Will The Real Florida Marlins Please Stand Up

As is customary year after year, “March Madness” took on a different meaning for the Marlins at the end of Spring Training. And boy do the Fish love making “U-Turns” this time of year.. Spring should be a time to get your players ready and COMFORTABLE to where more or less they’ll see action during the everyday grind of the regular season. From releasing Dan Straily, to putting Wei Yin Chen in the Bullpen, to Garrett Cooper being your everyday Right-Fielder… All decisions made the last few days. Someone should give my Marlins that memo 🙉.

First and foremost, the Marlins ARE placing their best 5 starting options in their Rotation. But why is it that I feel Florida’s putting too much stock in Spring performances. You have to understand, guys like Chen and Straily are not gonna look at these Spring outings like a Trevor Richards or a Pablo Lopez (guys who are getting their first extended look in a Big League camp) would. But again, I do believe the Marlins are putting their Best 5 (young), but Best 5 Starters in the rotation (though I think Chen SHOULD at least make quite a few Home-Starts, and he still may).





The Straily-move was more of a head scratcher, as he was just tendered a $5 million dollar contract in the offseason. According to ‘MLBTR’, by being released now, Straily would only (Only 😉) be owed 1.2 Million Dollars. With Chen already guaranteed 20 MILLION to begin the season out of the Bullpen 🙈, the Fish may have felt another 3.8 Million was not worth allocating to a reliever. Even though Straily could have brought value to the Pen, and possibly been a trade chip mid-season. Or at worst, a safety net for your young Rotaion. Dan Starily has Talent and Experience..





Speaking of the Bullpen, very surprised to see all 3 of Austin Brice, Nick Anderson, AND Tyler Kinley make the Opening Day Roster, while Jarlin Garcia’s at Triple-A ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. The Fish sent Garcia down too soon, and hopefully we see “Jarlin the Marlin” even sooner than that in Miami..





Same can be said for an Austin Dean, who was also optioned to New Orleans. Dean, fresh off being the Marlins Minor League Player of the Year last season, had a terrific Spring, and SHOULD be in a platoon with Curtis Granderson in left. But it seems that Granderson, who is 38, and never really hit Lefty’s (even in his prime), will be in Leftfield everyday (What are ya doin’ Donnie Baseball  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).

Garrett Cooper had a terrific Spring himself, and looks like will be the Marlins’ Right Fielder. However, Coop is coming off a lost 2018 campaign. One that saw him break his wrist when he was struck on the left hand in game number 2 of the season. Cooper played a total of 30 games last year in the Majors & Minors Combined, and has all of 27 games of Big League experience under his belt the last 2 years. A Neil Walker, who can play Right Field, would benefit Cooper and the Marlins by sharing time in the Outfield. But going back to what I mentioned earlier, Walker didn't play a single game in the Outfield during the Spring. And I know (I know cause I see it year after year with other players), Walker's first appearance in Right will be in a key spot during the season, when the Fish had all spring to get him out there beforehand 🙈...

Of all the last minute "Marlin-Moves", the one I'm least a fan of, is the Rosell Herrera decision (Yes, even more than Chad ((Son of Tim)) Wallach making the squad for the 2nd straight year only because you're father is the Bench coach one 🙊). All indications point to Herrera, who is out of options, making the Opening Day Roster. Herrera, who WAS in "competition mode" this spring, hit .196. I saw Rosell Herrera take batting practice on the first day of "Full Squad". His was the most impressive BP with 💣 after 💣.. I then saw Herrera when games got underway. He was one of the least impressive Marlins, with absolutely no approach at the plate. Herrera is very versatile Defensively, but is still figuring out who he is on the Offensive side. Btw, the Marlins NEED HELP ON OFFENSE 🙈!!! With only 3 real bench spots (not including the backup catcher) open to pinch hit when the season gets going. You may very well see games on the line with Rosell Herrera at the dish 🙈🙈🙈.






All this being said. "I Really Am Exited For 2019 😊". This Marlins pitching staff, while young, is "Legit"! And has shown growth, even sooner then "I expected 🙂" this Spring. Caleb Smith hasn't missed a beat after not pitching in the 2nd half of last season. Trevor Richards has an improved breaking ball to go along with 1 of the best changeups in the game.. And Pablo Lopez looks to have comeback stronger 💪 from injury...

The N.L East is in for a surprise with the arms that are gonna be coming from Miami's rotation every day. We'll see if Mattingly & Co can piece together a Bullpen that has 'Stuff' in Sergio Romo, Adam Conley, Drew Steckenrider, and Tayron Guerrero.. And if the Marlin-Offense can scratch and claw out enough runs... If not, get ready Jose Ureña, Richards, Lopez, Sandy Alcantara, and Smith. We're gonna need to pitch a shutout every night. And I'm not kidding, cuz in the words of the 'Real Slim Shady', "Success is are only Mothe# Bleepin' Option"! 🎤 #MikeDrop #GoMarlins 😉