1 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: New Fish Bites. It's Eli Sussman here, coming off in 2 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: the exhilarating week of Miami Marlins baseball off the field 3 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,319 Speaker 1: and finally on the field throughout the long winter on 4 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: fish Stripes dot com, our website at fish Stripes. On 5 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: social media platforms Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, we tried our 6 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: best to keep Marlins fans informed and entertained, but this 7 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: right now is truly the best stretch of the entire year. 8 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: Spring training is underway and the possibilities for twenty twenty 9 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: are endless, infinite. Anything can happen. As of this recording, 10 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: the Marlins are undefeated in the Grapefruit League competition. These 11 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 1: solo podcast episodes from me during the spring and the 12 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: summer of twenty twenty won't be quite as long as 13 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: what you're used to from during the off season, when 14 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: I went an hour at a time, or even more 15 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: than that, because finally, things are happening quick, quick, quick, 16 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: constant updates, and the longer I record myself, the more 17 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: outdated the content is by the time I edited together 18 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: and posted and you listen to it. So there's no 19 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: sense in having any of that and wasting more time 20 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 1: than we have to the format that I'm exploring for 21 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: the next month or so during spring training on fish 22 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: Bites is to focus on a single game of the 23 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: week that takes place during the Grapefruit League and to 24 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: go really in depth on that one game and all 25 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: the notable individual performances, some of the team wide stuff 26 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: off the field as well, just really picking apart one 27 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: particular game that was played during spring training that week, 28 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,279 Speaker 1: and then to look forward from there to the upcoming week. 29 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 1: What I'm most paying attention to the individual players I'm 30 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: focusing on. So we're gonna try that format at least 31 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 1: this time and then maybe the next week, and we'll 32 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: see how you guys like it. The selection for this 33 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: first week is pretty straightforward, considering that the Grayfruit League 34 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: opener for the Marlins took place on Saturday against the Mets, 35 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,239 Speaker 1: and then they had their home opener at Roger Dean 36 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: Chevrolet Stadium on Sunday against the reigning World Series champion 37 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: Washington Nationals. They won both of those games, and if 38 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: I'm to pick one one game of the week for 39 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: the first week of spring training, it would be the 40 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: opener against the Mets on February twenty seconds on the 41 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,279 Speaker 1: road in Port Saint Lucy. That's because the game was televised. 42 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 1: That's because the game was especially heavy on young talent, 43 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 1: a lot of guys that aren't in the major leagues, 44 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: ones that still have our so much potential, so much 45 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: room to grow. And I'm gonna be breaking down a 46 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: lot of those guys. Even before the first pitch was 47 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: thrown in the game on Saturday, the Marlins achieved this 48 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,799 Speaker 1: fascinating milestone on the mound for them. Starting was right 49 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: handed Jordan Yamamoto, and also in the lineup with him 50 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison, and Isan Diez. This is the 51 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 1: first time, either before they arrived in the Christian Yellis 52 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: trade for Milwaukee, and in the two plus years since then, 53 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: the first time that all four of those guys were 54 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: in the starting lineup of the same game together. This 55 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: is not a quote unquote real game. It's not a 56 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: meaningful game, but we're recording stats. They're playing against another 57 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: major league team within their own division, So there are 58 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: enough stakes in this case for me to take notice 59 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: of that, and I did the research. They were on 60 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: the field a couple times together last spring, but never 61 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: in the starting lineup, never really featured players all together 62 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: at the same time. It was a really young starting 63 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: lineup for the Marlins in general in this opening game, 64 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: which is what made it so compelling. So I just 65 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: liked the aesthetic of having all those guys together and 66 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: what that represented in some small way about this rebuild, 67 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: maybe finally turning the corner and seeing the fruits of 68 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: those rebuilding trades that they made to go young, and 69 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: how that worked out so very quickly. On Yamamoto, he was, 70 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: all right, you know, pitch two innings, which is very 71 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 1: typical for the first time through a rotation with the Marlins. 72 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: That's what they did last year, or that's what they 73 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: attempted to do, and that's the plan again this year. 74 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: For the first part, if you're being stretched out to 75 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: be a starting pitcher first time through, pitch a couple 76 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: innings for him, thirty something pitches in his first ending 77 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 1: of work. There was some spotty defense behind him. There 78 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: was a very difficult wind at play in this game, 79 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: and you're gonna hear more about that in just a 80 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: few minutes. So interesting conditions that made it tricky on him. 81 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: But he really settled down in his second ending of work, 82 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: including a really strikeout that he had on a breaking ball. 83 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: Also in the lineup with all those guys. Former first 84 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: round draft pick JJ Blede just drafted last June number 85 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: four overall pick, the highest draft pick the Marlins have 86 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: had in a number of years, and he was somewhat 87 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 1: of a surprise invite to Major League spring training in 88 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 1: the first place. And for him to even be ready 89 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: to enter the very first game of the exhibition schedule, 90 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: that was a big shocker. That was a lot of 91 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: fun when that news broke. That was probably the biggest takeaway. 92 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: He was all the way down in the number eight 93 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: spot in the lineup, but he pretty immediately showed what 94 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: makes him such a compelling prospect. Depending on where you look, 95 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: he could many believe that he is the best position 96 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: player prospect in the organization right now, and I'd say 97 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: I'm probably in that camp as well. That he's just 98 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: such a well rounded player twenty two years old, and 99 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: despite the so so results last year when he was 100 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: playing at the high A level, you could just see 101 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: the tools that he has and the instincts, the discipline 102 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: that he has of the plate and his luscious swing. 103 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: That's the adjective I he chose to use when we 104 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: saw it for the first time from a side angle. 105 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: He got a hit in his very first that bad 106 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: in spring training, and right it was through the right 107 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: side in between first base and second base. A great 108 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: exit V low on that ball as well, as is 109 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: the case in all these very early spring games. He 110 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: was only in the game for a couple dings before 111 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: being removed for a substitute. But the future is very 112 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 1: bright for mister Blade. 113 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 2: Having that opportunity. It was crazy. I didn't think it'd be, 114 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 2: you know, first game of the spring training and let alone, 115 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: you know, big league camp, but no, it was awesome. 116 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 2: And I was just going out there trying to make 117 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 2: the most opportunity and keep it simple, get my pitch 118 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: to hit, and play a defense and you know, learn 119 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 2: from these guys honestly, just like I said earlier, just 120 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: sticking your pitch, sticking on the game plan and you know, 121 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 2: not trying to rush her freshure mechanics and keeping that 122 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: same approach. Now, I didn't see a left y'all lean 123 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 2: up into the in the game, so it was nice 124 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 2: probably get to see one, and finally, you know, learn 125 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 2: from those mistakes and executed. 126 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: Starting in center fields and batting in the number two spot. 127 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: Monte Harrison took over the first inning with an electric 128 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: run around the bases. First he was the one that 129 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: got a hit that was actually the first hit for 130 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: the Marlins of the game, and then he very promptly 131 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: stole second base, and then he stole third base, and 132 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: then he came around as to score on a Garrett 133 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: Cooper single to put the Marlins up in front. When 134 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: Monty gets his bat on the ball, he is one 135 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: of the best players you could ever ask for. The 136 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: big question with him is going to be how often 137 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: he gets his bat on the ball. But when he 138 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: does it, the tools are just off. The charge, the 139 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: aggressiveness that he has, and the confidence in himself that 140 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: showed up immediately in this game. If you were to 141 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: ask Michael Hill on truth serum what his plans were 142 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: from this year, it was probably to option him down 143 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: to Triple A Wichita and call him up to the 144 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: majors at the first sign of an opening in the outfield. 145 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: But Monte's gonna be playing a lot this spring, and 146 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: if anything goes awry with the other veteran outfielders that 147 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: they have in place and some of the other players 148 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: slightly with slightly more experience than him in the majors. 149 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: He's gonna make his case to force his way on 150 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: the opening day roster. This particular game was a microcosm 151 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: of everything that he can bring to the team and 152 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: that few other players in the organization can bring. As 153 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: much as we think about this farm system, hardly anybody 154 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: has the type of skill set that Monte has and 155 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: brings the kind of confidence that he has on the 156 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 1: field into the game. He's a really unique player, and 157 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: he made a great first impression on everybody. For those 158 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: that weren't already familiar with him and everything that he did, 159 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: this was a great introduction to what he's all about 160 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: coming out of the bullpen in the middle dings after Yamamoto. 161 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 1: Robert Duggar was a guy I had circled coming into 162 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: the spring training. He made his major league debut late 163 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 1: last year, got a few turns in the rotation with 164 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: very middling results, and I think the general thought with 165 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: him is that he's a nice depth piece to have 166 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: on the pitching staff, but somebody that doesn't really have 167 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: the upside or the nastiness in his stuff in order 168 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: to miss enough bats to work three times through the lineup, 169 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: that there was just a ceiling on him, that he 170 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: would always be more of a depth piece than a 171 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 1: guy that you could count on to be consistently contributing 172 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: at the major league level. What he did this offseason 173 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: is he tried to raise his own ceiling. He tried 174 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: to make changes to his game by adding on some muscle, 175 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 1: by pumping up his fastball velocity. And so that's what 176 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: I was paying close attention to when watching this game. 177 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: When he was in the majors last year, maybe he 178 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: was worn down a little bit by pitching a lot 179 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: at Double A and Triple A before that, but his 180 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: fastball the low last year was kind of hovering right 181 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: at ninety miles per hour. There were even some starts 182 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: when it was below that. And if your fastball doesn't 183 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: have a whole lot of run on it and high 184 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:19,439 Speaker 1: spin rate and you're also have below average velocity, if 185 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: you don't have any special attributes to that fastball, you 186 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: need to be so precise with your commands otherwise it's 187 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: going to get shelled. And he had some trouble with 188 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: that pitch in the majors last year. But based on 189 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: this one performance, his v low. According to the broadcast 190 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: that the Mets were showing, it was consistently ninety two 191 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: to ninety three miles per hour. You were two innings, 192 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: two perfect endings, only allowed one ball out of the infield. 193 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 1: He had one really nice strikeout of Pete Alonzo, the 194 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: reigning NL rookie of the Year, and he did everything 195 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: you could want in that one performance just says the 196 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: cases with Yamamoto and all these other pitchers. You're only 197 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: stretched out to go a couple endings the first time 198 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: through the first week of spring training in your first appearance. 199 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: He's presumably a guy that will get stretched out a 200 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: little bit more and someone kind of like in Monte's 201 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: situation where it could go either way of him breaking 202 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: the opening day roster going down to TRIPAA, and this 203 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: first step was very encouraging for him. I've never shied 204 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: away from admitting that Harold Ramirez is perhaps my favorite 205 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: player on this Marlins team, Even as soon as they 206 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: signed him a full year ago, when he was just 207 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: a lowly non roster invitee into Marlin spring training. I 208 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: was very confident in his hitting ability, and he, for 209 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: the most part, was able to show that in the 210 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: majors last year, especially in high leverage situations. Maybe not 211 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: a full time player, but because of his walk off 212 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 1: heroics and because of the enthusiasm that he brings to 213 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 1: the field, he has some cult hero potential and the 214 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: kind of role player that really resonates with fans. Even 215 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: as a major leaguer. He was probably aware of all 216 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: the outfield competition that he'd be facing this year, and 217 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: he didn't really rest on his laurels. He continued to 218 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: work hard during this past offseason to make sure that 219 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: he could stay in the major leagues. In particular, he 220 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: trimmed down. One thing that made him somewhat noticeable last year, 221 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: regardless of performance, is that he had a pudgy physique, 222 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: perhaps more relatable for the average fan than you're like 223 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: elite Monte Harrison type of athletes. Harold is more like 224 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: you and me, at least he used to be. But 225 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: he put in the work over the off season back 226 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:44,199 Speaker 1: in Columbia. He slimmed down, and he reported spring training 227 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: out to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, and 228 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: even more so that he could improve upon what he 229 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: did as a rookie, and most encouragingly, despite slimming down 230 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: all that power in that batsby that he has is 231 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: still intact. He proved that by launching no doubt home 232 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: run into left field in the early innings of this game. 233 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 2: Harold Ramirez socks with a deep left field and that 234 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 2: ball is gonna fly. 235 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, a long home run off the bat of Harold 236 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: Ramirez here with eleven in his rookie series of last year, 237 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: and so chasing Shrieve has greeted rudely. It's now three 238 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: to two. He had some good games against the Mets 239 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 1: last season right on top of the roof. Didn't that 240 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: to not go over any glasses or anything. Stat Cast 241 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: is not fully operational for this game, so we don't 242 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: have an official estimated distance, but I'm pretty comfortable in 243 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 1: saying that was an excess of four hundred feet. He 244 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:46,079 Speaker 1: knew it straight off the bat, despite the vicious wins 245 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: that were blowing throughout this game and made it really unpredictable. 246 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: Many of the major league players returning to the Marlins 247 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: from twenty nineteen have some questions about their offensive impact. 248 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: Harold is not one of them, and he started on 249 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: a great foot right there. But speaking of homers, Gerar 250 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:07,959 Speaker 1: Incarnacione he did not start in this game. He came 251 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 1: off the bench. Another guy kind of like Bladet that 252 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: you weren't entirely sure whether he would be at Major 253 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: League camp or quite how often he'd get onto the field, 254 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: but he came off the bench in this one. He 255 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: entered when it was tied, I believe at three to three, 256 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: and he had his big impact in the ninth inning 257 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: when the Marlins were up four to three. But he 258 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: added an insurance run by going deep to the opposite 259 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: field against the Mets, which takes on this day with 260 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: the wind the way it was, and considering that during 261 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: the regular season, the highest regular season level that he's 262 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 1: played at was High A Jupiter last year. After that 263 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: he went over to the Fall League. But still this 264 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: is a guy that at starting last year, he was 265 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: at the low A level in Clinton, and to see 266 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: the strides that he's made in just one calendar year 267 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: to go from Loway to actually having perhaps the most 268 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: impressive swing of this game, as much as Harold's home 269 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: run was really beautiful to admire, for Gerar to go 270 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: to the opposite field and you know, the full context, 271 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 1: just considering that he's just twenty two years old and 272 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: not his experienced against high level pitching competition. That was 273 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: really amazing to see him go the other way in 274 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: that instance. Very convenient timing. Right before this game kicked off, 275 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: I published our twenty twenty season preview article for Gerar 276 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: in Carnacion, and he's not an exception. We're going through 277 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: every single player, all both on the forty man roster 278 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: and even some of these non roster invitees like him, 279 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: explaining where they were this past season and what can 280 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: be reasonably expected of them moving forward. And there's really 281 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: not much question about his bat at this point, what 282 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: he was able to do during the Fall League, and 283 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: some of the measurables of his swing, the average exit 284 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: velocity and his peak exit velocity. It ranks right up 285 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: there with someone like Garrett Cooper on the team, except 286 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: Jurar being so much younger and having so many years 287 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: ahead of him to get even better makes it really compelling. 288 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: The question is more so on the defensive side, because 289 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: there are some mixed reports of exactly how much he 290 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: contributes in that aspect of his game. He has that 291 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: cannon throwing arm, but his mobility and his instincts out 292 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: there in the corner spots are very iffy. He fits 293 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: very easily into the Marlins' future plans if we can 294 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: expect the designated hitter to be adopted in the National 295 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 1: League in the next couple of years, because that's really 296 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: the easiest path for him to get playing time considering 297 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: all the other outfielders in this system. On this day, though, 298 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: that one swing that he had was really exceptional and 299 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: really made him stand out in an otherwise very talented lineup. 300 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: Circling back to Lewis Brentson, we mentioned starting together with 301 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: all his other friends from the Yellis trade, and it 302 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: was curious to me that he was in left field 303 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: for this one. They had Monte and center and they'd 304 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: bidet and right, and that moved Princeton over to left, 305 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: a position that he has not played at all in 306 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,120 Speaker 1: the major leagues for the Marlins the past couple regular seasons, 307 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: and as far as I can remember, I don't think 308 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: he started there for any of the spring games the 309 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: past couple of years either. He made a couple plays 310 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: in left, one of them being a long running catch, 311 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 1: moving to his right and heading towards the foul line, 312 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: So otherwise it was pretty uneventful overall otherwise, just something 313 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: to keep an eye on. He also grounded into a 314 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: double play in this game when it was still close 315 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: in the early innings. He's done some tinkering with his 316 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:49,959 Speaker 1: swing over the offseason, but and he also in his 317 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,400 Speaker 1: second at bat, aside from the double play, he had 318 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: a reasonably deep fly ball to left center field that 319 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: ultimately didn't quite make it to the warning track. He's 320 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: obviously someone that we're going to be micro analyzing during 321 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: spring training. He was a great performer each of the 322 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: last two springs and it really didn't translate at all 323 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: into the meaningful games, which is why you'll want to 324 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: obsess over the numbers either way. But he's an interesting 325 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: position just because of the struggles during the regular season 326 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: and all these other outfielders coming through the forty man 327 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: roster crunch that this team is facing. And I think 328 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: the expectations realistically at this point, just so everybody's on 329 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: the same page, is that they're not looking at Princeton 330 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: as an everyday starting outfielder anymore. They gave him that 331 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 1: chance yet again late in the twenty nineteen regular season, 332 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: and he simply didn't perform. There's just too many questions 333 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: about his offensive game to carve out that kind of 334 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 1: a type of role for him, And you just do 335 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: the math when you look at the rest of this 336 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 1: roster and all the veterans that they brought in, there's 337 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: going to be a big cram for playing time regardless. 338 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: So the best case scenario for him is just making 339 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: sure that he's all in the opening day so that 340 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: at least he has that opportunity to get into games 341 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 1: and try to find that type of groove that he 342 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: hasn't been able to find in the past. And one 343 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: other thing from this game is just rounding up all 344 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 1: the debuts all the guys that were appearing inspring training 345 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: games for the Marlins for the very first time. This 346 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: is a very active offseason. We put together a fun 347 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: graphic on fishstripes dot com that leaned on emojis to 348 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: try to show how they made all the moves that 349 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:32,120 Speaker 1: they made during the winter, both on the roster and 350 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 1: a lot of these minor league and major league signings 351 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: the trades, just showing how all these players were acquired. 352 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 1: Make sure to find that article under our twenty nineteen 353 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: twenty Marlins Offseason in Review and some of those players 354 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: that we saw for the first time in this game 355 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:51,400 Speaker 1: on Saturday, right hander Jimmy Garcia, who worked a clean 356 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: ending in relief that included a strikeout of Tim Tebow, 357 00:19:55,119 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 1: Mets outfield quote unquote prospect Tim Tebow, the utility the 358 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: infielder Ghost k Katau, who was previously in the Yankees organization, 359 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: signed as a minor league free agent. More minor league 360 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: free agents Ryan Lavarnway, who entered at catcher later into 361 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: this game and at this point probably profiles as depth 362 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: piece that they would have at Triple A Wichita if 363 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: everybody else is healthy making it through camp. Sean Rodriguez, 364 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: the veteran utility guy who's bounced around a few different teams, 365 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: and he is the brother I think of one of 366 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: the coaches on the Marlins staff, the Marlins assistant hitting coach, 367 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: Robert Rodriguez. And finally Stephen Tarpley. Tarpley another Yankee former 368 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: Yankee who was developed by them and made his major 369 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 1: league debut with them in the past couple of years. But 370 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: at this point, the way that their depth is look 371 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 1: and Tarpa is gonna have a pretty good chance of 372 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: cracking the opening day roster, even if it's in a 373 00:20:55,359 --> 00:21:00,199 Speaker 1: relatively low leverage relief role, extreme ground ball tendencies, and 374 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 1: he was the one that closed out this game, so 375 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: he's the one that pitches that final ending and put 376 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: it away going up against backups again. In all these cases, 377 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: there's only so many conclusions that you can reach based 378 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: on these tiny, tiny sample sizes. In the very very 379 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: first game, but five guys that we saw for the 380 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 1: very first time, and that makes every single one of 381 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: these games for the first week, Ultrasuite is getting our 382 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: first looks at players that didn't factor into the team 383 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: at all last year, and these are guys brought in 384 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 1: for specific reasons to help the team all the fringes 385 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: to get just a little bit better in twenty twenty. 386 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: In total, there are sixty five Marlins players at major 387 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: league camp this year. After only two games, we've seen 388 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: most of them in action. That first game had twenty 389 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: four of them, and then we had about another twenty 390 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: new guys make their debut again on Sunday, So we've 391 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 1: got a pretty good feel for who's gonna be involved 392 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 1: with this team this year. But there's still some more 393 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 1: that I'm looking forward to, especially on the pitching side. 394 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 1: And I'm going to go through them once that we're 395 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: all expecting to make their debuts this coming week at 396 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: some point. The first is pretty obvious. Six Do Sanchez 397 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 1: top prospect in the organization. He spent most of the 398 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 1: last year at Double A. He was amazing at Double A, 399 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 1: not just his pure stuff, but the poise he has 400 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: on his mound, the decisions that he makes as a pitcher, 401 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: the surprising athleticism that he has to field his position 402 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: off the mound. He's just so much fun to watch. 403 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: Only twenty one years old, and barring a catastrophe, he's 404 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 1: going to be making his major league debut this year 405 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: and almost certainly within the Marlins starting rotation. Once he 406 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 1: gets into rotation, he might stick there for a year 407 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: or two, or five, or ten or twelve. He's really exceptional, 408 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,119 Speaker 1: and it's probably the first time that he appears in 409 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: a game. Just like some of these others starting rotation candidates, 410 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 1: it's only going to be for a couple endings at 411 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 1: a time, at most, getting once through a batting order. 412 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 1: Even so, it's I'm very much looking forward to seeing 413 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: him as a guy that throughout his entire career, pretty 414 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,919 Speaker 1: much he's been pitching against older competition, and that's going 415 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: to be more true than ever before once he gets 416 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: into a major league spring training game. Staying with the prospects, 417 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 1: outfielder Jesus Sanchez no relation to six doh. He's somewhat 418 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 1: of a divisive prospect. Everybody considers him a top one 419 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: hundred guy. But where exactly in that top one hundred 420 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: overall list he lands is up to how much you 421 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: weigh raw numbers that he puts in minor league games. He, 422 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: unlike six doh, has not really lit the world on 423 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: fire when he's played at the higher levels of the 424 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: minor leagues. He made it all the way to Triple 425 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,639 Speaker 1: A last year and wasn't doing all that well until 426 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: he got traded to the Marlins in July. He came 427 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: over with Ryan Stanek in the trade for Nick Anderson 428 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 1: and Trevor Richards, So he was hitting pretty well right 429 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 1: after the trade, and then he suffered a minor leg 430 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 1: injury that cut his season a little bit short. Just 431 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: a beautiful swing from the left side. I shouldn't say beautiful, 432 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: it's a great swing. It's a vicious swing. Bladet is 433 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: the one that has that picturesque conventional swing that you 434 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 1: want to teach all your kids. Sanchez has more violence 435 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,919 Speaker 1: in his but he has great potential. Some of the 436 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: longest home runs that I saw get hit at Triple 437 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: A last year, we're off the bat of Hastus Sanchez 438 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: when he gets into one. Aside from that, a really 439 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: well rounded player, or should I say a well rounded 440 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: skill set that he has as a runner and defensively 441 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: at the major leagues, he's probably a corner outfielder, especially 442 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 1: considering the other options that the Marlins have coming through 443 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 1: the pipeline. Craig Mish is reporting that Sanchez is expected 444 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: to debut in the middle or towards the end of 445 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: this coming week, so a little bit later than these 446 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: other young position players, but I think he'll be worth 447 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: the wait. And also Edward Cabrera right there with six 448 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: Tozho as a guy that you can realistically expect to 449 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,359 Speaker 1: be a major league starting pitcher, a good one and 450 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: for a long time, more prototypical to starting pitchers. Build 451 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: six foot four, long and lean, and he generates the 452 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: same kind of mid to high nineties fastball velocity to 453 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: go along with the changeup and breaking ball he's able 454 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:39,679 Speaker 1: to get swings and misses with all those The huge 455 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: leap forward that he made in the minds of evaluators 456 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 1: last year was being able to really precisely locate all 457 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,640 Speaker 1: those pitches that he has. That was the big question 458 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 1: mark with him coming into the year, and he proved it, 459 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,639 Speaker 1: especially at High A Jupiter. Then he moved up to 460 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 1: Jacksonville and continued to have some success against older competition. 461 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: There's been some footage of him at pitching in simulated 462 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: games on the backfields and really pitching well against just 463 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: about everybody that he's been facing because of the weapons 464 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: that he has and the fact that people really haven't 465 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: gotten a good chance to see him yet. So this 466 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: is a great platform for him to finally do so. 467 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,639 Speaker 1: Considering that he was as recently a Sunday pitching in 468 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:25,439 Speaker 1: a simulated game, I think it's safe to say that 469 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 1: we're still a few days away for when his arm 470 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 1: recovers from that work and being able to enter a game, 471 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: so he could he could be a little wiles away, 472 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: and even less so than six to soh it's there's 473 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 1: no real scenario where Cabrera is going to be on 474 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,400 Speaker 1: the opening day roster, so they're not going to put 475 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,360 Speaker 1: him more into more spring training games than he absolutely 476 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,199 Speaker 1: has to. The idea is being able to pace him 477 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: over the course of the year to make sure that 478 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,719 Speaker 1: he's available towards the end of the year, presuming that 479 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: there's going to be some openings in the rotation at 480 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: some point once we get to the dog days of summer. 481 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 1: Once he arrived in the majors, he's not going back down. 482 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: His ceiling is about as high as anybody in the 483 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: Marlins organization right now, Several major league bullpen rolls still 484 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 1: to be decided on this Marlins team. So I picked 485 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 1: out three relievers that I'll be paying close attention to, 486 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 1: ones that haven't debuted yet in spring training games and 487 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 1: hopefully will in the upcoming days. First one, you're very 488 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 1: familiar with him. I've mentioned him several times on the 489 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,920 Speaker 1: Pod during the off season. Right hander Jeff Brigham, one 490 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: of the few holdovers from the twenty nineteen Marlins bullpen 491 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 1: former starting pitching prospect, used to have some trouble with 492 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:40,520 Speaker 1: his durability and also his effectiveness multiple times through the 493 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: lineup because he had that lacking third pitch in his repertoire. 494 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: So now that he's a reliever. He's been able to 495 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: simplify that mix to go from to just a fastball 496 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: and the slider, and the measurables on those two pitches 497 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:59,439 Speaker 1: are outstanding. Fastball velocity was sitting ninety five to ninety 498 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 1: seven in Major League games last year. The slider as 499 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:05,679 Speaker 1: one of the highest spin rates out of anybody in 500 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 1: the league in any role. He has the confidence to 501 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: throw both of those pitches about fifty percent of the time, 502 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 1: use them interchangeably in about any situation, keeping batters off balance. 503 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: Twenty eight years old, this is a big opportunity for 504 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,360 Speaker 1: him before some of those guys begins to establish themselves 505 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,840 Speaker 1: when the next wave of pitchers come up when six 506 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 1: to zero and Edward creates somewhat of a crunch in 507 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: the rotation and force others into relief roles. Brigham was 508 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 1: going to want to establish himself before that, beginning during 509 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 1: the first half of the season especially, and that begins 510 00:28:41,440 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: with making sure that his stuff is still exactly what 511 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: it was last year, because that was very important, just 512 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: the quality of his stuff. He'll have to show that 513 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 1: that's repeatable, and he'll have to be more precise with 514 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: this command as well. Some of the stats that we 515 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: have on that indicate that he just wasn't hitting the 516 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: glove very often as he should have. Even so, he 517 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 1: was able to have above average strikeout numbers. But the 518 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: difference between being above average and being elite is throwing 519 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: exactly where you intend to throw. So hopefully that's some 520 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: of the work that he's been putting in during the 521 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: off season to make his delivery more repeatable. Also in 522 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: the bullpen, true steckend Rider, who is out of all 523 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 1: the guys in Marlin's major league camp, basically none of 524 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: them have injury issues or question marks coming into the year, 525 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: with the exception of stecond Rider because he finished last 526 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 1: year with a significant elbow injury. He's already been throwing 527 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 1: bullpens by all accounts. He's perfectly on schedule for the 528 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: twenty twenty season. You're just a little bit worried because 529 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,520 Speaker 1: he had those elbow issues last year, that there could 530 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: be a recurrence of them. Thank goodness, right now he's 531 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: one hundred percent all systems go, just like Brigham, still 532 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: has a minor league option remaining. Just like Brigham, fastball, 533 00:29:57,040 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: slider guy that when he's right, he is a really 534 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: great reliever. He was able to show that as recently 535 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 1: as the middle of the twenty eighteen season. The problem 536 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: was last year. The most recent sample that we had 537 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: from him was very concerning. He just wasn't having any 538 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 1: success at all. He allowed a handful of home runs 539 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 1: in only about a month and a half of action 540 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 1: at the major league level, and that's just a no 541 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:28,680 Speaker 1: no for any reliever at this time, especially with the 542 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 1: fences coming in a little bit at Marlins Park. I 543 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: fear susceptible to home runs. Then you just can't be 544 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 1: trusted in close games. With the way that baseball is 545 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: being played these days. Stecken Rider is a significant X 546 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: factor on this Marlins team considering how effective he was 547 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,880 Speaker 1: in the recent past, and he could draw some appeal 548 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 1: as a trade candidate because of how affordable he is 549 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 1: as a player in all of the controllable years that 550 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:59,920 Speaker 1: he still has remaining. Finally, Brad Boxburger someone that frankly 551 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 1: did not excite me all that much when we signed him. 552 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 1: He's already been part of our twenty twenty season preview 553 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 1: series on fishtripes dot com, and I didn't exactly have 554 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: flattering things to say about him because he disappointed for 555 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 1: the Royals in twenty nineteen. He began their year as 556 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 1: their closer. He saved one game and then he didn't 557 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: save any more after that. He had a lot of struggles, 558 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 1: and for a guy that has some significant history closing 559 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,880 Speaker 1: games at the major league level, there's been a trend 560 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 1: for the last handful of years where his stuff has 561 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 1: clearly been in decline and he's been tinkering with some 562 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 1: of his secondary pitches to no avail the last couple 563 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 1: of years. But what I wasn't aware of is the 564 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: work that he put in during this past offseason that 565 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 1: it wasn't as simple as trying to pursue a guy 566 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 1: coming off a bad year. He went to drive Line Baseball, 567 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:57,440 Speaker 1: the famous player development facility in Seattle, and he put 568 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 1: in some interesting work with them to to try to 569 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 1: not necessarily recapture, but to reinvent himself somewhat, to make 570 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 1: some changes to his delivery, to his pitch grips, and 571 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 1: his pitch mix. There is a fantastic article from Lance 572 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: Brosdowski explaining the entire process that Boxburger went through to 573 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: arrive at a point where he is now throwing his 574 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 1: fastball a little harder than before, and he's got a 575 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: different mix of pitches that he's never quite used in 576 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 1: this way in major league games. He's on a minor 577 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 1: league deal, but it comes with I believe, a one 578 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 1: million dollar salary. If he does make it onto the 579 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:41,680 Speaker 1: Marlins active roster, then there are some bonuses to go 580 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: along with that. He was in some high demand this offseason, 581 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: even though he was coming off a failure of a 582 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 1: year with the Kansas City Royals, and that's because of 583 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:55,239 Speaker 1: the tangible changes that he made with drive Line, and 584 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: he was able to show some of those in a 585 00:32:56,880 --> 00:33:00,959 Speaker 1: bullpen that he threw out in Arizona. However, the entirety 586 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:03,360 Speaker 1: of that bullpen was not made available to the public, 587 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 1: so we haven't quite seen it ourselves. I'll be glued 588 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 1: to the visuals of him on the mound in a 589 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 1: Marlins uniform for the first time because he has a 590 00:33:14,400 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 1: very interesting track record, and that's a Marlins This is 591 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 1: a Marlins team where so many of these bullpen options 592 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 1: have nice upside but are totally lacking in the track 593 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 1: record and in high leverage major league experience. Boxburger was 594 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 1: a nice by low candidate that they got after taking 595 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: a deeper dive into him. I'd say that Boxburger is 596 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 1: the strongest candidate out of all the NRIs in Marlins 597 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 1: camp to make it into the opening day bullpen. That's 598 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 1: a wrap on this episode of Fish Bites. Thanks as 599 00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:53,560 Speaker 1: always for tuning in. The first full week of spring 600 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 1: training games is on deck and we'll have wall to 601 00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 1: wall coverage of that on fish stripes dot com, on 602 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 1: social media, and I'll be right back with you next 603 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:24,280 Speaker 1: week on the pod. Go Fish