Dis'Organization'

 

The Marlins picked up a Series in San Francisco over the weekend, snapping their 9 consecutive Series Winless Streak, while also Wining a Series in the Bay for the first time since 2017. The Club then returned Home last night and dropped the opener against a Nationals Team that's had the Fish's number all Season (0-8). A far cry from last year and Seasons pasts vs D.C.

No doubt it's been one of the absolute roughest Campaigns in Marlins History. At 51-87, let's just say it's a good thing a Club like the White Sox have absolutely imploded at 31-109 this Year 😬. 

The Fish Rotation as we mentioned has been in shambles due to Injuries throughout the Year. Though there seems to be the slightest bit of good news in that Lefties Ryan Weathers (3 Scoreless IP's on a Rehab in Jupiter last night) & Braxton Garrett will try to make a Start or 2 during this final month of the Season.

Speaking of good news, how cool was it to see the Marlins finally call-up Outfielder Griffin Conine last week. The son of Mr. Marlin Jeff Conine, Griffin has already made an immediate impact with the Fish, going 6-20 (.300) with a 2B, 3B, HR, and 3 RBI's in his first week in the Show. Not quite a 4-4 day at the plate during the Franchise's first ever Game, but we'll take it 😉.

Acquired by the Marlins & (att) P.O.B.O Michael Hill, all the way back in 2020 for Jonathan Villar (now there's a name Marlins fans 😅). Conine, was putting up solid numbers all year long for Triple-A Jacksonville. Yet it took until the tail end of August to receive a Promotion during a lost Season for the the Fish.

Similarly to Players mentioned whether here or on X before, the likes of Jonah Bride, Troy Johnston, Jhonny Pereda, Tristan Gray, Anthony Maldonado, Yonny Chirinos, Elvis Alvarado. All Players in Conine's boat who have been with the Organization throughout the Year, or in many cases a lot longer, and were passed over for so long on an extremely bad Marlins Team. Passed over for the likes of Emmanuel Rivera, Ali Sanchez, Otto Lopez, Burch Smith, Shaun Anderson, or Brett de Gues. All Players acquired from other Organizations, either via Trade or Waivers, during the Season. While all, minus Lopez have been Designated off the Roster since, and in some cases after such prolonged rough tenures with the Marlins this Year (It took Rivera 96 Games to a .563 OPS to be DFA'd).

Even a Player like Xavier Edwards was Sent Down another month after returning from a rehab assignment to the Bigs on June 07. While it took another DFA in the form of Tim Anderson to allow Edwards to be able to ball-out at Shortstop. Bride has been a Regular right in the middle of the Marlins Lineup after finally receiving an opportunity to play, but not until the 2nd Half. It took until yesterday for Maldonado to return to the Big Leagues, and only because the Fish decided to finally move on from Kent Emanuel. Yes, Kent Emanuel! (Emanuel was not a Waiver Claim btw, but was truly awful in the Spring, in AAA, and what a surprise in the Bigs)

One last additional thing on all this Waiver Claim front for the Marlins, who picked up 2 more Pitchers via that avenue yesterday. I was chatting with Ely Sussman, who does such a good job with Fish On First, about it being faultless of the Club to have a look at an arm or bat whose available and that intrigues them. Another good example of this is someone like Derek Hill, whose shown glimpses of becoming a successful Role Player for the Marlins into next Year. But doesn't it send the wrong message to go with "flyers" from other Organizations than to go with you're own guys who have performed at the top level of you're Minor League System? Especially when said "flyers" aren't performing for you??

What is the downside in giving more of an opportunity to these Guys producing in AAA during Marlins Seasons the likes of 2024?? Not talking about rushing Top-Prospects to the Big Leagues, but rather seeing what you have with certain guys and deciding if you want to move forward with such Players or not, similarly to what you're doing with the Waiver wire. Kind of felt like '24 was the time for that. 

   

Jesus Tinoco, a Waiver Claim from the Chicago Cubs at the end of July, has been terrific for the Marlins. Establishing himself post Deadline/Injuries in the Pen as the Fish's primary Set-Up man. But is by far the best and one of very few Waiver Claims who have worked out in Miami this Season.

Speaking of Fish On First, Sussman had former Marlins President/Host of Nothing Personal David Samson on the FOF Official Show Podcast the other day. Samson had this to say when assessing P.O.B.O Peter Bendix's first Season on the job..

I "personally" don't think it could have been said any better. Samson isn't the only Bendix critic either. Former Marlins Beat Writer Joe Frisaro truly vented his frustration on Jeremiah Gieger's Marlins IX Podcast. While there's also plenty of people who will tell you what Owner Bruce Sherman must do with the Franchise, including Son Los Marlins.

Now don't be fooled, Bendix does have his following on social media. All while there've been Transactions to really get excited about. Just look at what Conor Norby is doing..

All while knowing if you follow the Marlins that they have to be led by their Pitching in order to be any kind of successful. Sandy Alacantara returns from Injury next year. Eury Perez will try to make it back from TJ Surgery as well. There are bright spots here/reasons for hope.

The Ballclub, while buried in the Standings from the get go, is playing a better brand of baseball in the 2nd Half. It's a credit to Skip Schumaker, who like his Players hit an iceberg in the 1st Half, and whom all reports point to will not return.

Will Bendix/Sherman be able to right the ship? As Samson says let's "wait to see". But what's undeniable is that it's too late for a first impression. At least in regards to Players like Edwards, Bride, Conine and Maldonado, it's better late than never.