Turning that corner

We’re seeing a different Eliesaer Hernandez in 2020. We’re seeing what the Marlins saw in a potential future for Hernandez when they selected him from the Houston Astros Organization in the Rule 5 Draft all the way back in December of 2017. At the time, Eliesar hadn’t pitched above A-Ball yet, but along with fellow Rule 5 Pick Brett Graves, they became the first Marlins since Dan Uggla to make it through a full Season on the Roster following the Draft. In order to be maintained in the Organization, a Rule-5 Pick must stay on your Big League Roster the entire year, and as expected, it did not come without growing pains. Hernandez won’t blow you away with velocity, or has the nastiest of breaking pitches, but he has extreme spin-rate. His 90 MPH Fastball gets on hitters extremely quick, and over the last couple Seasons he's begun to get a great feel for his Slider. Eliesar will show you that Slider as a ‘get me over’ pitch, or knock it off the plate to a Righthanded hitter ‘at will’. Not to mention he’s ‘spotting’ his Fastball better in 2020. His mechanics look modified and yesterday was Eliesar Hernandez’s best Major League Start.   

Getting our 💩 together.

That’s what made yesterday afternoon so frustrating for the Marlins. 81 Pitches through 5 scoreless Innings Hernandez had thrown at the Atlanta Braves. To have yanked him for the sole reason of not wanting him to face the top of the Brave’s order a third time through, was a shame, and it cost Miami not only the Game, but the series (the Marlins haven’t taken a series from those damn Braves in 3 YEARS). Eliesar struggled that 3^rd time through against Toronto last Tuesday, after throwing 5 Scoreless Innings on 82 Pitches, but if you had used you’re eyes as to where he was “spotting” his pitches in both Starts, and how much better he was throwing the ball (as good as he’d ever had in the Show) on Sunday, what a massive mistake. The bad decisions did not end there, coupled with the Lineup the Fish have ran out the last 2 days. To have broken up the trio of Eddy Alvarez, Jon Berti, and Magnueris Sierra only because of a Lefthander being on the mound, was & is ridiculous, after that trio helped produce 8 Runs against these same Braves on Friday, and 14 Runs in Buffalo on Wednesday. Really?! Lewis Brinson, Logan Forsythe, and Monte Harrison (3 Guys that shouldn’t even be in Big Leagues), give you a better chance to win? The Marlins scored a total of 1 Run COMBINED the rest of the Braves’ Series. Sierra didn't even get another AB after Friday.   

Double negative  =  +

There is some positive, 🤔not the best choice of words these days 🙈, there’s great news on a different note in Marlin-Land. All 18 of the Players who previously tested positive for Covid-19 have given 2 negative tests, and Major League Baseball has FINALLY given these Players clearance to get back on the field. I say “Finally” because there were Players like the Nationals' Juan Soto, who’s test came back positive on Opening Day, and was cleared in less than 2 weeks. Or the Royals’ Brad Keller, who returned to Kansas City in 1 week after testing positive for Covid. These 18 Marlins pretty much lasted a Complete 3 Weeks before being green-lighted by MLB. I find it fishy (no pun intended) it took all 18 the Exact same time to test negative twice 🤔.. It’ll probably be later this week when you’ll see some, but not all, of these 18 gentlemen join the Big League Roster. The Marlins will have to make room on their 40 Man Roster in order to include the likes of Miguel Rojas, Sandy Alcantara, Caleb Smith, Jose Urena, Yimmi Garcia, Jorge Alfaro, Garrett Cooper, and Harold Ramirez. While guys like Chad Wallach, Adam Conley, and Sean Rodriguez may not make the trip to Washington on Thursday, and could be DFA’d. Some decisions will be easier than others. Lewis Brinson (The Worst Ballplayer This Franchise Has Ever Seen), needs to FINALLY be Designated For Assignment, and you could see guys like Forsythe, Brian Moran, and Josh D. Smith (who hasn’t Pitched since being acquired) join him in order to make room on that Roster. You then have guys like James Hoyt, Justin Shafer, and Josh A. Smith, who all were given their chance during this period, and who may have proven to be better options than you previously had out of that Bullpen.