Despite what the standings say, the Marlins are not yet entertaining the idea of selling, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports. The club is not interested in moving core players, says Frisaro, noting that dealing third baseman Martin Prado — who is under contract for next year as well — does not make sense, at least at present.
Here’s more from the NL East:
- Skipper Dan Jennings says that the Marlins’ decision to option Steve Cishek was motivated by a desire to get his mechanics in order outside the big league spotlight, Frisaro reports. Noting that Cishek’s velocity has improved of late, Jennings said he expects a short minor league stint: “I don’t see this being a long-term deal at all. I think he will come back and be the same Steve Cishek we’ve known in the past.”
- The upcoming draft is an important one for a Phillies organization that is working to add as much impact talent as possible, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com writes. Johnny Almaraz will oversee the picking for the first time, and Salisbury suggests he’s likely to “stay away from project-type players, at least up high.” Philadelphia has struggled to produce draft talent in the not-so-distant past, but seems thus far to have hit on both of its last two picks: shortstop J.P. Crawford and righty Aaron Nola. “It’s an interesting draft,” said GM Ruben Amaro Jr. “There’s some depth. Maybe not tons of super difference makers, but there’s some good players out there.”
- Medical analysis confirms that Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg has a strained left trapezius, James Wagner of the Washington Post reports. For now, the plan is for Strasburg to rest, with the hope that he’ll be ready to resume throwing in relatively short order.
- The Nationals have also received encouraging news on another injured right-handed starter, Doug Fister. As Wagner writes, Fister says his forearm tightness has “pretty much subsided completely.” The veteran went on to say that he has never been too concerned about the issue: “It was really just more tight than complete, utter mayhem. So I mean, it wasn’t a bad issue. It was more of just I really need a break for some reason, there’s so much tightness going on that we really need to address it.” As important as Fister is to Washington, his ability to recover and regain his effectiveness may tell even more on his free agent status. The 31-year-old has produced consistently excellent results over the last four seasons, but saw a dip in his velocity and strikeout tallies early this year.
Just a matter of days before Dan Jennings inserts himself as Marlins closer.
Danny was a gamer in little league, the plan is to have him pitch complete games.
If it works with Jennings, maybe they’ll try it the other 4 times around the rotation.
Perhaps to start, but Danny thinks he can be on the bump more then once every 5 days. Besides he is running out of time to make it the 300 win club so he will be pitching a lot.
I think he has a better chance at the 300 Schwinn Club
Don’t under estimate The Will To Win. It is the advanced stat we are using to evaluate pitchers now.
Sorry, I’m old fashioned and lean on basic sabremetric stats. Things like “intangibles” are for college boys.
“(T)he Marlins‘ decision to option Steve Cishek was motivated by a desire to get his mechanics in order outside the big league spotlight,”
Aside from Stanton and Jose Fernandez (who hasn’t played this year), since when have the Miami Marlins been in the big league spotlight? Other than for weird manager moves or fire sales of course.
*Great manager moves by a world champion owner and smart rebuilding!
I think that is what you meant to say.
World champion owner? He bought a team that got hot at the right time. He didn’t exactly assembled all the pieces himself nor was he around when Beckett and the rest were drafted by the previous ownership. I think most people would have Loria on a list of worst owners in professional sports history.
Well, I think the point is that he’s pitching in front of tens of thousands of people and answering reporters’ questions every night. But you could (and I would) argue that the team has been more scrutinized than any smaller-market team by national media and fans in recent years. Cishek himself has been the subject of plenty of trade rumors and now closer intrigue.
I was actually just joking (or unsuccessfully attempting to it seems), but I would argue that the Royals have had more attention and have been scrutinized far more than the Marlins. Just look at the flak they received for the James Shields trade that worked out pretty well for them.
I responded to Jeff about the Royals before id,even seen your post
M’s sent Danny Farquhar down in the same manner, but like you were implying… They don’t have Loria for an owner. Someone really needs to counsel Loria on public relations and that “all publicity is not good publicity”
As far as small market teams go…No, no one has probably been more negatively scrutinized than Miami. But from a sheer attention level…that must go to Kansas City. Every armchair sabremetrician in the galaxy has been on a quest to rebuild that franchise during Dayton Moore’s “Process”…. KC has drawn an inordinate amount of stat minded people….goes way back to Bill James working in the pork and beans factory in Lawrence, KS. Interestingly… I also worked in the same building much later on after it had become another business.
Sometimes a GM/manager has to look in the mirror and say,.”I’m fired!”
Jennings wasn’t even an awful GM. Hes an awful manager.
Is he? Honest question. I haven’t seen or heard anything since he’s taken over, good or bad.
OK, overvaluing manager input is very easy to do…especially a short losing stretch… But this has bad end written all over it. I don’t even blame anyone in the organization. They should be given lifetime achievement awards for walking that Loria tightrope
As the old saying goes “No news is good news.” Therefore you not hearing anything means he is doing great!
Well, I’m just going off what I’ve heard.
They’re 3-8 since he took over
You are an optimist
What made him an awful GM?
I was referring to your statement about his managing ability. I can’t say it’s even fair to judge any Florida/Miami gm that has had Loria as an owner
ah, okay. my mistake
Loria’s art dealing career was launched through Sears with funding from Vincent Price. Oh good night! Someone please make a bio pic of Loria!