Willingham will hit cleanup

According to MLB.com, Marlins OF Josh Willingham is preparing for his role as a cleanup hitter this season. He will follow slugger Miguel Cabrera in Florida's lineup this season. "We have Miguel," Willingham said of Cabrera being the driving force in the lineup. "We don't have a (David) Ortiz or somebody to come behind him. We have to have that consistency throughout. I'll never be one of those (Ortiz) guys. That's where I think my preparation comes into play. I have to know what to expect from the opposition. I have to know when I'm feeling good, because I have to make the best of my opportunity."

Willingham hit 26 home runs and drove in 74 runs while batting .277 as a rookie in 2006. His numbers this spring are not that impressive (.160 BA and four RBI), but you shouldn't put too much into spring numbers. He will see plenty of pitches hitting behind Cabrera this season and could be poised for another big year. Unfortunately for Fantasy owners, Willingham no longer has catcher eligibility. Still, he is a top 50 Fantasy outfielder worth drafting in any Fantasy format.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Willingham Finds Home In Left Field

Hitting never was the problem with Josh Willingham. He always could do that. It was finding a spot for him on the field. That was the issue. He played third. He played first. He caught. He played outfield. Around the horn he goes, where he stops, nobody knows. Catching would have taken a toll on his body, it was for that reason manager Joe Girardi said Willingham became the left fielder. He said he wanted to squeeze as many at-bats as possible out of one of the most productive hitters in the lineup, and believed that more rest would be required if Willingham ended up behind the plate.

In 2006, Willingham delivered on offense. Of the six Marlins who totaled at least 400 at-bats last season, only Cabrera finished with a higher OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). And that was despite a hand injury sustained by Willingham that resulted in a drop-off at the plate. Playing his first full season in the majors, Willingham hit .277 with 26 home runs and 74 RBI, producing career highs in every major offensive category.
Source: MiamiHerald.com