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THOMAS JOSEPH

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Everything posted by THOMAS JOSEPH

  1. THOMAS JOSEPH
    I don't consider this personally. For me, it's first about teams that I cannot countenance under any circumstances (Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies), teams and cities that deserve a smackdown (Cubs/Chicago, Toronto/Blue Jays), and then acceptables. The Mariners as a team are ok, but Seattle is a flat no-go. They will get nothing with their Starbucks, and like it. Without both no-go factors, the Mariners are my AL World Series preference by default. In the NL, this leaves the Milwaukee Brewers. While Milwaukee is a sh*t-show city, aren't they all? The Brewers are, however, a well-run mid-revenue organization without a title. The Brewers are the most acceptable overall choice now that the Reds have been eliminated. (PS - Not virtue signaling, but I won't watch the playoffs or World Series in any case.)
  2. THOMAS JOSEPH
    How to improve in this tenuous year before the CBA? Look at all internal options for first base before signing a middling free agent. No preconceptions because we have already seen so many of them fall by the wayside. Promote Mack as the everyday backstop, a significant improvement at backstop. Work the Bendix magic for the bullpen corps. Who will be the next Tinoco or Hernández? Hope that Nardi and Garrett return for the 2026 campaign. Lastly, while he is high-value and healthy, move Cabrera. After the CBA turmoil is over, the Marlins should be in excellent shape, with a very nice window built around the young core of position players and a top starting staff. Let's hope that this time, if the owners are smart, the new agreement will finally include systemic changes that will benefit the Marlins and other lower-revenue teams.
  3. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Solid observations. I previously wrote on this site that I thought this was a near ebullient Bendix. He seemed more relaxed, perhaps vindicated by the overachieving Marlins. I guess he was relieved to fulfill Sherman's "we'll win more games" quip, and no one can fault Bendix for any of those feelings whatsoever!
  4. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Amen and right on. You and I know that many New York sports fans are quite dismissive of other cities and their sports teams, almost to the point of pure disrespect. It's not a becoming trait. Personally, I am pulling for the Brewers to win their first WS title, with Toronto as the fallback. As long as the Dodgers, Phillies, or Yankees don't win, I can live with any of the other teams.
  5. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Perhaps it's misplaced, but Bendix looked and sounded more confident this time. Nothing like big progress on the field, some on-target decisions, and the return of top pitching health to brighten one's spirits. I'm not saying he is feeling his oats, as they used to say, but he most certainly has a measure of vindication after near-universal low expectations and even scorn for the dearth of conventional deals. Despite the incessant drumbeat about payroll, the near-religious certainty that high-priced, long-term FA signings are the answer, Bendix is proceeding and succeeding. The lowest-spending team in play come late September, four games from a Wild Card, ready reinforcements on the farm, and while it's best player is on the shelf. Yes, it's exciting and, franky, cause for a bit of delightful smugness.
  6. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Some thoughts here. No one can tell the future, however, the consensus outlook for the CBA is ominous. Combine that with the usual and necessary Marlins frugality, I figure any FA deal is unlikely or only for the 2026 season. Trading Cabrera at high value and while healthy, perhaps the deal will be sweetened with an outfielder, seems logical to me. Both positions have abundant options. If we agree that first base needs an upgrade, who can the Marlins target? Although we can name any number of affordable options, returning to my first statement pushes me to the conclusion that there will be internal options. Ramírez is the obvious, despite Bendix's proclamation. I don't really buy the iconic Ron Washington "it's incredibly hard" comment about first base. The team has time, a plethora of coaches, and an elite athletic foundation to build upon. Like many of us, De los Santos was the fast answer for the future first baseman. That's dimmed quite a bit.
  7. THOMAS JOSEPH
    I wasn't in Jacksonville as long this year (during the baseball season), and only saw four games at VyStar. One thing I might suggest is a Marlins program for Jumbo Shrimp fan caravans/coach packages to Miami. There's a lot of optimism and interest with all the good, recent players that have come through Jax to Miami. It's a decent haul to LDP, but it might be a start of more statewide draw to Marlins home games.
  8. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Simply out, a clear cut Bendix win..
  9. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Don La Greca's rant to Mets fans and the team's tepid response to their lost season was hilarious. It had a big focus on criticisms of the Marlins. Still, he couldn't help himself from the usual condescending anti-Marlins blather. That included a spiel that the Marlins are (paraphrasing) hopeless, and the players know that they are hopeless, hence the Mets series was the Marlin "Super Bowl." Accordingly, I savor the knockout series he laments AND will relish another Yankee playoff failure here shortly.
  10. THOMAS JOSEPH
    I'm not qualified to do McCullough's job, of course, but I'm like most fans who are won't to second- guess. That won't change. Now that the ship is in port for the season, I'll chime in that our rookie captain did a nice job of navigating.
  11. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Bendix must balance team cohesion with his incremental improvement strategy. Even if we disagree with specific moves or non-moves, the roster fluidity seems likely to be the norm. If it's working...
  12. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Interestingly, the new Rays ownership group includes the owner of the Jumbo Shrimp - Ken Babby. In fact, I heard he was spearheading the stadium project for the Rays. I assume there are no issues with that vis-à-vis minor league teams under his control with non-Rays affiliations.
  13. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Give him whatever moniker you like, Alcántara is an anchor, a leader, and, perhaps most importantly for the Marlins, committed by contract and by his heart. Given the apparent starting pitching logjam, I would much rather move Cabrera while he is healthy and productive. It removes what seems like a recurring Sword of Damocles with his health, frees up a spot in the rotation with many suitors, and keeps Sandy in the fold as the éminence grise of the staff - for Eury, Snelling, White, and any others.
  14. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Enjoyed the article and glad the team performed/overachieved so you had the opportunity to do so. To my mind, a more than successful season. It's inspirational.
  15. THOMAS JOSEPH
    I think generally you are right. But I figure it's like a stew with lots of ingredients making up the final taste. Perhaps McCullough is the right temperament for this group, which, given his learning curve in the job, puts him on the plus side of contributions/makes him a necessary ingredient.
  16. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Baseball might as well have an opera that transforms La donna è mobile (Woman is fickle) into Il lanciatore di rilievo è volubile - non pagatelo (The relief pitcher is fickle - don't pay him). 😆 [Thanks, Google translator. I only knew the opera's Italian title and translation!]
  17. THOMAS JOSEPH
    It was easier to predict that the series MVP would be "someone silly" since Harper and Turner are out, and there's no reason to pitch to Schwarber (put,of course, we do anyway). Accordingly, there is Sosa, just off the IL, so his dismantling of the Fish qualifies as "silly" in my book.
  18. THOMAS JOSEPH
    A rookie manager with a young staff growing together with their young, feisty team. I don't put much stock in the MOY by any means, but it is a nice acknowledgement of the team's overachievement, as the manager is credited for it.
  19. THOMAS JOSEPH
    I reiterate the foolishness of paying this kind of money for what is little more than a crapshoot.
  20. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Generally, I am a traditionalist, but this is toothpaste already out of the tube. Most definitely do not like the limited challenge implementation. It's another decision and strategy layer, albeit small. The full ABS implementation is obviously necessary for MLB credibility, as demonstrated by various umpire scoring sites showing hundreds and hundreds of pitches called incorrectly. It is amazingly difficult, true, but the "just get the call right" mantra applies, as it takes the game outcome away from the participants. Teams spend $3 - $4 million per win, and yet, despite the technology that is visible and able to correct the problem now,
  21. THOMAS JOSEPH
    The team demonstrated a ton of grit here.
  22. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Phillies sweep. Somebody stupid will be the MVP. Lol. Let's go with Bader.
  23. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Seems like a no-win decision. Abusing the player howls are bound to come.
  24. THOMAS JOSEPH
    It is clear progress in the farm system and overachieving at the top - a solid year, to my mind.
  25. THOMAS JOSEPH
    Peterson and Soriano. Still evaluating at this very late date or necessary work distribution?
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