Florida's September call-ups included several players who were up with the team prior in the season. UT-S Brian Banks, RHP Josh Beckett, RHP A.J. Burnett, RHP Gary Knotts, OF-S Abraham Nunez, UT-R Pablo Ozuna, LHP Nate Robertson, and RHP Justin Wayne all joined the Marlins this month.

Banks signed with Florida as a minor league free agent prior to the season. He spent this year at AAA Calgary, where he hit .310 with a .410 OBP and .540 SLG on 136 H, 38 2B, 3 3B, and 19 HR with a 73:77 BB:K and 10/15 SB% in 439 AB. Although he turned 32 yesterday, some team should still roster him next season as a utilityman, since he offers speed, power, and plate discipline from both sides of the plate. Banks played regularly for the Marlins this month, going 9-for-28 with a double and a homer.

Blisters put Beckett back on the DL in late August. He rejoined the team in mid-September, making one relief appearance before re-entering the rotation. When healthy, Beckett certainly lived up to expectations, compiling a 113:44 K:BB with 93 H and 13 HR allowed in 107.2 IP for a 4.10 ERA. Unfortunately, he spent more than 70 days on the disabled list this season. Hopefully, he'll have an opportunity to work out a permanent solution to his blister problem this off-season.

Florida failed to properly encourage Burnett to sit out the rest of the season following his elbow injury, so he returned in mid-September. The only flaw in his skill set is a slightly high walk rate, for which he compensates by limiting the hits he allows and striking out almost a batter per inning. Burnett and Beckett should jockey for the title of ace on the Marlins for the next several seasons, but the organization needs to immediately improve their care of his arm.

Knots experienced control problems in his move to the pen this season, compiling a 44:32 K:BB with 53 H and 4 HR allowed in 53 IP for a 4.25 ERA at AAA Calgary. However many of his difficulties may have come early in the year, as he's performing well this month. In September, Knotts has an 8:3 K:BB with 8 H allowed in 11.2 IP for a 2.31 ERA. I expect him to compete for a middle relief job in Spring Training.

The Marlins wisely allowed Nunez to spend an uninterrupted season at AAA Calgary. Over the course of the year, he hit .250 with a .329 OBP and .477 SLG on 107 H, 24 2B, 5 3B, and 21 HR with a 51:112 BB:K and 31/37 SB% in 428 AB. As Florida has no immediate need for more outfield help, I believe Nunez should return to AAA to start 2003 so that he can work on his plate discipline. He has good speed and power skills, but both would benefit from additional strike zone judgment. His performance in the few starts and pinch-hit opportunities he received this month supports his need for additional minor league time.

After missing last season due to injury and gaining three years in the age adjustments, Ozuna bounced between AAA and the majors this season. The 28-year-old, who had no time at AAA prior to the year, hit .326 with a .371 OBP and .475 SLG on 85 H, 16 2B, 1 3B, and 7 HR with a 17:37 BB:K and 16/19 SB% in 261 AB at Calgary. However by jerking him around this season, Florida made it difficult to determine if he'll deserve a utility job in the majors next year. I suspect Ozuna will spend 2003 much as he did 2002 unless he follows a strong Spring Training with a hot April and May. The Marlins picked up Andy Fox's option at the end of August, so the roster spots available for reserves will be limited.

Florida drafted Robertson out of Wichita State University in the fifth round of the 1999 draft. After a full season at A+ Brevard County in the Florida State League last year, Robertson advanced to AA Portland in the Eastern League this year. In 163 IP, he compiled a 109:50 K:BB with 156 H and 12 HR allowed for a 3.42 ERA. He certainly needs a year at AAA before he's ready for the majors, but the Marlins wanted to see him in the majors and needed an extra starter due to a doubleheader. After he made his start, he developed a sore shoulder, so he's only made a few short relief outings since that time. I expect him to advance to AAA next season and am somewhat interested to see if his strikeout rate holds against the higher level of competition. If his dominance falters, the Marlins may want to move him to relief.

Wayne is in the majors so Florida can show their fans the spoils of the Cliff Floyd trade. He spent most of the season in AA aside from two AAA starts before the end of the year, so he'll need to spend most of 2003 in the minors. Wayne's five major league starts this month emphasize his need for additional development, as he's posted a 5.32 ERA on a 16:13 K:BB with 22 H and 3 HR allowed in 23.2 IP.

Tim Raines, Sr. has decided to retire after the season. While Rock took the hard road to retirement, hitting only .186 this season with a .607 OPS, the 43-year-old's 23-season career will likely earn him a place in the Hall of Fame. Throughout his career he's sported impressive plate discipline, and only in 1982 did he walk less times than he struck out. Raines didn't have strong power skills to compliment his on-base prowess, but he added 808 bases to his hits through steals. The Marlins were privileged to have him with their team this season even if his only contribution was as a role model. I was disappointed that baseball didn't work to complete a small trade at the end of the season to fulfill Raines' desire to play the final game of his career for Montreal, where he spent the first 13 years of his career. However last season he was able to experience the pride and pleasure of playing on the same team as his son, Tim Jr., after Montreal sent him to Baltimore near the end of the year.