1 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: The show goes on. This is the official show on 2 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: the Fish Stripes podcast channel where we cover your competitive 3 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: Miami Marlins every day in our own way. I am 4 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: Eli Sussman, the managing editor of Fists Stripes, bringing you 5 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: these episodes of the official show, usually on Monday mornings 6 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: and Thursday mornings. This one coming at you mid to 7 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 1: late afternoon on Thursday, as I'm watching the Getaway Day 8 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: game between the Marlins and the Nationals at one of 9 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: the emotional high points of this young season, no doubt 10 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: about it. The team has a winning record for the 11 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: first time in a couple of years. They've been playing 12 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: very well on the road for the first time in 13 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: a couple of years, and before this goes out, we 14 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: won't have the outcomes a Thursday's game, so it's a 15 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: little unclear whether they'll sweep the Nationals or just settle 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: for winning two out of three. I think either way, 17 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: need to be feeling relatively encouraged by how things have gone, 18 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: especially over the last week or so. Playing well against 19 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: division opponents, the teams that you're gonna be facing for 20 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: nearly half your schedule during the season, it's nice to 21 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,639 Speaker 1: feel superior to this Nationals team that for a while 22 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: has been typically better than the Marlins have, but it 23 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: seems like they won't be much of a threat here 24 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty two. I want to focus on Pablo Lopez, 25 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 1: just having another great performance on Wednesday night, your major 26 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: league er leader to this point of the season, what's 27 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: working for him, what we can expect from him moving 28 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: forward during this twenty twenty two season, And then the 29 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: meat of the show, looking ahead to Monday's deadline, to 30 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: trim down the roster from twenty eight spots to twenty six, 31 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: to trim back to normal after having this luxury of 32 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: extra space early in the season. To do that very thorough, 33 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to mention every single guy on this Marlins 34 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: active roster and try to arrive at a sensible conclusion 35 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 1: about what they should do who should be gone, in 36 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: order to optimize the talent that they have moving into 37 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: the middle chunk this long grind of a regular season 38 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: that the Marlins are building pretty high expectations for, so 39 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,239 Speaker 1: a lot to get into on the other side of 40 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: this break stick with me leading up until opening Day, 41 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: the discourse around Pablo Lopez, it was, to be honest, 42 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: it was really bothering me. You know, there was this 43 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: off season where he was speculated as a trade candidate. 44 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: There were plenty of people out there, some that I 45 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: respect quite a bit, who felt that he was somewhat 46 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: expendable in this pitching rich Marlins organization, putting your trust 47 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: in the next wave of young pitchers to fill that void, 48 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: and flipping him in order to address another need, YadA, YadA, YadA. 49 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: And I thought that undersold the production that he's had 50 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: whenever he's been healthy the past few years in the 51 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: Marlins rotation, and the potential that he had to get 52 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: even better if you just had him stay put, and 53 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: how they should have kept him and added talent around 54 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: him without seeing him as expendable. The early returns have 55 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: been even beyond my wildest expectations, especially coming off of 56 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: that spring training where he did not pitch well at 57 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: all in limited spring training action, but all the while 58 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: he remained very composed and very confident in what he 59 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: was going to do to bring his game to the 60 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: next level. Through four starts, he has pitched twenty three 61 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: in the third innings and he has allowed one run, 62 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: the very best earned run average in Major League Baseball. 63 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: He's been just outstanding in every sense of the word 64 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: to this point this season, most recently on Wednesday, shutting 65 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: down the Nationals through six innings, doing it efficiently on 66 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: just eighty four pitches. There was clambering to keep him 67 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 1: and in longer than those six endings. Imagine how quickly 68 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: the opinion has turned on him that now he just 69 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: can't get enough of him on the mounds. With how 70 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: he has looked to this point in the regular season, 71 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: what was amazing about that Wednesday game is that his 72 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: fastball velocity was down pretty considerably from where it usually is, 73 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: without even his nastiest stuff. He went through six pretty 74 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:27,679 Speaker 1: easy shutout endings, continuing what he's done against Giants, against 75 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: the Phillies, against the Cardinals. So this has been the 76 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: easiest opponent of the four and he made it look 77 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 1: pretty easy out there. 78 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 2: He is loving every second of it. And why not 79 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 2: another strikeout for Pablo back to back CA's and he's 80 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 2: got six tonight. He will leave tonight JP with the 81 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 2: best era in baseball. 82 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: The main concern about him has been his shoulder, the 83 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: fact that in twenty eighteen, in twenty nineteen and twenty 84 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: twenty one, it has held him back has prevented him 85 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: from the workload that you need him for to rely on, 86 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 1: and it made it difficult to expect anything different here 87 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty two. So well, the time will still 88 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: tell as to whether or not that is solvable. It 89 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: is one of the big mysteries in baseball is how 90 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: to overcome any sort of shoulder fatigue, especially if you 91 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: have a history of it recurring again and again. But 92 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: he does so many good things on the mound. He 93 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: is a deep pitch mix sort of a lot of 94 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: pitches that he mixes in there. The one hold up 95 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: throughout his Marlin's career, the one thing that at least 96 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: to me, has always lowered his ceiling compared to somebody 97 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: like Sandy al Contra, is the lack of a really 98 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: great breaking ball about a pitch that breaks to his 99 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: glove side, compared to of course his sinker and his 100 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: change up that have amazing tumble to the arm side. 101 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: So you needs something to switch it up in order 102 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: to be near the top of the leak. In actually 103 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: missing bats, he's been somebody that doesn't really miss bats 104 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: at a exceptional level. But entering this year, what we'd 105 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: seen is somebody that puts more and more trust in 106 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: his change up. That will always be his bread and butter, 107 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: and that takes him pretty far on his own, just 108 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: having good fastball commands and a nasty changeup that he's 109 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: willing to go to against lefties and righty's and all 110 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: sorts of accounts. So that is continuing. But one trend 111 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 1: I'm really interested in is exactly what he does on 112 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: the breaking ball side and not with his curveball. The 113 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: curveball is the one that he's been trying to get 114 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: it to work, and it's just not happening for him. 115 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: In this most recent start, he only threw a couple 116 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: of them in those six innings. What he's leaning on 117 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: more is his cutter as his primary breaking ball. He 118 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: got a couple really nice strikeouts with it in this 119 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: most recent outing, the velocity being similar to his fastball, 120 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 1: but it's getting some of that movement in the opposite 121 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: direction from his change So when hitters are expecting that 122 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: change up and they get the cutter, it is almost 123 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: possible to make that sort of adjustment. I'll be interested 124 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: to see exactly how much more he continues to utilize that, 125 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: how consistent that pitch can be and the early indications 126 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: are that he is willing to use it against both 127 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: lefties and righties. So that's a really important thing too, 128 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: to make sure that it's a factory against both of 129 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: those and it keeps the hitter in this state of 130 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: minds where they don't really know what to expect. Some 131 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: other little things that have stood out to me is 132 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: that he is getting a little extra extension off the 133 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:33,239 Speaker 1: mount this year. This is quantified by statcast how close 134 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: you are to the plate when you deliver the pitch. 135 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: That gives a hitter less time to react. That makes 136 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: whatever velocity you have play up even more if you're 137 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: closer to home plate. By all accounts, that seems to 138 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: be trending up. He's been able to create alters delivery 139 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: a little bit. I know that our friend arm Leaden 140 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: arm Layden, I know our friend arm Leyden Just Baseball 141 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: is gonna have an upcoming article of breaking down the 142 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: change for Pablo and what he's done to his delivery 143 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: in a couple of ways. So perhaps even make the 144 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: change up even better and to create that extra extension 145 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: that I just mentioned. So I'll be interested in seeing 146 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: how that plays out. The other key trends. Not to 147 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: discount what he's done to this point in the season, 148 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: but all of his starts to this point have been 149 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: on extra rest more than four days rest more than 150 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: five total days between starts. For his career, when he 151 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: gets any sort of extra rest more than five days 152 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: in between starts more than four days of rest, he 153 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: has a two point eight six er in a pretty 154 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: big sample, allowing just one point one base runners per ending. 155 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 1: That is like bona fide all star stuff. Again, in 156 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: a pretty big sample. Let me see exactly how many 157 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: starts that is. Looks like thirty six if I have 158 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: that right, Yeah, thirty six starts, and he has those 159 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: kind of really excellent, excellent number. He gets more strikeouts, 160 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: he does a better job keeping the ball in the ballpark. 161 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: The peripherals back up that run prevention. When he's working 162 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: on normal rest, it's an ERA over five, allowing a 163 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:17,319 Speaker 1: lot more home runs, issuing more walks, more hit batters, 164 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,839 Speaker 1: like across the board one point three five one point 165 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: four base runners per ending, especially when you adjust for 166 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: a lone depot park and all the starts he made 167 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: against National League lineups. Like he's been a below average 168 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: starting pitcher. So from all start to below average based 169 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: on how much days of rest that he's had. That are, 170 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: of course, or individual outings that can really skew this 171 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: one way or another. But I bring that up now 172 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: because to this point of the season, he's had the 173 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: luxury of extra rest in each outing, and that's not 174 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: going to be the case for his next two. Something 175 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: I'd mentioned on the site on Twitter is that the 176 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: Marlins are just starting a stretch of sixteen straight days 177 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: without any off days, sixteen straight aims without any off days, 178 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: which means that each of his next two turns in 179 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: the rotation will come on regular rest for the first 180 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: time this year. I mean, if he somehow fires up 181 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: more zeros in both of those outings, then that's when 182 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: we know we have something really special on our hands. 183 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: Fingers crossed. He could keep it up because he is 184 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 1: an easy guy to root for. He is an important 185 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: voice in that clubhouse, and the Marlins are lucky that 186 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: beyond this year, they still have a couple more years 187 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: of control on him that it will be fascinating to 188 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: see exactly what they would do with him if he 189 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: continues performing at a great level. I've been, I've been, 190 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: you know kind of doubtful that they would send sign 191 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: big contracts to multiple starting pitchers, having already done so 192 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: with Sandy, considering how confident they are in their ability 193 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: to develop more pictures for a fraction of the price. 194 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: So that will be interesting is whether he actually performed 195 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: so well that it turns him into a more obvious 196 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: trade candidate during this upcoming offseason, just because they know 197 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: that they won't be paying him that market value. That's 198 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 1: getting a little ahead of ourselves, but people should naturally 199 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: be extremely thrilled with what he's done this year. Still 200 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: just twenty six years old, so it's entirely with in 201 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: the realm of possibility that this is going to be 202 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: Pablo's best year yet. We look forward to Monday because 203 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 1: in the middle of that Marlins homestand finally the rosters 204 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: are going to go back to quote normal. It's been 205 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: easy to forget that this team has had two extra 206 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 1: roster spots this entire season so far. A couple of 207 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: those guys have kind of been hidden out of view 208 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: for most of the season thus far, so it has 209 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: been easy to forget because Marlins have been relying pretty 210 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: heavily on just the top twenty four to twenty five guys, 211 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: but of course last year was twenty six and that's 212 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: the new normal. They took an exception to that roster 213 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: size because of the abbreviated spring training to make sure 214 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 1: that pitchers were not in a position to hurt themselves 215 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: to take on too much of a workload too soon. 216 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: And Marlins were one of many teams that have gone 217 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: with fifteen plus pitchers, most of the roster being pitchers 218 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: ten man bullpen they've had throughout this early portion of 219 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: the season, and so that's obviously going to change, and 220 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: it'll be interesting to see exactly what moves the Marlins make. 221 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: So I give you a warning ahead of time that 222 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: this may be sort of a silly exercise. What I've 223 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: learned about the Marlins is that it's just hard to 224 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: anticipate the exact timing and particulars of the decisions they 225 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: make with that roster. What are they going to do? 226 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: We can start with the fact that in my estimation, 227 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: nineteen of these twenty eight players are completely safe. They 228 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: fall into a few different categories. The one is those 229 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: who have no minor league options left and make a 230 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: decent amount of money. The Marlins if you can't send 231 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: them down, and you're obviously not gonna cut them because 232 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: of the salaries they have, especially this early in the season, 233 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: it is safe to assume that Heyesusagualar, Anthony Bass, Richard Bleier, 234 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 1: Avisel Garcia, Miguel Rojas, Jorge Solaire, and Jacob Stallings are 235 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: still gonna be here once that deadline pass. I think 236 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: we can all agree with that. Aguilar, Bass, Blier, Garcia, Rojas, Solaire, Stallings. 237 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: They're not going anywhere. There's really nothing they can do 238 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: to put them anywhere aside from the active roster at 239 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: this point in time. The second category, I'm calling it 240 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: way too good or too important to even consider sending down. 241 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: This one includes Sandy al Contra, Brian Anderson, guys who 242 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 1: I'll just be clear, these guys have minor league options. 243 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 1: If the Marlins wanted to send down Sandy al Contra, 244 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: there's nothing he can do about it. Of course, it'd 245 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,559 Speaker 1: be absurd to do so, and that's why he headlines 246 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 1: this category in alphabetical order. Al Contra, Anderson, Anthony Bender, 247 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 1: Jazz Chisholm, Junior, Garrett Cooper, Pablo Lopez, Jy Sue Lozardo, 248 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: Trevor Rodgers, Hey Sanchez, Cole Solcer, Joey Wendell, and Steven Okert, 249 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: who I want to circle back to in a minute. 250 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: So all of these guys, most of them are playing 251 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: pretty well. I'll shout out Trevor Rodgers because I'm recording 252 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: this in the middle of his start where he, just 253 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: like Pablo, is taking care of business against a very 254 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: bad Nationals team to solidify his spot in the rotation. 255 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: And somebody like Luzarro, who I was pretty skeptical of 256 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: entering this year. So far two out of three starts 257 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 1: really outstanding. His rotation spot in the Majors is not 258 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: in any jeopardy anytime soon. He's fine. Of this group, 259 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: Anthony Bender has certainly been the low man in terms 260 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: of of performance. Even though he's picked up I think 261 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: four saves already, they have not been comfortable saves. I 262 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: think just about every single outing he has allowed at 263 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: least one base runner. Despite the quality of his stuff, 264 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: he is just not quite the same phenom that we 265 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: saw in the spring of twenty twenty one, and soon 266 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: after he was called up. He has some adjustments to make. 267 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: That being said, he looks kind of healthy, and I 268 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: guess it's kind of maybe that's not the right word 269 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: for it, because he did actually miss almost a week 270 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: of time quietly on the active roster while dealing with 271 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: what Dohn maddeningly described as a hip issue. So he 272 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: hasn't been one hundred percent healthy. Maybe you attribute that 273 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: somewhat to his performance. Either way, he has returned to 274 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: action since then, and just because the quality of his stuff, 275 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: the fact that he now has like it or not, 276 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: he has had some closing experience for the time. He 277 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 1: does have an important role to play on this bullpen, 278 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: and so I don't see him as somebody that would 279 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: be a candidate to be sent down in the very 280 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: near future, although that could change in the not too 281 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: distant future. And also among this group, I did want 282 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: to mention Steven Okert, who does he was kind of 283 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: in between groups here because he doesn't make that much money, 284 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: but he also doesn't have any minor league options. But 285 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: he doesn't have a super critical role on the team, 286 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: but there have been certain flashes of awesomeness from him 287 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: this year. So I think the bottom line is just 288 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: because they can't get rid of him without designating him 289 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: for assignment. He's another one that I would consider completely 290 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: safe due to that roster situation at this time as 291 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: the Marlins take the lead here in the seventh inning 292 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: on Thursday, trying to sweep the Nationals and then move 293 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: to two games above five hundred. So this brings us 294 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: to the group that we actually want to talk about 295 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: on this show, those that you need to think about 296 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: as roster trimming candidates. The Marlinson needs to go from 297 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 1: twenty eight to twenty six. One thing to keep in 298 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: mind Dylan Floro on the rehab trail, but not looking 299 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: very convincing in his rehab outings so far. So I'm 300 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: making these calls with the assumption that Floro needs a 301 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 1: little bit more time. He won't quite be ready by 302 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: the time that we get to Monday. These are the 303 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: rest of the players that I haven't already mentioned. Well, 304 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: let's start with John Birdie, who has been awesome in 305 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: a very limited sample. He's only started a handful of 306 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:35,959 Speaker 1: games to this point in the season. To me, it's 307 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: kind of it's pretty clear that he is important for 308 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: this bake leag Groster because of his versatility and because 309 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: of his speed for a team that overall has a 310 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: lot of players in their starting lineup who are not 311 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: very agile and not very good based runners. Even when 312 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: Bertie isn't in the lineup, he has ways to contribute 313 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: off the bench that really nobody else on this team does. 314 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,479 Speaker 1: The fact that he's been actually effective in his limited sample, 315 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: that's just the cherry on top, solidifies him. Eliez er Hernandez. 316 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: We're not comfortable with how he's pitched to this point 317 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 1: in the season, but he is somebody that does have 318 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: quite a bit of starting experience already. When you take 319 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 1: a step back and you look at the overall production, 320 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 1: it's really not that bad. Will he stay in this 321 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,719 Speaker 1: rotation throughout the season? I think it's pretty clear that 322 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: won't happen. We might be looking at this as soon 323 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: as late May and reevaluating his role on the team 324 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: and whether he should be here or not for the moment. 325 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: The fact that they were so high on him entering 326 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 1: the season, I don't think three starts, with really only 327 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: two of them being bad ones and having a nice 328 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 1: one sandwiched in between, he's not really a candidate to 329 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 1: be trimmed off at this time. In my opinion. Tanner 330 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: Scott actually has a minor league option left. We know 331 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: he's coming off a poor year with the Orioles after 332 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: being great the previous year before that, and for a 333 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: lot of this season he has been great for the 334 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: Marlins as well. It's just recently he's had those back 335 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 1: to back on this road trip uncomfortable outings, one against 336 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: the Braves and one against the Nationals, neither of which 337 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: cost the Marlins the game, but both of them really 338 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: made you sweat. With Scott, he's done interesting things with 339 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: his pitch mix, relying more heavily on his slider than 340 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: ever before. I think, just like Bender, just the quality 341 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: of the stuff is so much of a standout that 342 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: you need to give him an opportunity that you can't 343 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: just turn down that kind of arm talent right now, 344 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: considering that the rest of this pen is sort of 345 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: lacking in that department. I believe he's safe for the 346 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 1: time being, but we'll have to strain things out relatively soon. 347 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: This has been a popular candidate to get trammed Sean Armstrong, 348 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: who the Marlins signed as a minor league free agent 349 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: this past offseason. He was a high I demand minor 350 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: league free agent. Two. Reportedly, the majority of major league 351 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: team has made him some sort of offer to bring 352 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: him to camp. Because the Marlins were able to get 353 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: his commitment by kind of ensuring that he was gonna 354 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: be on the opening a day roster. He from the 355 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: moment he arrived in camp, it was considered almost a 356 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 1: foregone conclusion that he was going to crack the twenty 357 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: eight man and he did. I mean, to be honest, 358 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: I've been trying. I've been trying to, like stare closely 359 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:29,120 Speaker 1: at him and see what exactly they found so tantalizing 360 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: about Sean Armstrong, and I can't see it. For a 361 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: guy who has been in the big leagues for a 362 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 1: while now that has not really produced a whole lot, 363 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: I don't see really anything that's sexy compared to again, 364 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: somebody like Bender or Scott. Those are guys that you 365 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: can be patient. You can understand why the Marlins are 366 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 1: putting a hope in them straightening things out. But I 367 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:56,199 Speaker 1: don't think Armstrong has the same type of upside. The 368 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: reason why I don't think they're going to cut bait 369 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: with him right now is because he can't be sent 370 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: down without his permission. He has to accept an outright assignment. 371 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: If they are going to, you know, designate him for assignment. 372 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: They really risk losing him. In other words, if they 373 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 1: get rid of him right now, which I just don't 374 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: see as a likely possibility this early in the season. 375 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,959 Speaker 1: We're only talking about a handful of outings to this point, 376 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: I mean, none of which have a lot of crooked number. 377 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 1: It's just that almost every single adding he's been allowing 378 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 1: hard contact, and then a couple of them he has 379 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 1: looked kind of out of his elements when he put 380 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: all together. I think it's still too early in the 381 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: year for them to cut bait with him, considering all 382 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: the effort they put into acquiring him in the first place. 383 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: And then the other one kind of in this category 384 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: that I think is safe would be Peydon Henry, So 385 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: he is, of course the backup to Jacob Stallings, the 386 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: rarely used backup to this point in the season. Caught 387 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 1: up people by surprise that he made the opening day 388 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,159 Speaker 1: roster in the first place. I thought Nick Fortes was 389 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: ahead of him on the depth chart, And to be honest, 390 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 1: Henry hasn't done much, you know, in front of our 391 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: eyes to show why he exactly deserved that spot and 392 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: won that competition. He is barring, you know, a hit 393 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,919 Speaker 1: in his very last played appearance today, he'll still be 394 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: hitless on the season. One of the very few players 395 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,919 Speaker 1: in the majors that's been getting regular playing time and 396 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: don't have any hits. Of course, as a backup catcher, 397 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 1: you're prioritizing the defense, and even that has not been 398 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: very good for Henry in his small sample this year. 399 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: His receiving, for one, has been disappointing, even in a 400 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:45,719 Speaker 1: lot of situations where it doesn't impact the game. There 401 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 1: have been a lot of times without runners on base 402 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: where he does like just enough to keep the ball 403 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: in his neighborhood that prevents runners from advancing. He has 404 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,639 Speaker 1: flirted with a lot of bad plays. He's made a 405 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: few of them, but he's flirted with even more that 406 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 1: could be close to happening. So his receiving skills have 407 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: not been up to standard. As I said, he has 408 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: not been hitting whatsoever. Based on his track record in 409 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: the Upper Miners, the Marlins thought, hey, at least he 410 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: would get on base at a pretty decent clip for 411 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 1: a catcher, and that hasn't been happening either. Just a 412 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 1: couple walks this point in the season. That kind of 413 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: represents his entire offensive impact. I do think he's safe 414 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 1: for the time being. He has minor league options left, 415 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: so they really don't need to hesitate to send him 416 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: down four or fortes or to consider a non roster 417 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: option like Astadillo or Lorenzo Kintana. I don't want to 418 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: talk about those guys quite quite now, but both of 419 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: them are hitting so well in the miners that were 420 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: within this first half of the season. For sure. It's 421 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 1: only a matter of weeks until you seriously can contemplate 422 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: a change in the backup position in the stretch where 423 00:23:56,560 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: you'll need to have a good backup catcher all during 424 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 1: the stretch where they go two full weeks without any 425 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 1: off days, that backup catcher is going to need to 426 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: play several complete games on their own. Is Henry going 427 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: to be up to that challenge. It seems like the 428 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 1: Marlins are going to make a judgment on him after 429 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: that stretch. Once he makes a few different starts, gets 430 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 1: an opportunity to catch basically everybody in this rotation one time. 431 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:26,640 Speaker 1: Probably the way that the schedule lines up, that's when 432 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: you may see a change in that particular role. So 433 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 1: this leaves us. Who have we covered to catch you up? 434 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:43,680 Speaker 1: We've covered Aguilar, Bass, Blyier, Garcia, Rojas, Solaire, Stallings, Alcontra, Anderson, Bender, Chisholm, Cooper, Lopez, 435 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: Luzardo Rodgers, Sanchez, Solcer, Wendell, Okert, Bertie Hernandez, Scott Armstrong, 436 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 1: and Henry. So that leaves Cody Pote, Lewis Head, Zach Popp, 437 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: who was just recalled from Triple A earlier today, and 438 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: Brian Delacruz. So you got four guys to trim down 439 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: from twenty eight to twenty six. Major League Baseball is 440 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: requiring at least one of those to be a pitcher, 441 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 1: So keep that in mind. One of those pictures, in 442 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 1: my opinion, it's going to be Potit Head or Pop 443 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: will have to go, and very likely one hitter as well. 444 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,959 Speaker 1: The hitter can't be Henry unless he's replaced by another catcher. 445 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: You need a backup catcher, and I don't think it's 446 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 1: gonna be Birdie because of how well he's playing and 447 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: how particular his role is on this team. So who's 448 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: the last position player that we haven't gone through yet. 449 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: It's Brian Delacruz. I've not hidden my affection for Dela 450 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:48,760 Speaker 1: Cruz based on how he performed early last year and 451 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: how I thought there were some very legitimate skills that 452 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:54,959 Speaker 1: we're going to translate into him having a nice career. 453 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: To this point, we do know that the Marlins initially 454 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: in spring training plan to have him down at trip. 455 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,439 Speaker 1: They only reversed that decision on very short notice. And 456 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: since he's been up in the majors, even at a 457 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 1: time when some of these other corner outfielders, so Lara 458 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: and Garcia are struggling, Dela Cruze has not been cracking 459 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: that starting lineup. So that tells you that they just 460 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: kind of like Henry, they're not someone they're not really 461 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: comfortable like putting much responsibility on his shoulders. At this 462 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 1: point in his career, Delia Cruz was the prototypical fourth outfielder. 463 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:35,399 Speaker 1: Do they need a prototypical fourth outfielder for the foreseeable future? 464 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:40,679 Speaker 1: And my expectation is no, that they don't. That you 465 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: have somebody in Birdie circling back to him as long 466 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: as they trust him to be the backup center fielder, 467 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: a position that he's played a handful of times in 468 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: the big leagues. They certainly has the agility for decent 469 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: range four, then I think that's enough. Where you have 470 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:00,400 Speaker 1: Brian Anderson as the backup corner outfielder at both left 471 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: and right, that's enough. So Anderson because of his long 472 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: track record, because of his salary, he's not going anywhere. Bertie, 473 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:10,919 Speaker 1: with the way he's playing, he's not going anywhere. And 474 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 1: I think those guys are both back up outfielders, even 475 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:20,360 Speaker 1: though they're certainly came up as infielders, that even when 476 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,160 Speaker 1: this roster comes down, that the Marlins will be comfortable 477 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 1: having twelve position players and without having somebody like Dela 478 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: Cruz there. And that must be frustrating for DLC because 479 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,640 Speaker 1: he has performed at the plate really well ever since 480 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: debuwing last year. I didn't love the decision to sign 481 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: both Solaire and Garcia, knowing that both of them were 482 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 1: limited to the corner spots, but that decision has already 483 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: been made, and especially in the first month of those 484 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 1: multi year contracts, those guys are stuck in place, and 485 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 1: for the time being, this team continues to be as 486 00:27:55,240 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 1: healthy as they are. Dela Cruz is just duck in 487 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:03,439 Speaker 1: a point on the depth chart where he'll just be 488 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 1: waiting in Triple A Jacksonville until that next opportunity presents itself. 489 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,920 Speaker 1: So that's my prediction for one of those guys getting 490 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 1: squeezed off being Brian Dela Cruz, unfortunately, even with nothing 491 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: left to prove. So who's going to be the pitcher 492 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,360 Speaker 1: that gets squeezed off along with Dela Cruz Between Potit 493 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:25,120 Speaker 1: Head and Zach Popp, I think the answer is pretty 494 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: straightforward there too, with the way that Potit can give 495 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,440 Speaker 1: you multiple lettings. He's been developed as a starter for 496 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: almost his entire professional career to this point. His stuff 497 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 1: has looked good in a small sample so far this year. 498 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: The variety of pitches he has means that you know, 499 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: he can go multiple times through the order if ever needed, 500 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 1: kind of in an emergency situation. They've been fortunate so far, 501 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: kind of one exception with one Trevor Rogers start. Aside, 502 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 1: these guys have been giving very good length relative to 503 00:28:56,280 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 1: other starting pitchers across the league. Maybe that won't keep 504 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,640 Speaker 1: up at quite the same rate, and then you have 505 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 1: somebody in Poteit who can step in. Lewis Head has 506 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: gotten the job done. You know, it hasn't always been 507 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: sexy in his handful of appearances to this point. We 508 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 1: know that they did trade a player to be named 509 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: later to the Rays in order to get him. They 510 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 1: invested something in him. Even though he has minor league 511 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: options left. He's thirty two years old, so he certainly 512 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 1: has nothing to learn from pitching in the minors, even 513 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: less so than some of these other pitchers that we've 514 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: already established are safe. So I think he sticks a 515 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: round and by default Zach Popp. You know, he's only 516 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: been up for a few hours after making maybe one 517 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: appearance over the weekends. My expectation is he's the one 518 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 1: that gets sent back down. He showed some really nice 519 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 1: potential during the second half of last season in TAA. 520 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: This year, all he's done is throw up zeros, at 521 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: least in terms of earned runs. He's all had two 522 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: unearned runs in his seven appearances out of the Jacksonville bullpen. 523 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,959 Speaker 1: Really good ratios as well. He's going to have a 524 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 1: really nice future. It's just that with this team there's 525 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: only so many spots at this point in the season. 526 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: I was surprised that he was not on this major 527 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: league roster during these first few weeks of the season. 528 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: Even if he had been you know, he'd probably be 529 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 1: in this kind of position anyway, just due to the 530 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 1: seniority of the other pitchers on this team. You need 531 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: to make some pretty tough calls. It's fortunate that the 532 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: Marlins are in this position where it might be the 533 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: right move to actually send down a solid reliever with 534 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: two really interesting pitches, both his sinker and his slider. 535 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 1: I like his potential a lot moving forward, but I 536 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: think he just replaced Daniel Castano, and so it's a 537 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: much tougher decision with him than it would have been 538 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:52,880 Speaker 1: for Castano. I still think that's a pretty clear decision here, 539 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: and that's what will happen when all the dust settles 540 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 1: on Monday. As I said up top, this is one 541 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 1: of the emotional high points how the team is playing 542 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 1: in several different facets of the game. The depth is 543 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 1: really showing itself, and even more fun is seeing the 544 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 1: star power at the top with guys like Jazz Hacius 545 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: Sanchez and Pablo Lopez and of course Sandiel Contra. So 546 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 1: I've been Ela Susman come back to you again on Monday. 547 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: In between, got our Fish Stripes Live show on Friday, 548 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: plenty of articles and other projects in between, so followed 549 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 1: all that along at fishstripes dot com, Go fish