THOMAS JOSEPH

Predicting a Marlins 2-1 series win over the Nationals with Jesus Sanchez as the MVP. Thanks.

Well, the law of averages said that I will eventually win a series prediction!

Ely, I have to say that my respect for you and all the FOF guys is increasing as this difficult season unfolds. It's a tough gig, balancing realistic expectations with constructive criticism, all the while managing a disgruntled fan base. I recently decided to take up "X" and participate in the Marlins community there. It's surly, to state the obvious. Your recommendation to "slow it down and take a move at a time" is right on with me. There truly is no reason to scream about Sherman every day and demand a $50 million payroll increase, or the like. I'm in for the long haul with the team and with FOF. Ciao.

Although I doubt Sanchez is meant to be a regular starter, never say never with the Marlins. Moreover, I hold my breath regarding any more injuries among the starters, especially while Braxton is still in the minors and Puk is out. I am with you, though, by having a strange feeling that Sanchez's start today will be a good one.

I can see Cooper returning as Bendix constantly looks for "deals," so to speak. Garrett's redux might also lift the team's collective spirits. He appears to be well-liked, and his cost isn't prohibitive. Of course, the roster spot issue is immediately teed up. We should forget the "Garcia must go" mantra because the Marlins have different thoughts on the matter. Realistically, with the team struggling, I suppose the question is: "Why not give him another shot?"

(Another beautiful rant from a bit ago.) I agree that Miguel Cabrera has a HOF career resume. Moreover, Marlins fans identify him with their World Championship. But we need to be very real about the unmitigated disaster that his 8-year extension has been. The first year, 2016, was excellent (with a 7.4 WARP) and this would have been the time to move him at his peak value point, setting up the team’s future. Instead, the next seven years, SEVEN, are horrific by consuming a huge percentage of the team’s payroll in one ineffective player and taking up a valuable roster spot. Cabrera SEVEN-YEAR WARP from 2017 to 2023 is 5.1 (less than 0.75/year) at the cost of $216 million! That’s over $43 million for each win above replacement over the last seven years. Forty-three million dollars per over replacement win. Perhaps only Strasburg’s contract is arguably worse in the entire history of baseball. So, this future HOFer leaves the scene with the last SEVEN years of his career as an utter failure, not just mediocrity. Joey Votto, another player who may have a HOF case, is another unmitigated disaster for his Reds team. Votto’s ridiculously unwise extension, where he, too, should have been moved at a peak value registers a 7.4 WAR for the last SIX YEARS at a cost of over $150 million (1.23/year over that stretch). Perhaps more than Detroit, Votto’s anemic production has hamstrung his team, effectively flushing those years during which his salary was a preposterous percentage of their total payroll. Votto’s last six-year legacy is $20 million per over replacement wins. Twenty million dollars. Even the New York Mets are paying less than $1.9 million per win in this, their very disappointing season. Can anyone argue that these two men did not hamstring their clubs for six or seven seasons? Even if we remove the 2020 season from the equations, there is no redeeming quality. Fans may perceive a future HOF enshrinement as a combination of tangible (team loyalty, merchandise, etc.) and intangible (team reputation, pride, legacy) value. Make no mistake, however, if forced to tell the truth, both teams and their owners would gladly turn the clock back, make a trade, or forego the respective extensions altogether, if they had the chance. Seeing these men enter the HOF with another cap would be just fine when balanced against over $357 million, wasted seasons, and missed opportunities.

(Another archived rant that I wrote a while back.) The oddness that was the 2020 season? Sixty games, ever-changing rules, no fans, neutral sites, and on and on with the inane pile emanating from that entire year of dog crap. I put no stock in any of it, including the so-called World Championship, which is a disgraceful doppelganger of real championship seasons. MLB should be embarrassed that they rammed through that makeshift crap. Of course, the owners are hardly guardians of the game's integrity. This is so only to the extent it affects business, which is not unreasonable per se. So, telling us moon-eyed, drooling fans that this disgrace of a season is equal to the other real seasons dilutes the value of the so-called World Championship. Thankfully, the Dodgers "won," and not the Marlins. Imagine the howls and gnashing of teeth had the Marlins won their THIRD championship since the last Dodger title in 1988. Oops! Since LA won, it is, certainly, legitimate. Sure, it is. MLB's pathetic owners are never done with their sullying of the National Pastime. That's the one area in which our current crop of POS owners excels! Accordingly, look for more uniform ad patches, including a brand name across the asses of players, and lots more gimmicky rule changes. We must change with the times, right?

(Putting my Marlins and general baseball comments/rants here to get my new blog started. Here is one of 'em.) Of course, Greg Maddux, Gaylord Perry, and Bert Blyleven would be slaughtered if they pitched in today's game. They didn't throw 97 mph. Pretenders! Then, the endlessly parroted gibberish goes like this: Starters don't go deep into games anymore. Those short starts add up and diminish the bullpen over the season. But we can't allow starters to go into the dreaded third time through the order, heaven forbid.! Baseball's league average over the years is ridiculously tepid, even after/with the "savior element" (the DH). Still, six innings is a quality start, and we should be so elated if there is one. Who can ask for any more than that for a guy making $25M to do so every five days? Luckily, though, the games are shorter, we monitor "disengagements," and have all sorts of cool video-game-esque stats on the screen to watch in between the pitch clock resets. Oh, and Jazz is on the cover of a video game, so he is awesome, dude (in the one-half of our games that he plays)!

I didn't miss the first game with the Cubs because of the weather - keeping my streak alive. I hope to see every Marlins game this year. Going to Great American Ballpark to see them with the Reds in person. Speaking of going to the park, I had another fine experience at loanDepot. Great seats in Section 13. Used the LDP valet parking for the first time - fantastic service. The roof was closed Wednesday and it was quite comfortable. Lots of Giants fan. We sat next to a New York transplant guy older than me who lives in Lauderdale. In front of us was a Marlins season ticket holder originally from Western Canada, so my Expos fandom was a great conversation topic. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I even used a $25-off-$100 merch voucher from the Marlins for some new caps. I'll be back in September for my usual biannual road trip series. Support the team and stay the course, Marlins fans!

I'm heading down for the games tomorrow and Wednesday. So, I have to project the good vibes and call for a Marlins sweep of the Giants. This will push confidence for the team going forward as Cabrera and Garrett return. The MVP for the series will be Luis Arraez. Thanks, and see the series preview podcast this evening.

I was encouraged by Rogers' outing - the Ks, velocity, and ability to work out of scoring situations, as Kevin noted. I love Bruján's play at the plate and another nice one in the hole. The arm looked strong with accurate throws. Glad he contributed, especially after his unproductiveness was mentioned on the FOF podcast last nine. I even commented that he has been a virtual no-show and Ely discussed DFA scenarios. He has good situational awareness, especially since d'Arnaud was the runner. Also discussed on the podcast was Cabrera's imminent return. The Marlins could use a solid bump from his first start back.

The long-awaited breakout has the obvious benefit to the Marlins directly while showcasing his talents to the rest of the (pitching-starved) league. Pitching injuries at the forefront, Cabrera's next three months are big. Trading one of the team's starting pitchers appears in the cards. so, as you stated, no one would be surprised to hear that the team resumed dangling the Cabrera carrot in front of the league. Realistically, this is the season to try some things, such as the Marlins are doing with Puk. The injury to Perez opened that door all the way, but I concur that Puk will be returned to the bullpen with Cabrera and Rogers returning, barring any additional injuries. Regarding the big pitching picture, I know many believe Alcantara's 2025 salary is the impetus to move him, however, I certainly hope Sherman and Bendix allow the potential 2025 super-staff to remain intact. I know there are a lot of layers to that, most importantly, the return to form of the two injured stars. Still, the guys that could compose this top-notch staff are already in Miami, allowing Bendix to concentrate on the other areas of team development. It's a fantastic luxury that other POBOs/GMs would love to have, and the total costs are entirely manageable. Such are the fan ruminations for a 2-11 team!

Over these last few years (since my return to MLB and as a Marlins fan - in 2021) of my baseball fandom, I've been reconciled to watching hitters fail to adjust more than I ever recall in my first three immersion decades. Of course, dominating pitchers must be given significant credit. Cortez was fantastic. Still, sans Chisholm, no one tried to bunt, and no one, other than the first De La Cruz at bat, thought it was important to try something other than pull balls or swing out of their collective shoes. It's the modern player and the modern mentality. I watched yesterday as Paul Goldschmidt, an accomplished hitter by any standard, "gave himself up" to advance a lead-off double to third. More often, hitters slam a pitch to third - the one place that virtually guarantees a runner cannot advance in that situation. No unusual praise for Chisholm, who is normally determined to overswing on everything. I only recognize his last innovative game approach (two bunt hits) because it is unusual for him. I shouldn't be too snarky, since he's not quite due for his first IL stint yet. Anyway, for a team going badly, I suppose there is no reason to pile on after a thoroughly uncompetitive blowout/shutout like this one. Too many things to shake one's head about, yet, as a fan, I'll be at LDP for the Giants series next week and always fall back on the proverbial "wait 'til tomorrow," and mean it.

I appreciate the Small Pod daily. I recently decided to see and participate in the Marlins "X" community that I hear much about, for example, on Peter Pratt's "Locked on Marlins" podcast. Perhaps the Marlins' history provided the impetus for the undertones of sarcasm and skepticism. The poor start has added a real vitriolic streak, which contains a weird desire for a doomed season. As a relative newcomer to the Marlins (2021), is this "normal" for Twitter/X? Following the Expos for most of my life, I saw many fans go to the dark side and stay there, no matter what, everything was framed as useless or even karmic. I truly think Bendix will make a significant difference over a reasonable amount of time (even with ownership constraints).

Oh, no argument with your points at all. Just stating the obvious the Marlins must have completely lost confidence in Amaya to move him out as quickly as possible. It does seem premature and weird timing, but it's done.

Rivera is a "why not" guy. Amaya was no longer in the team's plan, so let's see what Rivera can do. Moving on from trades sometimes is a pride thing for fans and teams alike. Like most things, though, once the decision is made, putting it behind you quickly makes sense. We should not act as if every team has poor or regrettable trades to varying degrees. The Amaya-Rojas trade doesn't rise to the Realmuto deal, and I won't dwell on it.

The baseball gods are often counterintuitive, so I am extending my greetings to them in the hope lightning strikes twice in Miami. Without Alcantara and Soler, how could it be that the team has a better record? Pitching, I think pitching will truly improve. When Cabrera, Garrett, and Perez return, the Marlin pitching staff looks deep and talented. Since we cannot discuss 2023 without including the ubiquitous unicorn-esque one-run game record, I will grant a repeat would be an even greater unicorn event, but a scrappy team (including more steals) and better situational hitting might get the Marlins surprisingly close to it again. Obtaining more offensive juice from the shortstop and catching positions is absolutely necessary, as well as a little help from Garcia. If Garcia is jettisoned, there are silver linings in Myers, Edwards, and perhaps Johnston. These players bring in vibrancy and extra-base hits. Still, it's the pitching that stands out and will be top three in the league. Accordingly, acknowledging the challenges, I predict a two-game increase over last year, playoffs undetermined, but possible, and a nice start to the Bendix era. Go Fish (genuflect)!

Let's surprise the league this year and shame the pundits!

Informative - thank you. The Brazoban visa issues, seemingly an annual thing, are puzzling. Does he wait too long to get the process started or is there a specific hang-up from the past, such as a questionable birth date, etc.? It costs Brazoban money, too. I also wonder how the Marlins are involved. One would think that the team would go all out, including assigning someone to help, if necessary. Regarding J.D. Martinez: the reason we don't have him is simple and his name is Avi Garcia. Ugh.

Informative. We'd certainly prefer not to be discussing these things now, but the article does show that there are decent internal options. And, if we're looking for an optimistic take, it provides an opportunity for the players to step up and for the coaching staff to use them in evaluative situations. I think Hoeing is at the top of the "opener" class. If circumstances warrant, give him the nod for a three- or four-start expectation (the usual three innings per start) so that he may mentally prepare. The blowup with the Braves last season notwithstanding, he filled in and churned up innings pretty well last year. Putting confidence in him and some of the other guys, like Sanchez, Soriano, and even Monteverde, will be valuable - production, evaluation, trade representation, and innings absorption.

As I commented to Peter Pratt from "Locked on Marlins," my spidey sense is that Perez is not destined for TJ. As another obligatory fan commentator sans medical background, my first thought was that he compensated for the nail issue somehow and the elbow is truly only "strained." If the real diagnosis is the worst scenario possible, perhaps the Trevor Bauer door is cracked open. I've changed my mind about crucifying Bauer and taking away his profession, especially after the latest lawsuit material was released. I mentioned in another FOF comment this morning that such a signing would propel the Marlins into the baseball spotlight. Why not? Will the rest of the league think any less poorly of the Marlins? Bad boy Marlins - I like the moniker.

Informative article, Ely. Although it's not in the cards, I figure, perhaps the stars are aligning to at least consider Bauer. Sherman and Bendix may not want the heat. Still, many people have changed their minds (or at least moderated their views) about Bauer as additional information, including the last lawsuit settlement, has emerged. Such a signing would put the spotlight on the Marlins - something that rarely happens - as well as adding a darn fine pitcher who is ready to pitch immediately (apparently). It would be the proverbial middle finger to the almighty Dodgers and to MLB, which is fantastic. Perhaps Bauer may be so appreciative of the opportunity that he would sign on to a team option year, adding more value for the Marlins as the injury situation smoke clears. I was against Bauer myself, however, I am convinced that his values, such as we know them, do not automatically deserve disqualification from his profession.

We all know Myers is "the first person up" because of Garcia's Opening Day roster guarantee, albeit on a "short leash," as Berger noted. I figure that the first month or five weeks of the season is that leash, however, the off-field considerations are (more) impactful for the Marlins than for many other teams. Perhaps there is the proverbial silver lining in a Garcia rebound, in that some team might trade for him at the deadline or to plug injuries. Dare we hope! Players such as Myers and Johnston find themselves on the outside looking in despite strong performances. "Earning a job" is not so straightforward. It's not only payroll issues. Minor league option availability, along with the conventional perception that having a player like Mancini (or Gurriel, in 2023), checks the obligatory "veteran presence" box. Of course, now we have Tim Anderson to augment Josh Bell's clubhouse status, so all is well. This brings me to my change of heart regarding Bauer joining the Marlins. Signing him to join Chisholm and Anderson moves the Marlins squarely into "attitude" territory. Maybe we need a little of the bad-boy mentality to take on the Braves and Phillies. At least Bauer is not afraid to own a part of the plate. Oh, well. Dane and Troy - back to the minors but don't be discouraged. Or, then again, perhaps you should be.

Well done, Kevin - a lot of work on this article! Appreciate the information. I will be watching this afternoon on MLB.

The FOF makeover is first-rate - attractive, clean, informative, enthusiastic, and professional. The amount, variety, and quality of the work are quite valuable. I hope more fans take advantage of SuperSub status. As the team develops under Bendix, I'd love to see the fan base coalesce around the FOF platform and talent group. Success is attractive.