Who is the Miami Heat’s True Key Piece for their Second Round Match-up?

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The Miami Heat are moving on to the second round, which will most likely be against the first seeded Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee has struggled with Miami all season, for a multitude of reasons. But who will need to step up to beat this Bucks team 4 out of 7 times?

Many think the reason Milwaukee struggles with Miami is that the Heat have so many bodies to throw at Giannis, which consequently led to some of Giannis’ worst games of the season. Jae Crowder will most likely get the first shot at Giannis early on the defensive side. Although Bam Adebayo has proved to be Giannis’ kryptonite, there is no need to risk getting Bam in foul trouble early, which has been a problem during some games in the bubble.

This means that Bam will most likely guard Giannis in the fourth quarters throughout the series. And Miami still has guys like Andre Iguodala and Derrick Jones Jr to try and stop Giannis. But is Derrick Jones Jr’s offensive package good enough to play extended minutes against the Bucks?

Since Milwaukee’s defense revolves around a drop scheme which allows a bunch of threes, it favors Miami. But with DJJ’s inability to stretch the floor, this may mean that Kendrick Nunn replaces him in the 9 man rotation in this series. Kendrick Nunn clearly isn’t the most efficient three point shooter, but he definitely is a threat.

This leads right into Miami’s true key pieces for the series. Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, and Kelly Olynyk can all play major roles in this series with their ability to stretch the floor, but the true X-factor is Miami’s second year man Duncan Robinson.

A hand in his face can’t even slow him down at times, which is why teams have continued to try and blanket Duncan and let other players on this Heat team beat them. This is something the Bucks won’t do. They will continue to use their defensive sets, which will mean even more Duncan and Bam dribble hand offs. Duncan went 11-21 from beyond the arc in their three regular season games this year against Milwaukee. And since they pack the paint, it will limit Bam’s offensive numbers some. But since he does so many other things well, this won’t hurt their offense one bit.

Although it’s evident that Duncan is pretty much the x-factor in every game they play, since their offense basically revolves around him, it’s even more true in this series. If the Bucks continue to allow this to happen in this series, Miami will make them pay, which makes this series so interesting.

Tua impresses as second week of Dolphins training camp begins

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Rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa impresses with three touchdown passes to start the second week of Miami Dolphins training camp. As you would expect, the first week of NFL training camp has been a bit of a roller coaster ride, especially for the younger players. And although every player is sure to have it’s up and down moments, none gets more attention than those playing the most critical position on the roster–the quarterbacks.

After the first week of practice, we heard various reports on the 2020 5th-overall pick.

 

Towards the end of last week, a majority of the fanbase took an all-too-familiar stance. The Sky Is Falling.

Sure, it was only the 4th-padded practice.

And who cares about the horrific injury Tua suffered eight months ago.

Fans wanted results. They wanted to hear the same rave reviews that Joe Burrow was getting in Cincinnati.

Hell, some went as far as to question whether or not Tua was a unique talent.

With a weekend to regroup and a Sunday walk-through to help give the younger guys a sense of what’s to come in the next few weeks, Dolphins fans got exactly what they had hoped.

According to every beat writer in attendance for today’s practice, rookie QB had the best practice of his young NFL career.

 

Tua starting to turn heads

One play that has received the most attention from Monday’s practice is a 69-yard (nice) touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Malcolm Perry. Here’s a look at the play, which shows off Tagovailoa’s accuracy and showcases Perry’s abilities as a pass-catcher. Perfect throw and catch. https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1297975843789168642?s=20

All other reports suggest that Mack Hollins was the recipient of not one, but TUA Tagovailoa touchdown passes. Which may spell the beginning of the end of the ridiculous ‘tUa Is oNlY goOd bEcAuSe oF hIs FiRSt RoUnD aLaBAmA wIdE ReCiEvErs” narrative.

Nevertheless, today is precisely what you want to hear about the rookie QB. The same QB that many of us have already concluded as the savior. But for Ryan Fitzpatrick–one of Tua’s most knowledgeable advisors, sometimes it’s just about getting better day in and day out. Here’s what Miami’s veteran signal-caller had to say about the promising young rookie.

“Yeah, he’s doing a great job and I know it’s your guys’ job to look at and evaluate every single day and every throw; but it’s something for us as quarterbacks and for me, I just like to see progress and sometimes it’s not necessarily a completion, but it’s the thought process and making sure the ball is going to the right spot at the right time. Sometimes there’s not going to be – some things are not going to look pretty, but it’s the right decision and that’s, for me, a step in the right direction.

#InTuaWeTrust

I know it’s easier said than done, but fans need to be extra patient with Tagovailoa. He is eight months removed from a devastating injury, and he’s going to take time to get acclimated to the NFL game. 2020 will be a season, unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed. So, let Ryan Fitzpatrick start week 1 vs New England.

Because soon enough, Tua Tagovailoa will be the Miami Dolphins starting QB. And there won’t be any turning back from there.

Marlins finally get on track offensively vs. Nationals

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It had been a week and 2 days (9 games) since the Marlins could muster more than 5 runs in a game.

Monday in Washington D.C., the Marlins ended their hitting woes in an 11-8 victory vs. the Nationals and built important momentum heading into a 4-game series with the New York Mets.

With Sandy Alcántara, Caleb Smith, and José Ureña still on the IL, Pablo López has stepped up. Tonight was no different. López pitched 5 strong innings, while giving up 3 runs (0 earned) and lowering his ERA to a measly 1.98. Pablo has been a surprising ace for this surprising Marlins squad. It will be exciting to see if he can keep up this pace throughout this short season.

The number: 17 HITS (and 6 walks)! This number is the highest we have seen by 3 hits, topping the Marlins’ 14-11 victory against Toronto earlier in the season. The stream of hits were led by the combined 8 hits of Jon Berti, Jesus Aguilar, and Corey Dickerson. The only member of the starting lineup to not cash in on the hitting frenzy was Jesus Sánchez, although he continues to look more and more comfortable at the plate. 8 of the Marlins 11 runs came with two outs.

Next: The Fish (12-11) head to New York for a 4-game set with the Mets (12-14). Neither the Marlins nor the Mets have announced starters for either game in Tuesday’s doubleheader.

5 Post-Game Comments from Spoelstra, Butler, Adebayo

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The Miami Heat completed the sweep over the Indiana Pacers tonight, which gives Miami a couple extra days of rest. Erik Spoelstra spoke on Tyler Herro’s play and Bam Adebayo mentioned how long he has to enjoy this win. Here’s what was said…

Post-Game Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra talked a little about the injury of Jimmy Butler. He said once again that it’s just soft tissue in his right shoulder. He than says, “What he needs more than anything is just rest.” Well, that’s exactly what Jimmy Butler will get since they will have a few days of rest before the start of the second round. Erik Spoelstra also mentioned that Jimmy Butler’s low free throw attempts may have had something to do with Jimmy being precautionary of his injury. He said that he was not trying to attack people as much today. Either way, Jimmy Butler will hopefully be back to 100% by game 1 of the second round, which will most likely be against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Bam Adebayo was asked about enjoying this round one win over Indiana, and responded with a very Bam like answer. He said, “I got until midnight to enjoy this. And then it’s back to business in the morning.” He clearly has the Miami Heat winning mentality, especially due to his play tonight that included 14 points, 19 rebounds, and 6 assists. Spoelstra mentioned his tough play this series, which he continually reiterated the impact of Bam. He also said, “I don’t care what the stat sheet says.” But tonight, it was clear that Bam filled up the stat sheet to his liking, which translated to a big Heat win.

Post-Practice Comment #3

Bam Adebayo touched on Kendrick Nunn’s return tonight. He said, “Don’t tell him I said anything but I’m proud of him, staying ready.” Bam also talked about trying to keep him in good spirits, since he was in the same situation a few years ago. Bam also reiterates, “I’m truly proud of that kid, to stay locked in, didn’t get discouraged from the situation.” For starters, it’s a little odd for Bam to be calling Kendrick a “kid” when Bam is younger. But when you play a mentoring role in someone’s career, it must feel that way. Although Bam is so young, he’s a star on this team, which means he is a major voice for guys to look for in any situation.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Erik Spoelstra spoke about some of the big play Tyler made down the stretch, including some huge offensive rebounds. He began saying that it clearly isn’t his job to grab those rebounds, but he has such a feel for the ball. He followed that saying, “He’s a serious weapon.” This was evident tonight since he has the confidence to make big plays in big games. It’s not very common for a 20 year old rookie to be in the closing lineup in his first playoff series, but with Tyler it’s different. He is truly a trusted piece for this team, that will continue to be looked to in tight games.

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Jimmy Butler spoke on the team’s happiness for other people’s success. He said, “We love when other guys are successful.” This was on display in the second quarter when Kendrick Nunn hit a three pointer as soon as he entered the game. The bench absolutely loved it on the sideline, which was what Jimmy was referring to. He also said, “You should have fun. You should enjoy the game. And you can see that in how we play.” This team has the ability to flip a switch in certain circumstances. They can have fun and be excited on big plays, but they also know how to get down to business and be physical. This is why this team is so dangerous.

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Series Ending Win Over Pacers

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The Miami Heat have officially completed the sweep over the Indiana Pacers with a game 4 win, 99-87. This was a pretty spread out game for Miami’s offense, while Miami’s leading scorer was Goran Dragic with 23 points. Here are some takeaways from this game 4 win…

#1: Kendrick Nunn makes impressive return.

Kenrick Nunn got his name called in the second quarter of today’s game, and he delivered. He hit a corner three on only his second offensive possession, which he showed both a smile and a bit of relief after his recent struggles. Jimmy Butler’s early injury lead to some early minutes for Nunn. This is extremely important heading into a match-up with the Milwaukee Bucks, since Miami will need some offensive talent on the floor like Kendrick Nunn, due to Milwaukee’s defense that allows more threes. This also takes a bit of the load off of Goran’s shoulders at times, since it’s not ideal for a 34 year old Goran to play 34 minutes a game.

#2: Jimmy Butler’s early departure leads to choppy offense in first half.

Jimmy Butler exited the game after 5 minutes of play with an apparent shoulder sprain. This injury did not seem to occur in the game, since he was seen rubbing his right shoulder prior to today’s game. Jimmy’s early departure led to a stagnant Miami offense in the first half. Although Jimmy is not a threat shooting the ball, his presence causes Miami’s offense to run smoothly. Jimmy returned in the second half, and Miami seemed to return to its usual dynamic offense. One thing that this showcased was Jimmy’s elite facilitating ability, plus his ability to attack the basket which is a given.

#3: Bam Adebayo hunting to dominate Myles Turner match-up early.

Bam Adebayo seemed to have some fire in his eyes on the offensive side of the ball early in today’s game. Almost as if he planned to be aggressive and attack Myles Turner. This led to a Bam Adebayo mid-range jumper and a couple floaters in the paint, which none of those shots even hit the rim. Just net. Jimmy Butler’s early departure may have impacted his aggressiveness early as well, since he realized he would need to step up. This was just another snippet of Bam’s game that has yet to be unlocked yet. Everyone can see it’s there, but he does everything else so well that he doesn’t always utilize it. Bam ended the game with 14 points, 19 rebounds, and 6 assists.

#4: Tyler Herro continually shows he can be “that guy.”

Tyler Herro has continually proven that he is immune to pressure. He’s shown this throughout the entire series, but today he showed that he’s going to play the same way no matter if it’s practice, a regular season game, and now a playoff game. And as talked about before, although he has improved his ball-handling and play-making, he will always primarily be a scorer. He has the ability to not only hurt you from three, but also control the mid-range which is something that Miami hasn’t done a lot of. He showed off yet another big fourth quarter tonight, with some impressive drives to the basket and tough passes down the stretch. When you watch him in these games, it truly slips your mind that this guy is a rookie.

#5: Miami’s 4-0 sweep against Indiana is a warning to the top East teams.

The Miami Heat completed the sweep against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, which means they move on to the second round to likely face the Milwaukee Bucks. This first round showcased Miami’s number one strength, which is their unique mix of solid veterans and young talent. Goran Dragic and Tyler Herro were clear representaions of this, since they both stepped up in this series on the offensive side of the ball, especially during tough stretches. Erik Spoelstra also deserves major credit in this series for his ability to adjust so perfectly in this unique situation. And don’t forget about their elite two-way stars on the roster in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, who have both been huge in fourth quarters, which is when they are needed most. Teams are recognizing the toughness in this current Miami Heat team, which makes them such a threat.

Capacity limits among rule changes for Miami Hurricanes, Dolphins games

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If you want to watch Miami Dolphins and Hurricanes football in person in 2020, you may be in luck. According to multiple media reports, the Dolphins will permit 13,000 capacity for the home openers for the Dolphins and University of Miami.

Miami’s first home game would be against the Buffalo Bills on September 20. For the University of Miami, their first home game is slated to be September 10 against UAB.

No tailgating will be permitted at Dolphins or Hurricanes games this season. In addition, masks will be mandatory when fans are not eating or drinking. Some other notable changes include no paper tickets, and cashless purchases for concessions, and parking.

Optimism for both Miami teams

Heading into their 2020 seasons, both the University of Miami and the Dolphins are generating excitement. Miami had a tremendous offseason and draft, with Tua Tagovailoa being the ultimate prize. Now, they will look to compete in an AFC East Division that just got a lot tighter. Along with the Dolphins, the Bills and Patriots both made moves in the offseason to make this a tight division race.

For the University of Miami, they enter 2020 with superstar quarterback D’Eriq King. He will undoubtedly bring a dual-threat play style to the offense, and allow for the Hurricanes to open up the field offensively. With the offseason that Manny Diaz had both in terms of recruiting and current personnel moves, the Hurricanes should be set for the next couple of years.

It’s an interesting time for Miami sports. Two of the most well-known football teams on the East Coast get ready to roll out their newest pieces. The good news for fans both parties is that they will be able to watch things unfold and be able to make their first impressions in person, at least for the foreseeable future.

I’ll be interested to see how the two teams fair in 2020. It’s been a year of bad news all around for everybody. Good Hurricanes and Dolphins teams would certainly give loyal Florida sports fans something to hang their hat on .

5 Main Comments from Media Session with Spoelstra, Herro, Olynyk

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The Miami Heat are coming off a big game three win over the Indiana Pacers, as they prepare to try and sweep the Pacers tomorrow. Erik Spoelstra talked with some media about these past few playoff games, while Tyler Herro discussed some of their defensive issues. Here’s what was said…

Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra talked about the recent success of his veteran Goran Dragic on the offensive side of the ball. He said, “If he shot 8 to 10 three-pointers a game, his coach would love it.” The same goes for Duncan Robinson. Spoelstra, Jimmy, and Bam have continually talked about wanting their shooters, including Duncan Robinson, Goran Dragic, and Tyler Herro, to shoot as much as possible. Spo also praised Goran’s work ethic when he mentioned the first playoff series against Charlotte a few years back, saying “their strategy was to go under on him…He’s put in such diligent work off the catch, not just the dribble.” Goran has been a much better shooter off the catch and shoot this season, since he’s never played this role before. This leads into Spo’s comment on his leadership, saying “I just think he’s gotten a lot more comfortable with his stature, not only within the league but within this organization.”

Comment #2:

Erik Spoelstra also took some time to reflect beack on the late great Kobe Bryant, since today would have been his 42nd birthday. Spo said, “I imagine Kobe Bryant would have figured out a way to have his own gym time at 5am…when everyone else was sleeping.” This was something that the Heat always took note of, since their star Dwyane Wade got his work ethic from Kobe as well, since he was the one he was chasing. Spo also mentions that “It’s just tragic seeing a lot of the stuff on the news today. I still can’t believe that this happened.” It still seems a bit surreal for everybody, since he was such a mentor in not only basketball, but in life.

Comment #3:

Tyler Herro discussed the way that Indiana has attacked him on defense through isolation. Tyler said, “It’s no secret who they’re going at, they’re going at me and Duncan.” It seemed as if Malcolm Brogdon was having a field day yesterday on offense, when he saw Tyler Herro matched up with him and no help defense around. After a couple late buckets from Brogdon, Jae Crowder was consequently subbed into the game for defensive purposes, and was the main reason that they came away with the win. Tyler also adds, “That’s something I’m not going to run from.” Although this was a problem yesterday, Tyler has shown some major defensive improvements in the bubble, mostly through his IQ on help defense. While the one on one stuff still seems to be an issue, Spo mentions that “They both really work at it, study it, and that why they improve. I love their approach.”

Comment #4:

Kelly Olynyk mentioned his role of being Miami’s single big, and consequently “doing Bam’s job.” Kelly said, “You’ve got to set screens, make sure the offense is flowing, moving side to side.” This is something that he’s continued to do in the bubble off the bench, which is why he made the cut for the 9 man rotation. And not only does he have to do Bam’s job, but he has to take the role as the spacer who can hurt the defense from beyond the arc. Kelly also mentioned that since Miami’s running smaller lineups, “you’ve got to rebound.” This is something Kelly put on display yesterday, when he grabbed 9 rebounds in only 13 minutes. Kelly ended with, “I’ve got to make sure I’m contributing.”

Comment #5:

Jae Crowder has clearly shown some major improvements in his three point shooting since joining the Heat. Kelly Olynyk spoke about Jae’s shooting compared to Boston, saying “I was looking at his shot the other day, and it’s really pretty…One thing you don’t want to do is ask what he’s doing, so he will think about it.” The reason you don’t want Jae to think about it is because he’s shooting with the utmost amount of confidence. This is mostly due to Spo’s confidence in him, when he would tell Jae to shoot them contested. Kelly also got asked if he has tried Jimmy Butler’s coffee, which he responded “No, I’m not a coffee drinker. But if he comes with some Jimmy Butler spicy tuna rolls, I’ll be right on it.”

Match Recap: Inter Miami CF vs. Orlando City SC

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Inter Miami sealed their first-ever win over Orlando City Saturday night. Julian Carranza led the Herons with a brace as Miami sealed a 3-2 victory at Inter Miami CF Stadium.

The long-awaited first home match for Inter Miami did not disappoint. After a fabulous first 45 minutes of play, Miami saw out the victory on its home turf. Orlando was unable to snatch a point late in the game, and Miami came away with its first points of the 2020 MLS Regular Season.

First Half

In the 12th minute of play, Carranza had won a ball in midfield that fell to Rodolfo Pizarro. The Mexican International dribbled right at a defender with his striker alongside. Carranza received a perfectly weighted and timed pass from Pizarro as he overlapped him, and tucked the ball into the near post for a 1-0 lead.

Miami’s defense was beaten just 6 minutes later, as Orlando rookie Darryl Dike bodied Leandro Gonzalez Pirez to the ground, which led to a turn and a shot on target. Goalkeeper Luis Robles did well to make the first save, however, Andres Reyes or Ben Sweat couldn’t clear the ball, which led to Dike striking home the rebound.

At 1-1, Miami was still playing inspired. Winning balls in the midfield and organized defending translated into some positive play. A lot of the first half featured Inter Miami progressing into the final third with countless forward dribbles and passes. The use of Lewis Morgan on the wing seemed to be in the game plan for Diego Alonso’s side, but ultimately the opposite side provided Miami’s second goal.

In the 22nd minute, Sweat had received a pass from the midfield as he ran down the wing. With his head up, he saw Carranza making a run at the back post. Immediately Sweat put in a fantastic cross that Carranza was able to head perfectly. From the left side of the keeper at the back post, the striker lofted his headed attempt across to the top of the goal in an unreachable position. Just like that, Miami was back on top at 2-1.

Pizarro and Carranza were a delight to watch in the first 45 minutes. The play from the two going forward showcased what this team can bring on the offensive front. Carranza was extremely active in the entire match. He won a handful of freekicks for Miami and bothered Orlando defenders for the majority of the first half. The 2-1 lead at the halftime break was a result of inspiring play from the whole team.

Second Half

Inter Miami was able to carry this momentum straight out of the gate. The tactics from the first half did not change as Miami found themselves in a scoring position only three minutes into the restart.

Defender Nicolas Figal, who found himself a lot of freedom to go forward this game, played a backheel pass to Morgan on the wing. Morgan was able to put a ball into the box that found a backward header from Victor Ulloa that landed perfectly to Pizarro’s foot. In the most composed manner, Miami’s Number 10 slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give them a 3-1 lead.

Just seconds later after the goal, Carranza was on a break and found Pizarro with a headed through ball. He took a shot just inside the box and barely missed his chance for a second as he struck the inside of the far post. Even up 3-1, Miami fans were able to watch a hungry, attacking side.

After three yellow cards in a quick 13 minutes for Miami (53′, 62′, 66′), it was evident legs became heavy. Orlando had subbed on Chris Mueller at the half, who made quite the impact in the latter part of the match.

Immediately following a triple substitution for Miami, which featured Brek Shea, who made his first appearance for the club, Orlando scored a second goal. Dike did well to body LGP yet again and played a back pass to Mueller on the corner of the box. Mueller did well to send in a cross to the head of Luis Nani on the back post, and Robles had no chance. Now 78 minutes in, Miami was pressured to hold on.

Orlando threw numbers forward in the last 10 minutes plus 5 of added time, but ultimately Miami stood strong. Just like that, Inter Miami had finally won a game.

 

The 3-2 win will go down as a monumental day for Inter Miami. The first win and the first home game are two huge steps to take as a club. Miami will look to carry this momentum into Wednesday as they take on Atlanta United for the first time.

Freshmen stand out again in Scrimmage #2 for Canes

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After a very telling and exciting Fall scrimmage last weekend, the Canes were back at it again on Saturday night with another one. Coach Manny Diaz provided the following notes in a mini press-conference afterwards.

 

Diaz felt as if the defense dominated the first half, which was contrary to the first scrimmage, and attributed it to the defensive line.

 

“You could see the addition of some of the guys coming back on the defensive line and that added an overall edge to their play,” Diaz mentioned. “Quincy and Jaelan were both very disruptive. Getting Jon Ford back, just a lot of guys creating havoc there in the backfield and creating some negative plays.”

 

“…We had very few negative plays in the first scrimmage and it seemed like there are a lot more tonight.”

 

He went on to say that the offense responded to the adversity well and proceeded to piece together a few touchdown drives, but not without a few hiccups in the process.

 

“Overall, though, it was much, much too sloppy of a scrimmage; much sloppier than the first scrimmage.” Diaz noted more penalties, which were very limited in the first scrimmage.

 

Diaz raved about junior RB Cam Harris, calling his performance “fantastic”. Harris was limited in the first scrimmage but he made his presence known when he got the ball.

 

While on the topic of running backs, Diaz also mentioned freshmen backs Donald Chaney and Jaylan Knighton, who followed up the first scrimmage with solid performances on Saturday.

 

“I think after their plays a week ago sometimes you have a tendency to want to hit a grand slam with no one on base…I think once they started trusting their cuts and just sticking to north-south runners, once they cleared that front line now they can use their explosion.”

 

One big takeaway is that not one, but two freshman wide receivers filled the stat line. Xavier Restrepo, who’s expected to see the field this season, caught five passes for 79 yards while Keyshawn Smith had three catches for 53 yards. Both also added a touchdown each.

 

After sitting out the first scrimmage, Brevin Jordan found himself getting back into the groove, catching four passes while Larry Hodges added 45 receiving yards and one touchdown. 

 

DISRUPTIVE DEFENSE

 

The name of the game for the past four seasons has always been defense for the Canes, and Diaz was excited about the defense stepping up. Miami may be without highly-regarded freshman safety Avantae Williams in 2020 but another one stepped up in this scrimmage. 

 

The defense forced three turnovers, two of them by way of Brian Balom. The freshman forced one fumble and intercepted a pass, all while leading the D with seven tackles. CB Te’Cory Couch forced the other one via interception.

 

The front 7 also made an impact, as redshirt-freshman LB Avery Huff added five tackles and a couple of sacks, while DE Jahfari Harvey had six tackles. LB Corey Flagg added a fumble recovery.

 

Coach Diaz mentioned that his goal for practice this week is to tack on the adversity and see who responds the best.

 

“We’ve got to be able to extend these drives, especially in the heat. During training camp, we’re going in the evening a lot. We’ve got to get on Greentree…we’ve just got to continue to push our guys through this week and make it really, really hard on them, make it really difficult on them and really find out…who we can count on to go compete against UAB.”

 

MY TAKEAWAY

 

My biggest takeaway from this scrimmage is easily the standout performances from the freshmen. Restrepo has always been seen as a guy that will easily fit into that speedy slot role, much similar to what Braxton Berrios was. Keyshawn Smith was a guy who barely made it to Miami for the spring semester and scouts thought he was a diamond in the rough. Huff redshirted last season and it seems like he’s ready to go if he’s finding a way to get a couple of sacks. I thought Balom wouldn’t see the field this year but if he’s capable of having performances like that, coaches might find a way to put him in the safety rotation.

 

KEY STAT LINES

QB D’Eriq King: 95 passing yards, 2 TD’s

 

RB Cam Harris: 13 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD, 5 catches, 2 receiving TD’s

 

RB Jaylan Knighton & Donald Chaney Jr.: 40+ yards, 1 TD each 

 

WR Xavier Restrepo: 5 catches, 79 yards, 1 TD

 

WR Keyshawn Smith: 3 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD 

 

TE Brevin Jordan: 4 catches

 

TE Larry Hodges: 45 receiving yards, 1 TD 

 

DE Jahfari Harvey: 6 tackles

 

LB Avery Huff: 5 tackles, 2 sacks

 

LB Corey Flagg: fumble recovery

 

CB Te’Cory Couch: 1 INT

 

S Brian Balom: 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF

 

Keep it locked to 5 Reasons Sports for the latest in your Miami Hurricanes coverage.

Sixto Sanchez

Meet the Marlins: Sixto Sanchez

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The Miami Marlins, coming off a five-game losing skid, shuffled their roster ahead of a five-game, four-day series versus the Washington Nationals. This roster shuffle included the return of two players from the COVID-19 IL, as well as the promotion of two of Miami’s top prospects, OF Jesus Sanchez and RHP Sixto Sanchez.

For the Marlins, despite losing three-fifths of the rotation, the starters have not been the problem. Pablo Lopez and Elieser Hernandez have stabilized the starting group, posting a combined 2.35 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 42 IP.

After a rough first outing, Daniel Castano held the Braves to just one run on four hits over six innings. The real problem spot in the rotation came with Jordan Yamamoto’s turns. Yams, who was recently optioned to Jupiter, surrendered 11 earned runs and four homers over 8.2 IP in three starts. Sanchez would slot into his place in the rotation.

Prospect: Sixto Sanchez

Sixto Sanchez came to the Marlins as the centerpiece of the deal with Philadelphia for J.T. Realmuto. Considered No. 16 overall prospect by Baseball America and No. 22 by MLB.com, his arrival put him at the top of Miami’s system. In 2019 Sanchez posted a combined 2.76 ERA with 8.1 K/9 against 1.7 BB/9 in 114 IP between Class-A Advanced and Double-A.

In Double-A Jacksonville, the 21-year-old threw 103 innings with a 2.53 ERA across 18 outings. Over his final six starts, he posted a 0.53 ERA, .161 batting-average-against and .405 OPS, with 28 strikeouts and only five walks in 34 IP. In his Minor League career, Sanchez has a 23-18 record with a 2.58 ERA in 68 games (59 starts), registering 294 strikeouts and 64 walks in 335.1 IP. He only surrendered nine home runs over that span.

Sanchez relies on a two-seam sinking fastball and a four-seam fastball that can touch triple digits. He pairs those pitches with a devastating changeup and an above-average slider.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly praised Sanchez’s stuff and his ability to throw strikes.

“I can tell you he has a good arm, and he’s been throwing the ball good,” Mattingly said.

Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas, recently reinstated from the IL after his COVID-19 stint, spent time in Jupiter rehabbing and faced Sanchez. Rojas likened Sanchez to MLB veteran Johnny Cueto.

“For a guy that young, he already knows what he’s doing on that mound,” Rojas said. “He can mix up some fastballs. He’s got a cutter, and he’s got a really good changeup. He kind of reminds me of a really good Dominican pitcher, Johnny Cueto.”

Fan expectations for Sanchez are through the roof, but he could very well be the Marlins’ future ace.