THOMAS JOSEPH

Counterintuitively, I am predicting a Marlins sweep on the Cardinals, with Josh Bell as the series MVP.

As you noted, Fortes can make reasonable adjustments to improve and stay in the big leagues. Perhaps he exemplifies the "fastest way to the big leagues (and staying there) adage.

Kudos to Myers for his rightfield work. Not much to say about this one, except for the peg out at third, Anderson's strange multi-hit game streak, and the Senzel-Gore ado. Moving on...

Since the podcast link is on this page, I wanted to comment on the Marlins IX comments from Frisaro. "Teams are either going forward or going back," sounds great, and it's easy to call people liars. Ok, his opinion. But saying the team (Bendix) never had a plan is not a fair statement. Bendix was right to let Soler walk, Perez's injury was not foreseeable, Garcia did not rebound, and stepping into the team presidency from another organization requires some degree of learning curve. If anything, the balancing act has lots of moving parts, the budget is restrictive, there was over $26m in sunk contracts (Alcantara, Garcia, Cueto, and Barnes), and there is no point in signing piecemeal players for contracts past this year. I also must laugh that front offices should be transparent. Yeah, that happens all the time. Samson continuously states on his podcast that his M.O. can be described as deception or half-truths. Don't use your assets because it is disingenuous if someone in a marketing program has to be traded or released. Huh? What would increase the Marlins' credibility in the community? Win like the Panthers! Oh, gee, that is helpful. Why didn't the Marlins think to do that?

You're right on with the (usual) missed opportunities, such as the top of the 4th inning. These situations are where games are won or lost and highlight just how unproductive some of the lineup is in key situations. While the loss is of little consequence overall, this game was wasted, as was Munoz's solid effort. The lack of timely hitting and Bender's wildness are the real culprits, not an outlier home run from a professional hitter like Martinez. Scott's work this season needs no defending.

With the FOF podcast discussion and Peter Pratt's L.O.M. takes, I will leave the Chisholm overrating alone. There's really nothing else to be covered. Tangentially, I won't miss him when he's gone. Regarding Edwards, the short stay is puzzling, especially because one wonders about communication with the player. If Edwards was under a different impression, as you note, that's more of a concern to me than anything. Bendix has hitched his wagon to organizational culture, which includes communication. Although transparency in MLB does have limitations, I am concerned with the preponderance of items in this area - Johnston as Marlins Minor League Player of the Year, Meyer, and now Edwards. Perhaps others could be added to the talking points.

Understandably, fans overvalue their team's players - watching them every day and visualizing the loss of that player in that narrower context. Accordingly, we Marlins fans see our Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, or (in my case) Jeff Reardon. The reality of the trade situation isn't so sanguine. Isn't that a righteousness segue to the article about Chisholm's overrating?

With his age and the overall situation in Miami, fans rightfully expect to see Conine this season - after the trade deadline, one hopes.

Like many of the (especially) early Marlins, Barberie was developed in the Montreal Expos farm system. This is understandable, in that the Expos were a scouting and developmental model, followed by the natural familiarity brought over from the Loria regime - a similar situation with Bendix and the Rays. I consider the Expos as a model for the Marlins and other low-income teams. Of course, Montreal started from scratch with expansion in 1969 and realized adeptness in scouting and development was their lifeline to competitiveness. They generated MLB players at a prolific rate, including six current Hall of Famers in their 36 seasons. Indeed, their conveyor belt farm system allowed the low-income team to be competitive for significant portions of their existence. Their system also generated top managerial and front-office talent distributed all over baseball. The Expos were the Rays before the Rays, as it were.

The Mets are tired and thoroughly rumbled by their fans, the New York media, and their own disappointments. Marlins win the series 2 games to 1, with Jake Burger's home run in the last game of the Guardians series putting him back on track to be the series MVP.

These assessments are right on and reflect Bendix's moves were net positive, inexpensive, and purposeful. He has a season to cover and must do so within Sherman's limitations. Those limitations were exacerbated by Alcantara's lost season, Perez's injury, and Garcia's stone waste of a contract. I am not alone in being realistic that the Marlins' overall situation (including the farm system status) required some painful decisions. There was/is no reasonable window this season - the unicorn 2023 circumstances were not repeatable. Bendix is refashioning the organization in his vision, with the proverbial medicine an unsavory but ineluctable requirement. I see progress in the dim light and refuse to condemn the guy, but I understand long-time Marlins fans' predictable frustrations.

It was good to see Burger's homer after his rough game up to that point - waiving at everything and then the throwing error. As is often the case for those of us watching every game, I'm focused that the Marlins are not fundamentally strong. Teams with light power and undistinguished lineups must play fundamentally well in the field combined with effective pitching. Pitching injuries have certainly turned the staff upside down. Yet, simply watching, we see many unproductive outs, for example. Perhaps it is simply that the players do not possess the skills necessary to execute the required plays., i.e., productive outs, or what we used to call (gasp) situational hitting. It's thus not sacrilegious to question some of Schumaker's moves and ask if inefficacious coaching is a contributor, despite the temptation to promote Schumaker as the anti-Bendix/Sherman standard-bearer.

This is a fair and balanced article. I agree that the "so far" qualifier remains in effect. As we see often in sports, and as you noted, linear progression is not always the case, although the baseball system is forged that way. I liked Bleday's eye at the plate and worried about the puzzling holes in his swing. Still, I understood (but commented against moving so quickly) the trade, especially given Puk's problematic injury proclivities and the Marlins' centerfield hole at the time. There is always the nearly unquantifiable change of venue factors. Some factors, such as home ballparks, are better suited for some players. Of course, there are a variety of human intangibles, coaching efficacies, and just being given playing time to mature. Again, I will fall back on my simplistic baseball tagline - it's all a crapshoot. I think it keeps me even keeled (most of the time)!

Solid analysis - all are eminently reasonable destinations. Pairing Luzardo with Arraez in San Diego, watching the Padres beat the Dodgers, and ultimately resulting in the Friars' first World Series title, would be baseball serendipity. What a wonderful two-fer that would be for baseball. But before I get so crazily ahead of myself, as long as there is a solid return, I have no issue with any of these teams. No Astros hatred here at all - solid admiration. Is this the year when the stars could align for the proverbial "trade deadline blockbuster" consisting of some combination of Luzardo, Scott, and Chisholm? Talk about restocking the farm system - boom!

With the prominent exception of concern for Weathers, last night's game was encouraging and fun. Credit is given where due for those two excellent throws, the back-to-backs, the bullpen, Scott's typical firefighting, and Chisholm's game-winner. That had the 2023 magic feel to it - the lurking confidence. Edwards and Myers really do add sparks to the team. Very pleased that Myers was retained, the tough Garcia decision was made, and Edwards is seemingly getting a real oppo.

For sure. That move produced a favorable outcome for Rivera, yet the overall thought process was misguided. I think that decision-making regarding Sanchez is incongruent with both the stated team assessment of the player coming into his own and matching player skills to the situation. Generally, forego the platoon - especially amidst the backdrop of this season. Now that Garcia is gone, a regular DLC-Chisholm-Sanchez outfield makes sense until the trade decision for Chisholm is determined. Myers is an adequate outfielder to replace him, for off days/minor injuries, along with Gordon.

I am pleased that Edwards and Myers are in the mix. The top photo of the Edwards' tag and the fantastic Myers' peg to the plate last night highlight the benefits to the big-league team. Edwards should play shortstop for the foreseeable future and plenty of playing time for Myers, Anderson has no future with the Marlins - finish out the season or let him go. Frankly, there's no reason for him to tie up an active roster spot, unless there are intertwined trade plans. Next up - another round of pitching moves, perhaps including an IL stint for Weathers, taking us to the All-Star break. All around baseball, thoughts are that the NL's overall mediocrity changing what appeared to be firm playoff expectations and, thus, strategy going forward. Even if Miami is not in that category, the relative parity outside the top group of teams leaves plenty of playoff aspirations intact. It opens up additional trading possibilities/partners for the Marlins.

Let's go with a Marlins series win over the Guardians, 2 games to 1. Josh Bell is the MVP, haunting the Guardians for the last time as a Marlin!

As we fans are wont to do (and as a segue to Ely's "decisions made with everyone watching" question to Skip), I must question hitting Rivera for Sanchez. The bloop single notwithstanding, aren't we removing the tying home run possibility almost entirely without Sanchez, even with the conventional wisdom? I know there is the dichotomy of trying to win every game versus individual player growth/maturity. Still, if the Marlins believe Sanchez is developing (and plan to keep him for that deep potential), when are the in-game situational decisions going to reflect that mindset? If Skip and the team strategy for Sanchez aren't going to be manifested in a season like this one, when then?

Of all the fine information here, glad to hear Dillon Head is playing and playing well. Regarding Garcia, I think someone will make him an offer and he will make a go of it. Even with plenty of money in the bank, retiring from one's life-long pursuit before 35 is uncomfortable. If Garcia believes in himself, the change of venue is a fine motivation. The flip side is that he hardly seems hungry or even concerned. I contrast his apparent attitude with Giancarlo Stanton, who has acknowledged his struggles over the past few years in New York, Fans appreciate that, even if it makes little difference in the all-important results. Moreover, one would think that an athlete at the MLB level has greater drive than most people. Lastly, I agree with you that Bell is by far not a sure trade deadline piece. I'm no expert and lots of things can happen in the next six weeks, but perusing the teams out there tells me there are not a lot of openings for $8+ million. Of course, the Marlins could kick in some money, etc. Regarding a starter and Scott - yes, it is not difficult to see those moves.

I have no problem with your "walk the fine line" thinking. It's reasonable to posit and that's all I usually look for. Still, Bendix had to make a call...and, importantly, we don't know what ownership instructions were passed to him. Balancing fan expectations and finances becomes harder to justify if he advised Sherman that the Marlins would be drawing to an inside straight. I think the Marlins outlined their season with rebounds from the Mets and Cardinals this season, making a playoff slot harder, even with Alcantara. Without him? Frankly, if the 2023 unicorn season is deemed repeatable in 2024, there's a different offseason. So, just as your line of thinking is reasonable, I also see the current path as defensible, if not as palatable.

No problem with anything you stated. Perhaps we will get lucky and pawn him off before he's hurt again. I suggest doing so at the deadline if he's healthy. As a tangent, though, I believe the Marlins will be "competitive" quicker than most anticipate - pitching is the key. Also, they are positioned nicely to clear the roster of deadwood anytime. Lots of one-year deals that are easy to clear early if needed. Garcia is the exception, of course, and there is the $10m each of three consecutive years starting in 2026 for the Stanton deal - after Garcia's liability is cleared. The team can pick up cheap fillers while the Bendix plan fully develops. He's playing chess and I wager that he is good at it.

I am confused and conflicted by the apparent incongruence of a Marlins remake and trading a controllable guy until 2030. Of course, individual trade deals require tough decisions. Still, if Scott will be traded for salary and competitive reasons, Cronin appears to be his prototypical replacement in the bullpen. Then, we have Mish and a not-unreasonable argument that playing terrible veterans such as Anderson defines teams "like this" (amid an abysmal season), rather than an evaluative year. I dig the salary for Anderson and the service time clock start issues. Mish points to the Astros and Orioles remakes that resulted in multiple 100-loss seasons. Fine. But do not the anti-tanking rules he mentions immediately after that mitigate against playing Anderson-type washed-up, lame-duck veterans over the evaluation of the next round of young players? If the tanking rules eliminate the draft benefits, what's the Anderson/Garcia strategy again?

Ok, another probably unpopular opinion re-ignited from the Marlins podcast discussion. I, for one, will be happy to move on from Chisholm. I hope he has a great season, so the haul is enhanced. I'd like to see him leading the league in bling and on-field dancing elsewhere. Now, I feel better!

Yes, I am a flawed individual - perhaps I need more self-examination. I detest these "theme" days. Of course, fighting to cure diseases and advocating for causes are admirable. But I simply want to watch a baseball game - an entertainment diversion without distraction or wagging of fingers in my face. Sorry.