THOMAS JOSEPH

I enjoyed the podcast. I am sorry to see Peter leave the Locked on Marlins podcast. He has a unique style and positivity. I wonder if he is the only European-based Locked On host? Gotta be.

I suppose more moves are coming - Garrett, Weathers, and perhaps, Simpson?

I am getting close to my melancholy time, which usually runs through the end of the year. So, even with the terrible record, I enjoy these last few regular season games. I don't watch the MLB playoffs, although I usually try to watch MiLB league title games, and whatever I can find of the Arizona Fall League. For me, the season ends on September 29th. Games like last night's become one of those mid-winter replays for me.

Switched over after the loss in Pittsburgh to see Garrett in Charlotte. See him against LA, surely? Also, I can't believe Wilmer Difo is still playing. Wow. Charlotte unis are Marlin-esque. Tuning in to the Nationals series show tonight. Cheers.

OK, here are my useless observations from yesterday. 1. I remain obviously and completely clueless about Schumaker's pitching strategy. In a bullpen game with a team 40 games under .500, he pulls Bermudez. Let him pitch another inning or two. What the hell difference could it make? Another five-pitcher game (although the McMillon injury must be factored in there). 2. Curry - well done in the Hoeing replacement role. 3. I saw the roller to Lopez that was scored a base hit. Are you s***ing me? Is this the Major Leagues? 4. Is there any better microcosm of the effed-up world of MLB salaries when Kiner-Falefa gets a $7.5m salary? Another to go. I don't give a rip about the ridiculous WAR - he's thoroughly a replacement guy. 5. Marlins pitchers thoroughly lack cajónes. Stottlemyre deserves a lot of the blame. Take back the inside part of the plate, at least, for crying out loud. Nobody has any fear, and everyone swings out of their shoes on our guys. I suppose it's too late for any of them this season but grow some pairs. 6. BAbip. The last time I checked, with help from the ridiculous official scorers around the league, the NL had a .295 BAbip. Walks are 1.000. I realize balls in play may be extra-base hits. Nevertheless, even with all the offensive-minded rule changes, pitching injuries, and the savior of all saviors (the DH), it's better to pitch to contact over walks if you are the Miami Marlins this season. Is there a statistic for the team that leads the league in 3-2 counts, and the number of those that end up as BBs? Of course, there is. Geez. If Bermudez and all the rest of the makeshift group we're stumbling over the season's final month with aren't capable of actually throwing strikes, so be it. Even if the BAbip is .300, so what? Since I am already overtly an *******, I will throw in here that I would like to abstain from a 9/11 regurgitation every year. Perhaps, the usual anniversaries - 30, 40, 50 years, etc. The annual lamentation serves to dilute it, in my opinion. Fly the flags at half-mast, the New York teams can wear the hats. Everyone remembers. But otherwise, the same, tired platitudes at baseball games every year add nothing. Sorry, most sincerely, and no offense to those who feel otherwise. I feel better now. Out.

Marlins win the series 3-1. MVP Eddy Cabrera

Soriano's performance, length and quality, is the silver-linjng takeaway. Regarding the season series, I suspect stats like that are of little consolation. The Pirates and their fans are totally disappointed by the season. In truth, all the NL Central teams looking up at the Brewers are disappointments. St. Louis fans, loyal and knowledgeable, are showing it by staying home.

Perhaps a precursor to resurrecting "Florida?" It's certainly at least a behind-closed-doors topic relating to drawing in-state fans. Especially as the team improves, the WS legacies are, at least theoretically, potential draws.

I don't care when and I don't care how - beating the Dodgers makes a great day. I know LA will be a big favorite in the upcoming series. Let's bring out the pride displayed in the last two games with the Phillies. Beat LA, and establish some more bona fides for the new, young Marlins going into the offseason.

You know the new Nike commercial ("Am I a bad person?"). I may not be maniacal, but does it make me a bad person to thoroughly enjoy sending all those LDO-attending Phillies fans home very sad. "OMG! We lost two games to the freaking Marlins!" WAAAAA. LOL. What a nice little pick-me-up of a game! We all know it means very little on any level, but it was so much fun to watch. Cabrera - like we all know he can be and against a tough-ass lineup. Norby - unstoppable! And, he is working hard at third base - love the grit he brings to the team in this last month of a totally lost season. Conine and Sanoja - refreshing! Fortes, Bride, and Lopez - solid contributions continue. Our only missed opportunity? We didn't plunk Marsh before his RBI single. LOL.

Marlins sweep the three games. Jesus Sanchez is the MVP.

Another young guy hitting the ground running in Miami. 👍

It's easy to appreciate a guy that comes to the plate prepared and ready to rock. What a sparkplug Norby has been. Moreover, he epitomizes the hungry, young team Bendix is building. Marlins fans, may I suggest we move just a bit toward optimism. A losing regular season is just that. Most important is we have a damn plan and someone willing to take the obligatory heat to implement it.

Good points with which I agree and they stimulate some thoughts that I may expound upon soon. Thanks.

It's good to get an MLB look at Sanoja. Regarding the general injury situation in MLB: I'll make the same point that I made a few days ago. I watch a lot of baseball, and players seem to get hurt or shaken up on every play that is not spectacularly routine. It's amazing to me. Although this is obviously an anecdotal statement, I wonder how many long-time baseball fans agree with me. I became a fan in 1972, skipping fifteen years between 2004 and 2019 after the Expos moved to DC, before resuming in 2019 with a good friend who is a Nationals fan. So, perhaps something changed in my fifteen-year hiatus that players are seemingly eggshell delicate. Are there more HPBs, or is it the pitching velocity? Players are armored up, which one would think helps mitigate things. No? On the other hand, the game is supposedly faster and "better" than ever before. The players are supposedly "better" than ever before. Huh. Thinking on that.

I have no beef with Oller. He didn't succumb to the Phillies' top guys, which is my usual mantra: let someone else in the lineup beat you. Stott did, and that's ok with me. I am glad that Rodriguez has some cajónes in the article - no mincing of words about those horrendous missed calls. I spontaneously yelled at the television, "C'mon, man," along with the Marlins announce team. It's also quite probable that Oller, had he been left in, would have allowed at least another run. That mitigates my other pet peeve - Schumaker's general unwillingness to extend the starters in this lost season (and the concomitant bullpen ramifications). I'm optimistic that Cabrera will rise to the challenge tonight. Call me silly. PS - Plunk Marsh. Just because.

What an inexplicable loss streak. Most pleased to get off the schneid last night.

Yes, and I think Bellozo is safe! Ugh. I left at the 7th inning stretch with the Shrimp down 6-0! It's always a good time at Slugger Field, though - no complaints. I may sneak in another one while Jax is in town. Cheers.

Marlins and Phillies split the four-game series. MVP is Trey Turner. Ugh. PS: Plunk Marsh in the ribs right off the bat. (Sorry.)

Bellozo was fun to watch, then frustrated with Baumann, ending the evening ebulliently as the Marlins broke the inexplicable loss streak to the Nationals. I must ask, though, as Azout stated, "a Marlins team that has been desperate for innings," why Bellozo couldn't pitch one more inning. He was, what, 85 pitches in? I watched the Rays today. Kevin Cash let Bradley go 7 innings, despite being down 4-0, 4-1, and 4-2, throughout the game. Close to the same pitch count. We are desperate for innings and have the concomitant tired bullpen because Schumaker is playing things like it's a pennant race. Frankly, he is managing for himself and his next job. I must reluctantly agree, once again, with David Samson, that this is the type of decisions that mitigate against retaining a lame-duck manager. Sorry to say it.

This is somewhat of an aside, and clearly anecdotal, but I watch a lot of MLB, and players sure seem to be hurt more than I remember in the past. Perhaps it was a different, if unfortunate mentality about playing through injuries. The monster team investments in players obviously contribute to a greater "protection of assets" strategy. Still, other than routine plays, it looks to me that players are hurt/shaken up/distressed by almost every play. The foolishness of head-first slides should be mentioned. Is the obligatory "players are bigger and faster" mantra not seemingly at odds with the constant drumbeat of "players are in better shape than ever?"

I don't have an emotional connection to Conine, but I like the kid and the energy he brings.

Information article, as promised on the podcast last night. It appears that the Marlins are leaving him in Jax to finish up. Hmm. I watched the Marlins game last night, with one eye, with the Jumbo Shrimp game from here in Louisville on my phone. Ramirez does need work, but a month of MLB time has no on-field ramifications for the Marlins, as you noted. In that realm, I don't get Pereda over Ramirez. Oh, well. The weather has been delightful in Louisville, so I'm going to the game tonight, checking on the Marlins periodically because I can't help myself!

Marlins sweep! Burger is MVP.

I cringe saying this, as an Expos fan especially, but I often agree with Samson. I appreciate that FOF was able to snag him for a podcast. Thanks, it was interesting.