1 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: The show goes on. This is the official show on 2 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 1: the fish Stripes podcast channel with me Eli Sussman, the 3 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: managing editor of Fish Stripes, where we cover your Miami 4 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: Marlins every day in our own way. This is an 5 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,639 Speaker 1: emergency pod episode for you guys at a moment in 6 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: time where I feel it is glaringly obvious that change 7 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 1: is needed to this Marlins roster, not offensively and not 8 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: even to the bullpen at this particular time, but in 9 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: the starting rotation, the weak spots of their rotation. After 10 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 1: yet another underwhelming outing by Eliezer Hernandez, it's clear that 11 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: he's just not up to the standard of a team 12 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: that has playoff aspirations as early in the season as 13 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: we are, it's time for a change. It's time for 14 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: an upgrade, especially considering that the team has an upgrade 15 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: waiting in the wings in Tripla, one of their top prospects, 16 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: right hander Max Meyer. And that's changed that I feel 17 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: should be imminent for this Marlins team if they want 18 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: to prioritize contending above ills during this twenty twenty two season. 19 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: On the other side of the break, we're going to 20 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: dive into all angles of that decision. Why now what 21 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: it looks like, what to expect? Stick with me. Things 22 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: were looking up for the Marlins. Just a few hours ago. 23 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: Eliezer was staked to a three run lead against the 24 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: d Backs, a d Backs team that had been right 25 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: near the very bottom of offensive production in Major League 26 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: Baseball to this point in the season. I mean, to 27 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: be fair, some of the other Marlin starters were disappointing 28 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: earlier in this series against the Dvacs, but Eliezer is 29 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: somebody that just as you cannot give the benefit of 30 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: the doubt too. He was great during the shortened twenty 31 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: twenty season, and pretty much outside of that, he's just 32 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: been replacement level, typical back end of the rotation, type 33 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: of starter that could suffice for a team that was rebuilding, 34 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: but not anymore. He gets a three run lead in 35 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: this one, makes it all the way to the fourth 36 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: ending before finally allowing a run. It all came undone 37 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: right there in that ending. Dbacks essentially batted around against him. 38 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 1: Didn't even only one home run against Eliezer, so that's 39 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: room for improvement. As we know, he is notoriously vulnerable 40 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: to the long bawl, but this was just a series 41 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 1: of line drives up and down the d Backs lineup, 42 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: especially from the bottom of their order, the bottom of 43 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: the order from one of the worst offensive teams in 44 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: all of baseball. He only gets through four innings. His 45 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: ERA for the season rises to six point six to six. 46 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: I'm done with him. I'm done with him for the 47 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: time being. He has not preserved his bosition on the 48 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: depth chart. He has not justified the decision that they 49 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: made to slat Aim into the rotation from the beginning. 50 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: We are through five starts this season, and let's go 51 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: through them one at a time. There was that first 52 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: one against la where he goes four and two thirds endings, 53 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: four earned runs, allowed two home runs. His one shining 54 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 1: moment was against the Phillies that first series, legitimately great outing, 55 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: going six strong, his longest outing since twenty nineteen in 56 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: that one, only allowed one solo home run to account 57 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: for the runs against him. And then it's just been 58 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: back to the mediocrity ever since. Then, on the road 59 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: against the Braves, at home against the Mariners, and now 60 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: at home against the Dbacks. He's somebody that for his 61 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: career he's pitched a lot better at home when he's 62 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: been in environments that suppress home runs, and even that, 63 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: even with the home stadium advantage, even in a year 64 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: in baseball where the balls are not carrying the same 65 00:03:57,840 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: way that they used to for a variety of reasons, 66 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: the results are still just not good enough for him. 67 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: It's one thing to allow these runs at this high rate. 68 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: It's another to kind of combine that with his issue 69 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: of not working deep into games. Even under the very 70 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: best of circumstances, he throws a decent amount of strikes, 71 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,840 Speaker 1: but he's not getting enough whiffs on those strikes this season, 72 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: or really for a lot of last season either. He 73 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 1: was adequate in a world where national league lineups had 74 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: the pitcher hitting at the very bottom of it, but 75 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: that's no longer the case in this world of the 76 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: universal DH. There are just too many legitimate bats that 77 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: he has to go up against, and it's only a 78 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: matter of time until a few of them barrel the 79 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: ball against him, in particular his fastball. It is one 80 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: thing to be an ordinary two pitch pitcher with a 81 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: fastball and a good breaking ball. The problem is his 82 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: fastball is far below average. It's one of the worst 83 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: fastballs that anybody has as a steady big leaguer. There 84 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: was there been points in time where he commands it 85 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: well enough to get away with it, like it is 86 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: possible to be a successful major league pitcher throwing in 87 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: the low nineties. His commands just has not been there consistently, 88 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: and especially not this year. Honestly, even in his very 89 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: best game pitched, it wasn't necessarily there for him. He's 90 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: put in a lot of effort to improve his change up. 91 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 1: He's been throwing it more often this year than in 92 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: any of his previous years, and it's just not a 93 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: good enough pitch. He has not even got it to 94 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: the point where it's an average pitch and one that 95 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: he's comfortable using against both lefties and righties. It just 96 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: leaves you with a guy that is not particularly valuable 97 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: right now for a team that cannot afford to waste 98 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: outings every fifth day. He's somebody historically who has had 99 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: durability issues as well, some of that bad luck, some 100 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: of it just endemic to who he is, where if 101 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: you're looking forward, you can't even count on getting him 102 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: available for thirty two starts in the entire season just 103 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: to eat innings. If that's like the bare minimum that 104 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: you're looking for. The Marlins should be aspiring to do 105 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: more at this point in time, and even in a 106 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: year with expanded postseason where the rest of the National 107 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 1: League East outside of the Mets has performed pretty poorly, 108 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: this margin of error is going to slip away very 109 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: rapidly if they're not actually trying to put the very 110 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: best players on the field. So you knew a lot 111 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: of this stuff about Eliezer. I spoke at the start 112 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 1: of the offseason how I thought he was a very 113 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,280 Speaker 1: obvious trade candidate. I thought he was somebody that, even 114 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: if they were selling relatively low on him, to get 115 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: something in return and to open up that spot to 116 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: a starter with more upside made a lot of sense. 117 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: They did not pull the trigger on that, and at 118 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: this point it's not really something that you can even 119 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: think about. Seriously. When I talk about getting him out 120 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: of the rotation, I don't mean trading him at the moment, 121 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: and I don't mean moving him to the bullpen either, 122 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: because this is something that I have seen floated quite 123 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: a bit by a variety of people, is that, obviously 124 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: what you do if he's not good enough to start, 125 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: you put him in the bullpen. He focuses on just 126 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: his two pitches. He doesn't even worry about the changeup. 127 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: He tries to help the team anyway he can. I'm 128 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: looking at this Marlins bullpen and I don't see why 129 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: or where he slots into this. Where is the fit 130 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: with him in this Marlins bullpen? Why would he be 131 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: any sort of upgrade over the guys that are expendable 132 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: at that pen. Because you know that Cole Soulcer isn't 133 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: going anywhere, Anthony Bass isn't going anywhere, Richard Blier isn't 134 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: going anywhere. Steven Okert out of options and also pitching great, 135 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: not going anywhere. So that leaves you with Anthony Bender. 136 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: You know he's been disappointing, but his pure stuff and 137 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: his improving comfort in the ninth inning makes you think 138 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: that he is certainly safe and more valuable in the 139 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: for the time being. Lewis Head still has a few 140 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: minor league options left, but he just throws up zero 141 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: after zero after zero. It's not always pretty, but he's 142 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: getting the job done and there's no reason to think 143 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: that this bullpen is better off without him to this 144 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: point in the season. That leaves you with Tanner Scott 145 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: He's been up and down, but when he's up, he's awesome. 146 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: As much as people respect Eliezer, Slider, Tanner Scott has 147 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: a lot on him. He's able to throw that pitch 148 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: all the time and get more good results than bad. 149 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: I think he's fine. Really. The conversation is Eliezer versus 150 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: Cody Poteat, and I plan on doing a deeper dive 151 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: into what Poteat is doing because he's been great this year. 152 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: I was skeptical. I thought he was somebody that was 153 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: really taking advantage of sticky stuff during his rise to 154 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: the major leagues last year. And you know what, He's 155 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,839 Speaker 1: made an interesting adjustment. He throws his change up twice 156 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: as much as he used to, and he gets swings 157 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: and misses on it. His fastball vlow really does tick 158 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: up in the bullpen in a way that I'm not 159 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 1: so sure Eliezers would and potit. To this point, the 160 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: season has been getting great results on top of that, 161 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: So even though you could send him down, he is 162 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: actually even older than Eliezer is he has nothing left 163 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: to learn at Triple A. I think it's a pretty 164 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,319 Speaker 1: clear cut decision to me. We know that Hernandez is 165 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: in the first year of arbitration eligibility. You know, he's 166 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: earning more than the league of minimum in a perfect world, 167 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: and frankly, a lot of teams don't like to option 168 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: down players that are earning some real money. But this 169 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: is not a typical situation. This is a Marlins team 170 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: where they're younger and cheaper pitching is actually better than 171 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 1: some of their more experience pitching that Hernandez is in. 172 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: And I'm not ruling out the fact that he could 173 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: have some impact on this team during the course of 174 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: the season. I'm saying that he is not top five 175 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: on their starting pitching depth chart right now. So that's 176 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: what I would advocate for, is in the coming days, 177 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: send him down to Triple A, have him wait as 178 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: the season goes on. I think realistically, you need to 179 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:18,080 Speaker 1: be prepared for an injury to the rest of this rotation, 180 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: whether it's Pablo or Trevor or Hey, Susil Zardo, or 181 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: even Sandy al Contra. He is human, even though his 182 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: track accord kind of suggests otherwise. When it comes to durability, 183 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: they will need more than five starters over the course 184 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: of the season. They'll probably need more than six starters. 185 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: Substantially over the course of the season. And even though 186 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: you don't feel great about what Eliezer is now, maybe 187 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: something clicks as he's pitching out of you down in Jacksonville. 188 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: I'd like to see him gone and replaced by none 189 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: other than Max Meyer. So while I've been very strong 190 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:58,719 Speaker 1: about the idea that Eliezer wasn't fit to stick in 191 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: this rotation, eve kind of quiet on the idea of 192 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: Meyer coming up imminently. It's just that with each passing 193 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: start he further solidifies himself as being major league ready. 194 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: I mean to this point, if you have not been 195 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: following his career much at all, to this point, to 196 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: catch you up. He's made twenty seven starts in the 197 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: minors and he has a two point one six earned 198 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 1: run average. He has allowed eight home runs in total 199 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: in twenty seven starts one hundred and thirty seven and 200 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: the third innings, and he has one hundred and sixty 201 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: three strikeouts. Let me get that strikeout rate for you. 202 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: It is over thirty percent. It's twenty nine percent strikeout 203 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: rate as a starting pitcher, and his control just keeps 204 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: getting better as well. The start of his major league 205 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 1: career is the start of his professional career. I could 206 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: say you could pick holes in his commands and his control, 207 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: and that stuff has gone better. He keeps getting better. 208 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: The way that he has made the jump very seamlessly 209 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: from double A all the way to triple A with 210 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: even proving results, A lot of credit goes to his 211 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: command and it goes to his change up. We knew 212 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: that he needed more of a changeup than he used 213 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: for much of twenty twenty one. Credit to him. He 214 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: has put in the work and he has developed that 215 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: pitch in such a way that he can use it 216 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: once every ten pitches, maybe once every twelve. The usage 217 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: does not need to be super high in order for 218 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: it to be a valuable weapon for you, and he 219 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: has reached the point where it is making the difference, 220 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: as is the fact that his fastball velocity seems to 221 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: be even up a tick from where it was last year, 222 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: consistently hitting the mid nineties, sitting ninety five, ninety six, 223 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: ninety seven in his outings so far this year. And 224 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: of course what puts it all together is his slider, 225 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:53,199 Speaker 1: his special special slider that takes several shapes that can 226 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: go to either side of the plate that could get 227 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: cald strikes that could get chases that could get weak contact. 228 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: His splits this year against lefties and righty's are amazing, 229 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: beautiful to look at, holding righties to an OPS under 230 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: six hundred, holding lefties to a two seventy three OPS. 231 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: He's allowed one extra base hit to a left handed 232 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: batter all season through his first five starts. His strikeout 233 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: rate is even higher against lefties than it is against righties. 234 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: It's that shape of his slider, the speed that he 235 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: throws it at. I said his fastball is comfortably sitting 236 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: in the mid nineties, and his slider is sitting right 237 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 1: around ninety miles per hour. An entire game of ninety 238 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 1: miles per hour sliders with nasty late break, two plane 239 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 1: break as well, both horizontal and vertical. It's a special pitch. 240 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: We knew that it's been as good as advertised when 241 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: you look at the little things that he's doing this year. 242 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: Making a start on quote regular rest. I talked about 243 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 1: that with a Pablo Lopez pod not that long ago, 244 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,359 Speaker 1: how important it is to be able to make starts 245 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: five days in between each other, and he showed that 246 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,199 Speaker 1: in his limited opportunities in the minors, he had a 247 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 1: couple of those in twenty twenty one, and now he 248 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: had one of those in April as well, that he 249 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: is up for that task. Then in his most recent 250 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: outing April thirtieth, that was four days before we were 251 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: recording this, going six and two thirds innings and the 252 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: first six of those innings scoreless, dominance against the TRIPAA 253 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: White Sox affiliate in Charlotte only in the seventh en 254 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: and getting stretched out for going all the way three 255 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: full times through an opposing lineup, not just the third 256 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: time through, but all the way through, facing twenty seven batters, 257 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: which was a career high for him. That's when he 258 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: finally allowed a run in that one. He's efficient with 259 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: his pitches. He now has, as I said, those three 260 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: actual weapons. It's not just the slider, and it's not 261 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: just the the intangibles that it brings. Is that he 262 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: does have now enough variety that can be trusted against lefties, 263 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: against righty's, and I think against major leaguers as well. 264 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: He is fully ready. He is. We talked about him 265 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: being quick to the majors when they drafted him in 266 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, so nearly two years later, if it was 267 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: going to be so quick. Really, the only excuse for 268 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: having him down at this point is having superior options 269 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: in the big leagues ahead of him, And at this point, 270 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: I don't think it is possible to argue that Eliezer 271 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: Hernandez is a better option than Meyer is. So they've 272 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: done the right job balancing his workload to this point 273 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: the season, for the most part, pitching once every week, 274 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: so that what he's made five starts while instead of 275 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: six or seven like they're pacing him. They're pacing him 276 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: to be available for what could be the rest of 277 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: the season or fairly close to it. If not the 278 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: whole thing, then fairly close to it, and he should 279 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: be spending most of that season in the major leagues. 280 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: So for a team that is right around the five 281 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: hundred mark right now, and we'll see exactly how this 282 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: game ends on Wednesday, they cannot. They don't have the 283 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: luxury of being complaisance on this right if they see 284 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: a very clear opportunity to improve, and one that I 285 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: should emphasize doesn't mean losing Eliezer. It means just pushing 286 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: him down the depth chart and pushing him down the 287 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: organizational ladder. It seems like a no brainer to me 288 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: even more convenient, it's at a moment where they have 289 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: an opening on their forty man roster, like for anybody 290 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: fighting back that this would be rushing Meyer, that they 291 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 1: should look to somebody else. We could go through their 292 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: whole forty man roster. This is a time where unfortunately 293 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: they just do not have a ton of alternatives on 294 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: there to help their pitching staff. Just going through the 295 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: guys who are on the forty man but not on 296 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: the active roster, the first one that comes up is 297 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: Edward Cabrera, and Edward, after dealing with some biceps fatigue, 298 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: has now made a couple of minor league starts this season. 299 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: I watched his most recent one in Jacksonville very carefully, 300 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 1: and he's still rusty. His command was not very good, 301 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: he was not missing bats, he went through four innings 302 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: and he only allowed two hits. Because his stuff overall 303 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 1: is still really great. He's going to be a big 304 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: part of this team this season, and I still think 305 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,239 Speaker 1: he has the upside to be perhaps as good or 306 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: better than Meyer in the long term. But in terms 307 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 1: for this season, I don't think anybody who has been 308 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: able to watch both Meyer and Cabrera their most recent starts, 309 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: would even say it's a conversation that Meyer is the 310 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 1: one that is poised to help more right now than 311 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,120 Speaker 1: Cabrera is, but we'll see him later. There is Daniel Castano, 312 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: who was recently options to the minors and not actually 313 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 1: eligible to be called up at this rerent moments, and 314 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: if they did call him up, I think it goes 315 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: without saying that we know who he is at this point. 316 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 1: He's one of the few guys that perhaps would not 317 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: be much of an upgrade over Eliez or Hernandez. Braxton 318 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: Garrett Braxton Garrett has been relatively good so far in 319 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 1: this Triple A season. Unfortunate timing with him. He just 320 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: suffered a shoulder impingement that's reported by the Miami Herald, 321 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 1: So he went on the minor league injured list, and 322 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: that's going to keep him sidelined for least the next 323 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: few weeks, as although he was showing some nice signs 324 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: and he's somebody that later on this year could be 325 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: a factor, certainly not right now. Keep going. Jordan Holloway, 326 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 1: he's hurt also, and he is in the early stages 327 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: of a throwing program, still several weeks away from helping 328 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: out at the major league level, and if he does, 329 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: it's more likely to be as a reliever than as 330 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: a starter. There's Tommy Nance, who really has not pitched 331 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 1: very much this year and is exclusively a reliever. Moving 332 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 1: past him, we have Zach Popp, who was just sent 333 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: down to the miners a few days ago. Again, same 334 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: story as we brought up with Castano, where he's not 335 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: available to be called up for another week or so, 336 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 1: and even when he is, he's exclusively a bullpen guy, 337 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: not somebody that is going to contribute much outside of 338 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: one or two innings at a time. And then six, 339 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: do Sanchez remember him? He's still on the forty man, 340 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 1: He's still alive. He is, as the last update, throwing 341 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: at a distance of sixty feet in his throwing progression. 342 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: He is at least a month away, I would say, 343 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: best case scenario from being a major league starter. And 344 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: so I still have very mixed opinions on six. Though 345 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: I used to be very high on him, but this 346 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: has been very scary shoulder setback that has kept him 347 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:43,360 Speaker 1: off the mound now for more than a full calendar year. 348 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 1: As much pitching depth as this team has, it's not 349 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: really knocking on the door of the forty man roster 350 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: to this point as viable starting rotation candidates with the 351 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: exception of Max Meyer. So he's not on the forty man, 352 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: but you could put him right on when you call 353 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,239 Speaker 1: him up, and call him up at the expense of 354 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,679 Speaker 1: Eliezer Hernandez, simple as that. That's what I'd like to see. 355 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: Do I think the Marlins are going to do that imminently. 356 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: Not necessarily. I think they're going to wait a little 357 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,400 Speaker 1: while longer, And I don't know if I can fully 358 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 1: trust them to actually send down Eliezer, considering the money 359 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 1: that he's making and what he has produced in the 360 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: big leagues, at least in terms of volume, although not 361 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: really in terms of quality. Well, that still remains to 362 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 1: be seen. Whether they would send him down or try 363 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 1: to squeeze him into an awkward bullpen roll that he's 364 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: not necessarily suited for. Questions remain about that, But I 365 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: think I just explained it that compare him to their 366 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: current longman, and I would take Cody Pettit pretty easily 367 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: over Eliezer Hernandez in that role for the time being. 368 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: When would I like to see Meyer up? I think 369 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: i'd love to see him debut on this upcoming road 370 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: trip against the Podre in this very next series. So 371 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: he last pitched on April thirtieth, beginning on Thursday, and 372 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: he's he's fully rested. But I think the best ideal 373 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,119 Speaker 1: Landy's landing spot for him would be looking forward to 374 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: Saturday's game against the Padres. I picked that up for 375 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: a very particular reason because it comes in between Sandy 376 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: al Contra and Pablo Lopez. Pablo Lopez he thrives when 377 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 1: he gets some extra rest, and we're currently in a 378 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 1: stretch where the Marlins have not had off days for 379 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: a while, and there's still a full week and a 380 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: half until they get there, I should say one week 381 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: until they get their next off day, which means that 382 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 1: Pablo right now is on schedule to throw on regular rest. 383 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: But why not squeeze Max Meyer right in there, give 384 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,159 Speaker 1: Pablo his extra rest, fit Meyer into the rotation instead 385 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: of making him wait longer than he needs to try 386 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: to put up a fight during this upcoming road trip. 387 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,439 Speaker 1: At this point in the season, when you're just a 388 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: five hundred team, these long West Coast road trips coming 389 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: during a stretch where the team itself has been playing 390 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: a lot of baseball without an off day like this 391 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: could really go downhill very quickly. As of this recording, 392 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: they're fighting with their last breath to avoid a four 393 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:22,719 Speaker 1: game losing streak, but that could spiral. The Padres are 394 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: good and the Diamondbacks for as poor start as they 395 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 1: had to this regular season. Oh As, the Marlins actually 396 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: tie up this game here on Wednesday, so maybe they 397 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 1: will be able to pull out a miraculous win. That'd 398 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:38,679 Speaker 1: be great, but that does not change the very obvious 399 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: hole that they have on their major league roster. So 400 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: that hole being the bottom of the starting rotation. Everybody 401 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: has been looking forward to this being the year that 402 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: they emerge as an elite starting rotation group. In fact, 403 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: just a few days ago, I was having that thought 404 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: in my head as to whether they had actually really 405 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,200 Speaker 1: reach that level to be considered one of the better 406 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: all around rotations in baseball. And then you have the 407 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: series like the Diamondbacks where three consecutive days that our 408 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: starters just do not get the job done, and that 409 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: went a long way into why they lost this series 410 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,719 Speaker 1: and why they're just desperate to avoid a sweep. In 411 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: this situation, they need they need to actually put their 412 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: most talented players in a position to contribute if they 413 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 1: want to make this season a success, and that means 414 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 1: calling up Max Meyer. So I hope I did a 415 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: satisfactory job explaining the timing of this decision and why 416 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: these particular players would be the right ones to involve 417 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: in that swap. Let me know if you disagree. You 418 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 1: know how to find me anywhere that you find fist 419 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: Strips on social media on our website fishstrips dot com 420 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 1: or me personally on Twitter at real Eli E l Y. 421 00:23:57,880 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: Just let me know what do you think of the 422 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 1: timing and how the Marlins should address this issue on 423 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: the team. So much more coverage coming up on our 424 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:10,360 Speaker 1: site about the Marlins, including Fish Stripes Live on Thursday night. 425 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: Entering the Padre series. Of course, we'll have our series 426 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: preview article of that, and we have some nice analysis 427 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: pieces that are in the works about particular players for 428 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 1: better and for worse that I think you guys will 429 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 1: find really interesting. Even looking forward to Saturday, we have 430 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: the return of Fish Stripes Unfiltered with a special guest, 431 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 1: Joe Fursorrow, who has been on the Marlins beat for 432 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 1: almost as long as some of us have been alive. 433 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: He is a real treasure and we're excited to have 434 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,400 Speaker 1: him on and talk all things about the team. So 435 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:43,879 Speaker 1: things are staying busy. He is even in the middle 436 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: of a rough stretch for the team, and if they listen, 437 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: if they finally budge on this Maximyer move, I just 438 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,920 Speaker 1: I'm very eager to see exactly how he translates to 439 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: the big leagues and what he does to stick around 440 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: because he is a pretty awesome player. We knew that 441 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: when they drafted him, and to this point in his 442 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: professional career, he has lived up to the hype. He 443 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: has earned this opportunity to be challenged at the highest level. 444 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: Thanks as always for listening and go Fish.