FLORIDA MARLINS --- Adam Ulrey

Remember the scene in the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid where they are being followed all the time and they keep saying, "Who are those guys?" That's just what the rest of the NL East could be saying this year about the Florida Marlins. Who are those guys and why won't they go away? Last year Manager John Boles did a great job with the Marlins as they finished only three games under .500 with a very young team.

Let's start with one free agent they signed, former Marlin Charles Johnson, one of the best catchers in the game. Johnson is coming off his best offensive season with 31 HRs, 91 RBIs and a .304 average. He will be able to bring out the best in this young staff.

Management finally got a chance to see the real Derek Lee, with his 28 HRs and 70 RBIs. Only 25, he should be coming into his prime. Luis Castillo gives the Marlins a legitamate leadoff hitter and a quality second baseman. He batted .334 and led the league with 62 steals, but don't look for much power out of him as he hit only 2 homers and drove in a paltry 11 runs. Last year was Derek Lee and Mark Kotsay's last chance to show what they had at short. This year it's the young Alex Gonzalez' turn. He went from 14 HRs and a .277 average in 1999 to only seven homers and he barely reached the Mendoza line. The third baseman, Mike Lowell, beat cancer a year ago so everything else should seem like a piece of cake. This big boy had a very solid comeback year with 22 homers and 91 RBI's in the middle of one of the best young lineups in the game. With Castillo, Kotsay, Lee and Preston Wilson batting in front of him, look for him to have ample opportunity to drive in a ton of runs.

The outfield is one of the best-kept secrets in baseball with Cliff Floyd if he ever could stay healthy, Preston Wilson, the stepson of Mookie Wilson, and 1996 number one draft pick Mark Kotsay. Floyd could be a bonafide superstar if he could just stay healthy. He missed almost 40 games yet he still hit 22 HRs and drove in 91 RBI's while hitting .300. He also brings the element of speed to his game with 24 steals out of 27 attempts. Preston is the other half of this superstar tandem, leading the Marlins in homers with 31 and RBIs with 121. He also has tremendous wheels, with 36 steals. He did lead the NL with 187 whiffs, only one off the record. Both of these great young outfielders could be 30-30 men this year.

Mark Kotsay finally began playing up to his ability. He didn't put up earth-shattering numbers, but was more consistent and found his groove in the number two slot in the order. He stole 19 bases, hit .298, scored 87 times and was second among NL outfielders with 13 assists.

The starting pitching received a shot in the arm last year when out of nowhere Ryan Dempster appeared as a ray of sunlight, leading the team in wins with 14 and finishing with over 200 K's. Add the fact that he pitched 226 innings and ended the year with a very nice 3.66 ERA and you have a newly estblished ace. Chuck Smith stepped in at the end of the season and provided some stability to this young staff, going 6-6 with a team-leading 3.23 ERA. The rest of the staff has a huge upside with AJ Burnett (3-7, 4.79 ERA), Brad Penny (8-7, 4.81) and Jesus Sanchez (9-12, 5.34). Besides the 31-year old Smith, the other four starters are between 23 and 25. They have Alex Fernandez waiting in the wings if he can get healthy. This staff will only get better so keep an eye on them.

The bullpen was a pleasant surprise, especially closer Antonio Alfonseca who led the league with 45 saves. Dan Miceli did a good job as Alfonseca's set-up man, going 6-4 with an ERA of 4.25. The rest of the bullpen had their moments and should improve. Braden Looper pitched in 73 games going 5-1 along with Vic Darensbourg contributing 5 wins to go with his 4.06 ERA. You add Armando Almanza, Manny Aybar and Ricky Bones who all came through and this team might just sneak up on the big boys.

What I like about their bench is the addition of so many veterans who should be able to provide the much-needed leadership in Andy Fox, Kevin Millar, Rich Becker, Lyle Mouton and Jeff Abbott. The question from Atlanta and New York by year's end could be "Who are those guys?"