1 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: The show goes on. This is the official show on 2 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: the fish Stripes podcast channel with me Eli Sussman, the 3 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 1: managing editor of Fish Stripes, where we cover your Miami 4 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Marlins every day in our own way. Please subscribe to 5 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: fish Stripes wherever you get your pods so that you 6 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: don't miss a single episode. Leave a rating and review 7 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: wherever applicable. In addition to the official show, this is 8 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: where you will find fish Stripes Unfiltered, Phishology, What a Relief, 9 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: as well as special installments of our audio offerings covering 10 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: the fish. We're at a stage of this off season, 11 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: past a milestone of the winter meetings, and the state 12 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: of the team is unacceptable by any standard at this 13 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: particular stretch of time. A big reason why the team's 14 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: reluctance to make moves and pay what is required to 15 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: make those moves. This episode isn't really about money. It's 16 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: just about winning, and the Marlins are doubtful to have 17 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: a good major league team anytime soon unless they allocate 18 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: more resources toward player payroll. I'm going to explain exactly 19 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: why on the other side of the break. Let's lead 20 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: off with just the facts, because I feel like this 21 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: has been glossed over a little bit that the Marlins 22 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: are not on an island in this respect when it 23 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: comes to having a low payroll. As it currently stands, 24 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: projected payroll for twenty twenty three is around ninety two 25 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: million dollars. Now, that is significantly up from where it 26 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: was just this past season. And it's also higher than 27 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:01,559 Speaker 1: the Oakland A's, the Baltimore Orioles, the Pittsburgh the Cincinnati Reds, 28 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay Rays, the Kansas City Royals, even the 29 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: Cleveland Guardians, all those teams spending less as currently constituted 30 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: than the Marlins are right now. They have a very 31 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: big arbitration class. You know, salaries that have not been 32 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: fully determined to this point, but all are projected to 33 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: go up for nearly a dozen different players at that 34 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: stage of their careers. We know Jorge Hilarious getting a 35 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: pay raise, Sandil Contra. It all adds up to this point. 36 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: I put out my roster projection, my way too early 37 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: opening day roster projection on Saturday. So many familiar faces, 38 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: and so you're wondering, you know, how exactly is payroll 39 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: going up? And that's just because a lot of individual 40 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: players that they had this past season that they haven't 41 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: done anything with yet. They haven't traded, and in most 42 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: cases they didn't really have the opportunity to get rid 43 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: of them without paying out some money. Those guys are 44 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: getting raises so simply keeping together the team that when 45 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: sixty nine and ninety three in twenty twenty two is 46 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: going to be more expensive than it used to be. 47 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: That being said, the context makes this infuriating to see 48 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: that this is any sort of standard, that this should 49 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: be any sort of limit for the Marlins. Five years ago, 50 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: when ownership transitions from Jeffrey Laurier to Bruce Sherman and 51 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: Derek Cheeter, the payroll during that final year of the 52 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: Lauria era was a franchise record one hundred and fifteen 53 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: million dollars, and long story short, you would have expected 54 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: it to grow between then and now, you would expect 55 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: it to be even higher than that point than one 56 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: fifteen at this point in the quote unquote rebuild of 57 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: this team. That's because when Lauria was still in charge, 58 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: they hadn't yet negotiated the terms of their next local 59 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: TV deal, one that saw their revenue more than double 60 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: from what it used to be. They didn't have ballpark 61 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: naming rights. The MLB Playoffs had two fewer teams back then. 62 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: The expansion of the Playoffs has led to new and 63 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: larger than ever national TV deal said the Marlins get 64 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: a slice of because of that upcoming beginning in twenty 65 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: twenty three, there are going to be Jersey Patch sponsorships 66 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: that up bringing extra revenue and probably just as important 67 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: as anything, something that probably doesn't get referenced enough when 68 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: we talk about the money in baseball, the eye popping 69 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: numbers that players are receiving as free agents especially, is 70 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: that there's been quite a bit of inflation in the 71 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: United States just over the past few years. I mean 72 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: especially over the last one year in total, again going 73 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: back to the end of the Laia era October twenty 74 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: seventeen when Sherman and Jeter took over, the value of 75 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: one dollar back in October twenty seventeen is in current 76 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: terms a dollar in twenty one cents. That is, according 77 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: to the Consumer Price Index inflation calculator, the inflation rate 78 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: has been twenty one percent just in the last five years. 79 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: One hundred and fifteen million dollars back at the end 80 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: of twenty seventeen let me do the math really quickly. 81 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: That's the equivalent to one hundred and thirty nine million 82 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 1: dollars in today's game. Don't give me money, I'll spend 83 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: it Onney. Now, the US economy as a whole is 84 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: not perfectly aligned with what you see in Major League Baseball. 85 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: There are some crossovers there, of course, and that's the 86 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: bottom line, is that you'd expect, just all things being equal, 87 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 1: if the commitments was the same from ownership five years 88 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: ago that it was right now, then payroll for the 89 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: Marlins one hundred and thirty nine million instead of what's 90 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: currently projected in the low nineties. So much more that 91 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 1: this team could add in terms of talent if simply 92 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: there were more dollars and those dollars were spent proportional 93 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 1: to what they used to be under the previous regime. 94 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: One other thing that we all know but probably doesn't 95 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: just get laid out in playing terms as often as 96 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: it should, is just how awful this product has been 97 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 1: for most of its existence. In particular over the last 98 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: two decades, Marlins have missed the playoffs in eighteen of 99 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: the last nineteen seasons, and as you know, the only 100 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: exception in the last nineteen seasons was twenty twenty, the 101 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: COVID shortened season, one of the anomalies in all baseball history. 102 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: Let's face it, if that season played out, do we 103 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: think that twenty twenty Marlins team would have qualified for 104 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: the postseason without the help of the variants of fewer 105 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 1: games and without the one time only sixteen team playoff 106 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: field that was available back then. We don't know, but 107 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 1: I think fair or not know that loan, postse and 108 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: birth didn't quite have the same impact that postseason birth 109 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: would have in any other context. In most of those 110 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 1: eighteen of the last nineteen years that they've been on 111 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: the outside looking in, there have been so few instances 112 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: where they've even really been in the hunt going into 113 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: the final days of the season, and that's why, understandably 114 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: there have been defections from this fan base through the years. 115 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: There are people that root for the team back then 116 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: that no longer do or not with the same vigor 117 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: that they used to have back then. Outside of wins 118 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: and losses. Unfortunately, in so many individual cases, the greatest 119 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: players in this franchise's history have been traded when the 120 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: team still had club control over them, who have so 121 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: few players that are so that are interwoven with this franchise. Really, 122 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: Jeff Conin is one of the very few exceptions that 123 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: proudly identifies with the Marlins in his post playing days. 124 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: To make that relationship even what it is now, they 125 00:07:57,880 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: had to, you know, put them back on the payroll 126 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: as an advisor to Sherman. And outside of that, there 127 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: are just very few others, a few alumni that represent 128 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: the team like that. You wrap it all together, and 129 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: it's been a lousy product. It's been an unpopular product. 130 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: It's been a product kind of without anidentity, and that's 131 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: unfortunate for Bruce Sherman. But he knew exactly what he 132 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: was getting into when he got this team. So we 133 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: know the initial staff when he took over, you know, 134 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: five plus years ago, was to reset, was to install 135 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 1: some new values and to just begin building this organization 136 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: in a way that they thought would be more sustainable 137 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: than what it used to be. You know, there was 138 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 1: nothing to love about the Lauria era. The bottom line 139 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 1: is that, you know, the Lauria era didn't have quite 140 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: as many like depressing lows as this one already does. 141 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: Sixteen seasons, sixteen full length seasons under Lauria, five of 142 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 1: them had ninety losses or more. Under Sherman, it's been 143 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: five seasons, but only four full seasons, and in all 144 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: those full length seasons they've lost ninety plus games, four 145 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: ninety plus loss seasons and four tries after only five 146 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: in the previous sixteen full seasons. Yeah, I mean, yeah, 147 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: you got a point there, and I can't even go 148 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: against that. You can look at that from a couple 149 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: different angles that under Lauria the team didn't have the 150 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: understanding in terms of they didn't identify windows of contention 151 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: the way that perhaps they should have, and that there 152 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: wasn't quite as much of a cohesive vision as to 153 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: what they should be doing. They didn't lose ninety plus games, 154 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: but as I mentioned, they missed the postseason in all 155 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: but one of those years. There were a lot of 156 00:09:56,679 --> 00:10:01,839 Speaker 1: instances where they had perhaps an unrealistic expectation of how 157 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: close they were in that they focused too much on 158 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: the here and now and not enough on building something 159 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 1: steady and consistent, and as a result, their tenure was 160 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 1: pretty awful all things considered, perhaps not as awful as 161 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: what this one currently is through five plus years. It 162 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: is not normal to have this many seasons of just 163 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: awful non competitive performance. Have so many years. I talked 164 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: about having only a few exceptions where the team in 165 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: recent history was alive in the final weeks of the 166 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: season during the Sherman era, In all of these full seasons, 167 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: they've been out of it by the trade deadline. They've 168 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: been clear sellers in every single year to this point. 169 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 1: Those are months of non competitive games, and that has translated. 170 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: You could say to theottom line of this organization, the 171 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: financial bottom line, why haven't they been spending I think, 172 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: to be fair, I'm sure there is some reality based 173 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 1: in here. They're not going to spend money that they 174 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:18,719 Speaker 1: aren't making that realistically, this is a business. Even the 175 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: most popular teams, the most fun teams to root for, 176 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: they operate like cold businesses. They don't put money back 177 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: into the team that isn't surplus from what they're earning 178 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: and pocketing themselves. That thing said, there has to be 179 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: some level of satisfaction from Sherman as to how this 180 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: team is being run. He elevated Caroline O'Connor to President 181 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,080 Speaker 1: of Business Operations, as well as several of her top 182 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: lieutenants now have had continuity in this organization. They haven't 183 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: made all that many dramatic changes to the way that 184 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: they run the business side of this operation in recent years, 185 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: with the exception of Derek Jeter's exit as CEO. If 186 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: things were really going that badly, then perhaps you'd be 187 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: seeing more dramatic changes in the way that this team 188 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: is marketed, in the way that it's being run, and 189 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:15,239 Speaker 1: the priorities it has from a business perspective. But his actions, 190 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 1: you know, the continuity that they do have in business 191 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: operations would suggest otherwise that things are generally going in 192 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: the right direction, and all the information we could possibly 193 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: grasp about the growth of baseball would suggest the same. 194 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 1: So we're having this conversation in the shadow of the 195 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: New York Mets. They prep By the time I finished 196 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: recording this, they'll have signed somebody else to a long term, 197 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: fifty plus million dollar deal. They are reaching new heights 198 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: that have never been reached before in terms of player payroll. 199 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 1: In fact, the luxury tax payments on top of the 200 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: payroll that they're projected to have for twenty twenty three, 201 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: that alone, just the luxury tax payments, the overage tax 202 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: is nearly as high as the entire Marlins payroll itself 203 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 1: for next season based on things on things are currently assembled, 204 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: and with the understanding that the Mets might not be 205 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: done actually adding more veteran major league players, it's envious 206 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: of the Mets. The expectation to be fair is never 207 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: to be the Mets. This is a team that, even 208 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: during its highs, it's never really come close to winning 209 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: the National League East Division, and that's unfortunately, the sport 210 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: is in a direction where that barely matters anymore. We're 211 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: at a time where there are three wild card spots 212 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: in each league, where you can make the postseason without 213 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: being a dominant regular season team. You can go deep 214 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: into the postseason without having put together the perfect group. Obviously, 215 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: the Phillies this past year are exhibit a in doing so, 216 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: team that was never fully well rounded, but was talented 217 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: enough to get the job done. And even that example 218 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: isn't totally relevant. As we've seen this offseason, the Phillies 219 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: are reaching spending levels that they have not reached before 220 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: and continuing to add established talent on top of what 221 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: was already a extremely talented roster. So the Marlins aren't 222 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: trying to be the Phillies either. Again, the playoff field 223 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: is wider than it's been before. You don't need to 224 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: be perfect, you don't need to be dominant, You need 225 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: to be slightly above average to have a chance of 226 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: getting into October. As I said, this team has only 227 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: been there once in the previous nineteen years. And the 228 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: frustration about the team right now is that last year 229 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: they came nowhere close to reaching their goal, and as 230 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: currently constituted, almost all the key players are exactly the 231 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: same as they were this past year. By my projection, 232 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: about two thirds of the opening day roster right now 233 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: using players in the organization would be the same as 234 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: the opening day roster in twenty twenty two. As much 235 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: as injuries affect to this team, some situationally some bad 236 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: luck in terms of situational hitting that may even out 237 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: perhaps whatever impact a new coaching staff may have, whereas 238 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: the previous one seemed to be a liability on the 239 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: players that they had, perhaps the right messaging brings out 240 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: better production from even having some familiar faces. There's no 241 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: rational way to put yourself on the spot where this 242 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: group is going to be an above average major league team. 243 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: That is not like a realistic outcome for them. If 244 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: that is something that they aspire to do next year, 245 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: if that is a message you're trying to send to 246 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: the fans, then nobody is going to believe them, And 247 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: naturally that's going to just stoke even more anger and 248 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: frustration and legitimate concerns as to whether the leadership of 249 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: this team actually knows what they're doing. Going back to 250 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: the teams that have lower projected payrolls on the Marlins 251 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: right now, and that includes the Tampa Bay Rays the 252 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: Cleveland Guardians. In fact, even last year in twenty twenty two, 253 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: the Guardians spent a lot less than the Marlins did. 254 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: I'm sure those fan bases, I know that those fan 255 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: bases are frustrated that their ownership isn't more committed to 256 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: spending what it takes to build as complete a team 257 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: as possible. However, those teams on the baseball operations side, 258 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 1: we spend a lot of time on business operations. On 259 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: baseball operations, those teams have earned the benefit of the 260 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: doubt that their teams are consistently really good. They are 261 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: the inverse of the Marlins. For the Guardians. Almost every 262 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: year they have a winning record. That Tampa Bay Rays 263 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: in the vast majority of their seasons same thing as well, 264 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: without spending on player payroll, because they have put together 265 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: front office, a player development system that gets results. When 266 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: they make transactions, more often than not, they come up 267 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: on the positive end of those trades, and they get 268 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 1: more value in return than what they send out, and 269 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: that incrementally improves things. The Marlins could aspire to be 270 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: like them. They could point to them as evidence that 271 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: a low eight figure payroll can be enough, But at 272 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: this point they have not earned the benefit of the doubt. 273 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: Why is it that the Marlins need to spend more 274 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: than they're currently projected to do. It's because of those 275 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: shortcomings with their farm system. The hope was, you know, 276 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: five years ago go, that they would acquire enough talent 277 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: that they would assemble the right infrastructure to get the 278 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: most out of those talents to train those players. We 279 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: have seen that they have put together a really successful 280 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: operation when it comes to developing pittures and in particular 281 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: starting pitchers. So many of these players, whether it's up 282 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: through the minor leagues or learning as they grow upon 283 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: reaching the majors, We've seen these arms develop in front 284 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: of our very eyes, become more complete and more consistent pictures, 285 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: and that is something I think you could comfortably say 286 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: they do better than most other major league organizations. The 287 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: issue is with everything else, especially on the hitting side, 288 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: that they have produced so few of their own, cheap, 289 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: controllable young hitters, and that is put them in this 290 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: position where even some of the ones that had the 291 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 1: most promise since graduated to the majors, and by any measure, 292 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: this farm system just isn't special anymore. I don't know 293 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: if it ever reached a point where it was truly elite, 294 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: but it has certainly fallen off from whatever peak that 295 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,200 Speaker 1: it used to have. By Fangraphs, they have the most 296 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 1: up to date approximation of a farm system ranking by 297 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:24,199 Speaker 1: approximate prospect value. Fanographs has the Marlins right in the 298 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: middle of the pack, a tie for fifteenth in terms 299 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 1: of the composite value of their prospects. So much of 300 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 1: that is tied up in Uri Perez alone. They're number 301 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: one guy. And for what it's worth me personally in 302 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: following this farm system as close as I possibly can, 303 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 1: there's just such a drop off between Uri and every 304 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,920 Speaker 1: other player in this minor league system. There are nobody 305 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: else that you can point to and wholeheartedly trust becoming 306 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: an above average regular. All of them are going to 307 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: need some things to go right, and perhaps some staff 308 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: changes that have been made on the player development side 309 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: are going to bring out better production from these players 310 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 1: that to this point have not distinguished themselves as great prospects. 311 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: I mentioned that because when you're talking about avenues to 312 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: improve this team between now and opening Day, and there 313 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:22,199 Speaker 1: is so much time to do it, believe it or not, 314 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: Although it seems like all the free agents are flying 315 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: off the board, there are still more players out there 316 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: that could make a lot of sense for this roster 317 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: and could significantly improve the team as well. Even though 318 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: there are opportunities out there, I do not see what 319 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 1: that path looks like to being a good team in 320 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:46,479 Speaker 1: the near future unless they spend a significant amount of money. 321 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,359 Speaker 1: They just don't have the prospect capital to trade from 322 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: to totally overhaul the roster. They can make some significant 323 00:20:56,240 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: improvements via trade of young players, but they also cannot 324 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: risk depleting their farm system. You've heard the rumors again 325 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: and again about the likelihood of them moving starting pitchers 326 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: from their major league team in order to address shortcomings 327 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: on the hitting side. Just to get everybody on the 328 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: same page. This was one of the very worst offenses 329 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: in baseball last year. It was one of the worst 330 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: in Major League history when it comes to hitting left 331 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 1: handed pitching. As a whole, this team just did not 332 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: make enough contact. They did not hit for quite enough power, 333 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:38,120 Speaker 1: they did not show enough plague discipline, and a few exceptions, 334 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 1: they didn't even run the bases particularly effectively. And that's 335 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: why there have been that talk about trading from their 336 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 1: starting rotation. The issue is that they don't have quite 337 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: as much of a surplus in the rotation as you'd 338 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: love to believe. Now right now, I did that roster 339 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: projection and what I came up with is a starting 340 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: five of Sandy Alconcera, Jesus Lzardo, Papolo Lopez, Edward Cabrera, 341 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: Trevor Rodgers. That is with Uri Perez still at tripa 342 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: A waiting in the wings, finishing off his developments, and 343 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 1: there is naturally a lot of optimism that he's going 344 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: to be great right away. Whenever that opening comes up, 345 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: you could say that's your sixth starter. Braxton Garrett, I mean, 346 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: he was one of the great stories of this past season. 347 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 1: He emerged as somebody that in a lot of teams 348 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: he would be in that projected rotation, and he's just 349 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 1: an injury away in my mind, from cracking that in 350 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 1: the Marlins perspective, So that's seven between those, and from 351 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 1: there it's a reach. You look at Jake Eater, a 352 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 1: great prospect, but one coming back from Tommy John surgery, 353 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: who didn't pitch at all at any minor league level 354 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 1: this past season. You have Daniel Costano. He's your classic swingman. 355 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: He's out of minor league options, so he's probably going 356 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: to be on the roster one way or the other. 357 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: They tried Brian Hoeing last year. There are other names, 358 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: and you need a list all the names, because five 359 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: is never enough. It is never gonna be about just 360 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: five starting pitchers. I looked at the recent history, both 361 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: with the Marlins and Major League Baseball in general, and 362 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: without fail, almost every single team these days, you need 363 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 1: a plan on having your sixth starter being in the 364 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 1: rotation for at least a quarter of the season. With 365 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: your sixth guy in most situations, most individual teams, your 366 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: seventh starter is going to be relied upon for at 367 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 1: least a quarter of the schedule at least eight starts, 368 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: let's say, and in some cases you need significant help 369 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: from your eighth guy as well. So we went through it. 370 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,120 Speaker 1: It's a very solid top seven that the Marlins have, 371 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:54,199 Speaker 1: one that I think you could comfortably project to be 372 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: great if they were to keep it all together. But 373 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: the drop off from seventh to eight is kind of noticeable, 374 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: and that's where you're rolling the dice. You're betting on 375 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 1: perhaps mel Stotomyer Junior to work his magic again and 376 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 1: make somebody better than we ever thought they could be, 377 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 1: But more likely that is where you're going to see 378 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: a degradation in the quality of the pitching. This is 379 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: a Marlins team that I think could afford to trade 380 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 1: one of the controllable starting pitchers and you know, several 381 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,639 Speaker 1: of their most significant prospects this offseason, and in doing so, 382 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: there are are scenario where you acquire a Brian Reynolds 383 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 1: in one deal and maybe you get a I don't know, 384 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: a Christian Walker and the other deal from the Diamondbacks, 385 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: and that's that's probably it. You know, that's probably the 386 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 1: realistic best case scenario as to what you could get 387 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 1: from just trading prospects, and one surplus major league starter. 388 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 1: If you want to plug more holes, if you want 389 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 1: to dream even more bold about acquiring via trade, then 390 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: you're gonna end up giving up pitching that in such 391 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: a way that it really does come back to hurt 392 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,639 Speaker 1: the quality of your staff. You are robbing Peter to 393 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 1: pay Paul once you go even farther than that. Again, 394 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,959 Speaker 1: this is a team that lost ninety three games this 395 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: past season and to this point has done barely anything. 396 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,439 Speaker 1: One of the few teams that has not given out 397 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:30,679 Speaker 1: a single free agent contract to any major league player 398 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: this offseason, and I just don't think their surplus of 399 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: talent is substantial enough to fix this all via trade. 400 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:45,120 Speaker 1: It's going to cost money, and the most direct way 401 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 1: is by spending it on free agents. Another creative way 402 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:53,679 Speaker 1: is making deals for players that are under that have 403 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: underwater contracts, those with other teams that are being quote 404 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 1: unquote overpaid at the moment because of recent struggles, and 405 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 1: rolling the dice on some of those players in such 406 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 1: a way that because of the money that it's owed 407 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:12,400 Speaker 1: to them, their market value isn't commensurate with their talents 408 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,879 Speaker 1: and their upside, so they this Smolencine really doesn't have 409 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: any history of trading for bad contracts if they do 410 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: have obstacles in free agency, and I think it is 411 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: fair to point out if there are some free agents 412 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 1: that simply do not want to come to the Marlins, 413 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: considering their recent history of struggles, then you need to 414 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: get more creative. This is a team just going back 415 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,879 Speaker 1: to the money where one reason why the payroll went 416 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,440 Speaker 1: up from last year to this year, from twenty twenty 417 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 1: two to twenty twenty three, even without doing much of anything, 418 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: is because of rising prices for team controlled players and 419 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:52,920 Speaker 1: because they didn't have really any substantial free agents of 420 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 1: their own hit the market. Now you look ahead an 421 00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 1: extra year, Garrett Cooper, Miguel Rojas, Joey Wendel, Dylan Floro, 422 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 1: all of them are pending free agents. Jorge Sohilaire has 423 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:07,239 Speaker 1: a chance to opt out of his contract. Even if 424 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 1: he doesn't, his salary is going to drop by six 425 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:15,400 Speaker 1: million dollars from fifteen million to nine so that as 426 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: combines all those players, you're looking at twenty four million dollars. 427 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:24,439 Speaker 1: For whatever reason, they are still dragging their feet on 428 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 1: adding money for the twenty twenty three season. There are 429 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 1: opportunities to add players on multiple multi year deals that 430 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:35,680 Speaker 1: are backloaded and share more of those obligations towards twenty 431 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 1: twenty four and twenty twenty five. You know, long term, 432 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: the books are relatively clean. You have Sandy al Contra 433 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: on there, but he is earning just a fraction of 434 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,720 Speaker 1: his true worth. You have Avi Garcia on there, and 435 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:51,440 Speaker 1: you have eventually the payments to the Yankees for Gen 436 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:55,439 Speaker 1: Carlos Stanton that they've been kicking down the road. But 437 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: the outlook is pretty bright considering where they are right now. 438 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: It has been in defense of the Marlins, you can 439 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 1: point to the so Lair and the Garcia signings. Those 440 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 1: were substantial last off season in context, that barely made 441 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: a dent. What I mean is that before they signed 442 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: those guys, there was barely There's pretty much nothing on 443 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: the books before Garcia and Solaire came in, So it 444 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 1: was nice to see last offseason they make those commitments. 445 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 1: But even so, we look ahead to where they are 446 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,239 Speaker 1: right now, and I just laid it out, there are 447 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: only a handful of teams spending less than this team is, 448 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: given the market size, given the new revenue that has 449 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: come in, and adjusting our perspective with the understanding that 450 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: inflation has changed the worth of a dollar from even 451 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: where it was a few years ago. It's really indefensible 452 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 1: for the current projected payroll to be in sort of 453 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: limit for this Marlins team. They should be willing to 454 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: spend more. And I think they're in a situation because 455 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: of the middling farm system, because of the volatility of 456 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 1: pitch er health, even though it feels like they have 457 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 1: a good depth right now, and just because the distance 458 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: they need to go, especially when it comes to hitting, 459 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: to even give themselves a chance of being a solid 460 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: team in twenty twenty three. Bruce, you need to spend. 461 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: You need to spend more than you are right now 462 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 1: if you expect this business to prosper the long term. 463 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 1: It's only going to do that if this team wins. 464 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: As intimidating as it could be to look around your 465 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: division and see the Mets and see the Braves and 466 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: see the Phillies all doing what they're doing, it is intimidating, 467 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: but you need to try. The fans support, i should say, 468 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 1: is just not going to grow much until there is 469 00:29:55,680 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 1: some proof of concept on the major league field. There's 470 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: been with the exception of that COVID season. There's just 471 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 1: been no evidence whatsoever that what this team is doing 472 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: is effective, and so they have made further changes in 473 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: the front office, in player developments on the coaching side 474 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: that perhaps can manifest in better outcomes for the players 475 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: that they have. In the meantime, it's just going to 476 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 1: cost money. Bruce is going to have to spend his 477 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: way to get this team a chance and to give 478 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: the fans a reason to believe, because right now morale 479 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 1: is understandably very very low. As a reminder, it's still 480 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 1: three and a half months until the start of the season, 481 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:47,640 Speaker 1: so that is the bright side, is that there's time. 482 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:49,760 Speaker 1: There's time for this to change. They're not playing the 483 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: games right now. There are opportunities to improve, and it's 484 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 1: going to take a combination of savvy front office maneuvering 485 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 1: and simply having resources just spread around. I've been Eli 486 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: Susman on the official show first episode in a while, 487 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: still overcoming a little bit of an illness. So I 488 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: appreciate your patience and I appreciate you tuning in as 489 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: we address this topic that I know is heavy on 490 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 1: every Marlins fan mind. Right now, we have Fish Stripes 491 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: Live coming up on Wednesday at seven pm and starting 492 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: every Sunday night for the foreseeable future, We're going to 493 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 1: have our Twitter spaces on Fish Stripes hosted by Grant Kiefer, 494 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: So check that out on Twitter. If you are a 495 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:38,760 Speaker 1: big Twitter person, consider subscribing to us paid subscription only 496 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: two dollars and ninety nine cents. That gets you priority 497 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 1: to speak on the spaces. It gets you special participation 498 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: on our streams throughout the regular season, and we're always 499 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: coming up with a new perks to support. We used 500 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: to be called super followers, but they have since rebranded 501 00:31:56,360 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: it to subscribers. That's very confusing. Thanks to Eli Musk 502 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 1: for totally mixing up that entire structure within a few 503 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 1: months of us setting it up. But please consider supporting 504 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 1: us over there. But the most morning thing is that 505 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: you consume our content, both on the written side on 506 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 1: the podcast side. Bookmark fish Stripes dot com for daily 507 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: articles reporting on analyzing what's going on with the Miami Marlins. 508 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:34,520 Speaker 1: As always, go Fish