THOMAS JOSEPH

The Dominican League is fun to watch. Last night, Johnston struck out on an inside fastball and was furious with himself for missing it. He was right on, just a tiny bit late. He roared to himself as he walked back to the dugout. That kind of fire is pushing his performance. I suppose he isn't getting much of a chance in ST, but I sure would like to see it. It's also cool to see Jesús Sánchez. I've been watching the Marlins guys (and former Marlins), along with some recognizable names. It's a shame that Alderman is out in the AFL HR Derby. Lastly, I'm surprised at some waiver wire pitching choices, just as every year. Sixto, though, had to go to free up space. Everything is Team Bendix now, so...

I am not sweating the managerial situation. It's far less important than other moves in the scheme of things. I suppose keeping someone around, continuity, has some merit. But let's not act as if there is a need to genuflect to the Tom Kellys of the world, as much as I liked Tom. More power to them and their organizations. But, to steal a line from Men in Black, that means exactly what to me? We've already seen the obligatory "Roberts does not get enough credit" blather. He's a magician who somehow (somehow!) kept all the egos in check long enough and overcame injuries (he had the only team that had injuries, of course) to win it all! Pay no attention to the $400 million payroll, or whatever it was. The mantra is par for the course from the tiresome parrots in mainstream baseball and want-to-be-relevant YouTubers. Had the Yankees won, of course, Boone would be the vindicated, misunderstood genius browbeaten by the unforgiving New York fans. The parrots: I told you so! I told you so! Boone will win! Boone will win! Put Roberts (or Boone) with the Pirates, Marlins, or Giants and see how it goes. No calls for the Hall of Fame then, I bet. So tiresome and so predictable. Luckily, the ubiquitous managerial carousel allows the middling guys who win tons regular season games to hang around long enough to get the "great" moniker. Great for attendance and fan interaction, which are legitimate value propositions, sure, I acknowledge it. But no one, and I mean no one, is satisfied with that, nor lots of division titles, for that matter. These are steppingstones to on-field success or they're balm for fans. Alternatively, why not just supply $350+ million payrolls for a decade until we get the proverbial blind squirrel outcome (or there's a surreal, unattended, contrived pandemic "tournament" we can masquerade as legitimate - we make the damn rules, you peasants)? Consider the handwringing, for example, that occurred when the Cubs ridiculously overpaid Craig Counsell, The Brewers are lost! The Brewers are lost! Maybe the Cubs will win a few World Series in the Counsell era. (Cough.) Yes, there are (apparent) exceptions, like Bruce Bochy, who seems to have the magic touch. Guys like Baker and Showalter and Cox, et al., lose and lose in the playoffs until they finally win after thirty years (it's a crapshoot, after all), and the drumbeating for the Hall of Fame begins because, well...they won a lot of regular season games, darn it! Fine fellows, all, I am sure. All those playoff losses, again and again, are just bad luck (no, it's a crapshoot). Otherwise, why would so many teams continue to lazily pick from the managerial carousel? We're the damn experts here and we prove it by recycling these guys who get really close! We had four numbers on the Powerball - we're close, I tell you! It's a modern Gnosticism in action. The secret knowledge of Magus Counsell or Magus Baker will take us to the promised land! Even losers, when it suits the parrots, get the mantra that overrides the so-called meritocracy of baseball. Michael Kay can howl all he wants about how there's no one better to replace Boone. It's foolish to blame him, blah, blah. He got them to the World Series! Who would dare question his value? Only the Neanderthals who buy the tickets, merchandise, and subscriptions. Idiots! Don't they know we know how much the clubhouse loves Boone? New York is a tough place! New York is a tough place! If he can make it there... But he didn't make it, again. Cashman and Boone! Continuity! We are the Yankees, listen to us! So, as counterintuitive as baseball often turns out (or because it's a crapshoot), the late- and/or third-choice managerial selection of the Marlins will be perfectly suitable. And, may I add, a whole lot cheaper than Counsell (genuflect).

It will be fine, whoever is chosen.

Why not take a chance on Roa? All upside, especially as he is so young. Oller and Muñoz? Not so sure I understand those decisions, though.

Oller and Muñoz are disappointing because they did adequate jobs last year and were inexpensive. I'm not sure what the deal is with those decisions. Bellozo—yes, keep him. There is no reason not to incorporate him into the initial staff, as it stands now. Junis - ok. It's not a huge needle mover, but why not? I'll reiterate that Oller looked just fine in this vein and was already here. There are always surprise ST performances, injuries, and other deals before the O.D. roster is settled anyway.

Thanks for another solid piece here. Sorry, I'm commenting on such an odd point outside of the Miami sphere of the article, but I see Edgar Quero on the second graph. I sure wanted him way back, along with Korey Lee, before both ended up being traded to the White Sox. Quero is the guy, according to the Sox content creators. The Angels were moving on from him, but the Marlins must like their internal options. We'll see.

I enjoyed the article. Predictions and GM-for-a-day articles are fun. I see that the Cardinals selected Muñoz from waivers and saw on X that Oller is opting for free agency. I liked both since the assumed starting staff composition is far from certain (not even including possible trades). Hill seems solid for the roster (and cheap) unless there are big ST breakouts or trades. I think Bendix will try to coax (pray for) a productive first half from Cabrera to flip him at the deadline. If he appears to have finally turned the corner, there will be quite a few teams eyeballing him. Bruján looks ok in the Dominican League. He has a lot of versatility, so I think he will be on the Opening Day roster. He's cheap, as well. I guess it's de rigueur to bring in the has-been cast of characters like Abreu and Corbin to ST. Good Lord, though, I dislike the thought of a piecemeal guy taking ABs from developing players. Oh, well. Lastly, I also like Faucher and agree with your reluctance to commit long-term/big bucks to relievers. It's moot, though, since there is the proverbial snowball's chance the Marlins make an offer like that. The final round of bleedouts from poor contracts in 2025 leaves only the Loria/Samson legacy payouts for Stanton starting in 2026. Bendix has cleaned the slate for his master plan. Ok, Bob Ross, let's see your masterpiece taking shape before our eyes. Lol. This is going to be a fascinating offseason. Two teams are on the cusp of playing in MiLB stadiums. Lots of the usual busts (Lynn or Drury, anyone?) and the predictable massive overpays looming on the FA market. Who will be the next Rendon, Glen Davis, Prince Fielder, Strasburg, Corbin, or Canó? One thing is for sure, the owners never learn. They'll always provide plenty of stupidity fodder. But with the TV deal uncertainty, there will be restraint! Sure. Teams for sale as a few older hands or their heirs try to get the hell out with maximum returns before the next vicious CBA debacle. My interest in the on-field play itself continues to wane, but I will stay here as a Marlins fan and FOF subscriber to see how the Miami experiment plays out. I'm certainly not going to watch the freaking WBNA and I'm too old to join the Peace Corps. Have a pleasant weekend.

I commented (facetiously) on X that I preferred Venable because his dad had a short stint with the Expos in 1984. To some of your serious points, Venable does appear to have a better resume. Still, replacing managers and coaches is like painting a house - easily changed and hardly ever affecting the structure. I think Albernaz will be adequate, especially since the relationships with Bendix and Kapler are already established and, indeed, are the foundations of his consideration in the first place. Since we have turned over the show to Bendix, Albernaz's hiring is congruent with the new culture. Moreover, he can grow with his young team (Lord, I hate social worker platitudes like that, so please forgive me for taking the easy route). Lastly, I agree with you that the turnaround (some semblance of strong progress, anyway) will be quicker than many think. It's baseball, which is almost always counterintuitive vis-á-vis doomsayers. To paraphrase an O.G. of anti-groupthink (is that the proper use of the colloquial abbreviation?), Alfred Sloan of GM, when I have a table of people all in agreement, I know something is badly missing. Every expert says the Marlins are mired in their current state, blah, blah.

Enjoyed and agree with your insights. We've heard that Venable was the heir-apparent to Bochy and thus, would wait it out. To me, this shows the incredible draw of being one of thirty in the world, despite all the moaning and gnashing of teeth about "no one wants the job" in Chicago (or Miami, for that matter). That thinking is inane, but we hear the same ridiculousness repeated. Perhaps in a similar vein as free agents, who (as Samson pontificates about) are mercenary to the core. Offer enough money and I bet they'll sign. Who wouldn't? With a few jobs available, it's an exponentially stronger lure. I wager many guys missed their specific windows and never had an MLB managerial opportunity. Nothing is guaranteed, What does this mean for Schumaker? Sitting out a year, taking another (non-managerial) post? It sure looks like one of the two, despite the howling regarding the prestige of a MotY. One job was available, for crying out loud. He wasn't coming back to Miami, after all.

I am enjoying the DL and AFL. Regarding the AFL, s few simple additions to the coverage would be great for fans of each team. I realize there won't be multiple cameras and production gimmicks, but both outfield corners are blind spots. Having the player and MLB team affiliation on the screen while batting is easy.

I think Norby is the lock for the job and will be fine defensively. In any case, his bat outweighs any minimally subpar defense. He wasn't bad jumping into the new position. Edwards at short and Lopez at second keeps everyone in the lineup.

Give the roster spots and the ABs to the players we already have. Moncada is another Anderson, and not just because he comes from the ChiSox. An overpriced guy on the downturn with a low motivation quotient, it appears to me. I simply cannot see an upside to bringing this guy in.

Reasonable points, of course. I like underdogs - always rooting against the favorites. There's an element I can appreciate in a chalk faceoff between top single competitors that is undeniably romanticized, but I can't translate it to teams. It brings to mind Secretariat and Sham, Ali and Frazier, and some big dog final-hole golf tournament matchups. I can understand your points, even enjoying such a matchup that doesn't include one's favorite team. You know, my intolerance is probably because baseball is the only Big Four I watch anymore. The interest ebbing away there, too, little by little, which makes me testy! Enjoy the Series. I wish I could. Ciao.

I understand that sentiment. Still, I expected a full housecleaning for the new manager to fill his staff. In truth, I was somewhat surprised that Schumaker inherited him. Of course, as a rookie manager, it may have been a condition of his acceptance for the Marlins (Mel was under contract, but also had a good reputation). Schumaker himself might have thought the gesture/acceptance of Stottlemyre ingratiated him with the team (at least to some members of the pitching staff). You know all of that. I just don't get too attached to any of them, although I have my favorites. Coaching effectiveness is a crapshoot anyway, in my opinion.

I read the article despite my complete disinterest in Chisholm, Rojas, their "feud," and the World Series clash of evil empires. Well done, though, Alex Krutchik.

RIP, Fernando. He closed the doors on my Expos in 1981, pitching very well on the wet, cold "Blue" Monday in Montréal's Olympic Stadium. Of course, Rick Monday's 9th-inning home run off my all-time favorite, Steve Rogers, is the recurring nightmare for fans of Nos Amours, but Fernando got LA there in the pivotal NLCS after an amazing rookie regular season. Unrest in St. Louis. The "best fans in baseball" are howling over the apparent planned tepid response to their disappointing 2024. Goldschmidt is gone and ownership is signaling there are no big FA plans. Perhaps Brown and Jay will make up the difference. Oh, every once in a while, I like to see some of the more "self-assured" fan bases set back a little. Their " We are the Cardinals" schtick needs some whittling down for a decade or so. I am not interested in a World Series with the two evil empires. I did watch the 2019 Series with a buddy who's a huge Nationals fan. Otherwise, meh. Here, though, it is the worst possible matchup. One that MLB and the networks mutually salivate over is, ipso facto, a stink bomb for the rest of us. Accordingly, I pray for a Noah's Ark-esque forty days and forty nights of rain emblematic of this abomination of a World Series and the manifestation of the Divine Will for a thorough cleansing of MLB. In any case, we'll get that reckoning with the next CBA, n'est-ce pas? LOL. An outlier comment as I watch the Dominican League: I figure that MLB uniforms will feature the NASCAR-like advertisement array in a few years. The sleeve patch sponsorship was an obvious opening of Pandora's Box for many of us. Advertising on the batting helmets, already. In a few short years, the snorts of Boomer hyperbolism will be hollow as our MLB uniforms resemble soccer shirts. A Middle Eastern airline versus a software company on Saturday afternoon. Progress, huh?

I enjoyed the article. It's always fun to talk about possibilities, especially in the offseason. I put in a vote for our current stable. Save the money, because adding Bader won't move the needle while taking ABs from Myer, Stowers, and Hill. He certainly isn't a value anywhere in your anticipated price range for the Marlins. I figure all three of these guys are on the roster barring something weird, at a combined price half of a Bader deal, and we need full-season assessments for the Stowers and Myer. Hill is an excellent, inexpensive outfield versatility asset. I see Bader as superfluous and overpriced for the Marlins.

I cannot imagine a World Series that makes MLB and the television networks happier and makes me want to puke.

Un-PC as it surely is, my opinion is women shouldn't be in on-field authority position in men's professional sports. That includes umpires/officials.

Enjoyed the insights. Mack's star is rising and likely to fill that badly-knee second catcher roster spot with a productive bat.

And how. These two long-held franchises are billion-dollar plus ROI machines.

I watched the Gigantes but missed DLS, switching over to catch a couple of Johnston's ABs. I recognized many names, including Jerar Encarnación and Starlin Castro. In the AFL, I watched the crazy Saguaros at Desert Dogs game. Glendale almost pulled off a triple play in the top of the 6th. There are no replays shown. I thought they pulled it off, but the first base umpire ruled the batter/runner safe by an eyelash. Regarding the two teams we know about for sale, the Twins and White Sox: Maybe some of the old-timers are seeing the proverbial writing on the wall with local television revenue and the sure-to-be vitriolic CBA coming up in a few years. These two ownership groups will record astronomical asset appreciation and leave the headaches to others.

Lots of work here - excellent summary. Well worth the hour for me. Thanks, guys.

Lopez' snub is unfortunate. I saw Monteverde's rough outing yesterday. I had barely sat down when the first bomb went out of the park. The Trop situation most likely means two MLB teams playing in minor league parks, at least for a while. I've heard all sorts of options bandied about, just as you have. Brodie Brazil had a podcast up quickly, included LDP in the discussion, and rounded out by Oakland and Montréal. All three are untenable. As you noted, scheduling for LDP, Oakland just because, and Olympic Stadium is undergoing renovation itself. Locked on Rays said Steinbrenner field wasn't likely as the Yankees wouldn't accommodate the Rays. Port Charlotte, I guess. but only for a few months before the ubiquitous Florida afternoon rains kick in. I saw a game at the Disney complex in Kissimmee twenty-something years ago. It's generic but probably suitable for a limited time. Of course, it comes with the same weather issues as any other open-air stadium in Florida. Interesting.

The Marlins minor league teams on MLB.TV is quite handy and value-added. Throughout the year, I often had a game on the TV and the MiLB app going simultaneously. And my daughters think I'm a Luddite... LOL.