Marlins prospects Jacksonville

Marlins Prospects on Display in Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Opener

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The Miami Marlins saw three of their top-10 prospects take the field for their Triple-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, on Tuesday night. Max Meyer (No. 3 prospect) toed the rubber, while JJ Bleday (No. 6) and Peyton Burdick (No. 10) roamed the outfield. Bleday, it should be noted, got the start in center field, a position of question for the big club.

The Jumbo Shrimp dropped their opener 6-5 to the Worcester Red Sox, in front of 5,907 fans at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville. Despite the loss, the Marlins should come away happy with what they saw, especially from Meyer. Bleday and Burdick both struggled at the plate but played well defensively.

Meyer Looks Good in His First Start of 2022

Meyer enters the 2022 season as MLB Pipeline’s No. 35 prospect overall. The 23-year-old righty impressed with his work this spring, including pitching four perfect frames with five strikeouts in his lone Grapefruit League outing.

Meyer headlines the Marlins prospects in Jacksonville this season and started the 2022 campaign with a solid effort. He retired the first six batters he faced before running into a bit of trouble in the third inning. He surrendered a single to WooSox catcher Conner Wong, who stole second following Meyer’s strikeout of Ryan Fitzgerald. Wong took third on a ground out, then scored on a wild pitch.

Jumbo Shrimp catcher Alex Jackson, who spent time with the Marlins following the trade deadline last season, couldn’t handle Meyer’s slider in the dirt and it skipped past him, allowing Wong to score.

In the fourth inning, Meyer pitched himself into and out of a jam, surrendering just one earned run in the process. He started the frame with a strikeout of Jeter Downs, then hit Triston Casas in the foot on an 0-2 count. Meyer walked the next batter, then surrendered an RBI single to Franchy Cordero, who seemed to be sitting on Meyer’s slider in a 2-1 count.

With runners at the corners and one out, Meyer nearly threw the ball away twice on pick-off attempts, but Lewin Diaz handled the throws. Meyer finished the inning with a strikeout of Christian Stewart and a ground out of Wong.

Meyer finished his first start with five strikeouts, allowing two runs on two hits, with a hit-batsman and a walk. He consistently hit the upper 90s with his fastball and settled around 92 with his slider. Meyer threw 69 pitches, 43 for strikes, including 16 swing-and-misses.

Meyer Handles Red Sox’s Top Prospects

The Marlins lineup in Jacksonville featured three of their top prospects, and the Red Sox countered with the same. The Worcester lineup sported 1B Triston Casas (No. 2 for BOS, No. 16 overall), OF Jarren Duran (BOS No. 4, MLB No. 85), and SS Jeter Downs (BOS No. 6).

The WooSox lineup went Duran-Downs-Casas to start, and Meyer handled each with relative ease. He worked a clean first inning, getting Duran to ground out, striking out Downs after falling behind 3-1 in the count, and inducing a Casas fly out.

 

Meyer retired Duran and Downs in their second at-bats as well, but hit Casas in his second AB. Meyer was ahead of Casas 0-2 in the count and tried what looked like a changeup which struck Casas in the foot. While both his fastball and slider are Major League-ready, Meyer continues to work on that changeup.

Boston’s top three prospects went 0-5 with six whiffs, two strikeouts, and an HBP against Meyer, who could get another turn against Worcester on Sunday. Meyer made two starts for Jacksonville late last season, posting a 0.90 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 10 innings pitched.

Other Marlins Prospects in Jacksonville Quiet in Opener

The two other top-10 Marlins prospects in Jacksonville, Bleday and Burdick, didn’t fare as well. Burdick hit second in the order and Bleday fifth, with the pair finishing 0-5 combined. They did reach base three times, though, with Burdick scoring on Lewin Diaz’s third-inning double.

Bleday opened his 2022 season with a hit-by-pitch, a riding fastball that came up-and-in. He took the hit on his upper back and seemed fine afterward. In his second at-bat, Bleday flew out to center on a 2-2 count after fouling off a pair of pitches. In the sixth, he popped out to the second baseman on the first pitch following Lorenzo Quintana’s two-run home run. He walked in his final AB of the night.

Bleday started in centerfield, and looked comfortable out there. Jacksonville’s 121 Financial Ballpark sports a 420-foot depth in center, making it the deepest ballpark in the International League by a considerable margin. For reference, loanDepot Park is 400 to center and 386 to left-center.

Bryan De La Cruz seemed slated to start in center for Jacksonville following his option to Triple-A in late March. But De La Cruz was not with the Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday, despite being on their roster. With reports that Roman Quinn was not expected to make the team, De La Cruz could start the year as Miami’s fourth outfielder, considering he’s already on the 40-man roster.

Burdick struggled most of the Marlins’ top prospects in Jacksonville. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat, walked, then struck out twice more, including with the tying run on second base and two outs in the seventh inning.

Other Notable Names

The other notable Marlins prospects in Jacksonville included Isan Diaz and Lewin Diaz. Isan started at second base over Bryson Brigman (who entered as a pinch-runner in the ninth). Isan played well defensively, but struck out in all four plate appearances, including twice looking at a called strike three.

Lewin, meanwhile, finished 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a run scored. He was credited for a hit in the sixth on a pop-up that dropped between Worcester’s pitcher and catcher. Lewin played solid defense at first, including handling a pair of errant pick-off throws from Meyer.

The Jumbo Shrimp received a jolt in their lineup from a pair of minor league journeymen, Charles LeBlanc and Lorenzo Quintana. LeBlanc homered and doubled in his Jacksonville debut. The 25-year-old was claimed by the Marlins off waivers from the Texas Rangers organization and started at third base Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Quintana split time between Jacksonville and Houston’s Triple-A affiliate, Sugar Land, last season. Quintana impressed this spring with the Marlins, hitting .333 with a homer, three doubles, and five RBI over eight Grapefruit League games.

Quintana went 1-4 on Tuesday night, with his sixth-inning homer cutting the Jumbo Shrimp deficit to 6-5.

 

Jacksonville sends left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett (the Marlins’ No. 21 prospect) to the mound on Wednesday.

Edward Cabrera Not Among the Marlins Prospects in Jacksonville

Right-hander Edward Cabrera ranks as the No. 34 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline and seems ready to contribute to this current Marlins roster, especially following his impressive showing in his lone Grapefruit League start this spring. That said, the Marlins optioned the 23-year-old to Jacksonville in late March.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly wanted Cabrera to continue refining his two-seam fastball, as well as work on locating his breaking balls. A visa issue delayed Cabrera’s start to Spring Training, which likely contributed to his option.

“He’s a guy you could say, ‘You can put him out there and he’s going to be competitive, and it’s going to look OK,’ but there’s development left for him,” Mattingly said late last month.

But on Tuesday, Cabrera was not among the pitchers listed on Jacksonville’s roster, nor was he among the Jumbo Shrimp players introduced on Opening Night.

Elieser Hernandez got hit with a comebacker and exited the team’s last Spring Training game, leading to speculation he may land on the injured list. While reports suggest Hernandez dodged serious injury, the 26-year-old was diagnosed with a forearm contusion.

Cabrera stands among six pitchers on Miami’s 40-man roster currently listed in the minors. He wasn’t among the Marlins prospects in Jacksonville on Tuesday, and Garrett is slated to start tonight for the Jumbo Shrimp. Paul Campbell pitched (poorly) yesterday. Jordan Holloway is on the 40-man and the Jax roster. The others are relievers Tommy Nance and Zach Pop.

There’s a chance Cabrera’s been sent to extended spring training, or he could get a start in the lower minors in an effort to build up his arm. Or maybe he’s getting Hernandez’s spot in the rotation. If Cabrera gets a rotation spot, Hernandez could eventually end up in the Marlins’ rebuilt bullpen.

 

 

The Miami Heat’s Real Reason for the Rotation Changes

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As the Heat walked away from a Saturday night stomping by the Brooklyn Nets, where they essentially trailed by 30 for a portion of the night, it was the final smack before wake up time.

They dropped their fourth game in a row, which included a week of a flamed up bench altercation between Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra.

It was clear that change was needed. Not just individually, but on the surface.

As the starting lineup tweet was released on Monday afternoon ahead of Heat-Kings, one face was a bit of a surprise: Max Strus slotted into the spot of Duncan Robinson.

Since that change, Strus is averaging a little under 4 threes a night on 50% shooting, and all of the best two man combos seem to include him. In terms of the starting lineup, it looks like it just works, as Miami has blended into a 5-0 stretch since the changes.

But if all they did was replace shooter with shooter, how did that improve the spacing or overall production in that starting unit? Well, that’s because it’s not about Robinson or Strus themselves, but who they’re playing next to.

One of the most lethal offensive combos over the years has been Robinson and Bam Adebayo, since they mastered the dribble hand-off that constantly had defenses in a scramble from night to night. One single action and two individual players reshaped the way the Miami Heat ran offense.

Well, until teams adjusted.

While opposing teams began to adjust, it felt like Miami was a bit delayed on the adjustment on their part. Grabbing a true point guard, in Kyle Lowry, allowed them to reshape in a different manner, but it was clear that Bam Adebayo needed to be unleashed from hand-off searching sideline to sideline.

Before the all star break this season, Adebayo and Robinson were playing 22.3 minutes a game together, which sounds about right since Miami wanted to mirror them as much as possible.

But the new shift to bring Robinson off the bench, has another game-plan in mind.

Since the Heat shifted the rotation, Robinson and Adebayo are averaging 8.1 minutes a game together, which is not only intentional, but one of the main reasons they switched the places of Strus and Robinson.

The new substitution pattern is to insert Tyler Herro off the bench for Jimmy Butler, so that Adebayo and him can get some run in space. Yet after a few minutes, Butler enters back in next to Herro with some of the bench group. And in the category of “bench group” lies Duncan Robinson.

Yes, the DHO’s of Adebayo may have propelled Robinson’s shooting in a positive direction, but it’s pretty clear that slotting him next to Butler and Herro is the better call right now. Those are the two guys on the team that can consistently draw two defenders on an attack, which consequently leads to uneven rotations and an eventual open shooter.

Robinson hit 7 threes last night in the win over the Charlotte Hornets, and 5 of them were assisted by Butler. Coincidence? Maybe a little, since that Hornets defense basically gives up open threes all by themselves, but we can’t overlook the power of this trio.

That three man grouping of Herro-Robinson-Butler played 9.1 minutes a game together prior to the all star break, which has now skyrocketed to 19.1 minutes a game since the changes. Yeah, it’s pretty safe to say that this stuff is intentional.

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The rotation or starting lineup shifts aren’t the focal point of things clicking. It’s more about the substitution patterns and overall lineup combinations.

Yet while Butler moving over a position to the 4 feels to be the change discussed most, the starting lineup change is much more calculated than you may think.

At first it felt like it was as simple as letting Strus get a shot throughout Robinson’s shooting struggles, but it’s actually about maximizing both of them in their primary areas. Strus as a guy who can get shots up in any lineup and can provide a tad more athleticism. And Robinson as a guy who can find himself open more often next to his key sidekicks: Butler and Herro.

This isn’t to say that Robinson won’t still struggle from time to time in his role, but it’s more about setting these guys up in the best possible ways. Herro has sacrificed for the team by being a 6th man even though he’s valued much more than that. Guys like Oladipo, Vincent, or Martin have all sacrificed their rotation spot at one point or another.

Now, it’s Robinson’s turn.

Just looking at the Martin brothers who faced off a night ago, sometimes it’s clear that branching off is the best thing for a player’s success. After playing with each other since birth, this is the first time they aren’t on the same team, and each are playing the best basketball of their life.

Same goes for Robinson and Adebayo.

Not in terms of changing teams, but just eliminating the constant reliance on one another. Both of them finding their place without each other not only elevates the play of them individually, but for this team.

It isn’t a coincidence that these numbers have shifted this dramatically. It was purposeful, and it’s clear that it’s for the best.

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Hornets

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The Miami Heat faced the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, and really took care of business through and through.

Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson come up big as Miami’s offense flows pretty perfectly throughout.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Heat’s 3 point shooting continues to surge.

11 of 17 was Miami’s three point shooting line at the half, and man it didn’t look like it was heading that way at the start. The first 4 minutes of play in the first quarter looked like it was trending in a negative direction from a shooting perspective, but Max Strus kicked off a shooting display by dropping LaMelo Ball with a single jab step. But in all seriousness, the reason this shooting is important to note is that it isn’t just a hot stretch. This team’s shooting has made major strides ever since the rotation changes, and that isn’t a coincidence. They’ve found a constant blend of shooting and defense in all 5 man groups, going smaller opens up spacing, and the shooters going from focal points to beneficiaries has molded this offense greatly. Which blends into my next takeaway…

#2: Duncan Robinson?

In a season where there isn’t much to complain about, Duncan Robinson has felt like the consistent piece that gets brought up night in and night out to pick on. Some of it is viable since he hasn’t played to a level that some may have expected, but this bench shift seems to be the best thing for his production. As I noted before, this is no longer Duncan Robinson DHO”s being the primary action in the offense. It now revolves around a bunch of factors, leading to a swing, swing, Robinson triple. Even though his numbers haven’t spiked since this game, it’s been obvious that his looks are much more open than when he was starting. A big factor of that: ever since the change, he lines up next to Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro more than ever, which used to be more Bam Adebayo and PJ Tucker. Why is that important? Well, both Butler and Herro draw more bodies than anyone on this team, giving him open looks.

#3: Bam Adebayo’s rebounding needs a quick discussion.

I’m not going to dissect the X’s and O’s of Bam Adebayo’s rebounding right now, but to the naked eye, it has stood out to me that his crashing has been a lot more impactful. People love to point out the possessions where he switches out to the perimeter and an offensive rebound is the outcome, but it seems his strong collapses are pushed to the side. As the lineups continue to get smaller and smaller with guys like Martin at the 4 or Tucker at the 5, this is a crucial component to everything staying in tact. The surrounding pieces deserve some credit as well since they’ve been crashing hard ever since that Kings game, but Bam is still the focal point. His rebounds are much more noticeable right now with how he’s attacking the glass, and it must be noted.

#4: Miami’s lapses protecting the paint.

Toward the beginning of the third quarter, the Hornets just erased Miami’s 10 point halftime lead in the blink of an eye. How did they do that? Well, defense was pretty nonexistent in this game it felt, as the score was 102-97 at the end of the third quarter. Either way, the issue was that the Heat were allowing the Hornets into the paint way too often, leading to a line of 15 of 17 at the rim. Simply, not ideal. It’s one thing to allow a team to be that efficient, but it’s even worse that they were able to prance right by Miami’s front line every possession. Now, they’re getting two feet in the lane, Miami’s collapsing, and the shooters take advantage, which is far from great when the Hornets were shooting 61% from the field heading into the 4th. This is one of those coasting defensive performances at game 80, so it shouldn’t be too worrisome, but still not great from an individual perspective with some.

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#5: All about keeping an eye on seeding.

As the Heat inch closer and closer to officially locking up that 1 seed, all eyes are now on the 8 seed. As so many seem to be fearing Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets, it’s looked more likely that could end up being their first round opponent. Or will it? Well, it seems clear that the Heat could end up deciding that since they play the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. Beating Charlotte tonight helps Brooklyn out, and handing the Hawks a loss would help them even more. Why would Miami want to help the Nets, you may be wondering? Getting them to the 7-8 by the end of the regular season means they’re one win away from locking up that 7 seed in the play-in tournament, which puts them on the other side of the bracket. Now it’s all about monitoring others.

 

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes probable landing spot for former Oregon lineman

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The Miami Hurricanes could have another offensive lineman coming their way. Former Oregon lineman Jonathan Denis signed with the Ducks in the class of 2020. He entered the transfer portal on Sunday night, and there is a possibility he could end up with the Hurricanes.

As a recruit, Denis was a three-star lineman. He was the 14th overall offensive guard in the 2020 class, and the 53rd overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Denis committed to Oregon on July 27, 2019.

He did not see any action while at Oregon. While at South Dade High School, he was a two-year letterman, and a team captain as a senior.

Denis could end up with the Miami Hurricanes, as noted in a report by CaneSport.com. This would make sense, as he was recruited by Alex Mirabal while at Oregon.

Reunion with Mirabal could be good for Denis

Mirabal could help Denis continue to develop. Measuring in at six-foot-three, 279 pounds, Denis is a very sturdy lineman. As soon as the ball is snapped, he immediately engages his hands. He can also go up against edge defenders, which buys his quarterbacks enough time to scramble out if pressure is coming off the edge. He is very sound in his technique.

The Miami Hurricanes have a solid base on the offensive line. Center Jakai Clark, guard/tackles DJ Scaife and Justice Oluwaseun as well as guard Jalen Rivers all figure to be pieces on the line. Denis adds depth to the line, and gives Cristobal and Mirabal another one of their former recruits.

This would be another solid get for the Miami Hurricanes, as they continue to build their program in the Cristobal era.  Each day, the foundation for the future of the program is being set. Getting another physical lineman in the fold would add to that.

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Marlins Trade

Marlins Trade for Bullpen Help From Baltimore

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While the Marlins fanbase clamored for a specific trade, the team did make a deal—just not the one some Fish fans hoped for. On Sunday, the Miami Marlins completed a trade with the Baltimore Orioles to bolster their bullpen, bringing in two relievers with MLB experience. The deal nets Miami LHP Tanner Scott and RHP Cole Sulser for a pair of prospects, a draft pick, and a player-to-be-named-later.

The Marlins continued to tinker with the roster ahead of Opening Day, and used this deal to address a potential weakness in their pitching staff. Miami’s front office remains unwilling to mortgage the future in a potential blockbuster trade, pivoting, instead, to smaller deals in an effort to keep the team competitive this season.

The Return for the Marlins in this Trade

Tanner Scott brings heat to the Marlins bullpen in this trade. His 4-seam fastball averaged 96.8 MPH, and he sat in the 98th percentile in Spin and Whiff percentage in 2021. Scott also sports a sinker and slider combination, with the slider being his strikeout pitch. With the Orioles, Scott posted a 29.4 percent strikeout rate over parts of five seasons.

What’s worrisome about the 27-year-old left-hander is his lack of command. Scott’s control issues led to inconsistencies throughout his career and a terrible 13.6 percent walk rate. In 2021, he threw 10 wild pitches and hit six batters, which contributed to his 5.17 ERA.

Cole Sulser, meanwhile, has less MLB experience (three seasons) despite being older (32). Injuries delayed Sulser’s early development, but following a solid 2021, he was expected to be Baltimore’s closer in 2022. Last season, Sulser posted a 2.70 ERA over 63.1 innings pitched, with an 8.9 percent walk rate and a solid 28.4 percent strikeout rate.

Sulser sports a four-pitch mix with a low-90s fastball, complemented by a changeup, curveball, and slider. He finished 2021 in the 86th percentile in xERA, 85th percentile in xBA, and 83rd percentile in Chase Rate. Sulser tied for the Orioles lead with eight saves (11 opportunities) in 2021.

The Cost for the Fish

This Marlins trade reads as a win-now move. Miami shipped off four assets not part of the Major League team in order to bolster the big club. The team didn’t surrender any of its prized prospects, instead, parting with players Baseball America ranked No. 29 and No. 34 in their system. The draft pick Miami flipped to the Orioles amounts to a third-round selection, and who knows the future value of the infamous player-to-be-named-later.

Outfielder Kevin Guerrero ranked higher among the two prospects headed to Baltimore in this Marlins trade. Guerrero was part of Miami’s 2020-21 international signing class and played with the Marlins’ Dominican Summer League team. At 17-year-old, Guerrero’s still several years away from the big leagues, and his future depends largely upon the development of his 6’3” frame.

Velez, meanwhile, is closer to MLB action but hasn’t pitched higher than Double-A so far. There’s an outside chance he sees a spot-start here or there for the Orioles this summer, but the 25-year-old wasn’t going to contribute to the Marlins any time soon. Undrafted out of Florida State, Velez sports great control and a solid changeup and was slated to start 2022 with Double-A Pensacola.

To fit Scott and Sulser on the 40-man roster, the Marlins designated Nick Neidert for assignment. The team also placed Sean Guenther on the 60-day IL. Miami optioned Neidert to Jacksonville last week and announced he’ll transition to a relief role.

Marlins Trade Upgrades Bullpen

This Marlins trade should indicate the dual nature of the team’s approach to the 2022 season. Miami added offense this offseason to boost a flagging lineup. They remained engaged on multiple fronts to improve further via free agency or trade. The front office clearly sees this group on the cusp of playoff contention but stood steadfast on what they felt were unreasonable demands from other clubs in trade talks.

All this shows the team wants to win this season, but not at the expense of an extended window of contention.

The deal with Baltimore immediately bolsters the bullpen, the Marlins’ glaring weakness entering 2022. In acquiring Scott and Sulser, Miami added a pair of potentially high-leverage arms with low-cost and MLB experience.

Both should immediately see better results pitching at home, considering they’re leaving one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in Camden Yards. They also have plenty of experience dealing with stacked lineups coming from the AL East. The pitcher-friendly confines of loanDepot park should accentuate some of their better attributes, as both relievers tend to keep the ball in the park.

Scott likely becomes a situational lefty out of the ‘pen. He’s particularly adept at inducing ground balls (52.9 percent in 2021), which plays the strength of Miami’s defense. As long as he keeps his walks down, he should be a suitable middle reliever with high-leverage upside.

Sulser’s experience closing games should provide Marlins manager Don Mattingly with another option early this season with Dylan Floro potentially starting on the IL. For his career, he has a 3.18 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, 13 saves, and seven holds. Sulser should become a regular part of the backend rotation for this bullpen and is particularly effective against lefties.

Building the Bullpen

For the Marlins, this trade adds a pair of experienced arms to the bullpen. They join right-handers Anthony Bender, Anthony Bass, Louis Head, and Zach Pop, along with lefties Richard Bleier and Steven Okert.

If the Marlins opt to keep 10 relievers to start the season, that means non-roster invitees Shawn Armstrong and Grant Dayton are in the mix. Potential long relievers include Daniel Castano, Paul Campbell, and Cody Poteet.

While unlikely at this point, adding a free agent reliever could further bolster the bullpen. Trevor Rosenthal is among the names drawing interest around the league. However, the former closer didn’t pitch at all in 2021.

 

Player Ratings: Inter Miami vs the Houston Dynamo

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A nearly three-hour rain delay couldn’t stop the inevitable.

Inter Miami suffered their fourth straight loss of the season as they fell to the Houston Dynamo 3-1. Though Phil Neville made a formation switch to a 4-3-3, that wasn’t enough to overcome a potent Dynamo attack.

Led by Fafa Picault, Houston took advantage of an emotionally fragile Miami to carve through the midfield and capitalize on the Heron’s defensive mistakes.

As Miami continues to go winless, it’s natural that alarm bells start to ring. With the rest of their schedule increasing in difficulty, there’s the potential that the team could go winless in April.

Before that happens, let’s take a look back at Saturday’s game. Here are the player ratings from Inter Miami’s loss against Houston.

*Anything under a six is below average/poor. A six is average and or good. A seven through ten is great and or excellent.*

Goalkeeping

Nick Marsman – 5.9: Though Dutchman looked sharp in his Inter Miami return, he gave away a foul that led to a Houston penalty. Before that, he had several good saves that kept Miami in the game. Had the Herons put away a couple of offensive chances, he wouldn’t have been put under so much pressure.

Defense

Noah Allen – 6.0: The 17-year-old had a decent outing against Houston. He tried his best to make something happen on Miami’s left-hand side, but none of the attackers could capitalize on their chances. He also held his own against a physically demanding opponent.

Damion Lowe – 5.5: Had a strong passing game which saw him end the match completing 88% of his passes. Unfortunately, failure to hear Marsman claim a high ball at the back saw Miami give up a penalty.

Chris McVey – 6.0:  Shaky at times, but grew into the match. Completed 91% of his passes and ended the game with four recoveries and two clearances.

DeAndre Yedlin – 6.0:  Was quite lively down Miami’s right side where he combined well with Ariel Lassiter.

Midfield

Jean Mota – 6.6: Had more attacking freedom in this game compared to previous ones. Alongside two other central midfielders, Mota had the space to drive up the pitch to create and or have a shot on goal. Finished the game with four key passes and five shots.

Gregore – 6.4: Did well in the first half as the single pivot. He screened the backline while putting out fires and was decent as a holding midfielder in the 4-3-3 setup. Ended the game with seven recoveries and three interceptions.

Robert Taylor – 7.1: Defensively sound for an attack-minded player. Won a penalty and had the best chance of the game.

Attack

Robbie Robinson – 7.0: The only Inter Miami player besides Taylor that looked like scoring. Ended the game with three key passes and five shots.

Gonzalo Higuain – 6.5: Combined well with Robert Taylor in the 40th minute that nearly ended in a goal. Scored the only goal in the match, but once again was outshot by his teammates.

Ariel Lassiter – 6.3: Was a nuisance on the right side with his speed, but just could finish his chances. Combined well with Yedlin and ended the game with four key passes.

Subs

Leonardo Campana – (n/a): Didn’t do much in his 10-minute cameo. Only had nine touches.

Mo Adams – (n/a): Like Campana, didn’t have too much to do when he came on. Had a couple of nice interceptions, but nothing more than that.

Emerson Rodriguez – (n/a): Desperately wanted to make something happen. Had 12 touches and a successful dribble. Perhaps if Neville put him on earlier in the match, Miami could’ve salvaged a point.

Coaching

Phil Neville – 5: Got the formation correct, but waited too long to get the substitutions on the field.  Defensive lapses in concentration and inability to finish in the final third have been reoccurring mistakes during Neville’s reign. Miami has only scored three goals in five matches, with only one of them coming from open play.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Raptors

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The Heat didn’t seem to be in a great spot early on against the Toronto Raptors, yet fought back with an impressive win behind a bunch of guys.

Tyler Herro played a complete game, Max Strus provided the spark, and Victor Oladipo came up huge.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Heat having trouble stopping this lengthy, quick Raptors team early on.

While the offensive end is always looked to first, it was clear that Miami’s defense had to be the focus when reflecting at the half. For one, Fred VanVleet was just able to go to work possession after possession, going for 17 first quarter points to kick off the game. But the true issue is those surrounding VanVleet. We talk about this Raptors team’s length being a defensive thing, but they provide hard things to defend on the opposite side of things. They love to run a single PnR to draw that smaller defender, then go full clear-out mode. Guys like Barnes or Siakam were able to get decent looks in that mid post area, which leads to Miami’s weak-side wing defenders edging down. Now that slight double comes, and the kick-out is made. Their offense was simple, but when they’re shooting at that level over a certain stretch, it looks much more complex.

#2: Tyler Herro’s counter to so many different coverages is a unique approach.

Evaluating Tyler Herro against a team like the Raptors is a good benchmark in terms of tracking his individual success. As I’ve mentioned all year, length is one of the best counters to his high level offensive display. But when there’s quick and switchy length, it makes it even tougher. You can’t effectively drive to the basket with them lurking, but they also play high in the PnR since they can switch basically everything. So, what’s Herro’s move from there? Well, it isn’t a schematic shift that is made. It’s simply tough shot making. Time and time again, that’s his relying force as a scorer. Weaving in that mid-range, taking tough step-backs, or working that transition pull-up 3 due to the fact it’s the only shot that won’t see a contest. We know everything Herro provides, but being able to have that elite level tough shot making label is impressive.

#3: Victor Oladipo minutes, Victor Oladipo production?

With Miami lacking Jimmy Butler, PJ Tucker, Gabe Vincent, and Dewayne Dedmon, plenty of slots were opened in the Heat rotation which includes Victor Oladipo. His early offensive success was that release valve three, as many of his minutes came next to Herro and one of Bam or Lowry. But more specifically with Herro, the Raptors were making sure to send two at him no matter the circumstance. That meant open looks were presenting themselves for Oladipo, which he took advantage of in his first stint. We know he can have moments, but the common question is if he can have consistent moments. Yes he can knock down wild step back triples through pure skill, but we’ve also seen that turnovers have been linked to him at times by rushing on-ball creation a ton. That comes with the fact that he hasn’t played many basketball games due to injury recently, but that would be the ability that’d push him into comfortable rotation status. But with the big time shot making displayed tonight, he’s inching closer and closer to that state.

#4: Max Strus: the ignitable piece.

As Miami seemed a step behind entering the second half offensively, it was clear there were only certain players who could push them into winning position: Max Strus or Duncan Robinson. The common denominator there was that they needed one of their primary shooters, who had yet to make a three, to bend the defense a bit on the perimeter. And well, that guy was Strus. After not attempting a shot in the first half, he exploded in the third quarter for 14 points and 4 triples, which helped Miami basically get over the hump. It’s not about Strus’ 14 in itself exactly, but it’s what those shots open up. The move to put him in the starting lineup felt like a placeholder, but it’s feeling more and more like a sticking point. As Spoelstra always says, it’s his ignitability that makes him so special, and when a guy has the potential to win you a playoff game, you go with that player.

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#5: Scrapping their way into one of their grittier wins of the season.

In terms of big time gritty wins this season for the Heat, this game is up there. Their offense was flattened out, Lowry mentioned his emotions would be everywhere, and Toronto’s size was causing problems. Yet, they battled through. I talked about both Herro and Strus previously, but there needs to be context of them together, specifically in the 4th. Strus kept getting more looks and kept capitalizing, but it’s not crazy to say that Herro was the reason. He continued driving and attacking, meaning Toronto kept sending bodies at him and helping down. Therefore, Strus took advantage. The other guy I already touched on who took advantage late was Oladipo. A big dunk got the team into it, and one deep three put Miami over the top. What felt like a statement game from Lowry turned into a statement game from Oladipo, leading to some interesting conversations late in the season.

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Bulls

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The Miami Heat faced the Chicago Bulls on the front end of a back to back, and came away with a comfortable win in Chicago.

Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro all stepped up at different moments, showcasing a minor switch being flipped as they edge closer to the playoffs.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Jimmy Butler’s jumper revived?

Watching Jimmy Butler in the first half, two things were noticed. The jumper looked like it was peaking, and his play at the 4 is rising rapidly. Why is that important? Well, those two things go hand in hand. His play at the 4 has opened up his scoring lanes at another level, specifically in that mid-range area. There’s less crowding going on with only one of Adebayo or Tucker occupying the dunker spot, and spreading out three shooters. But the fact of the matter is this: the jumper is looking better than it has all year. However you may feel about the three ball, his teammates have been in his ear to shoot more of them, and he’s not shying away from it. There’s been less of that one-legged fade and more of that slight rise off two feet, and that’s the formula. And it’s clear, his jumper falling raises the ceiling of this offense majorly.

#2: The Heat’s first half adjustments from Erik Spoelstra: a product of 3 straight triples from Herro.

When looking at the first stint for Tyler Herro, he kicked off his opening stretch by getting blocked 3 straight times. Patrick Williams specifically was helping over a ton on that strong side to make impressive plays with his athletic build. But then came the adjustment. How do you eliminate that? Well, for one, you go to more empty corner stuff since that eliminates that type of help at the nail, and basically bends an entire defense. They shifted the ball into the hands of Jimmy Butler, since they noticed this over-helping combined with the extra shooting on the floor. The help came, a Herro corner three came out of it immediately, which is essentially the reasoning Miami was getting so many corner triples. The following two plays were driven by an attack by Butler or Bam, and a kick-out for an eventual swing. Both Herro threes again. Tyler Herro may have been the effect, but Coach Spo was the cause. Adjusting early was the key to this one.

#3: So, a healthy group in tact. Who’s the 9 man rotation?

One of the main things I had an eye on heading into this game was the new look rotation. Yes, Victor Oladipo and Markieff Morris are certified situational players right now, but there are still decisions to be made. The bench options consisted of Herro-Vincent-Robinson-Martin-Dedmon, yet it’s clear they want to go 9. So, who was the odd man out? Tonight, that guy was Martin. It feels like they’re trying to get Vincent into an offensive rhythm anyway heading into the post-season, so maybe that decision was predictable. But it wasn’t the final decision for sure. When looking at the options off the bench, I don’t know if it’s Martin or Vincent anymore like we’ve displayed it often. Could it actually be, Martin or Robinson? Yes, they’ve needed spacing, but Miami’s kind of figured it out with the alterations. Not saying that’ll be the case, but I’m sure it’ll go through some minds.

#4: Kyle Lowry’s shot attempts continuing to rise.

When Kyle Lowry previously said he would use a short ramp up period to prepare for the “real season,” he wasn’t kidding. Game after game, now that there’s a handful of games left, his shooting numbers fail to decline. As I’ve said after many games this season, and more specifically lately, that pull-up three shifts everything. Just taking it. Teams begin to worry about that, and the skip pass he was throwing early in the season sees a lot more space now that two are flashing to the ball. Fast forwarding to the third quarter, what may have seemed like a minor possession stuck out to me. Lowry-Bam pick and roll ends in a deep floater for Lowry trotting down the lane. The reason it stuck out is that he was passing that in the pocket a month ago. His shot attempts within the pick and roll were staggeringly low, but now he’s hitting strides at the right time. Just like he said.

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#5: Dewayne Dedmon providing solid minutes.

In a game that Bam Adebayo got in some early foul trouble, it meant an extended look at Dewayne Dedmon consequently. And well, after he’s had some rough nights as of late consisting of piled up moving screens, he had a really good night overall on both ends. He was active on the boards, moving as a roller, and scoring around the rim efficiently. But most importantly, he looked like he was moving really well, which is they key to his play in small stints. In the playoffs, if Adebayo is pushing 38 minutes, they just need two solid 5 minute stints from Dedmon to move the needle. He was their best post-season performer a year ago, but that was because he only played 16 regular season games before entering playoff mode. Now it’s a different circumstance, but they’re hoping for a similar form.

 

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Breaking: Miami Dolphins Agree to Extension with Xavien Howard

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The Miami Dolphins have agreed to a contract extension with cornerback Xavien Howard, per his agent.

Contract terms

The deal will keep the disgruntled Howard in Miami for an additional five years and give Howard an additional $50+ million in new money. The deal also reportedly contains the most guaranteed money for a cornerback in NFL history.

A step in the right direction

The Dolphins have clearly gone into “all-in” mode this off-season. It started with a revamp of the coaching staff, spurred by new head coach Mike McDaniel.

McDaniel promises to bring a fresh, new offense to the team. One that should maximize the talents of third-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

From a personnel standpoint, the Dolphins “all-in” approach has seen the team add Terron Armstead, Connor Williams, Raheem Mostert, Chase Edmonds, Cedrick Wilson, and Trent Scherfield in free agency to help bolster a struggling offense and implement McDaniel’s system.

The off-season also brought former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill to Miami in a blockbuster trade. It’s clear the Dolphins think their time is now.

In hindsight, ll the moves on the offense were going to ring hollow if Howard wasn’t wrapped up long-term. The two sides had their dispute last off-season.

What it means

In exchange for Howard signing a one-year extension, the two sides agreed to come back to the table this off-season and once again attempt to get the young star manning the Dolphins defensive backfield for years to come.

Today, those efforts have come to fruition. This extension with Xavien Howard is the feather in the Miami Dolphins cap that is the 2022 NFL free agency period.

Now, the team – and fans – can fully turn their attention to the NFL Draft. Miami doesn’t have a pick in the first two rounds, but there should be plenty of excitement around the event nonetheless.

A new era has come to South Florida as the team is finally starting to keep their developed talent. Xavien Howard’s contract extension is a step in the right direction.

 

*** This article was originally posted on the ATB Network by Chris Spooner ***

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes make top four for four-star offensive lineman

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The Miami Hurricanes made the final four for 2023 offensive tackle Olaus Alinen on Friday afternoon.

Alinen is a four-star recruit. He is the 14th overall tackle in the 2023 class, and the top player the state of Connecticut per the 247        Sports Composite Rankings. Miami is part of a top four that includes Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State.

Alinen moved from Finland to the United States for his junior high school season.

What could he bring to the Miami Hurricanes?

He is very quick as soon as the ball is snapped. He is able to extend his hands quickly, and that allows him to engage in blocks quickly. Alinen can play either the right or left tackle positions, and that could be a plus for the Miami Hurricanes offensive line.

Measuring in at six-foot-six, 315 pounds, he is a very sturdy lineman. Particularly in the red zone, his size allows him to create space quickly and give running backs extra yards to the end zone. He is a sturdy lineman, who is able to push his matchups around with ease.

Alinen could also have a chance to work with Alex Mirabal if he were to commit to Miami. This would undoubtedly help with this development given Mirabal’s track record of producing and developing talented lineman.

Currently, the 2023 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class ranks 19th overall nationally. They rank third overall in ACC per the 247Sports Team rankings. This class has the potential to be filled with talent.  The Miami Hurricanes coaching staff will get their first full crack at a recruiting class.

The expectations for this 2023 class are extremely high. With Alinen placing the Miami Hurricanes in his top four, that gets them that much closer to landing a premium offensive lineman. He has to make his final decision of course, but the Miami hurricanes are in a good position to land him.

 

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