Tag Archive for: Marlins

Brewers took the loss in a social media battle in Miami

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The Milwaukee Brewers community manager decided to be funny on Monday before the first game of the four-game series between Milwaukee and Miami.

The Brewers official account made fun of the Marlins using Christian Yelich – of course -, and his MVP award bobblehead.

However, the joke turned back to the Brewers, when some Marlins fans reminded the account they have not won any World Series, ever…

The Brewers made fun of the Marlins, and the joke came back to them real quick. Some fans in Miami still defend their team.

For now, the Brewers are fighting to get into the playoffs, a couple of games back in the National League wildcard, and the Marlins are in the middle of a rebuilding process that might take a while.

But don’t you ever forget. They have two World Series titles…

 

We talked to outfielder Harold Ramírez before the second game of the homestand. Check it out clicking here!

GCL Marlins win division as Dorian cancels playoffs

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Dorian is already impacting Florida sports.

The Gulf Coast League announced on Wednesday that the final two games of the season and the league playoff series has been canceled.

The decision was made in preparation of the incoming impact of Hurricane Dorian heading towards Florida.

“In an effort to ensure that all players, coaches and staff members have a chance to evacuate and prepare for the storm, we have decided to cancel the final two regular-season games, as well as the playoffs,” said Tim Brunswick, Minor League Baseball’s senior vice president of baseball and business operations. “After discussing the options with the teams, the decision to end the season early was the best choice for the safety of everyone involved as that is our top priority.”

Thursday, Aug. 29, will serve as the final game of the season. The GCL Marlins don’t have games scheduled for that day and have a half-game lead in the East division. The GCL Phillies West claimed the North division title and GCL Orioles clinched the South division championship. With the hurricane Dorian, they’ll have to settle for that achievement.

The GCL Marlins were comprised with mostly players selected in the 2019 MLB Draft. There was plenty of bright spots from the backfields of Palm Beach County’s spring training complexes. Shortstop Nasim Nunez posted a .340 on-base percentage with three more hits than walks and stole 28 bases. He was selected in the second round of the draft. Victor Mesa Jr., an 18-year-old outfielder who signed with his brother, Victor Victor, as an international free agent, led the GCL Marlins with a .284 batting average and a .764 OPS.

First baseman Zachary Owens had the second highest batting average with .280. He was selected in the 33rd round out of Eastern Michigan University.

Lorenzo Hampton, who played college ball at FIU, also batted .280 with a .747 OPS and led the team with 31 RBIs. He was selected in the 28th round.

Andrew Narni was drafted in the 16th round out of the University of Arizona and was the most impressive reliever of the group. He posted a 0.98 ERA in 13 games with 30 strikeouts in 18.1 innings pitched.

Anthony Maldonado (11th round out of Bethune-Cookman) and Zach King (13th round out of Vanderbilt) were two other impressive relievers on the GCL Marlins. King went 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16.1 innings. Maldonado struck out 15 batters in 11.1 innings and posted a 1.59 ERA.

Evan Fitterer was a fifth-round selection out of high school in California and the most impressive starting pitcher on the team. He started the most games of the group (8) and posted a 2.38 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched.

Most of these guys will move on to the next stage, which will be Batavia. The Muckdogs are also experiencing success in the New York-Penn League and the Clinton Lumberkings punched their ticket into the Midwest League playoffs. These are certainly good signs for an improved farm system.

Anthony DeSclafani went full circle on the Marlins

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Anthony DeSclafani did what many pitchers have done this year: dominate the Marlins offense.

The Miami Marlins once again fell to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. This time it was Miami’s 18th shutout loss of the season, three of such came against the Reds, who are one win away on Thursday to complete the season sweep.

Wednesday was a bit different because Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani threw his longest outing of the season. He tossed seven scoreless innings allowing two hits with eight strikeouts and only one walk.

“My last few outings I’ve felt very good,” DeSclafani said. “Trying to get ahead and mix speeds. I made the pitch when I needed to and had some defensive plays. It’s all good.”

DeSclafani entered the game with a three-run advantage thanks to a first-inning home run by rookie Aristides Aquino off Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, who finished with one extra run and eight strikeouts in six innings.

“I just missed one pitch,” Alcantara said of the homer to Aquino. “After that I was competing. I just want to finish strong.”

DeSclafani went full circle with this start in Miami. His career started with the Marlins in 2014 and was traded to the Reds for starting pitcher Matt Latos in the offseason leading up to the 2015 season. Months later, the Marlins shipped Latos and first baseman Michael Morse to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a mid-season trade for three prospects including stater-turned reliever Jeff Brigham.

Both DeSclafani and Brigham finally pitched in the same game. Brigham came into the game in the eighth inning and gave up a solo home run to third baseman Eugenio Suarez. It was his fourth home run in as many games and 38th of the season.

Jorge Alfaro’s power taking shape

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Jorge Alfaro and his swing are coming back to their original shape.

The Miami Marlins lost 8-5 to the Cincinnati Reds but at least one of their young franchise cornerstones continued producing.

Jorge Alfaro hit his second consecutive home run in the sixth inning against Reds starter and former Marlins prospect Luis Castillo. The two-run had an exit velocity of 110.7 mph, with an estimated distance of 399 feet, according to Statcast. It’s the longest home run of his young career. 

“When he doesn’t chase, he’s pretty good,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “When he puts the ball in play — we’ve said it the whole time — he hits the ball hard. He’s been successful. I think that’s where we’ve got to make strides.”

Jorge Alfaro is now hitting .271 with a .429 slugging percentage, with a career high 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. There’s still time to finish the season with 20 home runs, which is the usual benchmark for power hitters. 

“I’m just trying to be on time,” Alfaro said. “That’s it. That’s all I’m trying to do, and look for a good pitch.”

Alfaro’s success at the plate is due to his ability to make constant contact. He entered the night with a 34.3 percent strikeout rate and a 45.5 hard-hit percentage. According to Statcast, that number is in the 86th percentile.

“He’s been swinging the bat good,” Mattingly said. “He seems better up there.”

J.T. Realmuto set the Marlins single season mark with 21 home runs in 2018. Alfaro was part of the return package in the February trade that sent Realmuto to the Philadelphia Phillies, and is currently at No. 9. For context, John Buck (2011), Miguel Olivo (2006-07) and Ivan Rodriguez (2003) are tied for the fifth most with 16.

Only two years separate Alfaro from Realmuto but the Marlins will have the Colombian catcher under team control until after the 2023 season. He’ll be 30 by then, but hopefully there will be a powerful finished product by then.

 

Starlin Castro comes through for Marlins

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Starlin Castro came through in the clutch with a two-run double off Aaron Nola in the bottom of the sixth to give the Miami Marlins a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Castro was set up by shortstop Jon Berti, who got the Marlins on the board with a base hit, driving in catcher Bryan Holaday, who reached on his lone hit of the day. The third baseman is batting .322 with five home runs and 22 RBI through the month of August.

Elieser Hernandez gave the Marlins their first quality performance from a starting pitcher in the weekend series. The 24-year-old gave up only three hits and two runs with five strikeouts in six innings. His lone blemish came from a two-run home runs by Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins in the top of the sixth inning. After the Marlins gave up 10 walks in each of the last two games, Hernandez didn’t allow a single walk.

“That’s the goal,” Hernandez said. “That’s what we work for.”

Starlin Castro and the meerting before the game

“We had a meeting before the game,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said, “and said, `Let’s throw the ball over the plate. It’s got to start there. You can’t defend the walk. Let’s get it in the strike zone, and don’t be afraid if they hit it. Every one is not going to be a home run.”

Ryne Stanek, who was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay, gave up a leadoff walk but retired the side for his first career save. The game last 2 hours, 38 minutes, which is a big contrast to the first two games of the series, which each lasted more than 3 1/2 hours.

“Super efficient,” Stanek said. “I didn’t realize how fast the game was moving until I looked up and it was the fifth inning and they both had like 55 pitches.”

The last place Marlins are 9-7 against the Phillies, who are within two games from the wildcard.

Pablo Lopez to return Monday

Marlins manager Don Mattingly announced before the game that staring pitcher Pablo López is returning from the injured list to make his first start since June 15 on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. He has been out with a right shoulder strain.

“We’re going to fit him in tomorrow, and that way it gives everybody an extra day,” Mattingly said. “He’s ready to go. We were happy with his last outing.”

The move will push Caleb Smith to Tuesday and Sandy Alcantara to Wednesday. Lopez is 5-5 with a 4.23 ERA in 15 starts.

“It feels like forever since I’ve been on this mound,” Lopez said. “I’m really excited. I’ve been working on some things.”

The Marlins never transferred Lopez from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL, which means his status does not impact the 40-man roster, which currently is at 39. It’s unclear what move will be made to make room for Lopez. The Marlins optioned reliever Tyler Kinley to Triple-A New Orleans to bring up Kyle Keller.

“This move is all about having to have pitching today,” Mattingly said.

Logan Morrison returned to Miami as a rival

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Former Miami Marlin Logan Morrison returned to his old stomping grounds to find the place completely redone. He returned as a member of the rival Philadelphia Phillies during a Players’ Weekend series.

“It looks great,” Morrison said of the new-look Marlins Park, “more uniform, classy. I like it.”

Morrison was the Austin Dean of a previous era, a fan favorite who played both left field and first base. He was on the 2012 Opening Day lineup when the Marlins open the new ballpark against the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

“A couple of things I remember fondly enough was the awesome energy, the electricity, sold-out crowd,” Morrison said, “being able to get a hit in that game was cool. It was fun, man.”

Morrison played on the Marlins during their first two seasons at Marlins Park (2012-13), a time when the record books were being established. At one time he hit the second furthest home run in Marlins Park, but he played with a certain slugger named Giancarlo Stanton, so it was only a matter of time before that changed.

“Now he has like 18 of the farthest 19 home runs and I’m like 19th or 20th,” Morrison said with a chuckle.

Logan Morrison and his Marlin moments

Logan Morrison was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Carter Capps in the offseason leading up to the 2014 season. He hit a career-high 38 home runs and 85 RBI for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017 but a disappointing, injury-riddled 2018 season with the Minnesota Twins that ended with hip surgery in August found him out of the loop throughout the offseason.

“The thing was I was healthy and I was playing every day,” Morrison said. “I had the opportunity to do it and I was healthy. Last year I was hurt, probably shouldn’t have been playing, didn’t have the year I wanted to have.”

The New York Yankees signed Morrison to a minor league contract after spring training and his season didn’t begin until May in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He slashed .289/.341/.658 with 15 home runs in 43 games and was picked up by the Phillies after the Yankees granted his release on the fourth of July.

Morrison said he started to, “feel like himself” in Triple-A prior to making it back to the big leagues with the Phillies. The role he has there now is similar to what fellow former Marlins Justin Bour had a year ago, a first base bat off the bench. Even if Morrison was back to his 2017 form, we wouldn’t know with his current role.

“At the end of the day, you’re not going to be putting up those kind of numbers without 500 at-bats,” Morrison said.

Morrison has gone 3-for-12 since being called up to Philadelphia. His lone appearance in this series came as a pinch hitter and resulted in a strikeout.

 

Visit the voices or news section for more Marlins coverage.

Starlin Castro se siente cómodo en el lado izquierdo del infield

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Starlin Castro estuvo en el centro de los rumores los dos últimos meses de campaña antes de la fecha límite de cambios en las Grandes Ligas.

El infielder dominicano era una de las piezas de valor que los Marlins pretendían cambiar para recibir algo a cambio, pues su contrato termina esta temporada (su contrato tiene una opción que el equipo puede ejercer).

Para Castro, los primeros días fueron algo incómodo, y hasta confesó que juega beisbol sin usar una copa (protector de los genitales).

Sin embargo, ahora todo es mas llevadero. Gran parte de esa sensación de confort es gracias al venezolano Martin Prado, quien lo ha ayudado a adaptarse a su nueva posición.

Prado, quien se ganó su estancia en Grandes Ligas gracias a su versatilidad, es el mejor aliado de Castro, quien ya ha jugado shortstop antes en su carrera.

Son casos diferentes, pues Prado llegó a establecerse como tercera base de Miami, mientras que Castro está luchando para mantenerse en Grandes Ligas aprendiendo a lidiar con los roletazos desde un ángulo diferente.

“En segunda base tienes mas tiempo, y el terreno es mas amplio. Además, el tiro que se tiene que hacer es mas largo. Tienes que estar mas ready”, dice Castro, quien a pesar de tener que lidiar con este cambio, viene de su mejor mes con el madero.

Starlin Castro y sus mejores meses como Marlin

Starlin Castro se encendió justo antes del Juego de Estrellas en Cleveland, y ha mantenido su gran ritmo ofensivo en este último mes de campaña, bateando .322 (AVG), .341 (OBP), con 5 jonrones y 20 carreras impulsadas en sus últimos 30 juegos.

Aún así, los Marlins no lograron llegar a un acuerdo con ningún equipo para que se hiciera con los servicios del dominicano.

¿Qué podemos esperar para él ahora?

De no ejercer la opción que tiene el equipo, no se extrañen si los propios Marlins lo contratan con condiciones diferentes, para tenerlo como uno de los veteranos del equipo en el clubhouse, y que juegue en el infield unas dos o tres veces por semana.

En estos momentos, los Marlins no tienen un pelotero así.

 

En Cinco Razones Podcast seguimos a los Marlins de Miami como ningún otro medio del sur de Florida. Sigan nuestro trabajo en todas nuestras redes sociales (@CincoRazonesNet)

 

 

Zac Gallen fue cambiado por prospecto top de Arizona

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Zac Gallen debutó este año por los Marlins y ya fue cambiado de organización, luego de enfrascarse en un apasionante duelo de pitcheo la noche del martes ante Jake Odorizzi y los poderosos bates de los Mellizos de Minnesota.

Sergio Romo fue el primero de los Marlins en ser cambiado, y se esperaba que algunos otros veteranos siguieran ese mismo camino, pero nos quedamos con la boca abierta tras el anuncio oficial de lo que había sucedido.

Zac Gallen, el codiciado lanzador que deslumbró a la fanaticada de Miami con sus actuaciones en ligas menores y que luego se estaba ganando el corazón de los seguidores del equipo tras debutar en Grandes Ligas, fue cambiado por quien era el prospecto número uno de los Diamondbacks de Arizona, Jazz Chisholm.

En él, los Marlins de Miami ven a su futuro campocorto, según declaró Mike Hill poco después de que se venciera el plazo para hacer canjes.

Chisholm es un campocorto nacido en Bahamas, que batea a la zurda, con manos rápidas, swing de poder y desplazamientos que recuerdan un poco a Javy Baez, según el reporte de Baseball America.

Comenzó el año como el prospecto número uno de los Diamondbacks, pero su actuación de esta temporada le había hecho caer al tercer puesto. En general, estaba en el puesto 56 del top 100 de esta misma firma antes de comenzar la temporada.

Gallen comenzó esta temporada en el número 72 de este ranking, y tras su gran debut y primeras actuaciones con los Marlins, empezaba a inclinar la balanza a favor de Miami en el cambio que dio salida a Marcell Ozuna.

Ahora, Miami debe esperar por otro prospecto para que se desarrolle y pueda aportar en la temporada que viene, o la de 2021.

Los Marlins esperan que Chisholm rebote y pueda parecerse mas al pelotero que fue en 2018, y que llevó a los Diamondbacks a enviarlo a jugar en la Arizona Fall League.

Estos son sus numeritos hasta este 31 de Julio:

Según Baseball America, Chisholm es un bateador que aún debe mejorar en su contacto, aunque ha demostrado su fuerza, con 18 jonrones en 89 juegos en Doble A.

Tiene las herramientas para ser un gran campocorto, aunque se ve afectado por alguos lapsus mentales que inciden directamente en su consistencia.

En el plato, tiende a hacer swing de gradas y cuando conecta la bola, esta suele viajar bastante lejos. Sin embargo, este approach ha hecho que se vaya muchas veces sin el resultado deseado esta campaña, y de ahí los numeritos que ven arriba.

Con el tiempo se convertirá en un mejor bateador cuando aprenda a batear para todos los sectores del terreno, indican los observadores, y puede incluso llegar a acercarse a un 20-20 en Grandes Ligas.

Haciendo click en este link pueden ver el reporte completo de mitad de temporada de Baseball America.

Trevor Richards y Nick Anderson se van a Tampa

Los Marlins de Miami cambiaron a otros de los brazos que llegaron a ser revelaciones importantes durante los primeros meses de campaña, el abridor Trevor Richards y el relevista Nick Anderson, quienes hasta sonaron como posibles candidatos para representar a los Marlins en el Juego de Estrellas de este año.

A cambio, los Marlins reciben al relevista Ryne Stanek y al jardinero dominicano Jesús Sánchez, quien ya estaba con la sucursal triple A de los Rays.

Estos son los numeritos de Sánchez en su carrera en Ligas Menores:

Stanek se perfila como el cerrador del equipo, y Sanchez es otro toletero zurdo que podría debutar este año en Septiembre.

En Cinco Razones haremos un análisis de los movimientos de los Marlins en este trade deadline. Coming soon…

Trevor Richards encabeza posibles piezas de cambio de los Marlins

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Trevor Richards podría ser la pieza de cambio mas jugosa que van a ofrecer los Marlins mientras se acerca la fecha límite de cambios en las Grandes Ligas.

El primer cuarto de temporada de los Marlins fue un desastre. No hay manera de maquillarlo. Ganar 10 de los primeros 31 encuentros te ubica dentro de proyecciones catastróficas para una franquicia, que si bien entiende la actualidad del desarrollo de los jugadores actuales, esa primera experiencia del 2019 no indicaba ninguna mejoría.

Ahora, desde entonces los Marlins son un equipo que juega para .500 (24-26 tras la jornada del domingo), el quinto mejor registro en la Liga Nacional en ese tiempo, igualados con los Gigantes de San Francisco. Varias de las piezas que forman parte del plan del futuro de los Marlins han mostrado un avance significativo y nuevos nombres han llegado a la Gran Carpa cumpliendo con lo esperado.

Sin embargo, la realidad en esta campaña sigue siendo la misma. Hablamos de un equipo ubicado en el sótano de su división sin pretensiones reales de hacer algún tipo de ruido este año, por lo que la fecha límite de cambios presenta un plan similar, pero con nombres diferentes, al de años anteriores. Los Marlins serán vendedores, eso no es un secreto.

Los candidatos primordiales a ser canjeados en esta fecha límite de cambios son los sospechosos habituales.

Caleb Smith, Trevor Richards, Sergio Romo, Curtis Granderson, Starlin Castro, Martín Prado, José Ureña, han estado sonando desde el comienzo de la campaña pero ¿quién verdaderamente pudiera estar cambiado de uniforme en estas próximas dos semanas?

La gerencia ve a Trevor Richards como la pieza principal, según fuentes, y por la cual pudieran recibir más valor. Y aunque Caleb Smith no entra en la categoría de los intocables, el precio será bastante alto. Mientras que con Castro, Walker, Romo y Granderson las exigencias serán mucho más bajas; el equipo está buscando dinero de firmas internacionales por ellos, en vez de cualquier prospecto de segunda categoría, dijo la misma fuente.

Con cambios o no, los Marlins están enfocándose al final de esta temporada en añadir a un bate de categoría, que pueda aportar a la ofensiva en el 2020. Mientras que en el invierno de ese mismo año, cuando el contrato de Wei-Yin Chen expire, Miami estará buscando un segundo bate de peso, que los haga competir en el 2021.

Se acerca el momento de Isán Díaz con los Marlins

Si sucede un canje por Castro en los próximo días, este asunto se resolvería mucho más rápido de lo esperado. Pero la oficina de Miami ha demostrado no estar apresurada con la promesa boricua, por lo que si no sucede un cambio, el segunda base boricua no estará subiendo a las Mayores para ocupar la antesala, y seguro lo hará en septiembre, cuando se expandan los roster, según dijeron fuentes.

“Es solo cuestión de tiempo”, dijo el manager de los Marlins Don Mattingly. “El departamento de desarrollo de jugadores decidirá cuándo es el momento adecuado para que suba, tome su oportunidad y se pueda sentir cómodo en este nivel”.

Es inevitable hablar de Díaz sin mencionar a Castro.

“Starlin parece estar motivado, sé que este año no ha sido tan bueno, pero ha estado bateando mucho mejor últimamente”, dijo Mattingly, quien también admite que la situación del equipo pudiera estar jugando un papel importante en su desempeño. “Para ser honestos, siempre es mejor cuando estás compitiendo por un banderín. Cuando en cada juego, cada turno que consumes es importante, con un estadio lleno de aficionados y ambiente de postemporada”.

Por: Ricardo Montes de Oca, con información de Leandro Soto

 

Ricardo Soto y Ricardo Montes de Oca aman a los Marlins. Pasaron todo el domingo en el Marlins Park disfrutando viendo al equipo, y a los mas de 400 perros que asistieron. Sigan su trabajo escuchando Cinco Razones Podcast haciendo click en este link

The Isan Diaz dilemma: when should he get the call-up?

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Isan Diaz is one of the four players that came to the Miami Marlins in the Christian Yelich trade.

The trade that most of the MLB annalysts call a win for the Brewers, even though we haven’t seen all the parts included to play in the majors.

Jordan Yamamoto was a great surprise for the world of baseball, and even for some Marlins fans, because he was supposed to be the least attractive of the four players that came from the Brewers.

He had to be called up because of the injuries some Marlins pitchers were dealing with, and performed setting new records for rookie starters in MLB.

Lewis Brinson missed his first shot in the majors, but should be back up with the time at some point this year, and Monte Harrison should make his MLB debut this season also.

However, Isan Diaz is the one putting us to think when he will get a call-up.

Starlin Castro is having his worst season as a professional baseball and will probably not be with the team next year, so for our Leandro Soto, it is the right time to bring Díaz to the majors.

Check Leandro’s heated exchange with Joe Frisaro, of MLB.com, about the subject:

And finally, what he and Ricardo Montes de Oca, of Cinco Razones Podcast, discussed during their radio show at 990 ESPN Deportes. 

For them,  Diaz’s call up should be coming soon, since Brian Anderson is injured, and will probably end up in the injury list.

For Leandro, he should come up and play second base, the position he has been playing in the minors this year, and move the Dominican to third base.

 

I feel like Castro should not stop the Marlins from giving Diaz a very deserved shot, especially since he is just a veteran performing under what is expected from him.

It’s the time to move Castro to third, or figure out a way to give Diaz a chance to play four or five days a week.

The Marlins have done it with their young pitchers. Why not do it with their position players too?

What do you think? Is it time now or should the Marlins wait until September?

 

Listen to Cinco Razones Podcast clicking here. We will be back talking about the second part of the season soon, so Tony and Dutch, if you guys are reading this, you better get ready!