Last night, the heavyweight fight between Josh Johnson and Roy Halladay lived up to its billing. The Phillies won 1-0 behind Roy Halladay's perfect game, the first in the National League since 2004 and the 20th in Major League history. Johnson wasn't perfect, but he was close to it as he allowed the game's only walk (Ryan Howard). Yes, last night was a game that would set Joe West's heart aflutter: 2 1/2 hours, 1 walk. And, for those scoring at home, Sun Life Stadium has now hosted 2 World Series, including a game 7, 2 no-hitters and now, a perfect game. Pretty amazing stuff for a "football" stadium.
On the Marlins end, Halladay was on, and when he's on he's the most dominant right hander in baseball, but it's disheartening to see a pitcher yet again set a season/career high in strikeouts against the Marlins. For Halladay, last night's 11 strikeouts represented both a season and career high. Sometime soon, and it's been years over due, the Marlins need to fire long time hitting coach, Jim Presley, the only coaching holdover of consequence from the Joe Girardi regime.
The signature of Presley's Marlins teams has been power with tons of strikeouts. Too often this year, the Marlins have come to the plate looking for the three run homer and instead left with nothing to show but inopportune strikeouts. Eventually, a move has to be made, hopefully someone whose opinion matters will realize that the strikeouts have to end and a move needs to be made.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Flurry of Moves Bring New Faces
Gone are Dan Meyer (DFA) Burke Badenhop and Bryan Petersen (optioned to AAA). Renyel Pinto is on the 15 day disabled list.
To fill those holes, the Marlins have promoted Taylor Tankersley, Mike Lamb, Jorge Sosa and Jay Buente.
The moves individually are not notable, except for the Tankersley promotion as that features a former Marlins' 1st round pick, but together, the moves seem to indicate an organization at the end of its rope with the buillpen. Although it is not yet June, this "house cleaning" could be the precursor to a trade.
To fill those holes, the Marlins have promoted Taylor Tankersley, Mike Lamb, Jorge Sosa and Jay Buente.
The moves individually are not notable, except for the Tankersley promotion as that features a former Marlins' 1st round pick, but together, the moves seem to indicate an organization at the end of its rope with the buillpen. Although it is not yet June, this "house cleaning" could be the precursor to a trade.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tankersley Gets The Call
After Wednesday's loss to the Braves the Marlins made a roster move to strengthen a problematic bullpen. Taylor Tankersley, the former 1st round pick, is joining the Marlins for his first taste of big league action since 2008. Outfielder Brian Petersen was demoted to accomodate the move.
The addition of Tankersley gives the Marlins three left handed relievers, but with the Phillies coming into town tomorrow, there will be no such thing as too many lefties.
The addition of Tankersley gives the Marlins three left handed relievers, but with the Phillies coming into town tomorrow, there will be no such thing as too many lefties.
Friday, May 21, 2010
One Year Mark For Ballpark Construction
Here's a great video from youtube showing the progress made on the new stadium in the year it's been under construction.
While the music choice is a little foreboding, it really is impressive to see the progress made in the past 12 months.
While the music choice is a little foreboding, it really is impressive to see the progress made in the past 12 months.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Thoughts On Hanley's Benching
After fouling a ball off his foot/shin and jogging after a booted fly ball, Hanley Ramirez found himself sent to the clubhouse. In case you missed it, with the bases loaded, Hanley went back on an in-between pop-up, kicked it into the left field corner and jogged after the ball. Following that half of the inning, the superstar short-stop found himself out of the game. To the outsider, Fredi Gonzalez made the right move. Star or not, you owe the team 100% on every play.
The problem, however, is the Marlins have been perfectly content getting far less than 100% from Hanley for the past two seasons. He does not run hard to first, first to third, on the texas leaguer pop-ups, you name it, he's not hustling. This isn't an anti-Hanley soap-box or an anti-Fredi one, it's simply saying that for too long, the Marlins have been fine letting Hanley be Hanley. There's nothing wrong with letting Hanley be Hanley. It's gotten the team its first batting title, it's gotten a multiple all-star and the player many people would choose to use as their cornerstone for a franchise.
Benching Hanley tonight, after his foot could have been the cause for the jog, is much like the dog owner reprimanding his pet for pooping in the bedroom after using the living-room as his personal toilet. It doesn't send the right message - or any message - and really doesn't accomplish what was intended.
For Hanley and the Marlins, changing company policy this late in the game is sure to be a source of contention. When you're a team like the Marlins, trying to win on a shoestring budget, you can't afford to alienate your best player. Do not mistake this for me advocating for complete carte blanche for Hanley, but when the Marlins have outwardly shown they have no problem letting Hanley operate at about 80%, they have to continue to live with it.
The problem, however, is the Marlins have been perfectly content getting far less than 100% from Hanley for the past two seasons. He does not run hard to first, first to third, on the texas leaguer pop-ups, you name it, he's not hustling. This isn't an anti-Hanley soap-box or an anti-Fredi one, it's simply saying that for too long, the Marlins have been fine letting Hanley be Hanley. There's nothing wrong with letting Hanley be Hanley. It's gotten the team its first batting title, it's gotten a multiple all-star and the player many people would choose to use as their cornerstone for a franchise.
Benching Hanley tonight, after his foot could have been the cause for the jog, is much like the dog owner reprimanding his pet for pooping in the bedroom after using the living-room as his personal toilet. It doesn't send the right message - or any message - and really doesn't accomplish what was intended.
For Hanley and the Marlins, changing company policy this late in the game is sure to be a source of contention. When you're a team like the Marlins, trying to win on a shoestring budget, you can't afford to alienate your best player. Do not mistake this for me advocating for complete carte blanche for Hanley, but when the Marlins have outwardly shown they have no problem letting Hanley operate at about 80%, they have to continue to live with it.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Leo Nunez's Amazing Hot Start
Leo Nunez, the formerly embattled Marlins closer, is not a household name. If he keeps playing the way he has the first two months of the season, he soon will be. "Lights Out" Leo (OK, I just gave him that nickname) has been spectacular.
He's appeared in 13 games, successfully converting all 6 save opportunities and, most incredibly, he's only allowed 4 hits all season. Among all major league closers, Nunez's 0.68 WHIP is second only to Mariano Rivera's 0.56 and he has the lowest opponent's batting average among all closers with a tidy .100. In short, Nunez hasn't just been great, he's been otherworldly.
When new pitching coach Randy St. Claire arrived in Jupiter, his first order of business was fixing an anomaly in Nunez's delivery that he thought was tipping the coming pitch. Nunez's repertoire is not very diverse - a changeup (his out pitch) a fastball and a slider that really only serves a "show me" role - so tipping a pitch, thus eliminating the element of surprise on the changeup, would be devastating. So far, it looks like St. Claire was correct. Nunez still has the same mid-90's fastball and biting changeup, but now hitters look completely befuddled by it. For now, it looks like St. Claire hit the jackpot on one mechanical tweak, and the rest of the National League has to deal with it.
He's appeared in 13 games, successfully converting all 6 save opportunities and, most incredibly, he's only allowed 4 hits all season. Among all major league closers, Nunez's 0.68 WHIP is second only to Mariano Rivera's 0.56 and he has the lowest opponent's batting average among all closers with a tidy .100. In short, Nunez hasn't just been great, he's been otherworldly.
When new pitching coach Randy St. Claire arrived in Jupiter, his first order of business was fixing an anomaly in Nunez's delivery that he thought was tipping the coming pitch. Nunez's repertoire is not very diverse - a changeup (his out pitch) a fastball and a slider that really only serves a "show me" role - so tipping a pitch, thus eliminating the element of surprise on the changeup, would be devastating. So far, it looks like St. Claire was correct. Nunez still has the same mid-90's fastball and biting changeup, but now hitters look completely befuddled by it. For now, it looks like St. Claire hit the jackpot on one mechanical tweak, and the rest of the National League has to deal with it.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Fredi Gets the Dreaded "Vote of Confidence"
Marlins beat writer Joe Capozzi blogs that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is in Washington for the weekend series with the Nationals and had a message regarding his manager's job security:
If you're Fredi Gonzalez; this is not good news. If the speculation about his firing, be it imminent or not, has gotten so loud that the owner must publicly comment on it, you're in trouble.
The last time Jeffrey Loria had to declare, in season, that he is "fine" with a manager was 2006 with Joe Girardi. Girardi, you'll remember was dismissed at the end of the season.
For the Marlins - whether dismissing Fredi is warranted is another story - the move needs to come soon. The uncertainty cannot continue to hang over this team. The last time the Marlins made an in-season move, 2003, the season ended with a world championship.
A firing sometimes has the effect of energizing a stagnant team. Make no mistake, the Marlins are stagnant. Yes, the front office's expectations may be a little over zealous, but this team has talent, but you wouldn't know it from watching them this past week. Sometimes making a change at manager is all that is needed to wake up a complacent team.
That seems to run hand-in-hand with Jeffrey Loria's closing comments from Friday:
Sorry, Fredi, looks like your time in Florida is coming to a close.
"Oh, please. Stop with that," Loria said when asked about speculation that Gonzalez could be in trouble because of the Marlins' 13-15 start. "Fredi and I are just fine. Fredi and the Marlins are just fine. Enough already."
If you're Fredi Gonzalez; this is not good news. If the speculation about his firing, be it imminent or not, has gotten so loud that the owner must publicly comment on it, you're in trouble.
The last time Jeffrey Loria had to declare, in season, that he is "fine" with a manager was 2006 with Joe Girardi. Girardi, you'll remember was dismissed at the end of the season.
For the Marlins - whether dismissing Fredi is warranted is another story - the move needs to come soon. The uncertainty cannot continue to hang over this team. The last time the Marlins made an in-season move, 2003, the season ended with a world championship.
A firing sometimes has the effect of energizing a stagnant team. Make no mistake, the Marlins are stagnant. Yes, the front office's expectations may be a little over zealous, but this team has talent, but you wouldn't know it from watching them this past week. Sometimes making a change at manager is all that is needed to wake up a complacent team.
That seems to run hand-in-hand with Jeffrey Loria's closing comments from Friday:
"I just want the intensity level to be a little higher and I want to have goals. The thing I'm trying to say to you is, there's nothing wrong with having goals and high standards. If that's a bad thing, then so be it."
Sorry, Fredi, looks like your time in Florida is coming to a close.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
5/5 Power Rankings
Here’s the first, but hopefully not last, first place fish "I watch too much baseball" MLB power rankings list:
1. Tampa Bay Rays
The most athletic team in baseball, and it’s not even close.
2. New York Yankees
Robinson Cano (MLB leading .376 average) is trying to make a case that, on a team loaded with stars, he might be the most overlooked.
3. St. Louis Cardinals
They’re 8-2 in their last ten, 10-1 at home and they have the best player in baseball. Things look pretty good in St. Louis.
4. Minnesota Twins
The new M&M boys (Mauer and Morneau) are laying waste to the AL Central. When Mauer (1 homer) really kicks into gear, this could become a laugher.
5. Philadelphia Phillies
Think Roy Halladay (5-1, 0.88 WHIP) misses the AL East? Yeah, me neither.
6. San Diego Padres
The surprise team of baseball’s first month. Their strong pitching and their home ballpark mean this may be more than a one month mirage.
7. San Francisco Giants
Nobody can match their foursome of Lincecum, Zito, Cain and Sanchez. The problem is, most teams can boast a better middle of the order.
8. New York Mets
Their series loss to Philadelphia could not be more deflating – they lost to Halladay and watched Santana implode – but they still got off to a needed hot start. That has everyone in Queens feeling, and playing, a little looser.
9. Detroit Tigers
With the way 2009 ended, no player needed a demon exorcising start more than Miguel Cabrera. Good thing he got it (1.066 OPS).
10. Washington Nationals
Break up the Nats! Their negative run differential (-17) suggests this may be smoke and mirrors, but the talent they’ve been collecting is finally starting to shine (even if they’re being carried by the ageless Livan Hernandez and his 0.99 ERA).
11. Toronto Blue Jays
The Vernon Wells renaissance (.321/.387/.660) has everyone north of the border buzzing. The emergence of 25 year old Ricky Romero has some thinking this could be the start of something big.
12. Chicago Cubs
Don’t let the loosing record fool you, they have scored 131 runs (more than the 1st place Cardinals). They just need pitching, which slowly seems to be rounding into form as they get healthier.
13. Texas Rangers
Can anyone make sense of the AL West? Good, I can’t either. The Rangers, 7-3 in their last ten, seem to be the only team that actually wants to win this thing.
14. Cincinnati Reds
My pick to drop quickly in the standings. Their home park doesn’t make it easy to pitch, and losing Edison Volquez for a banned substance suspension won’t help much either. They’re also a tremendous smoke-and-mirrors team as they’ve allowed 29 more runs than they’ve scored, not a good bet to keep hanging around .500.
15. Florida Marlins
Bad bullpen, untimely hitting and a propensity to swing for the fences has a lot of people wondering how much longer the Marlins coaching staff is going to remain in Miami.
16. Colorado Rockies
Ubaldo Jiminez has 6 wins, causing some to wonder if 25 is in play. The rest of the staff combines for 5 wins, causing me to wonder if a .500 is even in play.
17. Boston Red Sox
For all the doom and gloom about how the pitching and defense isn’t working, they’re 6-4 in their last ten without much offense to speak of, at least by American League standards.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Webb is about a month or so from returning. That’s good news for the team that has allowed the most runs in the NL West.
19. Los Angeles Dodgers
Matt Kemp’s clashing with the front-office. Manny and Rafael Furcal are on the disabled list. It looks like, for the first time since 1996, Joe Torre won’t be managing in the playoffs.
20. Atlanta Braves
Pathetic production from the top of their order has the Braves wasting a prodigious start from much hyped Jason Heyward, who is absolutely worth watching.
21. Kansas City Royals
Zach Greinke (0-3; 0.98 WHIP) has to be the unluckiest man in baseball. If the Royals keeps struggling – and really, who expects otherwise – Joakim Soria (14.33 K/9) could find himself as the most desirable player on the trade market.
22. Milwaukee Brewers
Did any player have more to gain from Ryan Howard’s ridiculous contract extension than Prince Fielder? The man may have played his way out of Milwaukee’s budget.
23. Chicago White Sox
The amalgamation of talent hasn’t worked, yet. Juan Pierre and Jake Peavy are off to incredibly slow starts. At least Peavy leads the team in strikeouts (31).
24. Cleveland Indians
Has any “star player” fallen more in the last two years than Grady Sizemore? Coming off a .788 OPS 2009, I don’t know what’s worse, the .284 OBP, his zero homers, or that the team still has $21.5 million remaining on his contract.
25. Oakland A’s
3-7 in their last 10 and staring at .500. Oakland is notorious for turning it on once the summer starts, but with Brett Anderson on the DL, you wonder who will lead the charge.
26. Los Angeles Angels
I think it’s safe to say the Angles miss former staff ace John Lacky. They have an AL worst 5.25 team ERA.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
It looks like another long summer for Pirates fans. The offense is anemic and the pitching is atrocious. On the bright side, Pedro Alvarez is off to a solid start in AAA Indianapolis (.260/.333/.500)
28. Seattle Mariners
The Mariners don’t like runs. They have the second best team ERA in the AL (3.28), the second lowest team OBP (.309) and the fewest runs scored 88. If the pitching keeps up, eventually an offense with Ichiro in it has to come around, right?
29. Houston Astros
A team that should have been torn down at least a year ago looks to limp towards a 70 win finish, which, coincidentally, might be the average age of their players.
30. Baltimore Orioles
Fear not Orioles fans, Brian Matusz and Matt Wieters look like the kind of battery you want to build around for a long time.
1. Tampa Bay Rays
The most athletic team in baseball, and it’s not even close.
2. New York Yankees
Robinson Cano (MLB leading .376 average) is trying to make a case that, on a team loaded with stars, he might be the most overlooked.
3. St. Louis Cardinals
They’re 8-2 in their last ten, 10-1 at home and they have the best player in baseball. Things look pretty good in St. Louis.
4. Minnesota Twins
The new M&M boys (Mauer and Morneau) are laying waste to the AL Central. When Mauer (1 homer) really kicks into gear, this could become a laugher.
5. Philadelphia Phillies
Think Roy Halladay (5-1, 0.88 WHIP) misses the AL East? Yeah, me neither.
6. San Diego Padres
The surprise team of baseball’s first month. Their strong pitching and their home ballpark mean this may be more than a one month mirage.
7. San Francisco Giants
Nobody can match their foursome of Lincecum, Zito, Cain and Sanchez. The problem is, most teams can boast a better middle of the order.
8. New York Mets
Their series loss to Philadelphia could not be more deflating – they lost to Halladay and watched Santana implode – but they still got off to a needed hot start. That has everyone in Queens feeling, and playing, a little looser.
9. Detroit Tigers
With the way 2009 ended, no player needed a demon exorcising start more than Miguel Cabrera. Good thing he got it (1.066 OPS).
10. Washington Nationals
Break up the Nats! Their negative run differential (-17) suggests this may be smoke and mirrors, but the talent they’ve been collecting is finally starting to shine (even if they’re being carried by the ageless Livan Hernandez and his 0.99 ERA).
11. Toronto Blue Jays
The Vernon Wells renaissance (.321/.387/.660) has everyone north of the border buzzing. The emergence of 25 year old Ricky Romero has some thinking this could be the start of something big.
12. Chicago Cubs
Don’t let the loosing record fool you, they have scored 131 runs (more than the 1st place Cardinals). They just need pitching, which slowly seems to be rounding into form as they get healthier.
13. Texas Rangers
Can anyone make sense of the AL West? Good, I can’t either. The Rangers, 7-3 in their last ten, seem to be the only team that actually wants to win this thing.
14. Cincinnati Reds
My pick to drop quickly in the standings. Their home park doesn’t make it easy to pitch, and losing Edison Volquez for a banned substance suspension won’t help much either. They’re also a tremendous smoke-and-mirrors team as they’ve allowed 29 more runs than they’ve scored, not a good bet to keep hanging around .500.
15. Florida Marlins
Bad bullpen, untimely hitting and a propensity to swing for the fences has a lot of people wondering how much longer the Marlins coaching staff is going to remain in Miami.
16. Colorado Rockies
Ubaldo Jiminez has 6 wins, causing some to wonder if 25 is in play. The rest of the staff combines for 5 wins, causing me to wonder if a .500 is even in play.
17. Boston Red Sox
For all the doom and gloom about how the pitching and defense isn’t working, they’re 6-4 in their last ten without much offense to speak of, at least by American League standards.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Webb is about a month or so from returning. That’s good news for the team that has allowed the most runs in the NL West.
19. Los Angeles Dodgers
Matt Kemp’s clashing with the front-office. Manny and Rafael Furcal are on the disabled list. It looks like, for the first time since 1996, Joe Torre won’t be managing in the playoffs.
20. Atlanta Braves
Pathetic production from the top of their order has the Braves wasting a prodigious start from much hyped Jason Heyward, who is absolutely worth watching.
21. Kansas City Royals
Zach Greinke (0-3; 0.98 WHIP) has to be the unluckiest man in baseball. If the Royals keeps struggling – and really, who expects otherwise – Joakim Soria (14.33 K/9) could find himself as the most desirable player on the trade market.
22. Milwaukee Brewers
Did any player have more to gain from Ryan Howard’s ridiculous contract extension than Prince Fielder? The man may have played his way out of Milwaukee’s budget.
23. Chicago White Sox
The amalgamation of talent hasn’t worked, yet. Juan Pierre and Jake Peavy are off to incredibly slow starts. At least Peavy leads the team in strikeouts (31).
24. Cleveland Indians
Has any “star player” fallen more in the last two years than Grady Sizemore? Coming off a .788 OPS 2009, I don’t know what’s worse, the .284 OBP, his zero homers, or that the team still has $21.5 million remaining on his contract.
25. Oakland A’s
3-7 in their last 10 and staring at .500. Oakland is notorious for turning it on once the summer starts, but with Brett Anderson on the DL, you wonder who will lead the charge.
26. Los Angeles Angels
I think it’s safe to say the Angles miss former staff ace John Lacky. They have an AL worst 5.25 team ERA.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
It looks like another long summer for Pirates fans. The offense is anemic and the pitching is atrocious. On the bright side, Pedro Alvarez is off to a solid start in AAA Indianapolis (.260/.333/.500)
28. Seattle Mariners
The Mariners don’t like runs. They have the second best team ERA in the AL (3.28), the second lowest team OBP (.309) and the fewest runs scored 88. If the pitching keeps up, eventually an offense with Ichiro in it has to come around, right?
29. Houston Astros
A team that should have been torn down at least a year ago looks to limp towards a 70 win finish, which, coincidentally, might be the average age of their players.
30. Baltimore Orioles
Fear not Orioles fans, Brian Matusz and Matt Wieters look like the kind of battery you want to build around for a long time.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Some Off Day Thoughts
Quick hit stream of consciousness stuff today:
- Fredi's probably firmly on the hot-seat now, but he shouldn't be. He didn't construct the bullpen, he didn't make his outfielders become historically unproductive - they have fewer combined home-runs (2) than Josh Johnson has RBI (4) - and he certainly didn't ask for post season expectations with a $40 million-ish payroll. Does he deserve some heat for bad bullpen management? Absolutely, but you can't demand champagne on a beer budget.
- The best thing the Marlins can do for the bullpen is give Taylor Tankersley another shot. There's a real need for a lefty reliever with Meyer on the shelf and Tank is putting up encouraging K numbers in AAA (11 in 11.2 innings pitched). Even more encouraging, 9 of those K's are against righties. He may never be worth the 1st round pick the Marlins invested in him, but if you get a strikeout reliever, especially a left-handed one, you have a desirable piece in the bullpen.
- Coghlan needs a helping hand. It's May 3rd and he still doesn't have an extra base hit, and he's racking up an alarming number of strikeouts (23 already after only 77 a year ago). There are some encouraging signs: his BABIP is incredibly low for a left-handed batter (.258) and he's still hitting a fair amount of line drives (22% a year ago to 24% now). Looking at that, eventually, you figure "something" gives and he turns it around. Still, this is quickly becoming more than a sophomore slump.
- Gaby Sanchez is a lot better than I thought he'd be. He's killing the ball right now and is nearly 1:1 BB:K. The defense is still a problem, and I think he profiles more as a DH than a National League first baseman, but he's really stepping up huge when I thought he'd do nothing more than keep first base warm for Logan Morrison.
- Mike Stanton needs a promotion. He hit his 13th homer today at AA; his on-base percentage is over .500, his slugging percentage is over .800. Quite simply, he's putting on a early 00's Barry Bonds type performance. There's nothing left for him to do at AA.
- Fredi's probably firmly on the hot-seat now, but he shouldn't be. He didn't construct the bullpen, he didn't make his outfielders become historically unproductive - they have fewer combined home-runs (2) than Josh Johnson has RBI (4) - and he certainly didn't ask for post season expectations with a $40 million-ish payroll. Does he deserve some heat for bad bullpen management? Absolutely, but you can't demand champagne on a beer budget.
- The best thing the Marlins can do for the bullpen is give Taylor Tankersley another shot. There's a real need for a lefty reliever with Meyer on the shelf and Tank is putting up encouraging K numbers in AAA (11 in 11.2 innings pitched). Even more encouraging, 9 of those K's are against righties. He may never be worth the 1st round pick the Marlins invested in him, but if you get a strikeout reliever, especially a left-handed one, you have a desirable piece in the bullpen.
- Coghlan needs a helping hand. It's May 3rd and he still doesn't have an extra base hit, and he's racking up an alarming number of strikeouts (23 already after only 77 a year ago). There are some encouraging signs: his BABIP is incredibly low for a left-handed batter (.258) and he's still hitting a fair amount of line drives (22% a year ago to 24% now). Looking at that, eventually, you figure "something" gives and he turns it around. Still, this is quickly becoming more than a sophomore slump.
- Gaby Sanchez is a lot better than I thought he'd be. He's killing the ball right now and is nearly 1:1 BB:K. The defense is still a problem, and I think he profiles more as a DH than a National League first baseman, but he's really stepping up huge when I thought he'd do nothing more than keep first base warm for Logan Morrison.
- Mike Stanton needs a promotion. He hit his 13th homer today at AA; his on-base percentage is over .500, his slugging percentage is over .800. Quite simply, he's putting on a early 00's Barry Bonds type performance. There's nothing left for him to do at AA.
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