Decisiones

 

Some decisions loom for the Marlins in the very near future. Both Jazz Chisholm & Jorge Alfaro begin Rehab Assignments today for Triple-A Jacksonville. Starting Pitcher Eliesar Hernandez is with the Marlins currently in Arizona. These 3 Players on the 10 Day I.L are close to returning, Chisholm/Alfaro possibly as of this weekend in Los Angeles. Who will be the odd men out upon their return?

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It’s no secret Backup Catcher Chad Wallach is with the Marlins because of his Glove (and maybe because he’s Tim’s son too 😉), not because of his Bat. He’s Struck Out 7 of his last 9 AB’s. Defensively however Wallach HAS taken a step back in 2021. His 4 Past Balls behind the Plate lead the League, while his Game-Calling hasn’t been the best. Upon Alfaro’s return it should be Sandy Leon who remains on the Roster. Leon has also struggled (historically) Offensively, but his Big League experience as a Backstop has helped guide young Marlins Pitching in his short tenure with the Team. Knowing my Marlins though, don’t be surprised if Chad stays and Sandy goes (smh). 

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“Isssaaaaaaaan” Diaz was/has been given the reins at Second Base ‘yet again’ after the Chisholm Injury. Other than a Grand Slam on Friday night, Diaz has ‘yet again’ faltered at the Big League level. He’s hitting a Buck-61 in his 10 Games and has made some massive mistakes Defensively. He’s not the biggest of Athletes Diaz, he does try to use the whole field, yet with a very long swing seems to swing for the fences durring every AB. Mind boggling for Manager Don Mattingly not to Bunt Isan on Sunday in extra Innings. Mattingly - "It's like you look back and say, 'Well, I should've did it the other way.' I really feel like Isan at that point is going to put this guy in play, and a good chance it's going to be on the right side”. It ended in a Strike Out.

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Starling Marte is the Player who seems to be the farthest away from returning. I always go back to that Sunday when Marte almost refused to come out of the Game, after which was discovered he had a fractured Rib. It seems very odd for him to have done it on a Swing during that last AB. Could he have been playing with it at the ‘Super’ level he was at prior to the Injury being discovered? Could he have continued to play with it throughout? A late May at the earliest seems to be a time frame for a Marte return, with June probably being more realistic. The Fish sure could use him (No offense Lewis Brinson 😉).