Fish Stripes: All Posts by S Gelm

Miami Marlins struggling offensively, averaging 2.8 runs a game

2013-05-17T16:58:41Z

In his first year as hitting coach, Tino Martinez could not have possibly imagined that serving as the batting instructor for a big league club would be a such a consistent challenge on a daily basis.

Martinez joined Miami's staff after a stint with the New York Yankees, during which he served as the Special Assistant to the General Manager. He accepted the job in Miami the second time the position was offered to him.

April was a struggle for the Marlins offensively. They had a hard time scoring runs, and hitting with runners in scoring position. Halfway through May, that trend has continued.

"We've got some guys in there that in the past they've been able to get it done. Right now they're not," manager Mike Redmond said in an interview with the Sun-Sentinel. "I'm trying to be patient, I've been patient. But at the end of the day somebody's got to step up and get a hit with guys in scoring position."

Miami's poor hitting throughout April was the primary cause of the poor start. The starting rotation was consistent throughout the month, as Kevin Slowey, Ricky Nolasco, and rookie Jose Fernandez all pitched well enough to win games.

During the off season, the Marlins purposely brought in several proven veterans who they thought would guide some of the younger players on the roster. Outfielder Juan Pierre, third baseman Placido Polanco, and temporary first baseman and pinch hitter Greg Dobbs have all struggled of late. Despite leading the team in home runs and runs batted in, Justin Ruggiano's bat has been cold as well.

"We're just not getting it done. That's really it. I don't know to dress it up any more than that," Redmond said.

Redmond, who was hired because of his ability to handle young talent, is one of several people who have supported the organization's decision to promote top prospects such as Marcell Ozuna and Derek Dietrich. Although they have been consistent at the plate since being called up, Ozuna and Dietrich are only a pair of batters in a lineup that has struggled for much of the year.

"Young guys come up, they bring energy," Redmond reasoned. "A lot of times those young guys can energize a group of guys the way they play."

Martinez has had his job cut out for him, and as long as Miami continues to be shutout (as they are averaging 2.8 runs a game), it will be a long season for the rookie hitting coach.

Fish Bites: Marlins' phenom Jose Fernandez compared to Felix Hernandez

2013-05-17T16:35:10Z

- Miami Marlins use same lineup in back to back games for first time | Fish Tank blog: Miami Marlins | The Palm Beach Post

It took nearly one-quarter of the season but the Marlins finally played with the same starting lineup in consecutive games for the first time on Wednesday. “The stars aligned right,” Redmond joked prior to tonight’s game against Cincinnati.

- Miami Marlins rookie Jose Fernandez draws King Felix comparison | Fish Tank blog: Miami Marlins | The Palm Beach Post

Catcher Jeff Mathis made his Marlins debut on Thursday night and he caught rookie Jose Fernandez. Fernandez faced the Reds for the second time this year. A day after Fernandez beat the Dodgers with six strong innings on Friday, manager Don Mattingly compared Fernandez to Seattle ace Felix Hernandez. “He reminded me of King Felix. Same body. Kind of the wide lower half. That turn he has and kind of the attack from there to the strike zone,” Mattingly said last Saturday.

- Armando Salguero: Business decisions of Miami Marlins’ Jeffrey Loria will haunt all of MLB - Armando Salguero - MiamiHerald.com

The thought has occurred that the disease fire sale arsonist Jeffrey Loria has wrought upon South Florida might be spreading. There’s no doubt that Loria’s reprehensible crashing of the Marlins has caused fans to ignore the team by the thousands. The club’s intermittent closing of the upper deck at Marlins Park is only one indication baseball fans routinely are turning their backs on Loria’s scandalous approach to team ownership.

- College position player is likely first option in draft for Miami Marlins - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

There is strong sentiment within the Marlins organization to take a college position player with their first pick — the sixth overall — in next month’s amateur draft. With five of the first 80 picks in the draft, the Marlins have a chance to continue adding to their stockpile of young talent in the wake of the team’s roster sell-off from last year.

- Miami Marlins prospect Christian Yelich finding his groove - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

The sample size is small, but the numbers are eye-popping. By going 3-for-6 on Wednesday with two home runs and a double for Double A Jacksonville, Marlins uber-prospect Christian Yelich padded his already gaudy stats this month. Over his past 10 games, Yelich has 10 extra-base hits, including five home runs, for a slugging percentage of .973.

- Mathis abandons La-Z-Boy, rejoins Marlins | Fish Bytes

Being a catcher, Jeff Mathis is used to pain. He's had his face and wrists broken over the course of his catching career. But nothing quite prepared Mathis for the pain he experienced after having his collarbone broken by a Matt Holliday foul ball on the second day of spring training. "There was a week and a half where I couldn't get out of the recliner because of the pain," the 30-year-old Mathis said. "I made my way to the field for maybe 30 or 45 minutes a day. But then it was straight back to the recliner because any movement, like moving my left hand, hurt."

- Miami Marlins reach new low in offense in loss to Reds - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

For the first time in franchise history Wednesday, the Marlins were held scoreless in a game in which they had at least 11 hits. “We’re getting guys on base but we’re not getting hits,” Redmond said. “I’m trying to be patient, have been patient. But, at the end of the day, somebody’s got to step up and get a hit with guys in scoring position. We’re just not able to get it done. We’ve got some guys in there who, in the past, got it done. Right now, they’re not.”

- 11 hits + 0 runs = New Marlins Record | Fish Bytes

The Marlins hit another new low, collecting 11 hits yet failing to score in their 4-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Never before in Marlins history has that happened. In fact, the previous team record for most hits in a in a game without a run being scored was nine.

- Adjustments key for improved Webb | marlins.com: News

Marlins right-hander Ryan Webb calls pitching a job of continuous adjustments. The 27-year-old entered Wednesday night with the longest hit-less streak -- 10 1/3 innings -- by a reliever in the big leagues. It ended on Joey Votto's leadoff single off Webb in the seventh inning. It marked the third-longest streak in club history.

- LoMo moves closer to rehab stint with Jupiter | marlins.com: News

Logan Morrison moved one step closer to his return to the majors during extended spring training on Tuesday in Jupiter. "If everything goes well on that, we'll figure out a date to start his rehab," Redmond said. "He feels good. He's progressing."

- Stanton throws, takes swings off tee | marlins.com: News

Giancarlo Stanton threw for the first time since injuring his right hamstring April 30, but his recovery remains a work in progress. "Running's going to be ... I'm sure I can hit way sooner than I'll be able to run," Stanton said. "I can already put weight on it pretty well."

Around The League

- Washington Nationals at San Diego Padres - May 16, 2013 | MLB.com Preview

Stephen Strasburg knows a thing or two about pitching in San Diego County. The Nationals right-hander was born in San Diego, played his high school ball at West Hills High in Santee and spent three seasons at San Diego State before being selected No. 1 overall in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

- Price lands on disabled list with triceps strain | MLB.com: News

The Rays placed David Price on the 15-day disabled list with a left triceps strain on Thursday.

- Reid Ryan, Nolan Ryan's son, to be named president of Houston Astros | MLB.com: News

Reid Ryan, the son of Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan and president and CEO of Ryan-Sanders Baseball, will be named the next president of the Astros, a source confirmed to MLB.com on Thursday.

- New York Mets at St. Louis Cardinals - May 16, 2013 | MLB.com NYM Recap

Jordany Valdespin, who has spent the past week as a lightning rod for criticism, laid a perfect drag bunt that hugged the right side of the infield. The Mets parlayed that into a two-run rally, and Jon Niese looked more ace-like than Wainwright from that point forward in a 5-2 win against the Cardinals.

At Fish Stripes

- Explaining the Miami Marlins' relatively good attendance - Fish Stripes

The Miami Marlins, contrary to popular belief, do not have the worst attendance in the league. Which intuitively makes very little sense.

-The Derek Dietrich project - Fish Stripes

Derek Dietrich has looked good thus far for the Miami Marlins.

- The Marlins lineup card and what it means - Fish Stripes

In 2013 the Miami Marlins have lacked a consistent lineup, just as they have lacked a consistent everything. Are we near the end of the chaos?

- Ricky Nolasco trying to regain missing strikeouts - Fish Stripes

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco says that he misses being a strikeout pitcher, but why has he not been one in the last few years?

- The top five base stealers in the Miami Marlins farm system - Fish Stripes

A look at the top five base stealers in the Marlins minor league system, all of who are outfielders.

Miami Marlins face tough decisions once players get healthy

2013-05-13T14:00:11Z

Early injuries have caused havoc for the Miami Marlins and manager Mike Redmond.

Several top prospects, including Jose Fernandez and outfielder Marcell Ozuna were called up earlier than expected, and are performing well. However, once some of the eleven Marlins on the disabled list get healthy, the organization will have some tough decisions to make.

In terms of the starting rotation, Fernandez is expected to stay. Nathan Eovaldi is expected back in June, although Henderson Alvarez experienced a setback and has been placed on the 60-day disabled list.

If the Marlins wanted to keep four of their starting five in-tact, they might consider trading Kevin Slowey, who has been among the National League's best pitchers in terms of ERA.

Beyond the rotation, right field is the position that stands out as congested. Giancarlo Stanton has been described as the player the Marlins "want to build around," though since being called up Ozuna has filled the void, hitting well and playing solid defense.

Ozuna could play the other two outfield positions, but Christian Yelich has been regarded as the Marlins' center fielder of the future.

As soon as mid-to-late 2014, Miami could have an outfield of Ozuna, Yelich, and Jake Marisnick.

Derek Dietrich, who hit his first major league home run on Friday night, has been seeing time at second base. Once Donovan Solano and Chris Valaika return, Miami has a decision to make in terms of what they are going to do with Dietrich.

The Marlins will also have to decide how many catchers they want to carry. Currently, there are three on the 25-man roster in Rob Brantly, Miguel Olivo, and Kyle Skipworth.

Jeff Mathis has been playing in rehab games, and could join the team at some point in the coming weeks.

President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest has acknowledged that the upcoming roster crunch when several players get healthy will require some tough decisions.

"The headache is coming when guys start to get healthy and we have to make room," Beinfest said in an interview with the Sun-Sentinel, "Like the [Derek] Dietrich case, we spent a lot of time talking about it and the implications of putting him on the roster now, and he's going to remain on the roster. He didn't have to be added until this winter, or maybe even September if we would have brought him up, but we had to do what we had to do."

Fish Bites: Steve Cishek converts first 1-2-3 save

2013-05-13T12:30:06Z

- Cishek recorded first 1-2-3 save of the season Friday | Fish Bytes

Closer Steve Cishek has endured his share of struggles this season, but he finally recorded his first 1-2-3 save of the season in Friday night's 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Dodgers.

- Coghlan adjusting to pinch-hitter role; Marlins will likely keep 3 catchers when Mathis returns Tuesday | Fish Bytes

When he was a regular in the Marlins lineup, Chris Coghlan liked to fashion himself as a more patient hitter, someone who had to be selective. Now locked in as a bench player and pinch hitter, the 27-year old former NL Rookie of the Year is changing his approach at the plate, and trying to be more aggressive.

- Miami Marlins’ defense also has failed so far this season | www.palmbeachpost.com

The Marlins knew going into the season that they would have to play defense as flawlessly as possible to make up for their offensive deficiencies. That hasn’t happened. The Marlins have 28 errors; only the Chicago Cubs have more (30) in the majors this season. "We have made more than handful out of strictly carelessness, and that’s unacceptable,’’ said infield coach Perry Hill.

- Agent Scott Boras OK with Miami Marlins’ plan to limit innings... | www.palmbeachpost.com

Scott Boras’ client list has included some of baseball’s biggest stars, past and present — from Greg Maddux and Alex Rodriguez to Bryce Harper and Matt Harvey. The super-agent couldn’t contain his excitement about one of his newest clients, Marlins rookie Jose Fernandez.

- Marlins face decisions when Mathis returns | marlins.com: News

Barring any setbacks during his injury rehab assignment, catcher Jeff Mathis is expected to be reinstated by Tuesday, when the Marlins open a three-game series with the Reds in Miami.

- Cishek shows improvement in LA outing | marlins.com: News

Steve Cishek is once again creating uncomfortable at-bats for opposing hitters. On Friday night, for instance, Cishek threw more like he did a year ago, when he took over the Marlins' closer role after the All-Star break. "I've been leaving the ball up, and that's when I got in trouble back at home," he said, "I'm just trying to throw everything hard at the knees, and whatever happens, happens. I've really been focusing on that in my throwing program."

- Redmond continues to handle Fernandez with care | marlins.com: News

With the way Jose Fernandez is pitching, nearly everyone wants to see more. But game-by-game performance will determine that, according to Marlins manager Mike Redmond. "It depends on the situation," Redmond said, "Maybe in his next start he is at 85 or 90, and we can leave him out there for another inning. I think he's been doing what he's doing. We're at a comfort level right now with his innings and his pitches."

- Miami Marlins: Mile-long list of disabled players causing roster headaches - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

The Marlins have 11 players on the disabled list, but the real roster headache is coming over the next month to six weeks as many of them are cleared to play. "It's been a bad run. It kind of started the first [game] of spring training when [Jeff] Mathis broke his collarbone and it hasn't really stopped since…it's been a little bit of everything."

Around The League

- Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox - May 12, 2013 | MLB.com TOR Recap

The Blue Jays matched their season high with five homers, and right-hander Chad Jenkins pitched five strong innings in a 12-4 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park. Jose Bautista homered twice, while Brett Lawrie, Edwin Encarnacion and Emilio Bonifacio also got in on the action. It was the most home runs the Blue Jays have hit in one game since April 4, during the first series of the year versus Cleveland.

- Colorado Rockies at St. Louis Cardinals - May 12, 2013 | MLB.com COL Recap

Traveling and leaving mom with young twins at home is not the way to earn points on Mother's Day. But Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa almost made up for it Sunday afternoon by coming close to giving his wife, Martha, a special gift. De La Rosa held the Cardinals hit-less until David Freese singled in the seventh. He gave up just two hits in seven innings as the Rockies went on to win, 8-2, at Busch Stadium in front of 40,881.

- Orioles' Wei-Yin Chen leaves game with right oblique injury | MLB.com: News

Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen exited Sunday's series finale against the Twins with a right oblique strain after tossing 73 pitches in five scoreless innings.

- MLB uses Mother's Day to promote breast cancer awareness | MLB.com: News

Players, managers, and team personnel around baseball honored their mothers, wives, sisters, grandmothers, and plenty more on Sunday for Mother's Day, using pink gear to promote breast cancer awareness.

At Fish Stripes

- Miami Marlins' Larry Beinfest: "I don't even know who is here anymore" - Fish Stripes

Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest admits that the team's injuries have forced them into pushing their prospects earlier than initially planned.

- Miami Marlins news: Fire sale hurts efforts to bring in Marlins Park vendors - Fish Stripes

The Miami Marlins committed a full-scale fire sale last November, and since that time, it has gotten harder and harder to find retailers to take on the Marlins Park parking garage vendor space.

- Miami Marlins Daily Minor League Report: May 11 - Fish Stripes

Adam Conley, Christian Yelich, and Jake Marisnick all looked like superstars for Jacksonville. The Hammerheads scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Fort Myers in the most exciting game of any Marlins affiliate so far this season.

- Marlins prospects: Charlie Lowell arrested, Andrew Heaney nears return - Fish Stripes

Prospect Charlie Lowell was arrested this week for battery by strangulation. Marlins 2012 first-round pick Andrew Heaney has yet to play a game in the 2013 minor league season due to injury.

- Fish Stripes Weekly Ichthyomancy Update: May 5-11 - Fish Stripes

A mostly empty week by the Ichthyomancy leader allowed a few more players back into the race.

Fish Cap: Miami Marlins 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 5

2013-05-13T03:07:35Z

Wins have been hard to come by for the Miami Marlins all season. That trend continued on Sunday afternoon as the Marlins fell to the Dodgers 5-3.

Making his first start of the year, Tom Koehler got hurt by the long ball in the top of the second inning. Koehler was brought in as a result of Wade LeBlanc's inconsistency.

With nobody out, Scott Van Slyke, who was replacing Adrian Gonzalez at first base, hit a home run to center field to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 advantage.

After he settled in, the Dodgers got to Koehler again in the fourth. With one out, former Cardinal Skip Schumaker doubled to right field, and catcher Tim Federowicz followed with a single. Nick Punto subsequently hit a sacrifice fly to center, increasing the Dodgers' lead to two.

Manager Mike Redmond finally went to his bullpen and took Koehler out of the game in the sixth. Over his five innings, he gave up seven hits and two runs with one walk and a strikeout.

Despite the fact that Koehler kept Miami in the game, the Marlins struggled to score runs off of former Met Chris Capuano. Capuano was able to keep the Marlins scoreless for most of the day - before center fielder Justin Ruggiano hit a solo home run with one out in the sixth to make it a 2-1 game.

Following Koehler's departure, Miami's bullpen had a hard time recording outs. Lefty Mike Dunn replaced Jon Rauch with runners on first and third and nobody out in the seventh, and gave up RBI singles to Carl Crawford and Van Slyke and a sacrifice fly to Andre Eithier to make it a 5-1 contest.

Steve Cishek worked a scoreless eighth, and Miami was able to score two runs off of Los Angeles closer Brandon League, until League retired pinch hitter Greg Dobbs for the final out.

In the world of Miami rookies, Marcell Ozuna had a two hit day in right field, while second baseman Derek Dietrich added two hits, and scored a run.

The Marlins have an off day Monday before they host Cincinnati for a three game series at Marlins Park beginning Tuesday. Jeff Mathis is expected to be activated from the disabled list before the game.

Source: FanGraphs

Miami Marlins’ manager Mike Redmond tested through first few months

2013-05-10T14:00:16Z

Miami Marlins' manager Mike Redmond doesn't want any pity. Despite the fact that the Marlins currently have 11 players on the disabled list, Redmond refuses to make excuses or allow his team to feel bad for themselves.

"I'm not going to sit here and be concerned for myself or my team," Redmond said during a press conference before Wednesday afternoon's game at Petco Park in San Diego. "Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. It is what it is. We just have to keep going out there and playing."

Redmond, a first year major league manager, has had to deal with injuries, just as the managers of every squad have had to do at some point in their careers. However, few have experienced what Redmond has through the first month and a half of the season.

Injuries began to plague the team before the season even started. Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez, both of who were expected to be in Miami's starting rotation to begin the year, were both injured and placed on the disabled list.

Giancarlo Stanton is one of the more recent Marlins to be placed on the DL, though his injury gave an opportunity to prospect Marcell Ozuna, who has thrived through the first several series of his career.

Second baseman Donovan Solano and utility infielder Chris Valaika were both injured early in the week, and shortly after were placed on the 15-day DL. Valaika was expected to see playing time at second while Solano was inactive.

"It's unbelievable, eleven guys now," Redmond said. "It just seems like one after the other. To see so many guys and so many different positions go down, it's crazy."

Ozuna isn't the only prospect who was given an opportunity because of an injury. Derek Dietrich, who the Marlins acquired from Tampa Bay in exchange for Yunel Escobar, was promoted on Wednesday and will likely get several starts at second base.

For the majority of the season, Redmond has been playing with a short bench. Regardless of all of the injuries, he is excited about the opportunities the young players are getting and remains optimistic about the future.

"It seems like we can't get anybody healthy, and we're not getting any of [the players] back," Redmond said. "We're hoping we can get some of these guys back and have the team that we thought we were going to have coming out of spring training."

Fish Bites: Juan Pierre finding rhythm on the base paths

2013-05-10T12:47:39Z

-Dismantling of Miami Marlins hurt efforts to get tenants at new ballpark - Little Havana / Flagami - MiamiHerald.com

Three eateries negotiating with the city of Miami to operate at the garages at Marlins Park backed out after the team tanked its roster. Not a single business has opened since the ballpark was inaugurated.

-SAN DIEGO: Errors beginning to pile up for Miami Marlins - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

Defense is something Marlins manager Mike Redmond takes seriously. Marlins players and coaches have worn black T-shirts with that word on the front of it since the start of spring training. But so far, the Marlins (10-23) have done about as poor a job with their gloves as they have done with their bats. In Monday night’s 5-0 loss to the Padres at Petco Park, the lowest-scoring team in the majors and the most error-prone team in the game produced five hits and two errors — including one that is sure to end up on this week’s blooper reels.

-SAN DIEGO: Miami Marlins Alex Sanabia credits Miguel Olivo amid injury scare - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

Had it not been for veteran catcher Miguel Olivo’s persistence, Marlins right-hander Alex Sanabia said he probably would have tried to keep pitching through the tightness he experienced in his right groin Tuesday, potentially worsening the Marlins’ already dire injury situation.

-Green happy to be back; Hechavarria moves into leadoff spot for a night | Fish Bytes

SAN DIEGO -- Nick Green knows life as a utility infielder can be wacky, filled with trips up and down from the minors and to the free agency wire. So what he endured this past week -- getting designated for assignment last Thursday because shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria was returning from the disabled list, clearing waivers, and then returning to the Marlins Tuesday because second baseman Donovan Solano was heading to the DL -- wasn't anything he hasn't seen before.

-Valaika likely headed to DL with wrist injury; Sanabia said he doesn't expect to miss next start | Fish Bytes

On a night the Marlins were hoping would be a special homecoming for starter Alex Sanabia, injuries continued to pile up in a 5-1 loss to the Padres, a game played in front of 16,263 fans at Petco Park. The Marlins -- already with 10 players on the disabled list -- lost Sanabia in the fifth inning to a tight right groin, and then utility infielder Chris Valaika to a small fracture on the tip of his left wrist.

-LOS ANGELES: Miami Marlins’ Larry Beinfest on roster moves: ‘I don’t even know who is here anymore’ - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

The Marlins have had to call up top prospects early because of injuries – a move that could cause roster upheaval when players return. "I don’t even know who is here anymore,"President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest said after the Marlins scored just one run during a three-game sweep this week by the Padres in San Diego. "It’s been a bad run. It kind of started first day of spring training when [catcher Jeff] Mathis broke his collarbone and it hasn’t really stopped since. It’s been anything from hamstrings to whatever freak injuries – getting slid into. It’s been a little bit of everything."

-Pierre still going strong at 35 stealing bases | marlins.com: News

Already on the road trip, Marlins left fielder Juan Pierre reached a milestone by stealing his 600th career base. He continues to be on the run at age 35. "It's impressive," Redmond said. "JP deserves everything he gets in this game. He's earned it. I didn't think he could ever keep that work ethic up. He's a special player, and a special guy."

-Derek Dietrich, grandson of Major Leaguer, called up by Marlins | marlins.com: News

All Derek Dietrich's hard work and dedication was done with the hope of getting that call to someday play in the big leagues. That call came about 2 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

-Patti Redmond has been there every step of the way in her son's baseball career | marlins.com: News

The mother of Marlins manager Mike Redmond, Patti, has been there every step of the way in her son's baseball career. From Little League through high school, college and the professional ranks, she has been Mike's biggest supporter.

Around The League

-Roy Halladay needs surgery, hopes to return this season

Roy Halladay's career no longer appears to be in jeopardy. He might even come back and pitch this season. But it won't be anytime soon. The Philadelphia Phillies ace told news reporters he needs arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur and to repair a partially torn rotator cuff and a frayed labrum. He figures to be out at least three months.

-Miggy playing through back soreness | tigers.com: News

Miguel Cabrera can create a highlight every time he takes a swing. He can also create a panic every time he takes a funny step. Wednesday night was a case for the latter.

-Cano singles for 1,500th big league hit | yankees.com: News

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano reached a milestone in the third inning Thursday with the 1,500th hit of his Major League career.

-Sports Stats | www.palmbeachpost.com

One day after umpire Angel Hernandez and his crew failed to reverse an obvious game-tying home run by A's infielder Adam Rosales in the ninth inning following a video review, MLB executive vice president Joe Torre said an "improper call" was made in Wednesday's game between the Indians and Athletics.

At Fish Stripes

-Miami Marlins offense improving, still terrible - Fish Stripes

In the absence of Giancarlo Stanton, the Miami Marlins' offense has improved, showing that they are regressing to the mean. But no one is mistaking them for a good offense yet.

- Miami Marlins Daily Minor League Report: May 8 - Fish Stripes

Jacob Turner delivered his best start of the year, while Christian Yelich homered for the third consecutive game.

-Should Miami Marlins bring up the rest of their prospects? - Fish Stripes

The Miami Marlins have, by necessity and by rashness, brought up a number of top prospects much earlier than expected. Should the team continue promoting its top minor league talent?

-The Christian Yelich promotion and the Giancarlo Stanton comparison - Fish Stripes

The Miami Marlins have only one top prospect left to promote. Christian Yelich may take a similar approach to what Giancarlo Stanton did in 2010, but will he have room in the majors to play?

-2013 Miami Marlins: Replacing the injured with prospects - Fish Stripes

With Jose Fernandez, Marcell Ozuna and now Derek Dietrich the Marlins have begun the habit of replacing DL time with prospect service time.

Miami Marlins news: Kevin Slowey used to receiving little run support

2013-05-06T12:30:07Z

Editor's note: This was written before the finish of yesterday's 14-2 beating of the Philadelphia Phillies, in which the Marlins gave plenty of run support for Kevin Slowey. -MJ

When Miami starting pitcher Kevin Slowey takes the mound, the Marlins' bats have tended to be quiet. Not receiving any run support is nothing new for Slowey.

Slowey spent the first five years of his major league career with the Minnesota Twins. While he was a starter in the Minnesota rotation in 2011, before getting injured, Slowey didn't receive much run supports from an average Twins lineup. His 0-8 record proved that.

Heading into the season, Slowey was one of several pitchers Miami signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. From his first appearance forward, Slowey began to impress.

Slowey also has a connection that might have factored into him getting the job. Although there wasn't an obvious second choice if Slowey didn't earn the job, manager Mike Redmond caught Slowey while Redmond was also a member of the Twins.

Through his first four starts of the season, Slowey gave up one, three, one and one run against the Mets, Cubs, Reds, and Phillies, respectively. Despite not allowing any games he has started to get out of hand, Slowey didn't win any of those games because of the offense's poor start.

"Same story," Redmond said after the loss to the Phillies during which Slowey started. "We just can't continue to go out there and ask those guys [pitchers] to do anymore than they're doing. With the way we're going, runs are such a premium."

To begin the season, Slowey is arguably Miami's best starting pitcher and is having the best start of his career. After six starts, Slowey has posted an 0-2 record with an earned run average of 2.15, best among any Marlins starter, and has a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) just a tick above one, at 1.01.

Slowey took the mound against the Phillies and Roy Halladay on Sunday. It marked the second time Slowey opposed Halladay, who Slowey praised before Sunday's contest.

"As a pitcher, watching him throw, watching the way he goes about his business -- you never have any idea whether he just gave up a home run or he just struck out the side," Slowey said. "Every pitch is thrown with the same conviction and the same determination. Those are the things you can control as a pitcher. To see a guy do it, day in, day out for years and years, it's pretty special."

With several months of baseball left, Slowey and Redmond are confident that the offense will get consistent, just as it did when Slowey earned his first victory of the season on Sunday.

"I think we're getting in some good counts," manager Mike Redmond said. "It's just not happening. We're not getting the hits. We're getting in good counts, and we're not able to drive those guys in, for whatever reason. We're having a tough time scoring runs. We're just not able to get that big hit."