 20-year-old Maybin, who has designs on their starting center field job.
The Marlins expect Maybin to play center field, but it doesn’t have to be immediately even though fans will be looking for some evidence of the return the team got for two established stars.
“We’ll give them every chance,” manager Fredi Gonzalez says of Maybin, the other five players from the deal and a handful of other prospects from the Marlins farm system. “What’s unique about us is that we’re capable of doing this more than teams like the Yankees or the Red Sox. We say, ‘Let’s give this kid an opportunity.’ “
The opportunities — and roster turnover — have been a common theme wrapped around the franchise’s two World Series championships in 1997 and 2003.
But that could change soon thanks to agreements with local governments that all but ensure a retractable-roof stadium will be built in Miami. Then the Marlins could begin building again, and with more permanency, around players such as multitalented shortstop Hanley Ramirez— who with Cabrera gone clearly is the team’s best offensive threat — and the athletic Maybin.
How athletic? He has dunked over — and, in the interest of full disclosure, been dunked on by — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rashard McCants, his cousin, in driveway basketball games back home in Asheville, N.C.
Like Ramirez, Maybin is a leadoff hitter with the potential to develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter.
“I think I can surprise some people,” says Maybin, who’s 6-4, 205 pounds. “They look at me and think I’m a little wiry or whatever. They don’t think I’m as fast as I am. They don’t think I have as much power as I do. Then they say, ‘Wow, this kid can play.’ I want to be the tone-setter. I love to hit leadoff.”
He’s beyond his years in baseball savvy, thanks in part to four years as a batboy for the Class A team in his hometown.
“You can tell he understands how to carry himself. That really jumps out,” says veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez, who has been adding advice to that which Maybin says he received in Detroit from Sean Casey and Gary Sheffield.
“Sheff told me, ‘Don’t be scared to be a little mean,'” Maybin says with a broad smile that contradicts the advice. Confident will have to do for now.
“This is a great opportunity,” he says. “I want to make the decision tough. I want to show them I have a good work ethic, that I try to be as ready as I can every day.”
Joshua, i don’t know, but i’ll throw it out there.
Do you know or have you heard anything about our 88.1 WCQS station playing nothing but "St. Stephen" for the last two weeks?? Today I couldn’t take it anymore, and started asking others if they’ve heard this too. It seems like the station has gone bust!
I wrote about it just now here, too: Joshrosenberg.net