Ely Sussman

With Twitter malfunctioning for the last few hours, a reminded that FOF also has a BlueSky account you could follow! https://bsky.app/profile/fishonfirst.com

Quantrill starting tonight (right after Sandy). Unless a real injury concern arises, the rotation is lined up as: Sandy Quantrill Weathers Cabrera Meyer

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins games. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs. It's a split-squad day. These notes apply to both Miami's home and road exhibition games against the Washington Nationals. Game 1 Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) C Nick Fortes CF Jesús Sánchez (L) 3B Jonah Bride LF Dane Myers RF Griffin Conine (L) 1B Matt Mervis (L) DH Agustín Ramírez 2B Javier Sanoja P Sandy Alcantara View full article

Marlins fans can now support Fish On First by repping our apparel and accessories. In collaboration with Miami's own About The Fans, Fish On First has entered the merchandise game! We are now creating apparel and accessories for the FOF brand as well as products inspired by Marlins players and history. For a limited time, everybody can save 10% off their orders by entering discount code FOF10 at checkout. We will be exploring ways to embed products directly on fishonfirst.com so that you can browse and shop on this site. In the meantime, please visit the collection here. Currently, shipping is only available to customers in the United States. We will be expanding the collection when inspiration strikes throughout the 2025 Marlins season. Don't be shy about submitting your own merch ideas in the comments—we'll do our best to bring those to life. About The Fans also sells products inspired by the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Heat and Florida Panthers, for those of you who root for them as well. View full article

Today's news roundup also includes a special Fish On First announcement and clarity on the Marlins' projected starting rotation. Sunday's game marked the midpoint of the Miami Marlins preseason schedule—they have played 15 exhibition games and have 15 more to go (14 in the Grapefruit League plus one against the New York Yankees at loanDepot park). The brightest of bright spots has been Sandy Alcantara looking dominant coming off Tommy John surgery. Catcher Joe Mack stands out as the most impressive non-roster invitee, especially when adjusting for his age (22) and lack of Triple-A experience. For entertainment purposes only, the results have been ugly. The Marlins own the Grapefruit League's worst record (4-8-3) with their opponents racking up nearly twice as home runs and stolen bases as they have for themselves. Marlins Opening Day is 17 days away. More Marlins news and content below: 🔷 Fish On First merchandise has arrived. We've partnered with About The Fans to make it easier for you to rep the FOF brand in public and find unique, Marlins-inspired products. Orders placed today should arrive in time for Opening Day. 🔷 Most of the players without MLB experience were trimmed from Marlins big league camp over the weekend, even those who had been looking good in Grapefruit League action like Max Acosta, Dax Fulton and Jared Serna. Regarding members of the 40-man roster, Fulton and Serna were optioned to Double-A Pensacola, while Acosta, Luarbert Arias, Deyvison De Los Santos and Adam Mazur went down to Triple-A Jacksonville. The plan is for those players to report to the aforementioned affiliates when the season begins, though the team is allowed to change course if something unexpected happens between now and the end of camp. 🔷 Sandy Alcantara himself, manager Clayton McCullough and pitching coach Daniel Moskos have all disputed a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan that describes Alcantara being on an innings limit, "particularly early in the season." Also in his latest interview with the Marlins Radio Network (embedded below), McCullough was refreshingly straightforward about Max Meyer being in "a great spot" to fill out the club's starting rotation (joining Alcantara, Cal Quantrill, Ryan Weathers and Edward Cabrera). Barring an injury to another starter, Valente Bellozo seems to be on the outside looking in. 🔷 Matt Mervis spoke to the Miami Herald's Jordan McPherson about trying to shake the "bad habits" that contributed to his 2024 struggles. Marlins hitting coaches have worked with him on "getting his back hip in a proper position." 🔷 Christina De Nicola of MLB.com describes how the Marlins are using Trajekt to prepare their hitters to face specific pitchers. According to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, 19 other MLB teams already had Trajekt as of midway through last season, so this is simply catching up to the competition. Gonzalez reports that Trajekt costs approximately $15,000 a month. In addition to the machine that just arrived in Jupiter, a second one is being installed at loanDepot park. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, a doctor has advised New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole to undergo Tommy John surgery, though he is seeking a second opinion before making a decision. Either way, Cole will be out for an extended period (he missed nearly half of the 2024 season with an elbow injury). Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Michael Grove needs season-ending labrum surgery. New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is undergoing surgery for a fractured left hamate bone, which will sideline him for 6-8 weeks. 🔷 Today's Grapefruit League games: the Marlins (probable starter RHP Sandy Alcantara) host the Washington Nationals (LHP Mitchell Parker) at 1:10 p.m. and another group of Fish (RHP Cal Quantrill) will visit another group of Nats (LHP Shinnosuke Ogasawara) at 6:05 p.m. Nick Fortes, who hasn't appeared since Wednesday due to a groin contusion, is expected to start one of the games. Marlins podcast episodes View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs. These notes apply to Miami's road exhibition game against the Houston Astros. Starting Lineup RF Kyle Stowers (L) 3B Connor Norby CF Derek Hill 1B Eric Wagaman C Liam Hicks (L) LF Heriberto Hernández SS Javier Sanoja DH Albert Almora Jr. 2B Ronny Simon (S) P Xzavion Curry View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs. These notes apply to Miami's home exhibition game against the New York Mets. Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) 2B Otto Lopez 1B Jonah Bride RF Jesús Sánchez (L) CF Dane Myers LF Griffin Conine (L) C Agustín Ramírez DH Matt Mervis (L) 3B Graham Pauley (L) P Max Meyer View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs. These notes apply to Miami's road exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox. Starting Lineup CF Kyle Stowers (L) RF Derek Hill 3B Connor Norby DH Graham Pauley (L) 1B Eric Wagaman LF Albert Almora Jr. 2B Javier Sanoja SS Max Acosta C Rob Brantly P Edward Cabrera View full article

Today's news roundup also includes a lopsided Marlins spring training loss. Friday's Grapefruit League game was record-setting in the worst way for the Miami Marlins. Comprehensive spring training stats are available dating back to 2006 and this is the only instance where they've allowed 20 runs in a single exhibition game. Starter Edward Cabrera faced 13 batters and retired only five of them. The Boston Red Sox scored in each of the eight innings that they batted, homering six total times. Marlins Opening Day is 19 days away. More Marlins news and content below: 🔷 Alex Carver's overview of the Marlins' Spring Breakout roster highlights Thomas White, Starlyn Caba, Andrew Salas, Noble Meyer, Robby Snelling, Dillon Head and Dax Fulton. The only prospects repeating as participants from the inaugural 2024 showcase are White, Meyer, Joe Mack, Andrés Valor, Javier Sanoja, Karson Milbrandt and Kemp Alderman. 🔷 For the second straight year, Fish On First's Kevin Barral participated in Effectively Wild's season preview series. His interview with Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley about the state of the Marlins is embedded below (begins at the 1:35:27 mark). 🔷 The Marlins are 16th in MLB Pipeline's preseason farm system rankings. They had been 29th at this time a year ago. 🔷 Following the news of Jessica Blaylock's departure last month, Jeremy Taché announced that he'll be an in-game reporter on FanDuel Sports Network Florida Marlins broadcasts this season. Taché has done the same assignment for occasional Miami Heat home games on the network. His history covering the Marlins dates back to Swings and Mishes, the podcast he co-hosted with Craig Mish in the late 2010s and early 2020s. He will split the reporter reps with Kelly Saco. 🔷 Happy birthday to Dane Myers. Health permitting, the pitcher-turned-outfielder is set to make the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career at the age of 29. 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Lawrence Butler and the Athletics agreed to a seven-year, $65.5 million contract extension that includes a club option for the eighth year. Butler broke out as one of MLB's best offensive players during the second half of last season. After missing half of the 2024 campaign due to a right elbow injury, New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to undergo an MRI on the same elbow. Brazil clinched the final spot in the 2026 World Baseball Classic field, the country's first WBC berth since 2013. 🔷 Today's Grapefruit League game: the Marlins (probable starter RHP Max Meyer) host the New York Mets (LHP David Peterson). It is only being broadcasted on the Marlins Radio Network. It'll be the latest scheduled start time of spring training with a 6:40 p.m. first pitch. Meyer's sitdown with Jack McMullen and Stephen Strom discussing his offseason gains is embedded below. Marlins podcast episodes View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs. These notes apply to Miami's road exhibition game against the Atlanta Braves. Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) CF Jesús Sánchez (L) 3B Jonah Bride 1B Matt Mervis (L) LF Griffin Conine (L) RF Dane Myers C Liam Hicks (L) 2B Otto Lopez DH Heriberto Hernández P Ryan Weathers View full article

The video game's ratings are supposed to reflect "real life." Whoops! It is admittedly going to be difficult to anticipate what sort of production most Miami Marlins players will provide this season given their brief MLB track records. The obvious exception, of course, is Sandy Alcantara. The last time he was healthy for a full season, Alcantara was the league's most productive pitcher. This spring, he has reverted to Cy Young-caliber form and he's still in the prime of his baseball career at age 29. He is unequivocally the club's best player. Alcantara's character in MLB The Show 25 will not reflect that, though. As revealed on Wednesday in anticipation of the game's release later this month, he'll begin the 2025 season with only a 78 player rating (the maximum is 99). Fans took to social media to express their disapproval. So did fellow MLB players like Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards. The top-rated Marlin in MLBTS is Alcantara's protégé, Eury Pérez, at 81. Injured left-hander Braxton Garrett is tied with Alcantara as a 78. Otto Lopez (77) and Griffin Conine (76) lead the position player group. xzlbcv_1.mp4 At the start of the ratings reveal special, senior live game designer Ruairí McCann was asked about the methodology behind the ratings and said this: "We're looking at a lot of stats. We're looking at a lot of analytics, a lot of data, and put it all together, it gets all the attributes you have on a player. Any attribute you look at, you can go to a stat, some metric, and it really does give you a one-to-one. That's our goal: always putting the one-to-one, our game to real life." However, McCann later shared that there is also some subjectivity involved. While discussing somebody else who's coming back from an injury (Matt McLain of the Cincinnati Reds), he said that ratings drop whenever a player misses the whole previous season. Looking back at MLBTS 24, Pérez was an 89 overall and Alcantara was an 83. Both of them were sidelined throughout 2024 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. If the game had simply left those ratings unchanged, I bet there'd be much less public backlash. From both a run prevention and peripheral standpoint, Garrett was slightly better than Alcantara when they were last rotation mates on the 2023 Marlins. Still, it's hard to rationalize how they currently share the same overall rating when Garrett's upside is so much lower and he's coming off an injury-marred season of his own. During the past year, Conine has ascended from organizational afterthought to likely member of the Opening Day roster. In a late-season, 30-game sample in the majors, the powerful outfielder was an above-average hitter and an above-average defender. Easy to root for considering his father is a two-time World Series winner with this franchise and part of the inaugural Marlins Legend Hall of Fame class. With all due respect to Conine, the juxtaposition of his overall rating being only two points lower than Alcantara's is embarrassing. He accumulated 0.7 bWAR during his initial cup of coffee, which would merit this rating if you could confidently extrapolate that over the course of a full year. Realistically, the chances of him overcoming his well-documented contact issues to maintain that pace are remote. If I was in charge of MLBTS ratings, this is how I'd rank the top five Marlins: Sandy Alcantara Eury Pérez Xavier Edwards Ryan Weathers Jesús Sánchez Let me know if you like that better than what the game designers came up with. View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins game. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs. These notes apply to Miami's home exhibition game against the Washington Nationals. Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) RF Griffin Conine (L) CF Derek Hill 3B Connor Norby LF Kyle Stowers (L) C Nick Fortes 2B Otto Lopez 1B Graham Pauley (L) DH Eric Wagaman P Sandy Alcantara View full article

Today's news roundup also includes updated Marlins prospect lists. Fish On First has a robust video section that houses exclusive player interviews, highlight reels, segments from our podcasts/livestreams and more high-quality Marlins coverage from other creators. For those of you who have had a poor experience with our video player in the past because of excessive ads, I just wanted to update you that the settings have been changed to address that. Moving forward, you should only be seeing a maximum of one pre-roll ad and one post-roll ad in between videos. Please let me know if you continue to experience an ad overload by mistake! Marlins Opening Day is 22 days away. More Marlins news and content below: 🔷 Andrew Nardi has paused his throwing progression for at least the next few days due to back tightness. At this point, it is clear he will begin the regular season on the injured list. Nate Karzmer already factored that into his new roster projection and tabbed fellow left-hander Josh Simpson to fill his shoes. Personally, I don't think handedness will matter much when deciding the next man up. More likely, it'll be a pitcher already on the 40-man roster who is capable of eating multiple innings. 🔷 Although the Marlins haven't publicly stated it themselves, Sandy Alcantara will have his innings limited early in the season, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports (hence my previous comment about bullpen construction). Over the course of his career, Alcantara has averaged nearly 6.5 innings per start. All indications are that he'll work on a normal, every-fifth-day schedule, just without the opportunity to pitch as deep into games as he's accustomed to. 🔷 Our Fish On First Top 30 list has been updated. Thomas White remains firmly in a tier of his own and we also feel there's a noticeable drop-off from the first 10 prospects to the rest of the farm system, though the system as a whole has impressive depth. The rankings are a collaborative effort between myself, Alex Carver, Isaac Azout and Kevin Barral. 🔷 MLB Pipeline also updated their Marlins Top 30 this week. Jim Callis, who manages the list for Pipeline, is much higher on PJ Morlando (sixth) and Kemp Alderman (11th). 🔷 Ryan Weathers' fastball velocity sat at 98 mph in his spring debut on Saturday, according to data obtained by Lance Brozdowski. More importantly, the shape of the pitch has been "overhauled" compared to last year. If this combination of velo and induced vertical break carries over to the regular season, it could become "one of the best left-handed fastballs in MLB." 🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, a cracked rib will sideline Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy for 4-6 weeks. Murphy suffered the injury on Friday when he was hit by a 94 mph fastball from Marlins prospect William Kempner. Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil will be shut down from throwing for at least six weeks due to a lat strain. The MLB free agent pool continues to dry up with José Quintana joining the Milwaukee Brewers (1-YR/$4.25M). Mike Moustakas is retiring after a 13-year MLB career. 🔷 Today's Grapefruit League game: the Marlins (probable starter RHP Sandy Alcantara) host the Washington Nationals (LHP Shinnosuke Ogasawara). Alcantara will be stretched out to three innings, as will Valente Bellozo coming out of the bullpen. It's only being broadcasted on the Marlins Radio Network. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Marlins podcast episodes View full article

Player status updates, insightful stats and more information to fully equip you for today's Marlins games. Here are the latest Miami Marlins game notes, produced by the Marlins communications department and relayed to our loyal SuperSubs. It's a split-squad day. These notes apply to both Miami's home exhibition game against the Houston Astros and road exhibition game against the New York Mets. Game 1 Starting Lineup SS Xavier Edwards (S) LF Kyle Stowers (L) RF Dane Myers CF Jesús Sánchez (L) 3B Jonah Bride 1B Eric Wagaman DH Liam Hicks (L) C Nick Fortes 2B Javier Sanoja P Max Meyer View full article