1 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: Welcome into the latest episode of Fish Bites. As always, 2 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 1: it is Danny Martinez here with you to talk to 3 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: Marlin's baseball, and if we're being honest, not to talk 4 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: about a lot of wins, because there are many wins 5 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: happening right now now. If you've heard me, you've known 6 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: my stance on this right this is not the year 7 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: to be talking about wins and losses. Matter of fact, 8 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: the entire last episode was a conversation on how I 9 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: might even be a little bit more impatient than some 10 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: of the fans, where I want wins and losses being 11 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: of significance as soon as next year. Some fans, most fans, 12 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: at least from people that engage with me and the 13 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: polls that we've sent out, care about that a little 14 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: bit more strongly in twenty twenty one. But if you're 15 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: one of the minority that care about that at the 16 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: priority level for twenty nineteen, it has been a tough week. 17 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: It has been a tough week and a half really, 18 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: because unless the Marlins are playing the Phillies, it doesn't 19 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: seem like there's much good to talk about at the 20 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: end of the day, and at the end of the 21 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: box score. Of course, there's bright spots. Of course, there's 22 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: pitching performances that we can highlight. There's things all across 23 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: the organization that are positive that'll happen in a rebuild. 24 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: But at the major league level on a major league podcast, 25 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: you better believe that I can't sit here and talk 26 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: with you forty five minutes about the major league wins 27 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,839 Speaker 1: and losses. So what are we going to speak about today? 28 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: We'll make no mistake, of course, we're going to have 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: our performances of the week. Our pitching performance of the 30 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,559 Speaker 1: week are hitting performance of the week. But there's really 31 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: two or three dialogue pieces that I want to get 32 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: to today before doctor ron Cox comes to join us. 33 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: This is going to be really special interview. I'm really 34 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: excited to have him on. He's going to be on 35 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: the latter part of the show. You know, he's going 36 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: to give us a lot of it site. I'll leave 37 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,559 Speaker 1: it at that. A brilliant guy, someone who I haven't 38 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: spoken back and forth many emails with about baseball. His mind, 39 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: the way that he can illustrate some of the thoughts 40 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: towards this Marlins organization, towards the game of baseball. I 41 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: think you're going to be really excited for it. But 42 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: before we jump into that, let's go ahead and get 43 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: into the discussion. There's three things that I really want 44 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: to talk about today. The first one is the fact 45 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: that the international free agency signing period opened up and 46 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: the Marlins were big time players in it once again, 47 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: a year after being one of the biggest players in 48 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: the international free agent signing period of last year. So 49 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: we're going to talk a little bit about that. Second, 50 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 1: we're going to go I have a little recap, right 51 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: if you're listening to this, it's likely in the All 52 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,839 Speaker 1: Star break, We're going to recap a bit about what 53 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: we saw with the Marlins in this first half. I 54 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: wrote an article called the Phantom of the Marlins for 55 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: Fish Stripes because there was a lot of back and forth, 56 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 1: there were a lot of extremes. There were basically two teams, 57 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: one organization, but two Major League Baseball teams. We're going 58 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: to look at the two polarizing ends of what the 59 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: Marlins were in this first half. And then I'm going 60 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,959 Speaker 1: to take a shot at talking about this anemic offense 61 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: because it's the one thing that everyone kept bringing up, 62 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: and I understand, I mean, listen, you know, yesterday. They 63 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: were recording this on a Sunday Saturday. The Marlins. Of course, 64 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: they go out and they score five and they hit fifteen, 65 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: but before that there was a seventeen inning scoreless streaks. 66 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: There's not much to discuss when we're talking about the 67 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: offense unless it comes from the young guys. And then 68 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: when a young guy like Brian Anderson is out, then 69 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: goodness gracious, where's it going to come from. So everything 70 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: that was sent to me is what do we do 71 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: about the offense? How do we resolve this offense. We're 72 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: going to take a look at what we need to 73 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: have and what we need to be looking forward to 74 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: to solve this anemic offense. But we're going to start 75 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: with international signings. Listen, if you've heard me, if you've 76 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: known me, this is something I've said this story multiple times. 77 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: I went to the Derek jeteror town hall that he 78 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: had the first year here. The only things that I 79 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: brought up was the international market and do something about 80 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: the stadium and the colors. Right. It's something I will 81 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: always beat that drum that I'm so excited that the 82 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: stadiums have changed, that they have the upgrades, the food concession, 83 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: is better. And on the baseball side, it's not that 84 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: they listened to me. I'm no one. They didn't listen 85 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: to me, but clearly they had someone up there that said, hey, 86 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: you know, it would be a great idea. Since we're 87 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: in South Florida and we have a lot of international fans, 88 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: how about we start diving into this international market and 89 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: forget the marketing side of it. How about just because 90 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: it makes sense, because it makes baseball sense, it makes 91 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: financial sense. It's what the leading teams in the organizations, 92 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: or rather the leading organizations in the league are doing. 93 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: They dive into the financial or rather into the international pool. 94 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: And that's exactly what the Marlins have done over the 95 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: last two years. This year thus far, right, the period 96 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: is incredibly open. It doesn't close until next year's international 97 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: free agency signing period opens. So far they have eleven 98 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: international free agents as they have signed. It's really highlighted 99 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: by three names. And at the end of the day, listen, 100 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: I haven't seen any of these kids. These are sixteen 101 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: year old kids. Okay, these are reports coming off of 102 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: international scouts. Anyone who's told you otherwise, unless you're Jesse 103 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: Sanchez or one of these international scouts that are very 104 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: limited in baseball organizations. They're just blowing smoke. But at 105 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 1: least from the information that we have from those in 106 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: the know, the leading three is shortstop Host Salas. He's 107 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: ranked number ten on Pipeline's top rankings of international free agents. 108 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: He's also known as the most advanced bat in this 109 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: entire international free agency pool. The number twenty four ranked 110 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: prospect Junior Sanchez, also a shortstop, and then a short 111 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: stop by the name of Ian Lewis. He's unranked but 112 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: highly regarded across scouts. He's from the Bahamas. Those are 113 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: the three names that pop off of the eleven that 114 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: the Marlins announced that they have officially signed. Now, the 115 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: thing with international free agency is the rankings mean very 116 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,559 Speaker 1: little at this point. Vladimir girl Junior was not ranked 117 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: number one. Fernando Tatis Junior was not ranked number one. 118 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: These rankings are are very preliminary, so we might have 119 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: a gem that's not listed in one of those top three. 120 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: We might see someone like a Junior Sanchez who's ranked 121 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 1: twenty fourth, actually end up being a better ball player 122 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 1: and big league ball player than Jose Salas, who's ranked 123 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: number ten. But when you're looking at three highly ranked 124 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: up the middle athletes with all having plus hit tools, 125 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: including Jose Salas, who again most advanced bat in the pool. 126 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: Then you know that the Marlins are doing something right now. 127 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: One of the more interesting stories with this one is 128 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: that the number seven overall ranked player, also a short 129 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: step Yeti Cape from Cuba, is apparently signing with Miami 130 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: in next year's free agency. So the reports from different 131 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: outlets state that they already have a handshake agreement. As 132 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: a matter of fact, Kape had in his own instagram 133 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: Marlin's Major League Baseball are Marlin's ballplayer in his own 134 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: picture in pipeline with the rankings, it's in a Marlins hat, 135 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: So this looks like a rather strong handshake agreement. But 136 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: with the Marlins not having I believe the rumor number 137 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: is three point five million at the moment in their 138 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: pool because they've spent it on other players. The belief 139 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: is that they will wait until next year where their 140 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: pool regenerates, and then Yidi Kape will also be part 141 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: of that signing. Incredible. Now, the reality is that a 142 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: team can get some money and can try to take 143 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: Yiddi away from the Marlins. That is possible, but this 144 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: seems from the Instagram posts to the fact that he's 145 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: wearing a Marlins hat in a neutral website like Pipeline, 146 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: all signs lead to the Marlins coming out with the 147 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: number ten, the number seven, the number twenty four, and 148 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: a highly ranked individual. Highly regarded individual Ian Lewis from 149 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: this pool. Technically Cape would then be from next year's pool, 150 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: but nonetheless the points stands. It would be an impressive 151 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: haul a year after getting the top consensus free agent 152 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: in Victor Victor Mesa and his little brother, who's possibly 153 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: many would say even performing better than he is right 154 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 1: now throughout the organization. It is the biggest single thing 155 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: that the Marlins organizational group has done differently, and it 156 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: is incredibly important that they have done that without being 157 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: players in the active international market. You're not going anywhere 158 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: without spending a lot of money or having the most 159 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 1: top shelf domestic scouting department and luck in the draft possible. 160 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: Good organizations, smart organizations win on the international front. The Marlins, 161 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: for the first time in their history, seemed to be 162 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: going that way. I told you that I wrote an 163 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 1: article Phantom of the Marlins for fift Stripes go check 164 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: it out. This team has been two entirely different entities 165 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: throughout their first two quarters or their first half of 166 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 1: the twenty nineteen campaign. You can't really split the MLB 167 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: season of one hundred and sixty two games into two 168 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: quarters or into four quarters rather, but if you take 169 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: forty one games in forty one games, you get roughly 170 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:44,319 Speaker 1: two separate quarters. The Marlins in their first forty one 171 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,719 Speaker 1: games were ten and thirty one. We all know that start, right, 172 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: historically bad all across the board. The only thing that 173 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: was even keeping them with ten wins was the pitching. 174 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: Every single day we would see the same blueprint. The 175 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: pitching would keep them in the game. The bats would 176 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: be non existent, they would lose. The pitching would keep 177 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: them in the game. The bats would be non existent, 178 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: they would lose. It led them to a ten and 179 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: thirty one start where they were at the bottom of 180 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:15,560 Speaker 1: the National League in any kind of offensive statistic that 181 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: you could find. The pitching was holding its own. But 182 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: this was not the team. This was not the plan. 183 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: I wrote in my article Starting ten and thirty one 184 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: was not the plan. Louis Brinton being demoted was not 185 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: part of the plan. The lowly attendance was not part 186 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: of the plan, and so on and so on. But 187 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: then something changed because over their next forty one games, 188 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: they went twenty two and nineteen. Twenty two and nineteen 189 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: is an eighty seven win pace team. You take that 190 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: twenty two and nineteen, that second quarter of the season, 191 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: and you spread over one hundred and sixty two games, 192 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: that would be on pace to win eighty seven games, 193 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,719 Speaker 1: a completely different team than the team that went ten 194 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: and three thirty one and was on pace to lose 195 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: one hundred and twenty two games, one hundred and twenty 196 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: two games on pace losses versus the second quarter where 197 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: they were suddenly an eighty seven win team. Miami got 198 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: to see the awful parts of a rebuild and got 199 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: to see the beauty. Because we've dissected this before and 200 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:24,559 Speaker 1: I don't have to go much into it as a 201 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: matter of fact in the article I wrote, Listen, this 202 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: isn't an analysis piece. It doesn't have to be an 203 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: analysis piece, because as long as you pass third grade, 204 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,439 Speaker 1: you're gonna be able to see what happened. Young offensive 205 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: pieces A Harold Muir is a Garrett Cooper, a Brian Anderson, 206 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: a George Alfero started playing up to their part. The 207 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: fact that Harold Armirez and Garrett Cooper weren't even a 208 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: part of that ten and thirty one club tells you 209 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: a little bit about the solution here. Suddenly they're playing well. 210 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: Suddenly they're winning series against the Cardinals, the Phillies, the Brewers, 211 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: the Padres, the Mets. They're splitting against the Indians, they're drawing. 212 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: What was one of the most exciting Saturday games that 213 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:12,079 Speaker 1: I've been to where the atmosphere is lively. I sent 214 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: out a tweet a lot of people, like something like 215 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,599 Speaker 1: seven thousand views or something to that extent, saw it 216 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 1: where Marlin's Park was lively for the first time in 217 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: a very long time, because well, the fans had something 218 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: to come on roof for. It wasn't just the pitching. 219 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: We didn't just have to continue saying, well, the Marlins 220 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 1: have the seventh best ERA in baseball. Well, they have 221 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: the eighth best FIP in baseball. At some point, people 222 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: get tired of pitching. They want hitting. Harold Demirez stepped 223 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: up to the plate, Garrett Cooper stepped up to the plate. 224 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: Struggling Brian Anderson and George Alfaro in the first quarter 225 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: of the season became what we expected them to be. 226 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: Suddenly the Marlins weren't that bad anymore. Suddenly every other 227 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: headline was that the Mets are gonna fire callaway because 228 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: lookoo just happened to them in the Marlins. That the 229 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 1: Phillies are gonna implode on themselves because look what just 230 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: happen to them in the Marlins. How can the Brewers 231 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: allow sixteen runs against the Marlins? Well? Was it lowly? 232 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: That was the headline every single they were not very creative. 233 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: Every single sports teams opponents, teams beat writer, that would 234 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: be the headline. Phillies lose series versus the lowly Marlins, 235 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: Brewers give up sixteen to the lowly Marlins. The lowly 236 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: Marlins were suddenly playing very well eighty seven win pace 237 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: in the second quarter of the season. Now, make no mistake, though, 238 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: how has the third quarter of the season started. Is 239 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: it looking more like the first quarter the second quarter? 240 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: Because I'll tell you what, They're not an eighty seven 241 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: win pace team right now. This third quarter has been tough. 242 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: Now have they gone up against very hot and good teams, absolutely, 243 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:18,079 Speaker 1: the Nationals, the Braves, But we're starting to see the 244 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: same pattern where the players are performing on the mound 245 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: and the offense is dead with their bats. So how 246 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: do you solve that anemic offense? Would you be angry 247 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: at me if I tell you that the word is patience? 248 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: Would you be angry with me if I tell you 249 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: that the word is patients Because here's the situation. We 250 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: do have to understand that Brian Anderson got hurt and 251 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: that that will make a difference. See when you have 252 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: a Braves lineup or a Cubs lineup of eight nine 253 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: hitters that can come in and perform at a replacement 254 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: level or better, much better, you're okay when you lose 255 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: a Brian Anderson. Marlins have four maybe four or five 256 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: players that you can really stay are playing above replacement level, 257 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: and then one goes down. It changes the dynamics of 258 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: that offense. It changes everything about it. So I'm sorry 259 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: to tell you this, but at least when you ask 260 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: me about the offense and how we give some life 261 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: we wait, The answer is patience. The answer is that 262 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: Isan Diaz who's representing and starting for the future's game, 263 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: actually he's actually hitting third in a potent lineup. We 264 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 1: wait for him to come up a Monte Harrison, who 265 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: is also selected to the Futures Game, one of the 266 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: highest designations you could get as a minor leaguer, but 267 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: is unfortunately not going to be able to play with 268 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: the wrist injury. We wait for him to come up. 269 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: Lewis Brinson that has been demoted and just has decided 270 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: to go and tear through the Triple A one of 271 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: the highest op yess in Triple A snce his time 272 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: being there. You wait for him to come back up 273 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: and hopefully he's made adjustments. By the way, go check 274 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: out and find my tweet where we discuss a little 275 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: bit about his new stance and his new mechanics looks 276 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: very different. I'm not sure if the result will be 277 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: any different when you get to Marlin's Park, but you 278 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 1: will get an incredibly new different swing and mechanics from 279 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: Lewis Brinston when you go see him live next time 280 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: at Marlin's Park, whenever he gets promoted. The answer to 281 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: the anemic offense is nothing but patience. We have to wait. 282 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: We have to wait till Brian Anderson gets healthy again. 283 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: We're about to talk about George Offfro because he's been 284 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: on a tear Harold Drmirez has stabilized, but he's still 285 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: been performing. We have to wait until the lineup is 286 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: filled with youth and talent rather than if we're being honest, 287 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: stop gaps. There is no answer for the twenty nineteen 288 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: Mimu Marlin's offense. There doesn't need to be. The answer 289 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: is whether the twenty twenty offense, whether that twenty twenty 290 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: win loss, if they are the answer for the future. 291 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: I believe they are, which is why patience is how 292 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: we resolve this anemic offense. Let's talk about the pitching 293 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: performance of the week, because quite frankly, it's a great one. 294 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 1: Jordana Yamamoto continues to show that he belongs in this rotation. Now, 295 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,439 Speaker 1: whether that remains the case whenever Pablo Lopez gets back healthy, 296 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: I'm not sure. But Jordan Yamamoto decided to go to Atlanta. 297 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: Six innings, pitch, no earned runs, two hits. He loves 298 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: holding teams to two hits. By the way, it's a 299 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: pattern seven strikeouts, four walks, with one of them being intentional. 300 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 2: As Freeman strikes out. 301 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 3: So a good first inning for Jordan Yamamoto. S marquek 302 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 3: is here goes down looking on the slider, and he 303 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 3: goes down on three pitches. 304 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 2: Two away to back strikeouts for Yamamoto. No slider working 305 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 2: well for Yamamoto. Ninety five miles an hour. 306 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 1: Yams is everything that the Marlins would have wanted for 307 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:18,439 Speaker 1: a quote unquote fourth piece in a Christian Yellis trade. 308 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: He showed his continued command, but there was something new 309 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: that should get everyone excited, and it got me incredibly 310 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 1: excited because see, it's not every day that Jorniemo throws 311 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,239 Speaker 1: a fastball and the UC ninety five miles pop up 312 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: on your screen or on the scoreboard, but it happened 313 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,239 Speaker 1: against the Braves. It's the hardest pitch he's thrown as 314 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: a major leaguer, and likely amongst the hardest he's thrown 315 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: his career. It's important not just because we like bigger numbers. 316 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: It's important because added velocity to his type of arsenal 317 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: that he has and his type of command can do 318 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: the same thing for him that it did for Pablo Lopez. 319 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: If you recall last year, Pabo Lopez gets called up. 320 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: It's kind of a spot start. He performs really one 321 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 1: he sticks in the rotation, but part of that was 322 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: his added velo If Jordan Yamamamoto has suddenly can touch 323 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,719 Speaker 1: ninety five while controlling at the elite way that he 324 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: can with an unpredictable arsenal of six pitches, two variation 325 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: of curveballs, two three variations of his fastball, you're suddenly 326 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: looking at a throw in piece that we were hoping 327 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,239 Speaker 1: might stick in the back of the rotation and start saying, hm, 328 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: top half stuff. Jordiyamamoto absolutely the pitching performance of the week. 329 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: As for the hitters of the week, we have three 330 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: candidates for you, but really it's just gonna be one designation. 331 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: George Alfero has decided to come back from being injured 332 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: and remind everyone why he's the seventh ranked catcher in 333 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 1: baseball if we're talking about war wins above replacement player value, 334 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: seventh in baseball nine n L, seventh in all of baseball. 335 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: Over the last week, he's hitting four fifty five and 336 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: he's slugging seven twenty seven. He has ten hits over 337 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,440 Speaker 1: those six games games, three doubles and one homer. We'll 338 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: see if he adds anything to that today. Starlin Castro 339 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: is your second candidate, getting his trade value up a 340 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: little bit. Three sixty three eighty five five sixty with 341 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: nine hits over six games, two doubles and a homer, 342 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: an almost identical line from Miguel Rojas, someone that we 343 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: highly last week. We chose him as the Player of 344 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: the Week last week. Three sixty three seventy five, sixty 345 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: nine hits, two doubles, one home run. This is this 346 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 1: is a beautiful mixture here because Brian Anderson is isn't 347 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: playing right now of youth in George alfarou a piece 348 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 1: that's somewhat in the middle. He could be here part 349 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: of the future. He might not be in Miguel Rojas, 350 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: but he's definitely the captain and leader of this team 351 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: right now. And then a player who is most likely 352 00:20:54,359 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: not going to be here, Starlin Castro. For me, obviously, 353 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: the designation is George Afero. Listen, when you're hitting four 354 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 1: fifty five and slugging well over seven hundred, you're gonna 355 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:10,680 Speaker 1: get that designation. And it's not just singles, it's three doubles, 356 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: it's a homer, it's going the opposite way. It's the player. 357 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: Once again, I will repeat that we saw earlier in 358 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 1: the year, which was a top ten catcher in baseball, 359 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 1: and during Sunday, He's the number seven ranked catcher in baseball. 360 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: That's impressive. That's impressive when you're talking about replacing A. 361 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: Jt Ramuto and immediately the guy who comes in, who 362 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 1: gives you many more years of control, is performing the 363 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: way he has. It's why even when the Marlins lose 364 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: eight of their last ten, we can look at certain 365 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: spots and say, yep, but wait till next year. Wait 366 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: till Isan Diaz, wait till Monte Harrison, wait till the 367 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: free agent addition, Wait until improve Lewis Brinson. Wait till 368 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: they're here with this starting era that's ranked top ten 369 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: in baseball. Wait until they're here with this defense behind 370 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 1: them that's more than competent. Wait until they're here with 371 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: a healthy Brian Anderson, with a Garrett Cooper, with a 372 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: Harold Ramirez. When loss might not matter this year for 373 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: some not me, it might not even matter next year, 374 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: but the performances of these future pieces, and that's starting staff, 375 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: it matters every single day. That'll be it for me. 376 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: Today we have doctor Ronald Cox coming on, one of 377 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 1: the brightest minds that we're gonna have on this episode 378 00:22:51,840 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: and on this podcast. I can guarantee you that joining 379 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: us now is doctor Ron Cox. He's a professor of 380 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: politics and international relations at Florida International University who has 381 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 1: been a Marlins fan since the franchise started, even attending 382 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: the expansion draft in nineteen ninety two with his wife 383 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: Laura Lee. He has ran extensively on political economy, including 384 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: a baseball book titled Free Agency and Competitive Balance in 385 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:41,120 Speaker 1: Baseball published by McFarlane Press in two thousand and six. Ron, 386 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: how are you today? 387 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 4: Very good? And I'm very happy to be here, Dennie. 388 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: Absolutely, it's a pleasure to have you on. You know 389 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 1: they won't know this, but obviously you and I have 390 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,920 Speaker 1: gone back in emails, and before I just had you on, 391 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: I was talking in my section about how excited I 392 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,160 Speaker 1: was for this. The fact that, you know, discussing baseball 393 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: with you email has been a pleasure for me. So 394 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:05,400 Speaker 1: I'm happy to share that love with everyone else. Ron. 395 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 1: I want to give you the floor to start off, 396 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 1: and I want you to just tell everyone a little 397 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 1: bit about yourself and about how you came to love 398 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: the Marlins. 399 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:19,479 Speaker 4: Sure it worked out rather beautifully because everything was so 400 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 4: synchronized when I first got my job, which was the 401 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 4: first tenure track job I've ever had, and I still 402 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 4: have that job at for an international university I was 403 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 4: hired in nineteen ninety one. That was abop to Saint 404 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 4: or that everything you know came to fruition in terms 405 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 4: of the Marlins being awarded a new franchise. So my 406 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 4: wife and I were able to attend the expansion draft 407 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 4: where my wife sort of fell in love with baseball. 408 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 4: She had been a sportsman but never been a baseball fan. 409 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 4: So we go to this expansion draft. She ends up 410 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 4: winning all sorts of free pees, including a autograph baseball, 411 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 4: a hat, I think, even a shirt, so she was 412 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 4: pretty hooked. She was excited about becoming a baseball fans. 413 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 4: So we start with attending a bunch of games the 414 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 4: first year. We become season ticket holders. About a couple 415 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 4: of years later, officially make the switch to the Marlans 416 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 4: as my number one team at nineteen ninety five, and 417 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 4: I demoted the Saint Louis Cardinals to my second team. 418 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 4: Despite having grown up in Missouri in a small town 419 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,400 Speaker 4: of Dexter about our south of Saint Louis, I come 420 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,879 Speaker 4: to Miami and I realized the Marlins need me a 421 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 4: lot more than the Cardinals need me. Because the Cardinals 422 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 4: have all of these fans, they have a white radius 423 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 4: fan support, but the Fish are just getting started. They 424 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 4: need a fan base. Looked pretty good those first three years, 425 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 4: but it's been pretty rocky, a lot of ups and downs. 426 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 4: That's even made me more attracted to the team. We 427 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 4: were here for all the Cups, We've been here for 428 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 4: all the downs. We've been pretty consistent. Twenty to forty 429 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 4: game season ticket holders. We saw every playoff in every 430 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:05,719 Speaker 4: world played in Marlins Park, actually pro Player, which occurred 431 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 4: in nineteen ninety seven to two thousand and three. In fact, 432 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 4: as I sit here in my office, I'm looking at this, 433 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 4: not looking at the two thousand and three World Series, 434 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 4: in the nineteen ninety seven series. 435 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,199 Speaker 1: Wow. Yeah, because And I'll tell you what. When we 436 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: go to Yeah, we go to Jupiter for the spring 437 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 1: training games. You you sit amongst the Cardinals fans because they 438 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,680 Speaker 1: obviously stare that they share that stadium rather Roger Dean, 439 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:34,000 Speaker 1: and you really learned to love that Cardinals fan base 440 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 1: to a certain extent. Right, there's still an opposing team, 441 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,119 Speaker 1: but you learn to love how much they care for 442 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: baseball and how much they care for their Cardinals. You 443 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:48,199 Speaker 1: hardly ever hear a story like yours, which is, you know, 444 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: I was born and raised a Cardinals fan, and then 445 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: I came over here and I've started to love the Marlins, 446 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: and like you said, they needed me more than the 447 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:00,920 Speaker 1: Cardinals did. You're absolutely You're absolutely right about that. Do 448 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 1: you have any friends they give you a hard time 449 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: the fact that you kind of had, like you said, 450 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: demoted the Cardinals to your second team, or is mostly 451 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: every one Okayn on board with you being a Marlins fan. 452 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 4: This is a great question because I get my love 453 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 4: at baseball from my momside of plan, particularly her father 454 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 4: or my grandfather. They were huge baseball fans. They are 455 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 4: a big Cardinal fans. My Hunt is also a big 456 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 4: Cardinals fan, and I thought, how do I break it 457 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:30,239 Speaker 4: to them. I didn't want to break it to them 458 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 4: right away in ninety five when I made the official switch, 459 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,880 Speaker 4: but I figured I've got to tell them sooner or later. 460 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 4: But not only did they completely understand they adopted the 461 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 4: Fish as their second team, which which I guessed, I 462 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 4: understood how passionate I'd already become about going to Marlin's games, 463 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 4: and it wasn't if I made a calculated switch. This 464 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 4: was an emotional switch. I got so attached just going 465 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 4: to the park and just being with a group of fans, 466 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:02,120 Speaker 4: kind of starting your own little community. Including lifetime and 467 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 4: Ralph oro As attended practically every Marlins game since the 468 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 4: team first was founded. He's had some health issues recently, 469 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 4: he hasn't been able to attend games. It's consistently this season. 470 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 4: Basically just a group of us have continued to to 471 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:18,879 Speaker 4: cover games together. 472 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,439 Speaker 1: Well, hopefully whatever health conditions are there subside and he 473 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: can get right back to where I guess he feels 474 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: at home. It's nice knowing that there is absolutely for 475 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,439 Speaker 1: as much as the national media and even some within Miami, 476 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: if we're being honest, talk about the Marlins fan base. 477 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 1: You know, those of us that are in here. And 478 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 1: I won't even pretend to be on the same level 479 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: as you. I mean, come on, I was a baby 480 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: when the Marlins were beginning their organization and their path, really, 481 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: but it's nice to know that when you're in there, 482 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 1: there really is a family. There are a certain amount 483 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: of individuals that love this team as if it is 484 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: their family. You said that you've seen the ups and downs, 485 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: and I kind of want to get a little bit 486 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: of that from you. I'll lead with the question of 487 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: how you feel about the organization right now, but you 488 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: can go as far back as you want to tell 489 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 1: us about your journey kind of as a fan, and 490 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: then end up with what you think about what they're 491 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:18,240 Speaker 1: doing and the rebuild and the organizational changes that we're 492 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: seeing now. 493 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 4: It's a fascinating history. Of course, we've gone through several 494 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 4: different ownership groups. We've had some devastating moments and our 495 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 4: history that are very closely approximate to the highest moments 496 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 4: that the franchise has ever experienced, particularly ninety seven when 497 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:41,160 Speaker 4: we were in the World Series, only that team dispant. Well, 498 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 4: of course, we had the first ownership change. I was 499 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 4: pretty optimistic without ownership change. I thought that John Henry 500 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 4: was probably the best owner that this franchise could ever 501 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 4: possibly have because he was deep pocketed, he appeared to 502 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 4: have a commitment to the team. Major League Baseball intervening 503 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 4: and when I thought it was very callous fashion because 504 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 4: it was mixed with threat to relocate our franchise, which 505 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 4: was a very difficult period, and you did have this 506 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 4: ownership swap where jeff Lorier came. And I had read 507 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 4: enough baseball history to be very worried about Jeffrey Laurier 508 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 4: because he'd had the bad history with the Expos, which 509 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 4: wasn't entirely his fault, but I thought this was a 510 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 4: terrible choice. I was actually in ty Us with my 511 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 4: wife when the news came down that jeff Lauria was 512 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:33,479 Speaker 4: to own the team, and I thought, this is not 513 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 4: going to end well. He doesn't have a good ownership history, 514 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 4: I'm not sure how much money he has, and entirely 515 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 4: subsized my Major League baseball I felt, as with all 516 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:47,560 Speaker 4: the threats, all the animosity and the national media toward Miami, 517 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:51,720 Speaker 4: I said, look, it's not the player's fault. I'm a 518 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 4: player first kind of fan. I go to the park 519 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 4: to root for the players. I don't go to the 520 00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 4: park to root for the owners. So I've tried to 521 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 4: separate those two things. And obviously it's much nicer when 522 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:06,000 Speaker 4: you have an ownership group like the current group. It 523 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 4: seems to have a consistent plan that doesn't seem to 524 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,959 Speaker 4: be devigating from that plan, and there's short history of ownership, 525 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 4: whereas with the previous ownership of Jeff Lauria, you never 526 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 4: had a plan, which was so frustrated. It's not how 527 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 4: good baseball people. It's not that we didn't have our 528 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 4: share of excitement. We won a World Series under his ownership, 529 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 4: which is Baseball Prospectives has pointed out was actually half 530 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 4: due to the previous ownership group and half due to 531 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 4: the decisions of Dave Dobrowski and half do decisions of 532 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 4: Larry Beinfest. It was rather fascinating, but whatever it too 533 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 4: won that World Series. Things look pretty good for a 534 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 4: few years at Pro Player, but obviously the fact that 535 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:55,240 Speaker 4: LA being Jeff Lauria, could not stick to any consistent plan. 536 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 4: I think the new ownership group sticks to its plan. 537 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 4: So far we're seeing some of the fruits of that. 538 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree. I mean there was always this overwhelming 539 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: cloud of ambiguity of what the Marlins were going to 540 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:12,720 Speaker 1: do under the Lauria era, right, whether it was highlighted 541 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: with Jennings eventually coming down and being an interim manager, 542 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,560 Speaker 1: whether it was the often spoken about trades where they 543 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: went for it too early or too prematurely, or then 544 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 1: did not go forward enough when they were closer to contention. 545 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 1: You know, you bring up a really good point that 546 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,239 Speaker 1: two thousand and three title. A lot of it can 547 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: be a tip of the cap to Dobrowski. It didn't 548 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 1: have to be the fact they almost inherited a championship team, 549 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 1: and then they did make moves, of course, to solidify 550 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 1: that championship team towards the end of part of that year. 551 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: But I think it's a very important point that you 552 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 1: make that a lot of individuals often overlook. I completely 553 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: agree with you on the ambiguity of the Lauria era 554 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 1: on the doubts of where his interests really were. That's 555 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 1: at least my personal point to that, and I'm excited. 556 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 1: I'm excited about the changes that have happened. I'm excited 557 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:06,239 Speaker 1: that you pinpointed something that we need to highlight, the 558 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 1: fact that he really does seem like he's going to 559 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 1: stick to a plan. And when I say he really, 560 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: I just mean the whole Sherman ownership group. Whether it's 561 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: Derek Jeter because he's the lightning post rob that everyone 562 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: always goes at, but really it's the Sherman ownership group. 563 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: It's Jeter running the baseball foundation of it, it's Hill 564 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:25,239 Speaker 1: having a good sense of the plan. I agree with you. 565 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: Will it work, We don't know, right, but at the 566 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 1: very least that cloud of ambiguity seems like it's gone. 567 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,000 Speaker 1: Let me get your opinion on some of the very 568 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 1: concrete changes that they've made. How did you feel about 569 00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 1: the changes to the stadium, the changes to the rebranding, 570 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:44,800 Speaker 1: and then the colors, and even some of the transactions 571 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 1: that we've seen the baseball changes. 572 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 4: I actually thought the changes of the colors was welcome. 573 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:55,360 Speaker 4: But I have not been too picky when it comes 574 00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:59,000 Speaker 4: to the history of the different different colors and different 575 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:03,479 Speaker 4: brands of pretty much tended to like them all. But 576 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:06,320 Speaker 4: I think it was necessary for the new ownership group 577 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 4: to sort of completely distance themselves from the previous ownership 578 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 4: group and say we're headed in this new direction. We're 579 00:34:13,680 --> 00:34:17,239 Speaker 4: not like rebuilding the organization from the bottom up, but 580 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,160 Speaker 4: we're actually changing the book and the CeAl of the 581 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 4: entire organization, which I can completely understand. That that being said, 582 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,480 Speaker 4: one thing that I did like about the Laureate group, 583 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:32,080 Speaker 4: so the fact that Laurio was an art dealer. How 584 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 4: to find this for eclecticism and color when it came 585 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 4: to the interior of the park. So I actually liked 586 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:41,360 Speaker 4: a lot of the funkiness of the previous book of 587 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,279 Speaker 4: the stadium. But that being said, it would have been 588 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:48,840 Speaker 4: inappropriate to keep the look of the old stadium, that is, 589 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 4: the old design patterns, try to mix it with the 590 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:53,879 Speaker 4: new color scheme. If you're going to create a new 591 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,720 Speaker 4: color scheme, you pretty much have to redro everything. 592 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:00,120 Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, I agree with you. I think that they 593 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:02,240 Speaker 1: they tried obviously to distance themselves. 594 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:02,719 Speaker 4: Right. 595 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 1: It's interesting because in twenty twelve, Lawyer does the same, right, 596 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously it's an entire nearly new stadium. It's 597 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: entirely new organization that they're building, very Miami centric versus Florida. 598 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:16,320 Speaker 1: But he tries to distance himself from some of the pinstripes, 599 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: some of the difficulties, some of the emptiness of Pro 600 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 1: Player or Joe Robbie or Dolphin Stadium or land Shark Stadium, 601 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,440 Speaker 1: whatever we want to call them. And then now this 602 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:26,480 Speaker 1: ownership group does the same. And really, I mean I 603 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 1: think in businesses we see that, right, someone comes in 604 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 1: changes and they have wholesale changes of what the image 605 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 1: of the branding is of that company. It seems like 606 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:39,759 Speaker 1: Sherman and Jeter wanted to distance themselves from Lauria. Do 607 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:42,920 Speaker 1: you think that you've spoken about the plan. Do you 608 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 1: think that on the field they're going to be able 609 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 1: to start getting to that point as well. It's very 610 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:50,000 Speaker 1: easy to execute a rebranding, it's a little bit more 611 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,680 Speaker 1: difficult to execute an on field rebuild. How do you 612 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:55,680 Speaker 1: feel about how they're handling that thus far? 613 00:35:56,520 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 4: Basically that would give them raheim hurts are doing with 614 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 4: the entire organization. In fact, I remember back to your 615 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:07,919 Speaker 4: first Fish Dripes podcast and how much I've liked your 616 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:11,640 Speaker 4: soliloquy about the various points you made about the necessity 617 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 4: of the rebuild that it made sense. I kept notting 618 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 4: agreement with everything you were saying. So basically, I sort 619 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:22,280 Speaker 4: of like the fact that fish Stripes all the sites 620 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 4: that are out there, is the site actually talking is 621 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:29,080 Speaker 4: sophisticated with me about what it takes to build a 622 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 4: consistently competitive baseball team, which is the topic, of course 623 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,560 Speaker 4: of my two thousand and six book, How you actually 624 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:39,759 Speaker 4: effectively build a long term competitive team. You have to 625 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 4: have an incredible amount of depth, and I think people 626 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:48,799 Speaker 4: underappreciate what extent. You can't simply have a quality team 627 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:51,480 Speaker 4: at the major league with no depth at the minor leagues. 628 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 4: You have to have a minor weak system that is stocked. 629 00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 4: If you don't have that, you're in trouble. That's equally true, 630 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:02,360 Speaker 4: by the way, even if you're a high revenue team, 631 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:05,919 Speaker 4: because even high revenue teams understand the importance of depth. 632 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 4: Look at the Dodgers, look at the Yankees, look at 633 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:15,040 Speaker 4: the Astros. Basically their entire franchise building with the various 634 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:18,239 Speaker 4: ownership groups that have taken over and have been successful, 635 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 4: have been about creating as much debt throughout the system 636 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:26,200 Speaker 4: as well as instructing their players in the system in 637 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:31,600 Speaker 4: a very systematic fashion. But each layer of the system 638 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:35,960 Speaker 4: reinforces the other layer that basically was entirely missing from 639 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 4: the previous structure, which is something that Time bad and 640 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,680 Speaker 4: has been very perceptive about. I'm very open about he 641 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 4: was frustrated when he would get players from the miners. 642 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:49,359 Speaker 4: They simply weren't instructed the way he felt they should 643 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:53,080 Speaker 4: be instructed. And he's been pretty candid about that, and 644 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,880 Speaker 4: I think pretty excited about the change of direction. 645 00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:00,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's interesting you bring up Donnie. A lot of 646 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:03,840 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of rumors a lot of individual 647 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:05,840 Speaker 1: opinions is what we'll call them on what will happen 648 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 1: with him? Right? Will he still be within the organization, 649 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:11,120 Speaker 1: Will he still hold his current position is obviously his 650 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 1: last year. Will they bring in another piece? But the 651 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:16,839 Speaker 1: reality is is that at least lately, the momentum has 652 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 1: been we'll say, moving towards moving towards him being an 653 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:24,759 Speaker 1: amazing part of this rebuild. The fact that these young 654 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,440 Speaker 1: guys are starting to rally around him, the fact that 655 00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:30,040 Speaker 1: he has really been able to you know, he's come 656 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:32,560 Speaker 1: from such and I think Glenn Geffner actually illustrated this. 657 00:38:32,640 --> 00:38:35,959 Speaker 1: He's come from such a winning organizations. You can say, 658 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:38,239 Speaker 1: whether it was his time playing for the Yankees or 659 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:40,520 Speaker 1: whether it was his time's coaching for the Dodgers, and 660 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:44,000 Speaker 1: then now he's handling this rebuild like a pro, even 661 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:45,640 Speaker 1: though it's the first time he's ever really had to 662 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:49,600 Speaker 1: go through something like this. So I guess on Twitter 663 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:52,279 Speaker 1: this might get me a little bit of a feedback. 664 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 1: I'm not so certain that Donnie isn't retained rather as 665 00:38:58,080 --> 00:39:00,880 Speaker 1: a Marlin's manager moving forward, or at the very least 666 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:04,360 Speaker 1: as a part of the organization in some fashion, because 667 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:07,320 Speaker 1: he seems to really get what they're doing, and he 668 00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:11,480 Speaker 1: seems to understand that system that you illustrated. Uh, I 669 00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:14,040 Speaker 1: don't want to move on from the book quite yet. 670 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:18,360 Speaker 1: When you're talking about team building and roster construction and 671 00:39:18,360 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 1: and and especially for low revenue teams, that's a topic 672 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:25,000 Speaker 1: we spoke about before coming on. Can you illustrate some 673 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:27,960 Speaker 1: of the points that you found and that you discussed 674 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:32,600 Speaker 1: in your book that you feel as successful, that you 675 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:34,960 Speaker 1: would you would you would put into play if you 676 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:36,920 Speaker 1: were the owner of the GM of a team. 677 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:42,200 Speaker 4: Of course, there's so much information that teams have to 678 00:39:42,239 --> 00:39:45,960 Speaker 4: acquire and to make their modern day organization successful. We 679 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:50,160 Speaker 4: can talk about analytics, we can talk about samer metrics. Obviously, 680 00:39:50,239 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 4: Fish Stripes has talked a lot of very positive things 681 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:56,520 Speaker 4: about the current direction of the organization in terms of 682 00:39:56,560 --> 00:40:01,319 Speaker 4: their greater focus on athletics, the greater focus on but 683 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 4: I think to actually accentuate the important aspect of this, 684 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:09,400 Speaker 4: it's not enough just to focus on these things. You 685 00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:12,600 Speaker 4: have to constantly be at the cutting edge of what's happening. 686 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:17,080 Speaker 4: Because the whole secret to the money bubble a book 687 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 4: about the Oakland A's the whole secret to the Oakland 688 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,239 Speaker 4: A success as well as other teams who kind of 689 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:25,280 Speaker 4: follow those models, is that they were a bit ahead 690 00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:30,279 Speaker 4: of other organizations in certain ways. They identify areas being 691 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:35,480 Speaker 4: systematically undervalued by other teams. Those areas aren't constant, they're 692 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:39,839 Speaker 4: consistently shifting. Of course, the latest trend is to try 693 00:40:39,880 --> 00:40:43,680 Speaker 4: to integrate analytics with teaching on the field, so it's 694 00:40:43,719 --> 00:40:48,239 Speaker 4: not simply about acquiring players based on past performance. It's 695 00:40:48,280 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 4: about helping to improve players current performance. I see very 696 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:56,440 Speaker 4: encouraging science with the Fish, but in fairness, would be 697 00:40:56,520 --> 00:41:00,680 Speaker 4: completely unreasonable to expect them to be working camp is 698 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,839 Speaker 4: to expect it. We're used to this, to expect them 699 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:06,880 Speaker 4: be where the Yankees or the Hunters are. But the 700 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:09,920 Speaker 4: fact that they're at least headed in that direction, the 701 00:41:09,960 --> 00:41:15,560 Speaker 4: fact that there's really significant investments analytics, which basically quadruple 702 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:22,240 Speaker 4: analytics hires and continuing to make you hire directions extreme dream. 703 00:41:23,320 --> 00:41:25,120 Speaker 1: So I don't want to put you on the spot 704 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:27,160 Speaker 1: with this one, but I'm really interested in your perspective. 705 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:29,920 Speaker 1: You know, you speak to how this is a novice 706 00:41:29,960 --> 00:41:33,600 Speaker 1: situation for the Marlins. It's being built from the ground up, 707 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:37,080 Speaker 1: and we're talking about analytics but not just analytics, uh, 708 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:39,520 Speaker 1: I guess. Really the question is is there a risk 709 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:44,040 Speaker 1: factor with the current Marlins organization that you identify or 710 00:41:44,120 --> 00:41:45,920 Speaker 1: is it just that it's new to them and that 711 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:48,839 Speaker 1: this is a novice situation for them. You know, I don't. 712 00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:52,319 Speaker 1: I don't really want us to feel like we have 713 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:55,480 Speaker 1: to come up with something that's just wrong or something 714 00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:57,840 Speaker 1: that we would change, or something that's negative. But I 715 00:41:57,880 --> 00:42:01,160 Speaker 1: wonder if there is is there something you've observed that 716 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,080 Speaker 1: you would say, well, this might be a risk factor 717 00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:05,799 Speaker 1: for them, This might be something they're overlooking from what 718 00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:07,680 Speaker 1: you can see from the outside looking at of course, 719 00:42:08,080 --> 00:42:09,879 Speaker 1: or is it just that this is new for them 720 00:42:09,920 --> 00:42:12,720 Speaker 1: and they're behind the game per se. 721 00:42:13,320 --> 00:42:17,120 Speaker 4: I suspect a couple of different things are going on simultaneously. 722 00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:21,399 Speaker 4: The first is the fact that since they took over 723 00:42:21,440 --> 00:42:25,080 Speaker 4: the franchise, they've operated as kind of a hybrid their 724 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:29,520 Speaker 4: first year because they inherited some people with the previous franchise. 725 00:42:30,120 --> 00:42:33,799 Speaker 4: So basically, the first draft look very different from the 726 00:42:33,840 --> 00:42:38,279 Speaker 4: second draft, which basically reinforces the point that I'm making 727 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:42,719 Speaker 4: about this hybrid situation. The second draft, I thought was 728 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:45,400 Speaker 4: much more of what I would have expected. This team 729 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:48,719 Speaker 4: to do because the second draft they brought in more 730 00:42:48,719 --> 00:42:51,520 Speaker 4: of their own people. But yeah, I think more of 731 00:42:51,560 --> 00:42:55,160 Speaker 4: an organizational focus and more of a consistency with their plan. 732 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:59,640 Speaker 4: I was extremely excited. Here's so many sports drivers and 733 00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:03,239 Speaker 4: people that just said nothing but bad things about the 734 00:43:03,280 --> 00:43:06,799 Speaker 4: Mare Orlans through their entire history. Basically find my commands. 735 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:10,440 Speaker 4: You know, this draft was not only good, This draft 736 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:12,440 Speaker 4: maybe one of the top three or five drafts in 737 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:14,440 Speaker 4: the country, if not the best draft in the country. 738 00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:18,560 Speaker 4: And obviously we can't be sure until the players actually 739 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:21,000 Speaker 4: hit the fields and that kind of thing. We just 740 00:43:21,080 --> 00:43:24,480 Speaker 4: to have that kind of positive press reinforced what people 741 00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:26,960 Speaker 4: like you and I have been saying about the potential 742 00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:28,520 Speaker 4: your franchise was encouraging. 743 00:43:29,960 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 1: You're amazing. You really are. You really are. 744 00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:33,440 Speaker 4: You're amazing. 745 00:43:33,480 --> 00:43:36,120 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm gonna I'm gonna leave us with this last 746 00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:37,960 Speaker 1: question because it's one of the again, one of the 747 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:40,120 Speaker 1: ones that we spoke about prior to coming on, and 748 00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:42,319 Speaker 1: I think it's an interesting one. You know, you said 749 00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:45,560 Speaker 1: that you have a fondness for rooting for quote unquote 750 00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:49,759 Speaker 1: the underdogs. I wonder if that just comes from from 751 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:52,080 Speaker 1: you in any particular place or if you can elaborate 752 00:43:52,120 --> 00:43:55,240 Speaker 1: a little bit on why that is, that is something 753 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:58,080 Speaker 1: that you are okay with and you are comfortable with. 754 00:44:00,000 --> 00:44:01,759 Speaker 4: I guess it starts from the fact that I'm the 755 00:44:01,760 --> 00:44:05,000 Speaker 4: son of a truck driver. I'm working class kid that 756 00:44:05,120 --> 00:44:09,120 Speaker 4: became a college professor. So basically I've seen the kind 757 00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:11,920 Speaker 4: of obstacles he's had to overcome just to make a living. 758 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:15,000 Speaker 4: When it comes to the players versus the owners, I'm 759 00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:19,560 Speaker 4: a player first guy. I'm skeptical of virtually whole ownership groups. 760 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:23,200 Speaker 4: I think it's wise to be skeptical because, as far 761 00:44:23,239 --> 00:44:25,680 Speaker 4: as I'm concerned, the players play the game, they deserve 762 00:44:25,719 --> 00:44:28,480 Speaker 4: as much revenue as I can possibly get. They don't 763 00:44:28,480 --> 00:44:30,600 Speaker 4: go to the park to see the owners. But then 764 00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:33,880 Speaker 4: there's a flip side it is which sometimes comes across 765 00:44:33,880 --> 00:44:37,800 Speaker 4: a somewhat contradictory to friends that may share my rooting 766 00:44:37,880 --> 00:44:41,200 Speaker 4: for the working class under and I understand why I 767 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:44,360 Speaker 4: would root for the Marlins as a low revenue franchise, 768 00:44:44,440 --> 00:44:48,320 Speaker 4: considering would some consider rather odious history with the corporate 769 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:52,279 Speaker 4: you know, sham of the way the ballpark was was 770 00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:54,600 Speaker 4: financed by the public, when in fact that the owner 771 00:44:54,680 --> 00:44:57,319 Speaker 4: was rich enough to finance much of it himself, so 772 00:44:57,320 --> 00:44:59,000 Speaker 4: there has How can you root for a team like 773 00:44:59,160 --> 00:45:04,000 Speaker 4: Parland because my rooting for the Marlins coincides with my 774 00:45:04,200 --> 00:45:07,560 Speaker 4: underdog he goes because there are so many parts of 775 00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:10,279 Speaker 4: the country that seem to think Miami doesn't deserve a 776 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:13,720 Speaker 4: baseball team. Miami shouldn't have Remember back in ninety seven, 777 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:16,680 Speaker 4: you wouldn't remember to squearly as I do you obviously, But 778 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:19,000 Speaker 4: back in ninety seven, even when we made the World 779 00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:22,000 Speaker 4: Series for the first time, Pod Costas, who I like 780 00:45:22,120 --> 00:45:25,840 Speaker 4: as a sportscaster and I grew up with them, basically 781 00:45:25,920 --> 00:45:30,080 Speaker 4: couldn't hide his snide commentary about hot there the Marlins 782 00:45:30,080 --> 00:45:33,279 Speaker 4: by themselves a World Series. And think of the audacity 783 00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:36,439 Speaker 4: of this, you know what I mean, Look at who 784 00:45:36,520 --> 00:45:39,279 Speaker 4: the Marlins have been competing against all year. We didn't 785 00:45:39,320 --> 00:45:41,480 Speaker 4: spend that much more money than a lot of other teams. 786 00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:43,960 Speaker 4: All of a sudden we're being accused of buying it. 787 00:45:44,080 --> 00:45:47,320 Speaker 4: And again we do it in two thousand and three 788 00:45:47,960 --> 00:45:50,480 Speaker 4: with a bunch of young prospects, and you still had 789 00:45:50,480 --> 00:45:53,600 Speaker 4: the notion among traditionals we somehow don't deserve to be there. 790 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:57,960 Speaker 4: So basically that is just sort of fed my admiration 791 00:45:58,160 --> 00:46:01,239 Speaker 4: for the Marlins as a kind of underdog. Everyone's against this, 792 00:46:01,440 --> 00:46:04,440 Speaker 4: even when Lorio is the target. That even made me 793 00:46:04,560 --> 00:46:07,400 Speaker 4: root to the team more because so many people wanted 794 00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:11,560 Speaker 4: to see the franchise, so that that has an extra 795 00:46:11,600 --> 00:46:14,560 Speaker 4: incentto for me rooting for a team that has sort 796 00:46:14,560 --> 00:46:18,880 Speaker 4: of revenues and has to fight to basically in the 797 00:46:18,920 --> 00:46:20,880 Speaker 4: success of wealthy franchises. 798 00:46:21,320 --> 00:46:24,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, if there is an underdog franchise, it's the Marlins. 799 00:46:24,719 --> 00:46:26,959 Speaker 1: And I think at the very least because I agree 800 00:46:27,000 --> 00:46:28,480 Speaker 1: with you, some might say, well, how can you be 801 00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:30,920 Speaker 1: for you know, the working class, And then we talk 802 00:46:30,960 --> 00:46:34,080 Speaker 1: about Marlins Park deal and the situation that the community 803 00:46:34,160 --> 00:46:35,960 Speaker 1: might not love the Marlins as some of us do, 804 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:40,319 Speaker 1: but they are they really embody, especially now with this 805 00:46:40,440 --> 00:46:46,359 Speaker 1: ownership group, the image of what an underdog is and 806 00:46:46,960 --> 00:46:50,160 Speaker 1: with as much power has been put against them with 807 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:52,640 Speaker 1: this rebuild, and not even the ownership group, just the 808 00:46:52,680 --> 00:46:55,920 Speaker 1: Marlins in general, with this rebuild, with some of the 809 00:46:55,920 --> 00:46:57,960 Speaker 1: things that they're doing, with some of the statements about 810 00:46:57,960 --> 00:47:01,759 Speaker 1: improving the stadiums, but I'm putting the on field, it's 811 00:47:01,760 --> 00:47:07,120 Speaker 1: incredibly illustrative that you yourself has identified them as an underdog 812 00:47:07,200 --> 00:47:09,040 Speaker 1: and the way that you did you know I'd lie 813 00:47:09,040 --> 00:47:10,560 Speaker 1: because I said that was gonna be the last question. 814 00:47:10,600 --> 00:47:12,319 Speaker 1: But if you have another two minutes, I'm interested in 815 00:47:12,360 --> 00:47:16,200 Speaker 1: getting your perspective on the Rays situation and the fact 816 00:47:16,280 --> 00:47:20,440 Speaker 1: that you know they got approval to look at this 817 00:47:20,840 --> 00:47:25,560 Speaker 1: somewhat suito relocation split team situation. If you have the time, 818 00:47:25,600 --> 00:47:28,399 Speaker 1: and if you don't, you let me know and we'll 819 00:47:28,440 --> 00:47:32,120 Speaker 1: cut it off. What are your thoughts on that situation? 820 00:47:33,320 --> 00:47:36,600 Speaker 4: Of course, Tampa has become my American League team. I 821 00:47:36,640 --> 00:47:38,719 Speaker 4: think I indicated in some of my notes to you, 822 00:47:39,239 --> 00:47:42,160 Speaker 4: because I've never had an American League team until the 823 00:47:42,320 --> 00:47:46,279 Speaker 4: Ras were found as an expansion for franchise. I've sort 824 00:47:46,280 --> 00:47:49,399 Speaker 4: of latched on the Tampa. They're bad years and they're 825 00:47:49,440 --> 00:47:53,320 Speaker 4: good years and very smart franchise. The Saber metric for 826 00:47:53,360 --> 00:47:57,200 Speaker 4: franchise is very attracted to that that kind of organization. 827 00:47:57,840 --> 00:48:01,400 Speaker 4: So for all the reasons, I'm excited about Marlin's new direction, 828 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:06,040 Speaker 4: I've been excited about the raise, you know, last decade, 829 00:48:06,080 --> 00:48:09,920 Speaker 4: the last fifteen years in terms of where they have 830 00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:13,439 Speaker 4: heading in terms of the relocation, I think it would 831 00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:18,080 Speaker 4: be awsible if Major League Baseball moved the franchise, because 832 00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:21,080 Speaker 4: consider that could have easily happened to us down here 833 00:48:21,080 --> 00:48:24,839 Speaker 4: in Miami, and how awful we would have felt, even 834 00:48:24,880 --> 00:48:27,479 Speaker 4: though there aren't that many of us, and they could 835 00:48:27,480 --> 00:48:31,200 Speaker 4: have easily done that, but they didn't. I think Tampa 836 00:48:31,280 --> 00:48:34,040 Speaker 4: has a future. I think the best part of their 837 00:48:34,080 --> 00:48:36,719 Speaker 4: future would be to build a new ballpark in the 838 00:48:36,760 --> 00:48:39,960 Speaker 4: Tampa area as opposed to Saint Pete area, because they 839 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:42,759 Speaker 4: have a lot more fans on the Tampa side. But 840 00:48:42,800 --> 00:48:45,800 Speaker 4: I think if that were to happen, there's no reason 841 00:48:45,840 --> 00:48:49,200 Speaker 4: why the team couldn't do well there, which is indicated 842 00:48:49,239 --> 00:48:51,919 Speaker 4: by their television ratings, and their television ratings in general 843 00:48:51,960 --> 00:48:54,440 Speaker 4: have been pretty good. It's just that people won't go 844 00:48:54,480 --> 00:48:55,279 Speaker 4: to that ballpark. 845 00:48:56,160 --> 00:48:58,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I tend to agree, and I'm sure you've heard 846 00:48:58,840 --> 00:49:01,160 Speaker 1: my thought on the whole split home with Tampa and 847 00:49:01,239 --> 00:49:03,759 Speaker 1: Montreal situation. I don't think that ends up happening. I 848 00:49:03,800 --> 00:49:06,040 Speaker 1: think that we end up on one of the extremes 849 00:49:06,040 --> 00:49:10,080 Speaker 1: where it is either that the government there or the owners, 850 00:49:10,239 --> 00:49:14,399 Speaker 1: as it should be at least my opinion, ends up 851 00:49:14,520 --> 00:49:17,920 Speaker 1: building something in the Tampa area, or there is an 852 00:49:17,960 --> 00:49:22,960 Speaker 1: outright relocation. I don't think that the splitting of seasons 853 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:26,600 Speaker 1: in Montreal and then in Tampa. Although approved for them 854 00:49:26,640 --> 00:49:28,920 Speaker 1: to look into it, I don't think it's really feasible. 855 00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:31,840 Speaker 1: I don't think it'll happen, but I just wanted to 856 00:49:31,880 --> 00:49:33,400 Speaker 1: make sure I got your thoughts. 857 00:49:33,120 --> 00:49:36,359 Speaker 4: Before you let that. I very much enjoyed your take 858 00:49:36,440 --> 00:49:39,040 Speaker 4: on it, which is that it's pretty out. Addition, it's 859 00:49:39,040 --> 00:49:41,319 Speaker 4: never going to happen, which is basically why I didn't 860 00:49:41,320 --> 00:49:44,120 Speaker 4: address it directly, beca You've already spoken to it so effectively. 861 00:49:44,800 --> 00:49:47,919 Speaker 4: I just think this is a tactic on the part 862 00:49:47,960 --> 00:49:51,480 Speaker 4: of the current Tampa ownership to try to extort more 863 00:49:51,520 --> 00:49:53,680 Speaker 4: money from the public, try to do what they want. 864 00:49:54,280 --> 00:49:56,440 Speaker 4: Of course, you have to expect that's what they're going 865 00:49:56,520 --> 00:49:59,960 Speaker 4: to do, but hopefully there could be some kind of 866 00:50:00,120 --> 00:50:04,440 Speaker 4: understanding as the public does come forward and contribute anything 867 00:50:04,480 --> 00:50:08,920 Speaker 4: to this part Number one, they shouldn't contribute too much. 868 00:50:09,760 --> 00:50:13,600 Speaker 4: They basically should should It should be a true partnership, 869 00:50:13,680 --> 00:50:17,439 Speaker 4: and that means the ownership should contribute a lot because 870 00:50:17,480 --> 00:50:20,239 Speaker 4: the ownership is very wealthy, and I think under you know, 871 00:50:20,280 --> 00:50:22,279 Speaker 4: with that caveat, I would love to see, you know, 872 00:50:22,360 --> 00:50:24,520 Speaker 4: Tampa have a better situation there. 873 00:50:25,080 --> 00:50:29,440 Speaker 1: Absolutely absolutely okay, doctor Cox, you have been amazing. Before 874 00:50:29,480 --> 00:50:31,680 Speaker 1: we go, please just I know you might kill me 875 00:50:31,760 --> 00:50:34,279 Speaker 1: for having you do this, but let the individuals know 876 00:50:34,320 --> 00:50:36,920 Speaker 1: where they can find your work. 877 00:50:38,080 --> 00:50:41,840 Speaker 4: Okay, basically I have six books, but in terms of 878 00:50:41,880 --> 00:50:46,600 Speaker 4: your immediate audience, two thousand and six Baseball book would 879 00:50:46,600 --> 00:50:49,880 Speaker 4: probably pick the interest the post, which is called a 880 00:50:49,880 --> 00:50:53,440 Speaker 4: free agency in competitive balance. You can go to the 881 00:50:53,480 --> 00:50:57,640 Speaker 4: website of the McFarland Publishing company. You can also go 882 00:50:57,719 --> 00:51:02,360 Speaker 4: to Amazon, but my author ship is under Runnald W. Cox. 883 00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:06,000 Speaker 4: It's under Runald W. Cox as opposed to Ron Cocks. 884 00:51:06,600 --> 00:51:09,440 Speaker 4: You should still be able to find my book on Amazon. 885 00:51:10,280 --> 00:51:13,640 Speaker 1: Perfect. Perfect, all right, thank you sincerely from the bottom 886 00:51:13,640 --> 00:51:15,000 Speaker 1: of my heart. I'm happy that we could take our 887 00:51:15,040 --> 00:51:19,360 Speaker 1: email conversations and bring them onto the podcast. Thank you again. 888 00:51:19,480 --> 00:51:24,400 Speaker 4: Okay, I really appreciate it. I really appreciate the incept 889 00:51:24,400 --> 00:51:28,560 Speaker 4: community that the Fish Stripes podcast is helping to create, 890 00:51:29,120 --> 00:51:31,480 Speaker 4: and I'm pretty excited about continuing to be part of 891 00:51:31,480 --> 00:51:32,799 Speaker 4: this community for a long time. 892 00:51:33,400 --> 00:51:37,200 Speaker 1: Absolutely, it definitely, it definitely comes from the heart. All Right, 893 00:51:37,239 --> 00:51:38,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna let you go. You enjoy the rest of 894 00:51:39,040 --> 00:51:54,120 Speaker 1: your Sunday, and as always, go Fish, Go Fish.