Jose Reyes gives the Marlins a legitimate lead-off hitter. Photo: Mark Goldman/Icon SMI

The series on team offense continues with the Miami Marlins. The Fish finished twenty fourth in the majors and twlefth in the National League in offense last season, scoring 3.86 runs per game.

The CBSSportsline probable batting order is the one new manager Ozzie Guillen is likely to write up this season. The OBP and slugging percentage used come from the Marcel the Monkey forecast system. The pitching numbers are the actual results for the Marlins hurlers in 2011. Plugging those numbers in the Lineup Analysis Tool (LAT) produces the following results:

• Best lineup: 4.74 runs per game
• Probable lineup: 4.54 runs per game
• Worst lineup: 4.19 runs per game
• Regressed lineup: 4.25 runs per game

Ozzie Guillen and the LAT agree on Giancarlo Stanton batting clean-up, but little else. Guillen leads off with Jose Reyes, the LAT prefers Hanley Ramirez. Guillen like Emilio Bonifacio as a table setter, the LAT bats him ninth. In a number of the top lineups, they do agree with Logan Morrison, John Buck, and Gaby Sanchez batting in some order in the five, six, and seven slots. I actually like the idea of Ramirez and Reyes at the top of the order. They could create a lot havoc on the bases.

Guillen’s lineup is quite traditional, and while it may not be optimal, the Marlins should be great improved over 2011. That is, of course, if Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes are healthy. If that’s the case, then their projections might be at the low end. That will end up being more important than the exact place they bat in the order.

You can see the results of all the teams on this Google spreadsheet as the series progresses.

Previous articles in this series:

• Explanation
• Boston Red Sox
• New York Yankees
• Texas Rangers
• Detroit Tigers
• St. Louis Cardinals
• Toronto Blue Jays
• Colorado Rockies
• Cincinnati Reds
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Kansas City Royals
• Milwaukee Brewers
• New York Mets
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Baltimore Orioles
• Tampa Bay Rays
• Cleveland Indians
• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Chicago White Sox
• Chicago Cubs
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Oakland Athletics
• Atlanta Braves
• Washington Nationals

If you like the Lineup Analysis Tool or series like this, please consider donating to the Baseball Musings Pledge Drive.