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.
Showing posts with label Fredi Gonzalez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fredi Gonzalez. Show all posts
Monday, May 17, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Too Early For Panic Button
After wrapping up their series victory on Wednesday, the Padres sent the suddenly struggling Marlins to their third straight series loss, following unsuccessful stops in Houston and Colorado.
This rough stretch has dropped the Marlins to .500 on the year and has left some in Marlin-land reaching for the panic button. The problem, though, is that there really is no right answer for the team right now. The offense hits early and disappears late, the starting pitching and the bullpen never seem to get in sync, and Fredi seems to have an inexplicably long leash for pitchers, demonstrated again today as he stuck with Nate Robertson for 5 excruciating runs in a tough 5th inning.
The Marlins have some prospects who are pretty close to household names in Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton, but right now, the offense isn't the problem, and even then, there isn't a clear spot for either player. The team has already overhauled their bullpen once with the demotion of Jose Veras and they've only recently gotten Brian Sanches back from the disabled list, so it appears this pitching staff is the one the Marlins want, at least for the short term. Even looking long term, there is no hot shot pitching prospect in the minors, and except for Taylor Tankersley, there doesn't appear to be anyone in the system that has ace reliever potential either. Andrew Miller and Sean West are starters with control issues and Ryan Tucker, at least now, is still viewed by the organization as a starter.
That leaves only one remaining option for a potential shakeup: Fredi Gonzalez, he of the continually hot seat. It's no secret the Marlins tried to replace Fredi this offseason; and owner Jeffrey Loria has never been overly enamored with Fredi as he personally directed Larry Beinfest to hire Joe Girardi, not Fredi Gonzalez, prior to the 2006 season and it was only after their well publicized run-in that Loria canned Girardi. Quite simply, Gonzalez has never had the owner's support.
Making a change now, though, would send all the wrong messages. It would reek of desperation and show a complete obliviousness as to the putrid state of the bullpen.
Firing Fredi is certainly possible, and come May, if the Marlins are still towing the .500 line, it's probable the Marlins make a move, fairly or unfairly. However, for now, the fans shouldn't make too much of the slide to .500.
This rough stretch has dropped the Marlins to .500 on the year and has left some in Marlin-land reaching for the panic button. The problem, though, is that there really is no right answer for the team right now. The offense hits early and disappears late, the starting pitching and the bullpen never seem to get in sync, and Fredi seems to have an inexplicably long leash for pitchers, demonstrated again today as he stuck with Nate Robertson for 5 excruciating runs in a tough 5th inning.
The Marlins have some prospects who are pretty close to household names in Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton, but right now, the offense isn't the problem, and even then, there isn't a clear spot for either player. The team has already overhauled their bullpen once with the demotion of Jose Veras and they've only recently gotten Brian Sanches back from the disabled list, so it appears this pitching staff is the one the Marlins want, at least for the short term. Even looking long term, there is no hot shot pitching prospect in the minors, and except for Taylor Tankersley, there doesn't appear to be anyone in the system that has ace reliever potential either. Andrew Miller and Sean West are starters with control issues and Ryan Tucker, at least now, is still viewed by the organization as a starter.
That leaves only one remaining option for a potential shakeup: Fredi Gonzalez, he of the continually hot seat. It's no secret the Marlins tried to replace Fredi this offseason; and owner Jeffrey Loria has never been overly enamored with Fredi as he personally directed Larry Beinfest to hire Joe Girardi, not Fredi Gonzalez, prior to the 2006 season and it was only after their well publicized run-in that Loria canned Girardi. Quite simply, Gonzalez has never had the owner's support.
Making a change now, though, would send all the wrong messages. It would reek of desperation and show a complete obliviousness as to the putrid state of the bullpen.
Firing Fredi is certainly possible, and come May, if the Marlins are still towing the .500 line, it's probable the Marlins make a move, fairly or unfairly. However, for now, the fans shouldn't make too much of the slide to .500.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Fredi's Bullpen Management A Problem
It was a tough meltdown to watch last night. The Marlins scored early and disappeared late, but games like that happen, and with a bullpen like the Marlins', no lead is safe.
The real problem, though, was Fredi's use of his rested bullpen. Monday was an off-day, the performances turned in by Nolasco and Robertson gave the bullpen basically a weekend off. Why then were the Marlins on the short end of a 7-4 decision having used only 2 pitchers: starter Chris Volstad and then Tim Wood for an ill-advised 2 innings of work.
The bigger problem, though is the way Fredi uses his bullpen; last night, other than Wood, the only other reliever Fredi got up was Renyel Pinto. This isn't anything new, Marlins fans know that Fredi has his favorites and sticks with them to a fault. The real problem goes deeper than playing favorites, the real problem is that the Marlins have a bad bullpen and Fredi is too hesitant to pull a struggling reliever out. Wood clearly didn't have it last night in the 7th, yet Fredi stuck with him for the fateful 8th, much the way he stuck with Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom, Jorge Julio and the litany of relievers we've run through here the past several years.
Fredi's old school bullpen management is beneficial when a few alpha relievers rise above the rest of the bullpen, look at Joe Torre's successful Yankee teams or Bobby Cox's mid 90's Braves teams, but the Marlins don't have that luxury. The 7 arms in the bullpen, handedness excluded, are basically all of interchangeable quality, except for the recent emergence of Clay Hensley and what appears to be a more confident Leo Nunez. Fredi needs to learn to get away from a struggling reliever rather than allowing him to try to work it out on the mound. The team has been very fortunate with the performance of their rotation to this point, Fredi can't allow the bullpen to keep handing games away because he stuck with "his guy" too long.
The real problem, though, was Fredi's use of his rested bullpen. Monday was an off-day, the performances turned in by Nolasco and Robertson gave the bullpen basically a weekend off. Why then were the Marlins on the short end of a 7-4 decision having used only 2 pitchers: starter Chris Volstad and then Tim Wood for an ill-advised 2 innings of work.
The bigger problem, though is the way Fredi uses his bullpen; last night, other than Wood, the only other reliever Fredi got up was Renyel Pinto. This isn't anything new, Marlins fans know that Fredi has his favorites and sticks with them to a fault. The real problem goes deeper than playing favorites, the real problem is that the Marlins have a bad bullpen and Fredi is too hesitant to pull a struggling reliever out. Wood clearly didn't have it last night in the 7th, yet Fredi stuck with him for the fateful 8th, much the way he stuck with Kevin Gregg, Matt Lindstrom, Jorge Julio and the litany of relievers we've run through here the past several years.
Fredi's old school bullpen management is beneficial when a few alpha relievers rise above the rest of the bullpen, look at Joe Torre's successful Yankee teams or Bobby Cox's mid 90's Braves teams, but the Marlins don't have that luxury. The 7 arms in the bullpen, handedness excluded, are basically all of interchangeable quality, except for the recent emergence of Clay Hensley and what appears to be a more confident Leo Nunez. Fredi needs to learn to get away from a struggling reliever rather than allowing him to try to work it out on the mound. The team has been very fortunate with the performance of their rotation to this point, Fredi can't allow the bullpen to keep handing games away because he stuck with "his guy" too long.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Early Season Roster Shakeup
A little late to the party, so I'm sure this is old news to everyone, but in case you missed it, reliever Jose Veras has been designated for assignment and infielder/outfielder/out-maker Emilio Bonifacio has been optioned to AAA. Chris Leroux has been recalled from AAA and Brett Carroll came off the 15 day disabled list to fill the newly opened roster spots.
The moves came after a closed door meeting following last night's game; the meeting was reported by both the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, with both characterizing it as a personnel meeting.
Thus far, it doesn't appear any other moves are forthcoming, and by all indications the meeting not only took place in manager Fredi Gonzalez' office, but with him as an involved party; still, keep checking that temperature under Fredi's seat, things may be getting hot in a hurry.
The moves came after a closed door meeting following last night's game; the meeting was reported by both the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, with both characterizing it as a personnel meeting.
Thus far, it doesn't appear any other moves are forthcoming, and by all indications the meeting not only took place in manager Fredi Gonzalez' office, but with him as an involved party; still, keep checking that temperature under Fredi's seat, things may be getting hot in a hurry.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Volstad Strong in Make or Break Start
I didn't see it, so I won't go into great detail other than to say it seemed that Chris Volstad wrapped up his rotation spot with a strong (by his standards, at least) start Saturday against Washington: 5 innings, 2 K's, 2 walks, 1 earned run (1 run total).
He ran into some trouble in the first inning after loading the bases but he battled back to turn in 5 full innings.
It now looks as if the Marlins have 4 rotation spots filled: Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad with a three man race for the 5th and final spot among Clay Hensley, Rick Vandenhurk and FirstPlaceFish's projected frontrunner: Andrew Miller; the lone lefty in the bunch. Hensley is the only pitcher of the three yet to start a spring game for the Marlins, but manager Fredi Gonzalez has indicated he will try to work him into a minor league game sometime this week.
He ran into some trouble in the first inning after loading the bases but he battled back to turn in 5 full innings.
It now looks as if the Marlins have 4 rotation spots filled: Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad with a three man race for the 5th and final spot among Clay Hensley, Rick Vandenhurk and FirstPlaceFish's projected frontrunner: Andrew Miller; the lone lefty in the bunch. Hensley is the only pitcher of the three yet to start a spring game for the Marlins, but manager Fredi Gonzalez has indicated he will try to work him into a minor league game sometime this week.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Marlins Bullpen Already Set?
Fredi Gonzalez never misses a chance to oversimplify and today was no exception; claiming he has 6 of his 7 bullpen spots ready.
Notably missing: the loser of the 5th starter race and Mike MacDougal. In MacDougal, the Marlins had what I thought to be the prototypical Beinfest reliever: a big fastball, a closing pedigree and a chip on his shoulder.
The fate for the odd-man out in the rotation race is a little more convoluted. With the exception of Hayden Penn, every pitcher still "in it" has options left (or, in the case of Clay Hensley, isn't even on the 40-man roster) so the minors are very much in play.
It should be an interesting race to the finish for the bullpen, but I cannot stress how shocked I would be to see the Marlins leave Jupiter without Mike MacDougal on the team.
Post Game Addition:
And, like clockwork, Jose Veras took the job security and then threw up all overhimself. 4 runs (all earned) a walk and a strikeout in an inning and two thirds. I reiterate: Mike MacDougal not getting the job ahead of Veras would be the biggest shock of the spring.
“Things can change with trades, waiver-wire acquisitions,” Gonzalez said, “but as of today you got Pinto, Meyer, Nunez, Sanches, the Hopper, Veras – I like his stuff. So, I leave one spot.”
Notably missing: the loser of the 5th starter race and Mike MacDougal. In MacDougal, the Marlins had what I thought to be the prototypical Beinfest reliever: a big fastball, a closing pedigree and a chip on his shoulder.
The fate for the odd-man out in the rotation race is a little more convoluted. With the exception of Hayden Penn, every pitcher still "in it" has options left (or, in the case of Clay Hensley, isn't even on the 40-man roster) so the minors are very much in play.
It should be an interesting race to the finish for the bullpen, but I cannot stress how shocked I would be to see the Marlins leave Jupiter without Mike MacDougal on the team.
Post Game Addition:
And, like clockwork, Jose Veras took the job security and then threw up all overhimself. 4 runs (all earned) a walk and a strikeout in an inning and two thirds. I reiterate: Mike MacDougal not getting the job ahead of Veras would be the biggest shock of the spring.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Fredi's Outfield Comments Perplexing
Even on a day that was washed out by rain, the Marlins found a way to get me talking. Within this piece from the Miami Herald, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez openly stated that only Cody Ross and Chris Coghlan were assured starting jobs in the Marlins outfield. Simple math and the process of elimination leaves one name ominously out in the cold: Cameron Maybin.
Maybin, you'll remember was proclaimed the opening day center fielder a year ago, struggled mightily through the start of 2009 and spent the majority of the season at AAA New Orleans. He came back in September, and seemed to demonstrate capability and a readiness to reprise his role in the opening day lineup.
That's why Fredi's comments are perplexing. Based on performance, no, Maybin doesn't deserve a guarantee; however, based on pedigree, expectations and overall importance, Maybin needs to start, and even more importantly, Maybin does not need to be constantly looking over his shoulder worrying if wunderkind Mike Stanton is going to take his spot in the lineup.
Could Maybin's groin injury play a role in this? Absolutely. The Marlins might feel that Maybin needs the spring at-bats, and if he doesn't get to a certain number of AB's, extended spring training and a rehab stint might not be the worst thing for Maybin, but think of the can of worms that opens.
Let's assume that Maybin isn't ready to go, Stanton opens the season with the big club and thrives, three weeks in Stanton's playing great, Maybin's ready to come back and Coghlan and Ross are healthy. Can you send Stanton down? Would you want to make that call? I sure wouldn't. Maybe somehow, someway, the convoluted first-base situation is somehow solved by this as the odd-man out ends up at first, and the Marlins just delay the inevitable outfield rearrangement that seems to be coming sooner than we expected given not only Stanton's hot spring, but also the organization evidently buying into it as more than just a spring mirage.
Competition is a great thing, lighting a fire under someone is never a bad move, but when the organization has so much invested in Maybin succeeding, making him now look over his shoulder before the regular season has even begun is not a great way to keep his confidence high.
Maybin, you'll remember was proclaimed the opening day center fielder a year ago, struggled mightily through the start of 2009 and spent the majority of the season at AAA New Orleans. He came back in September, and seemed to demonstrate capability and a readiness to reprise his role in the opening day lineup.
That's why Fredi's comments are perplexing. Based on performance, no, Maybin doesn't deserve a guarantee; however, based on pedigree, expectations and overall importance, Maybin needs to start, and even more importantly, Maybin does not need to be constantly looking over his shoulder worrying if wunderkind Mike Stanton is going to take his spot in the lineup.
Could Maybin's groin injury play a role in this? Absolutely. The Marlins might feel that Maybin needs the spring at-bats, and if he doesn't get to a certain number of AB's, extended spring training and a rehab stint might not be the worst thing for Maybin, but think of the can of worms that opens.
Let's assume that Maybin isn't ready to go, Stanton opens the season with the big club and thrives, three weeks in Stanton's playing great, Maybin's ready to come back and Coghlan and Ross are healthy. Can you send Stanton down? Would you want to make that call? I sure wouldn't. Maybe somehow, someway, the convoluted first-base situation is somehow solved by this as the odd-man out ends up at first, and the Marlins just delay the inevitable outfield rearrangement that seems to be coming sooner than we expected given not only Stanton's hot spring, but also the organization evidently buying into it as more than just a spring mirage.
Competition is a great thing, lighting a fire under someone is never a bad move, but when the organization has so much invested in Maybin succeeding, making him now look over his shoulder before the regular season has even begun is not a great way to keep his confidence high.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
