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The Miami Marlins have made the past couple of weeks interesting for not only the fans, but for media members, too. We here at Fish Stripes are happy to see the Marlins win and even happier happier to bring you the latest news and analysis!
Marlins Game Recaps
During this past week, the Marlins lost a game to the Washington Nationals, then beat them in the series finale of a four-game set. They followed that up by winning two out of three from the San Francisco Giants and splitting a pair against the San Diego Padres. That’s a 4-3 record, bumping up the overall season mark to 20-36.
May 26—Nationals 9, Marlins 6; Caleb Smith was sent to the mound hoping to help the Marlins to a win but went only three innings giving up five runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. The Marlins offense was nonexistent until the last couple of innings scoring six runs on a two-run HR by Neil Walker in the 8th, a bases-clearing double by Brian Anderson and an RBI single by Walker in the ninth.
May 27—Marlins 3, Nationals 2; José Ureña started this game going seven innings and getting the win for the Marlins giving up two runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts. The Marlins scored three runs on nine hits with RBIs from Harold Ramirez, Miguel Rojas, and Neil Walker.
May 28—Marlins 11, Giants 3; Trevor Richards took the ball against the Giants and was phenomenal going seven innings giving up one run on two hits and one walk with five strikeouts. The offense was alive for the Marlins as they scored 11 runs on 14 hits with three HRs from Jorge Alfaro, Rosell Herrera and Garrett Cooper.
May 29—Marlins 4, Giants 2; Pablo López pitched six innings of one-run ball for the Marlins allowing only four hits and one walk with five strikeouts. The Marlins got 11 hits and scored four runs on RBIs by Starlin Castro, Garrett Cooper, Harold Ramirez and Neil Walker with Jorge Alfaro also having a big game going 4-for-4.
May 30—Giants 3, Marlins 1; Marlins sent Sandy Alcantara to the mound hoping to get a series sweep against the Giants and he shutout the Giants for six innings allowing two hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Even though the Marlins out hit the Giants the only run they could get across came from Alcantara.
May 31—Padres 5, Marlins 2; Caleb Smith again failed to get deep into the ballgame only going 5 innings allowing two runs on three hits and two walks but with eight strikeouts. The Marlins only got four hits against the Padres with the two runs coming off a Starlin Castro RBI groundout and a solo HR from Rosell Herrera.
June 1—Marlins 9, Padres 3; Jose Urena once again got the start against the Padres and threw well going six innings giving up three runs on three hits, three walks and six strikeouts. The Marlins got 11 hits and scored nine runs on a two-run double by Harold Ramirez, a two-run HR by Bryan Holaday and RBIs from Starlin Castro, Brian Anderson, Garrett Cooper and Miguel Rojas.
Aside from one Josh Naylor revenge swing, that was pretty close to a perfect game for the Marlins.
— Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) June 2, 2019
Roster Moves Roundup
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This week saw some tweaking to the Marlins bullpen. RHP Elieser Hernandez had been brought up, with RHP Tyler Kinley optioned to Triple-A New Orleans in a corresponding move. Soon after, though, Hernandez was sent down and RHP Jeff Brigham took his place.
More notably, veteran INF Neil Walker landed on the injured list with a right quad strain. There is no timetable for his return yet. In the meantime, INF JT Riddle was recalled from Triple-A.
MLB Draft Nuggets
Monday is finally the big day: the 2019 MLB Draft.
The latest mocks from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs each have the Marlins selecting Vanderbilt outfielder JJ Bleday at No. 4 overall. Much more about Bleday in Hector Rodriguez’s draft profile of him here.
Of course, the Marlins must be prepared for alternatives. FNTSY Sports Radio host Craig Mish reports that prep prospects C.J. Abrams and Riley Greene both visited Marlins Park in recent days. MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro names prep infielder Cade Doughty as “a name to keep an eye on” for them to target with one of their other early-round picks.
Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald asked a handful of Marlins about their unique draft stories. Respondents include Brian Anderson, Curtis Granderson and Don Mattingly.
The draft airs live on MLB Network at 7 p.m. ET.
Missing Miami Marlins “Studs”
Marc Carig of The Athletic (subscription required) digs deep into a hypothetical scenario: What if the Marlins had simply retained all of the talented players who were under club control through 2019, rather than rebuild? Aside from the obvious All-Star outfield, they would be complemented by breakout players like Derek Dietrich, Chris Paddack and Domingo German. It would’ve left the Fish with a depleted farm system, but likely put them in a position to contend this season.
“What if the Marlins never traded anyone over the past four years?” It’s a fun but absurd hypothetical. Quotes in here from Yelich, Dietz, Paddack, etc. https://t.co/y9gk883DbE
— Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) May 29, 2019
Offseason moves in review
With one-third of the regular season in the rearview mirror, Fish Stripes’ own Ely Sussman evaluates the newly acquired Miami Marlins and keep tabs on the old Marlins in new uniforms. The full article can be read here.
Adam Conley’s Favorite Game
On Memorial Day, Marlins’ Adam Conley remembers his favorite game he ever pitched https://t.co/dCCPbxFx1T
— Miami Herald Sports (@HeraldSports) May 27, 2019
Adam Conley had the rare honor of playing on an active military base. He reflects about the privilege of starting and earning the win on that occasion in speaking to David Wilson of the Miami Herald.
Podcast Episodes
The Fish Stripes podcast is home to Miami Marlins shows Fish Bites, Earning Their Stripes and A-Ball with Erik Oas. All new episodes are posted to FishStripes.com/podcasts. You can also find them on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods.
Special guests this past week: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp right-hander Jordan Yamamoto and Clinton LumberKings pitching coach Mark DiFelice.
Stick with us here at Fish Stripes for articles on all of the Marlins’ wins and losses as well as analysis and other news.