Mattingly expects ‘big things’ from Anderson
Brian Anderson offered a quick chuckle, as if the question at hand was rhetorical: Has he been able to pick the brains of the Marlins’ new veteran additions?
“Yeah, every day,” he said. “I think I ask [outfielder] Corey [Dickerson] at least 10 questions every day, him and Sean Rodriguez both,” Dickerson said. “I’m always asking them just how to get ready in this shorter time, what can I do to be more consistent?”
For the Miami Marlins, ahead of a season they’re enthusiastically calling a “60-game sprint,” success will be contingent upon improving an offense that finished only ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 in runs scored.
The natural question, in turn, might be to ask what’s changed? The Marlins brought in two veterans, outfielder Corey Dickerson and infielder-turned-potentialcenter fielder Jonathan Villar, to bulk up the top of the order. They also signed utilityman Matt Joyce — who, it should be noted, was added to the 10-day Injured List on Thursday — and Jesus Aguilar to help the depth of the lineup.
But any serious improvement — the kind that would turn a 57-win bottom-feeder into a potential wild-card contender — will require leaps in production from talent within.
Enter: Brian Anderson. Though Anderson turned 27 in May, a time when many hitters have fully developed, this year will be just his third full season in the major leagues. After getting a taste of the big leagues in 2017, he showed his potential in a full 2018 rookie campaign, finishing fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He knocked 20 home runs in 126 games a year ago, before a fractured left hand ended his season in late August.
“I expect big things,” said Miami manager Don Mattingly on Thursday. “I think he’s been getting better and better. I think if the injury doesn’t happen last year late that he ends up being 25-30 home run guy. He’s got all the attributes.”
To that end, Anderson hopes increased reps coupled with a newly beefed-up lineup could spell a breakout season.
“I think [seeing the ball better] just has to do with getting more experience, seeing more pitches, seeing different kinds of pitchers, I think,” Anderson said. “Just trying to understand whenever you’re facing a guy like, you take Scherzer, you know where his release point is because you’ve seen him before.”
A year ago, the burden was on Anderson as one of the team’s two primary runcreators. He and second baseman Starlin Castro were the only two hitters to hit at least 20 home runs and drive in at least 60 RBI. Anderson led the team, among regular contributors, in On-Base Plus Slugging percentage (OPS), at .811.
Hypothetically, Dickerson (.906) and Villar (.792) would have ranked first and third in the Marlins’ lineup in that category last season, with Anderson sandwiched in between.
“We added a lot of offense. We added a lot of guys with experience,” Anderson said. “Adding Corey, adding Jesus, those types of guys are definitely going to make our lineup more well-rounded, and just tougher to pitch to. For me, I’m hoping that means I get more pitches to hit, maybe we get some more guys on base and everything.”
If that’s the case, it will have ripple effects both in the short- and long-term. In the near future, it would lift the ceiling of what Miami’s offense could be, perhaps even giving the team a shot to take advantage of the unique season and make a pennant run.
In the longer future? “Long-term, I’ve always been a Marlin. I’d love to stay a Marlin,” Anderson said. “I love the direction that we’re going. I love getting to hear Derek [Jeter] talk about ‘expecting to win.’ That’s something he’s drilled into our brains that when we show up, we’re expecting to win. And that’s something that I think these younger guys really respect and that they’re getting on board with.
“And I think that’s something that can grow and build, and we can start making something special here.”