Marlins Walkoff Win the Day After Meltdown

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“Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back.” – Big Sean, The Marlins

After one of the most embarrassing defeats in baseball history in which the Atlanta Braves slaughtered (that’s probably the best word) the Fish 29-9, the Marlins picked up the pieces and won a close game at home versus Philadelphia. They fell down early and trailed 6-3 late into the game before a 3-run double by Starling Marte tied it up. Jorge Alfaro’s walk-off single in the 9th sealed the 7-6 comeback win. Grit. Determination. Culture. This team is showing their true colors.

Sandy was slightly sloppy but still good

Despite the 6 runs allowed, Sandy actually fought pretty well last night. Only 3 of those 6 were earned and he only walked 2 through 6 innings pitched. Alcantara will be one of the most important pieces the rest of the way, as him getting back to ace shape will push the Marlins to the finish line. Nick Vincent, Richard Bleier, and Yimi Garcia were brilliant in their 3 combined innings, not allowing any runs to keep the marlins in the game. Only 3 earned runs in nine innings feels a lot better than 27. 

Marlins bats are woke

I feel like the Marlins picked up on my constant mentioning of the statistic that said they hadn’t scored 4 or more runs in more than 3 games in a row all season. The streak is now at 7. Continually, we are seeing an increase in the level of quality at-bats the Marlins are putting together. Most notably, they worked deep into counts versus Jake Arrieta last night, forcing him out of the game relatively early in the 6th inning. Starling Marte continues to deliver, as his 3-run double tied the game in the 8th and gave the Marlins a chance to win.

6 more versus the Phils

This is the most important series of the Marlins season. It is as simple as that. Being only .5 GB of the Phillies for the 2nd place spot means that series win means more than ever. The Marlins and Phillies play in a doubleheader today. Game 1’s starters are Trevor Rogers (1-0, 3.00 ERA) and Aaron Nola (4-3, 2.74 ERA). Neither team has announced their game 2 starters.

 

Rings but no Chains: Miami uses 3rd quarter surge to outlast UAB

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The Miami-UAB matchup provided a few things for Canes fans on Thursday night. You have the first official South Florida sports event attended by fans in six months, the long awaited arrival of what was hopefully a competent but electric offense for the Canes, and finally the debut of an explosive quarterback in D’Eriq King.

 

King capped off his 1st win as a Miami quarterback with his 16th straight game of at least 1 TD thrown and 1 TD on the ground. In total, he went 15/23 through the air with 144 yards along with 83 rushing yards on 12 carries to lead the Canes to a 31-14 win over the Blazers of UAB.

 

“It felt pretty good. It was a lot of things that usually happen in the first game,” King said after the game. “We gotta get better on a lot of stuff.”

 

The impact of the former Houston QB was felt throughout the game, as his scrambling ability saved Miami on multiple third downs and helped the Canes finish with 25 first downs.

 

Soon after UAB scored the game’s first touchdown with 2:40 left in the first quarter, the Canes went for it on 4th-and-1 on their own 34, which led to a 66-yard touchdown run by Cam Harris. Harris would be the one to unveil this year’s new touchdown rings, which show “The Crib” in a shiny, diamond-filled finish. Harris would finish with 134 yards on 17 carries and 2 TD’s.

 

“Cam’s work ethic this calendar year has been through the charts,” coach Manny Diaz said on Harris after the game. “…so you always want to see a guy like that rewarded in a game that is worthy.”

 

Harris’ performance was only a figment of the relentless running game by Miami. As a team, the Canes accumulated 337 yards on the ground amongst five players: King, Harris, Jaylan Knighton (59 on 9 carries), Don Chaney (52 yards on 8 carries), and Robert Burns (12 yards on 4 carries).

 

“Once we pound the ball, give the defense time, we’re gonna take shots,” said Harris on Miami’s running attack.

 

The passing game for Miami did not come as easy, as King had a couple of errant overthrows, including a for-sure five-yard throw to an open Jeremiah Payton that was just out of his reach. Leading by only 7 at halftime, King and the entire offense seemed to find their rhythm once he went to Brevin Jordan. Jordan was not targeted in the first half but finished with three catches for a team-leading 51 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter alone while Miami was able to piece together two 7-play, 70+ yard touchdown drives that helped pull them away.

 

UAB quarterback Tyler Johnston III got off to a great start, completing 8 of his first 9 passes but inaccuracy woes started creeping in during the second half as he finished 15 of 23 for 150 yards and one touchdown. Johnston looked often to receiver Myron Mitchell, who led UAB with 117 yards on 8 catches, but both of their performances were not enough to overcome Miami’s overbearing running game.

 

Overall, the Miami defense had results of all sorts. We did not see the new turnover chain, but besides that, the run defense was very stout. The Canes held the Blazers to only 80 rushing yards and 3.1 yards/carry while the pass defense experienced a lot of early woes but seemed to recover as the game progressed. The Blazers were going after corner DJ Ivey for the bulk of the first quarter and he allowed about a handful of catches to Myron Mitchell. Ivey was also beaten on UAB’s first touchdown after his body was turned to the wrong side defending Blazers’ receiver Austin Watkins.

 

The lone Miami sack belonged to Quincy Roche, as the Temple grad transfer finished with four tackles total. Junior DT Nesta Silvera also played a big role in that nasty Miami run defense today as he had five tackles. And although the box score may not exactly give you a clear perspective on his impact in tonight’s game, Jaelan Phillips found himself applying persistent pressure on Johnston throughout the entire game.

 

The Canes played in front of a home crowd of 8,153, which is well under the 13,000 fan limit the stadium will allot.

 

Miami’s next game will be next Saturday on September 19th at Louisville and the game will be broadcasted on ABC with a time TBD.

 

Stay tuned to Five Reasons Sports for the latest in Miami Hurricanes coverage and be sure to look out for next week’s episode of The Sixth Ring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marlins Phillies

5 Keys to the Marlins, Phillies Series

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The Miami Marlins need to shrug off last night’s historic drubbing at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. And they need to do that quickly, because the Marlins return to Miami to face the waiting Philadelphia Phillies for seven games in five days.

The Marlins’ playoff push stands a stout test in the second-place Phillies. At 19-19, Miami enters with an opportunity to not only solidify its playoff position, but also overtake Philadelphia in the standings.

The Marlins are 5-5 over their last ten games. Philadelphia’s play has improved of late, as they’ve rattled off 12 wins in their last 16 games to vault up the standings, passing the Marlins in the process.

Marlins, Phillies Start Seven-Game Series

The Marlins and Phillies are playing a seven-game series thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak that affected the club back in July. MLB scrambled to rearrange the schedule and settled on this 7-game series (a first in Marlins history) which includes a pair of doubleheaders.

The Phillies will start veteran RHP Jake Arrieta (3-4, 5.67 ERA) on Thursday. Arrieta marks the ninth former Cy Young Award winner to start against the Marlins this season. Miami is 3-5 in those starts, including recent wins against Jacob deGrom and Blake Snell.

But Arrieta has had success in Marlins Park before, going 6-1 in seven career starts with a 3.40 ERA. In his career against the Marlins, Arrieta holds a 8-1 record with a 3.55 ERA in 11 starts.

This season, the Marlins are 2-1 against the Phillies. On Opening Day, RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-1, 3.78 ERA) beat the Phillies 5-2. He allowed three hits, two walks and two runs while striking out seven over 6.2 innings. Alcantara landed on the IL shortly thereafter, but he regained his rhythm in his last start. Against Tampa Bay, Alcantara went six innings and allowing just three hits and one run while striking out eight.

Keys to the Marlins, Phillies Series

The Starters

The Marlins enter this crucial seven games in five days stretch with one of their top pitchers on the mound. In five career starts against the Phillies, Alcantara has been really good, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.51 ERA.

As a staff, Miami’s starters have a 4.11 ERA this season, 11th-best in MLB. They were top-10 in ERA prior to Pablo Lopez‘s struggles last night. Former Philly farmhand Sixto Sánchez has allowed his opponent to score in just three of his 25.0 innings this season. He’s struck out 25 batters combined over his first four starts.

In Marlins franchise history, only Dontrelle Willis (26) has fanned more batters through his first four career starts. That said, Trevor Rogers has 21 strikeouts through his first three starts, so we’ll see.

Phillies starters have posted a 4.01 ERA overall. But if take out Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, the other starters (Jake Arrieta, Zach Eflin, Spencer Howard and Vince Velasquez) have a combined 5.34 ERA.

The Bullpen

Where the Marlins have a clear advantage is the bullpen. Prior to last night’s game, Miami had a 4.29 bullpen ERA, which was 13th-best in baseball. After Jordan Yamamoto’s implosion, though, the ERA sits at 5.27 (26th). All told, Marlins relievers coughed up 22 runs (20 earned) in last night’s debacle.

Even so, it’s the Phillies who sport MLB’s worst bullpen this season with a 7.24 ERA. Despite making a number of trades for bullpen arms at the deadline, Philadelphia still struggles in that department.

If the Marlins can post runs against Philly starters, they’ll be in great shape. And comebacks are certainly possible against Philadelphia relievers.

Finding Some Offense at Marlins Park

Miami holds a 17-10 record on the road this season, but they’ve struggled to win at home (2-9). The Phillies are 6-8 on the road this year. For the Marlins, they’ll need to find a way to put up five runs. The team is 11-2 this season when scoring at least five runs.

Miami hits just .234 at home, with a .288 on-base percentage and a .622 OPS. Not great. Jesus Aguilar has reached base safely in 9-of-10 career games at Marlins Park, going 10-for-40 (.250) with five walks, and there are several Marlins players who have performed historically well against Philadelphia.

The Phillies have hit .249 on the road, with a .288 on-base percentage and a .659 OPS. While Rhys Hoskins has been the offensive engine of late, Bryce Harper has struggled. In his last 15 games, Harper is batting .143 and slugging .163 with no homers and a .502 OPS.

Clutch Two-Out Rallies

The Marlins are batting .268 (114-for-426) this season with two outs, the fourth-highest mark in the Majors and second in the NL behind the Padres (.269).

Miami’s .366 on-base percentage with two outs is tops in the Majors in 2020. The Marlins have scored 48.5 percent of their runs this season with two outs (82-of-169), the highest such percentage in the Majors.

Rivalry Bringing Out the Best

The Marlins are 2-1 against the Phillies this year after they went 10-9 against them in 2019. All told, Miami is 12-12 against NL East opponents in 2020, while the Phillies are 17-9 against the division. Winning this series would hurt a division rival and solidify Miami’s playoff position.

And no one has enjoyed playing the Phillies more than Miguel Rojas. He sports a nine-game hit-streak against the Phillies, going 18-for-37 (.486), including a 3-for-4 effort with a home run and four RBIs in his last game against Philly on July 24.

Jorge Alfaro also plays well against the Phillies. He owns .432 (19-for-44) batting average in 13 career games versus Philadelphia, with two doubles, three homers and five RBI. Brian Anderson, meanwhile, has posted a .349 batting average (22-for-63) and a 1.128 OPS (4 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 13 RBI) over his last 17 games versus the Phillies.

One player who needs to get going is Starling Marte, who’s managed just a .200 batting average (7-for-35) with two home runs and four RBI in the eight games since the trade deadline.

The Heat’s respect-earning elimination of the Bucks

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Won’t make the playoffs? First round exit? No shooters? Jimmy can’t lead a team?

It only took the Miami Heat 9 games to gain the respect and attention of the national media. The Miami Heat are going to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2014 when Lebron, Wade, and Bosh looked to three-peat. Although they were deemed “underdogs” this whole season, those close to the Heat organization and the loyal fan base knew this Heat team had a high ceiling. 

In Game 1, Milwaukee had limited answers to Miami’s versatility, athleticism, and toughness. Jimmy Butler was clearly the best player on the court scoring 14 of his 40 points in the 4th quarter. Veteran point guard Goran Dragic added 27 points on 60% from the field. Bam Adebayo was a monster on the boards, grabbing 17 rebounds and limiting MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to 18 points. Your stars win you games. This was exactly the case in Game 1. 

Game 2 was left to the officiating. Jimmy Butler sealed the game on two free throws after getting fouled on a jump shot as time expired leading to a 116-114 Heat win. This game was pure physicality, 71 foul shots were attempted, including two flagrant fouls and a technical. This was a grind out game and Miami’s versatility was on display with 7 players scoring in double digits. 

Next was the 4th quarter comeback. Miami outscored the Bucks 40-13 in the fourth quarter of Game 3. Miami’s defense was stellar in the closing minutes, forcing the Bucks into a prolonged scoring drought. They shot 0-10 from the three and 6-23 overall in the 4th quarter. Jimmy Butler put the team on his back scoring 17 of his 30 in the 4th. Miami also had great contributions from Bam Adebayo who posted a 20 point double double and Jae (Allen) Crowder who splashed in 5 three pointers. 

Milwaukee rallied without MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 4 after he suffered a right ankle sprain in the 2nd quarter that kept him sidelined the rest of the series. Miami could have taken advantage of this and swept, however, it was obvious they took their foot off the gas. They lost their intensity from the first three games, resulting in their sole loss of the playoffs in overtime. Miami had no struggles scoring the rock, however, their defense slipped. The Bucks shot 49% from the field behind Khris Middleton’s 36 points. This was a nice humbling for Heat fans and a great gut check for Miami. 

Bounce back! The Heat closed out the series against the Giannis-less Bucks. This game was an all-around effort with rookie Tyler Herro shining in their 103-94 win. Miami had 6 players in double digits, a theme that is becoming more and more common for this Heat team. The bench took the reins of this game with stellar performances from Kelly Olynyk and Andre Iguodala, in addition to Herro. 

Miami is not satisfied yet, and the goal is obviously a championship. Miami will play either the Celtics or the Raptors next round. This series proved that Miami is a legit contender for a championship. Between their all stars, sharpshooters, defensive flexibility, bench scoring, and grit, Miami has all the tools needed to compete with the best. 

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes : 2020 season positional preview

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Heading into the Miami Hurricanes 2020 season, the Five Reasons Sports Hurricanes crew put out predictions for each position. In what is sure to be a unique season, the Hurricanes are talented on both sides of the football

Canes fans: it’s officially game day. 

 

Quarterback

By: Jazz Santana

Starter: D’Eriq King

I chose the easy one. There has been absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind, D’Eriq King has been QB1 since the first day he stepped foot in Coral Gables. King, the transfer from the University of Houston has given this football program new life! He has come and been every bit as good as advertised. Not only is D’Eriq King on the Maxwell Trophy, Davey O’Brien and Heisman watch, but most importantly, he is the leader of the Miami Hurricanes football team. The position is deep with veteran guys like N’Kosi Perry, Tate Martell and evening Tyler Van Dyke, but make no mistake, this is King’s team. King can make plays with his arm and his legs, which makes him a legitimate threat every play. For the first time since the days of Ken Dorsey, I can confidently say that the Canes have a quarterback that not only is extremely talented, but does one thing above all – bring hope. 

 

Running Back

By: Jaccare Givens

Starter: Cam Harris

Bound for a breakout: Jaylan Knighton

 

Looking at the University Of Miami running back position it is by far one the deepest positions on the UM roster, with guys such as Cam Harris, Don Chaney Jr., Jaylan “Rooster” Knighton, and Robert Burns. The top 2 running backs will be Cam Harris and Jaylan Knighton because they’re a good compliment to each other Harris is more of the bruiser back. Knighton is a  home run threat every time he touches it because of his blazing speed that has been displayed throughout camp. I also expect Knighton to be a breakout player and contender for freshman-All American, ACC newcomer, and ACC freshman of the year. 

 

Wide Receiver

By: Paul Austria

Starters: Mark Pope, Dee Wiggins, Mike Harley

Bound for a breakout: Jeremiah Payton

 

Miami’s wide receiver unit in 2020 is poised to be a problem for opposing defenses, considering the speed and athleticism of this unit as well as the integration of OC Rhett Lashlee’s offense. Wiggins has been a steady contributor for the Canes in his first two seasons, making a total of 27 catches and Pope could be in line for a big season as his natural speed and talent are major reasons why he was considered a top recruit in 2018. The senior Harley is also in a great position to show off his speed this season.

 

While the upperclassmen wideouts get most of the spotlight here, don’t be surprised if you see redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton making some plays this season. Players and scouts raved about Payton while he was a member of the scout team last season and is very quick and strong route runner who has all the tools to become a regular starter by next season.

Tight End

By: Paul Austria

Starters: Brevin Jordan, Will Mallory

Bound for a breakout: Will Mallory

 

Historically speaking, Miami’s had a great legacy of tight ends and you’d be crazy not to include them in any Tight End U conversation. The group Miami will carry in 2020 is in a great position to carry on that tradition, led by first-team All-ACC selection and John Mackey Award finalist Brevin Jordan. The junior is returning for what may be his last season with the Canes as he is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Throw in fellow junior Will Mallory, who has shown glimpses of his talent. He caught 16 passes for 293 yards in 2019 but did struggle with dropped passes at times. With opposing defenses placing a bigger focus on Jordan and the implementation of OC Rhett Lashelee’s Air Raid offense, Mallory should see more balls thrown his way in 2020. 

 

Miami did get thinner at the position as Michael Irvin II decided to grad transfer to FAU but they do have two freshmen sitting in the wings. Coach Diaz was able to preserve the redshirt status of Larry Hodges last season, who saw action in four games and caught a couple of TD passes against Bethune Cookman. 

Offensive Line

By Paul Austria

Starters: LT John Campbell, LG Ousmane Traore, C Corey Gaynor, RG DJ Scaife, RT Jarrid Williams 

Bound for a breakout: LG Ousman Traore

In 2019, the offensive line was one of the most criticized units of the Canes and a lot of factors were to blame but with a new coach in Garin Justice leading the way, things are looking up. Because of limited depth, Miami started a true freshman in LT Zion Nelson against Florida’s nasty pass rush and it did not go that well. Nelson has since added 60 pounds to his frame and is now playing behind John Campbell, but do not be surprised if he steps in if the latter struggles. Miami also added some stability at right tackle with the addition of Jarrid Williams, who transferred from Houston and actually played with D’Eriq King during King’s incredible 2018 season.

This could be a coming out party of sorts for Ousman Traore. Miami’s new starting left guard is only a sophomore but the talent is absolutely there as he did sit on an offer from LSU before choosing the Hurricanes in 2019.

 

Defensive End

By: Paul Austria

Starters: Jaelan Phillips, Quincy Roche

Bound for a breakout: Jahfari Harvey

Greg Rousseau’s departure brought initial worry when you think about the Canes losing a potential top-10 first round pick for this season. But all those worries were quickly followed by reassurance when you consider who’s the next man up. Rousseau was expected to form a very disruptive duo with Temple grad transfer Quincy Roche, who won the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year award with 15 sacks in 2019. This is also the year in which another transfer gets his shot in former UCLA transfer JAelan Phillips. Phillips was hampered with injuries during his tenure with the Bruins but reports out of camp state that he is showing glimpses of why he was considered the top recruit in the nation out of high school in 2017.

My breakout player at defensive end is definitely Jahfari Harvey. Harvey impressed as a member of the scout team in 2019, where he redshirted. But he seems very poised as he will probably be the first guy off the bench once Phillips and Roche have left their impact on opposing offensive lines. 

 

 

Defensive Tackle

By: Paul Austria

Starters: Jon Ford, Nesta Silvera

Breakout: Nesta Silvera

Miami’s depth at the defensive tackle position is probably amongst the best on its roster, although it is on the younger side. Jon Ford is entering his senior season with the Canes and should he stay healthy, he will be a mainstay on Miami’s defensive line. He is a very in-your-face, physical inside lineman who has great size to plug up running lanes. Nesta Silvera will hold down the other defensive tackle spot and is the perfect complement to Ford as he is more of a speedy, finesse runner.

The level of urgency for Silvera to take the next step is at an all-time high this season, especially with the limited amount of experience behind him. Silvera will get his opportunities to make plays when opposing offenses zero in on defensive ends Quincy Roche and Jaelan Phillips

 

Linebacker

By: Danny Jaillet

Starters:  Inside: Bradley Jennings,  Weak-side Zach McCloud

Breakout: Nesta Silvera

The Miami Hurricanes have a bunch of options to play with at linebacker. Although some of the names may be  unproven talent, there is no doubt that the talent is there. It is just about execution and building off of what they learned last year.

Zach McCloud is  the team’s starting week-side linebacker. Waynmon Steen, Avery Huff, and Tirek Austin-Cave fill out the weak side

As a freshman in 2018, Steen recorded two tackles. He missed all of 2019 due to knee surgery. A redshirt freshman, Huff figures to be in the mix as well.

At middle linebacker, you have a bunch of players ready to break out. Bradley Jennings and Sam Brooks would certainly fit that description.

For his part, Jennings recorded eight tackles last year, and now looks to man the middle linebacker position with Brooks. Brooks certainly made an impact in his only start against Louisiana Tech last December. He recorded 12 tackles, and gave Miami Hurricanes fans a preview of potential future play. in total, he recorded 18 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss. now, it’s time to see if he can put it all together.

The linebacker unit has a lot of raw talent, and it will be fascinating to watch them develop over the course of the season.

 

Defensive Back/Striker

By: Jaccare Givens

Starters: CB DJ Ivey, CB Al Blades Jr., S Bubba Bolden, S Amari Carter, Striker Gilbert Frierson

Bound for a breakout: Te’Cory Couch, Gilbert Frierson

I am going out on a limb and saying that Carter and Frierson will be with the 1st unit Thursday night. But you will also see Gurvan Hall, Te’Cory Couch, and Keontra Smith getting in the rotation this season. Couch has been very impressive throughout camp and to me he will be season end be the corner opposite of Al Blades. Couch and Frierson are my breakout players to have great seasons and make all ACC teams. Frierson because he had bright spots last year and with this being his 2nd year in the system I expect he will continue to improve and he’s at the right position to maximize his talent. Blades is the best player in this group by far but I do see Couch also building off a strong camp and being UM leader in INTs this year because he has a great nose for the ball.

 

Braves Beat Marlins 29-9…

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On 9/7 and 9/8, the Marlins beat the Braves in Games 1 and 2 of their 3 game series. On 9/9, the Braves proceeded to break the NL-record for runs scored, beating the Marlins 29-9. Yes, 29-9. Pablo Lopez started for the Marlins before quickly falling apart against a strong Braves lineup. The Marlins hitting actually continued to stay relevant, putting up 9 runs, but sadly that was nowhere near close enough.

Pitching? The Marlins barely knew her last night

 

Looking at what happened last night, it is easy to get down on the Marlins pitching. Let’s remember this team has been carried by their pitching throughout the year. In reality, it is better for the pitching to allow 29-runs this game then it is for them to allow 8 over the next 4. Pablo Lopez allowed 7 earned runs, Jordan Yamamoto allowed 12 earned runs, and Alex Vesia and Josh A. Smith both allowed 4 earned to top it off. There really is no silver lining to look at revolving around last night’s pitching. As long as they can get back on track versus the Phillies, this can be considered a blip in a great season.

Hitting? The Marlins kind of know her now

 

I briefly mentioned the statistic that the Marlins longest streak of scoring 4+ runs was 3 games. They have now scored 4+ runs in 6 games. The Fish are starting to heat up, and although they aren’t “keeping up with a 29-run avalanche” hot, there is still progress to be seen. Jazz Chisholm hit his first career home run and is showing more and more promise as a future star. Lewis Brinson continues to swing the bat better, and the rest of the lineup looks the best it has all year.

What’s next? 

 

A good ole’ 7-game series between us and our division rivals? With the Marlins only sitting 3.5 GB of the Braves and 1.5 GB of the Phillies, the Fish can make a splash in the current standings with a solid series. Currently, the Marlins sit in the second Wild Card spot. Sandy Alcantara (2-1, 3.78) takes the mound in game 1 versus Jake Arrieta (3-4, 5.67 ERA) (the game is free to watch today at 6:40 pm on MLB.TV).

 

Marlins Bats Wake up in 8-0 Win

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Sixto Sanchez (2-1, 1.80) and Kyle Wright (0-4, 8.05) took the mound in the second game of a 3-game series in Atlanta between the Marlins and the Braves. The more Sixto pitches, the more comparisons he draws to “the future of Marlins’ baseball.” Tonight was no different, as the Sixto dominated in an 8-0 Marlins’ victory.

Sixto is going to be the guy

Since the tragic death of Jose Fernandez, the Marlins have struggled to find an ace with anything even close to his electrifying stuff. Now, enter Sixto Sanchez, who tops out in triple digits, works the plate well, and has a killer changeup. As the culture for Miami continues to positively change, Sixto looks to be a centerpiece in a handful of future postseason runs. Last night, Sixto went 6 innings on 3 hits and 6 strikeouts, allowing no runs. The bullpen pitched a combined 3 innings of no-run baseball in relief to seal the deal. The pitching continues to thrive, and with the bats looking better over the last few days, anything is possible for this team.

Home run barrage

Alright, “home run barrage” is probably a little exaggeratory, but for this Marlins team (or any Marlins team in recent memory), a 3 home run game is pretty out of the blue. Matt Joyce, Jorge Alfaro, and Garrett Cooper all went deep for the Fish, breaking the game open, and eventually leading the Fish to a clean win. The Marlins still sit at the bottom of the league in home runs this year, which is frightening for a playoff hopeful. As the bats continue to wake up, hopefully, the home run ball will continue to fly.

A look at the division + A look at tonight’s game

The Marlins now sit 1 GB of Philadelphia for 2nd in the division and only 2.5 GB of Atlanta. A win tonight combined with a Philadelphia loss would put the Marlins into an extremely advantageous position going into their 7-game series with the Phillies. The marlins look for the sweep on the Braves tonight, as Pablo Lopez (3-3, 3.05 ERA) takes the mound versus Tommy Milone (1-4, 5.30 ERA).

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Series Ending Game 5 Win

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The Miami Heat faced off against the Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks in game 5, and came away with the win 103-94. This was behind the outstanding play of Tyler Herro and Kelly Olynyk, surprisingly on both sides of the ball. Here are my five takeaways…

#1: Turnovers early became problematic for Heat’s starting lineup.

Miami’s starting lineup had issues to start the game, since their offense was very choppy. This led to six turnovers to start the game, and three of them coming from Jimmy Butler. Miami has continued to pride themselves in their efficient and smooth ball-movement and passing throughout the season. But this was not the case for Jimmy Butler and company in the first quarter. Luckily, Miami’s second unit stepped up to bring Miami all the way back, which will be discussed further down the line. The Heat will need to take care of these turnover issues, since if you do that against a team like the Boston Celtics, they will indeed make you pay. But ultimately, this is the reason Miami plays their veteran guys so much in these situations, since they can settle Miami down.

#2: Jimmy Butler uncomfortable early, Andre Iguodala steps up as on court leader.

As talked about previously, Jimmy Butler was very careless with the ball in his hands early, which gave him three turnovers out the gate. But, veteran Andre Iguodala came in and took control of Miami’s offense. He’s continually been a guy that has made a major impact on the defensive side of the ball when he enters, but he was clearly more of a floor general tonight. His ability to slow the game down against a Milwaukee team that wants to run the break was fully on display. Another thing that stood out was that he’s able to slow the offense down, with rookie’s Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn on the floor, which is not easy to do.

#3: Miami’s second unit brings the intensity that they needed.

When discussing Miami’s issues to start the game, I mentioned that the second unit stepped up majorly on offense. Well, that’s exactly what happened. For starters, Kendrick Nunn appeared to be in mid-season form with the ball in his hands, attacking the rim with fire in his eyes. Kelly Olynyk played a great game shooting the ball from deep, but actually stood out with his defensive disruption in the paint. Tyler Herro was scoring the ball at will, and displayed more of that outstanding play-making abilities throughout, especially on the break. This is something Duncan Robinson mentioned yesterday, when he said that his passing stands out more than his scoring. And of course, Andre Iguodala. As I described before, Andre’s ability to provide veteran on-court leadership is a major attribute for this team right now. And his ability to disrupt Khris Middleton proved to be important as well. If Miami gets this bench unit every game, they’ll be a tough team to compete with.

#4: Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo seemed scared to score the ball.

It clearly wasn’t the same Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo that we’ve seen throughout this series. And it’s not that they were off, it’s that they aren’t searching to score the ball. Neither player prioritizes their scoring abilities, but when things are getting rough on offense, they need to step up. Jimmy has the ability every play to attack the basket and get a foul or a bucket. Bam, on the other hand, has been given the open mid-range that he’s taken advantage of in prior games. These two guys will need to be more assertive in the next series with the ball in their hands, especially in games that guys like Duncan Robinson are blanketed.

#5: As Miami heads to the Eastern Conference Finals, they need to put these past two games behind them.

The Miami Heat clearly haven’t played to the best of their abilities in the past two games. But although that is true, they must put these two games behind them to be totally focused for Boston or Toronto. I don’t have much doubt that this team of mentally tough players will be totally locked in, but they must press a total reset. For one, their offense should be able to go back to normal, using the roaming Duncan Robinson as they did all season. And obviously Miami’s defensive scheme will change, since both Boston and Toronto spread the floor tremendously. But now, it’s time for Miami to both physically and mentally reset, to get back to their early series play.

Five takeaways from Marlins’ 5-4 win over Atlanta

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The Miami Marlins continue to see-saw from below .500 back to .500 after defeating the National League East leading Atlanta Braves 5-4 in extra innings on Labor Day Monday in Atlanta.

1: Miguel Rojas heroics

Shortstop Miguel Rojas hit the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth on a fly ball to deep right centerfield to score Monte Harrison. He had a four-hit perforce to increase his batting average to .375 on the season.

“Miggy has been like this the last couple of years, just growing and growing,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

2: Extra-inning madness

For the Marlins, this is the second straight game ending in extra innings. On Sunday, the Marlins stuck first in the top half of the 10th inning but blew the lead in the bottom half against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Brandon Kintzler was the losing pitcher in that game and he blew his second consecutive save after giving up the game-tying home run to Braves pinch-hitter Adam Duvall.

It could’ve been worse. After Atlanta loaded the bases on a double by Dansby Swanson and a pair of intentional walks, Kintzler avoid disaster by getting Travis d’Arnaud to ground straight into second base for an inning-ending double play.

After the Marlins retook the lead, Nick Vincent came into the game and earned the save with three quick outs.

3: Urena vs. Acuna

Marlins starting pitcher Jose Urena and Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna have always had must-see TV matchups. That’s because it seems like every time, they face off, Urena ends up hitting Acuna.

After Acuna was beaned, warnings were issued by the umpire. Mattingly said those warnings were based off their history. Acuna stole second base but was shortly picked off.

After the game, Urena, who finished his first outing of the season with three earned runs in five innings, explained that in order to get Acuna out, he must attack the inside part of the strike zone.

“For me, that is a weak spot for him and a stronger spot for me,” Urena said. “I can’t give him the inside plate. I have to challenge him.”

4: Marte’s impact on the Marlins

Starling Marte was considered by both local and national media to not only be the best hitter acquired in this year’s trade deadline but the best mid-season acquisition in Marlins history.

His first game ended with him hitting the go-ahead home run. These past two games have shown his added impact on the team. He followed his home run on Sunday with an RBI rouble on Monday. He has a .300 batting average and a .815 OPS this season.

“He solidifies centerfield,” Mattingly said. “He’s gotten big hits for us. The hit today with two outs was huge. He’s been great for us and he’s solidified that one spot for us which allowed me to now do a lot of different things in the corners and knowing that spot in the order is kind of set.”

“Starling’s been huge for us because he brings that energy,” Rojas said. “He’s such a dynamic player that can do a lot of things in the baseball field. I’m really excited about him and hopefully we can have him here for a very long time.”

5: Playoff picture

With the win, the Marlins are 3 1/2 games behind the Braves for first place and and 1 1/2 back of the second-place Phillies in the NL East. This year, the top two teams of each division, followed by two wildcard teams, make the postseason.

The Marlins have been hovering around .500 all year. Miami is 18-18 but 16-9 on the road. After the series in Atlanta, the Marlins return to Miami, where they have not been nearly as successful, and go through the gauntlet of 15 games in 10 days against Philadelphia, Washington and Boston. 

“I feel like there’s a streak in there somewhere for us,” Mattingly said. “I feel like we could get hot and win six of eight.”

5 Comments from Media Session with Spoelstra, Robinson, Budenholzer

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Erik Spoelstra and Duncan Robinson talked with media today, following an overtime loss in game 4 against the Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks. All of the players shared a mutual theme post-game, which was the Bucks deserved to win. Here’s what was said today…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra talked a little about yesterday’s game, but mentions that now it’s time to focus on the next game. He says, “It’s about getting to our game more consistently.” Some of that had to do with their stagnant offense yesterday, which many players noted post-game. Another reason for that was the fact that Jimmy Butler waited a little too long to get in a rhythm with the ball in his hands, which then it was too late. Spo also mentioned that they are now preparing for the Bucks with and without Giannis. This was a big reason Miami struggled on defense. Miami had to adjust mid-game from a Giannis centric defense scheme to a Khris Middleton and perimeter stopping defense. Now that Miami has time to prepare, they should be in much better shape either way.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Tyler Herro did a bunch of Tyler Herro things late in yesterday’s game, hitting big shot after big shot. Erik Spoelstra discussed Tyler for a little bit, saying “His game continues to grow, and we’re going to ask more of him as the series goes on.” It truly is amazing that they are putting so much trust in a 20 year old rookie in the playoffs, but Tyler truly is built for this. One of his main attributes with his scoring that puts him over the top is his high level confidence. He wasn’t having the best game early, but still had the mental toughness to shoot those shots in stride in overtime. This is why Tyler Herro plays so many fourth quarter minutes. The coaches believe in him. His teammates believe in him. And most importantly he believes in himself.

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Milwaukee Bucks head coach, Mike Budenholzer, talked about the current status of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury. He said that he’s “getting treatment around the clock.” It was also reported that Giannis was seen at practice today with a boot on, and was walking with a hint of a limp, which is much expected. Budenholzer also mentioned that Giannis is doing “everything he can to make himself available.” Andre Iguodala mentioned today that Miami expects Giannis to play. Either way, Miami is now prepared for the Bucks with or without Giannis as Spo mentioned earlier, but this status will be something to keep an eye on over the next 24 hours.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

After Coach Erik Spoelstra touched on Tyler Herro’s play, Duncan expanded on it a little more. He said, “His confidence is special for sure, but the are he’s grown a lot is his feel.” He mentioned that the game is beginning to slow down a lot for him, and his decision making continues to stand out. He says that although he’s made a bunch of big shots throughout this series, some of his passes he’s made have been much more impressive. He finishes the conversation with “The best is yet to come with him.” And that’s indeed the truth. This team knows the upside that he has, which is why they trust him with the ball in his hands at the end of games.

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Duncan Robinson talked about the aggression he must bring on the offensive side of the ball every game. He said, “They’ve made adjustments to take away certain things that I like to do, but you must make adjustments to the adjustments.” He follows that saying that the most important thing for him is to continue to search for open shots. He also credited Milwaukee’s defense on him, but he knows he is still able to do what he has done all season. He finishes saying that he’s been very focused on trying to improve in that area, which is why he won’t get away from it. Duncan hit six threes in yesterday’s game against Milwaukee, which means he will be watched closely yet again in game five tomorrow.