5 Takeaways from Heat’s Series Ending Win Over Pacers

/2 Comments/in /by

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

/0 Comments/in /by

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

/0 Comments/in /by

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

/1 Comment/in , /by

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

/0 Comments/in , /by

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

/0 Comments/in /by

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.

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Nail-Biting Win Over Pacers

/0 Comments/in /by

The Miami Heat played yet another tough game against the Indiana Pacers in game 3, but came away with the win 124-115. This game was clearly a tale of two halves, since Miami dominated in the first half, but let the game get away from them in the second. Here are five takeaways from the game…

#1: If Miami shoots the way they did in the first half, they’re a tough team to beat.

Miami had one of those halves that Heat fans have seen quite a lot this season, which was an absolute three point shooting display. They’re clearly one of the best teams when they are hitting their shots, but when their shots aren’t falling, they struggle getting their offense going. The second half was a perfect example of this, when it seemed to be the complete opposite of the first half. Dragic had 4 first half threes, while Crowder, Herro, and Robinson each had two first half threes. This led Miami to 74 first half points, which was a playoff record. If Miami can withhold their elite shooting for 48 minutes, they’ll be tough to beat.

#2: Goran Dragic hot streak continues.

It feels like Goran is included in every one of these takeaway piece, because he has been. He continues to be an elite offensive presence for Miami, while scoring from all three levels. And though he has a great connection with teammate Jimmy Butler, his best play has come with the second unit. This is obviously because they’ve built up a great amount of chemistry throughout the season when he came off the bench. Goran played 14 of the first 17 minutes of the game, which is interesting considering his age. It seems as if Spo is giving him these minutes, so he can bring Jimmy back in mid-way through the second quarter for him. Miami needs one of either Goran or Jimmy on the floor at all times, and it seems as if Spo has recognized this as well.

#3: Bam Adebayo obviously isn’t a natural scorer, but his on-court impact is crucial.

Bam Adebayo has struggled scoring the ball through the first few playoff games, but that’s because he hasn’t gone to his strengths on offense. Bam displayed it in the first quarter, taking Myles Turner off the dribble. He has continued to struggle with his back to the basket, but when he gets a full head of steam, he’s hard to stop. But what makes Bam so impactful is everything else. His back-door passing, screen setting, and defensive presence was on full display. He may not give you a bunch of blocks, but he will force a bunch of missed shots, both around the rim and on the perimeter. And his ability to take the center out of the paint and make tight back door passes off of cuts may have won them this game. As of right now, this side of his game seems to translate more to wins than his scoring, which is why Spoelstra is so supportive of the way he plays.

#4: Miami will need to clean up turnovers in order to beat a team like Milwaukee.

Miami had more turnovers than field goals made in the third quarter. Let that sink in. Part of it is due to the scrappiness of Indiana on the defensive end. But another part of it is some costly errors from Miami’s stars, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Obviously turnovers will occur since both of these guys have major play-making tasks, but it is essential to clean this up a bit. Jimmy seems to try and force passes out to the three when he drives to the basket, and Bam seems to pick up his dribble on the perimeter at times. But, this is definitely something that can be fixed, especially since Coach Spo has mentioned taking care of the ball a lot over the past week.

#5: Tyler Herro clearly doesn’t shy away from big moments.

Tyler Herro scored 20 points in only his third playoff game, shooting 6-12 from the field. Although he seemed to be taking the role of a play-maker in the eight regular season games, he has now reverted back to the natural scorer he was mid-season. And as of right now, Miami needs the offensively hungry Tyler Herro. Although he’s a threat from beyond the arc, his ability to control the mid-range adds another aspect to their offense. He has led the team in fourth quarter minutes this season, and there’s been no change for the playoffs since he’s apart of the team’s closing lineup with Dragic, Butler, Iguodala, and Adebayo. And even with Jimmy Butler on the floor, Tyler seems to be Miami’s biggest threat late in games.

Jesus Sanchez

Meet the Marlins: Jesus Sanchez

/0 Comments/in /by

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.

The Marlins have started seven different right fielders through 18 games and those seven players have combined for the worst production at that position (.167/.254/.167) in MLB. Among the players to start in RF this season: Jon Berti, Lewis Brinson and Harold Ramirez.

The struggles haven’t been limited to right field, though, as the entire outfield has struggled to consistently produce at the plate. Top-10 prospect Monte Harrison’s arrival earlier this season sparked excitement within the fan base, but he proceeded to struggle mightily in his first turn with the big club. Harrison was sent back to Jupiter after looking overmatched more often than not. He struck out in 54.5 percent of plate appearances (18 Ks, 33 PA).

Prospect: Jesus Sanchez

The 22-year-old Sanchez came to the Marlins with Ryne Stanek in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays last season. That trade saw relievers Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards sent to the Rays.

Sanchez clocks in as a Top-100 prospect (No. 88) as a right fielder. He’s known for exceptional bat speed, power and just a feel for hitting. While he’s played come centerfield during his career, Sanchez profiles best as a right fielder or designated hitter.

Last season, Sanchez split time between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans. He slashed .260/.325/.398, with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBI. He struck out 100 times in 465 plate appearances.

Sanchez signed with the Rays out of the Dominican Republic in 2014. In Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, he hit .335/.382/.498. Sanchez rose quickly through the Rays system, winning team MVP awards in each of his first four pro seasons and starting in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in 2018.

As a hitter, Sanchez uses the entire field and handles lefties and righties equally well. His tools are considered above-average almost across the board (hit, power, arm and field). The only tool he’s lacking is speed.

Sanchez has a chance to earn regular playing time in right field for the Marlins if he can consistently produce at the plate.

“I’m here because I think the team needs me. I believe I can help the team win,” Jesus Sanchez said prior to Friday night’s game in Washington. “I’m going to give all I have on the field and a good bat.”

Five Reasons to be Excited About Inter Miami (5/5)

/0 Comments/in /by

Inter Miami return to MLS action on August 22 against in-state rivals Orlando City. For each day leading up to the game, I’ll be going into detail explaining one of my five reasons to be excited about Inter Miami.  These five reasons, and dates of all and each coming piece, are listed below:

Reasons to be Excited About Inter Miami

  1. New Signings (August 17)
  2. Return of Robbie (August 18)
  3. Playing with More Experience (August 19)
  4. Potential Acquisitions (August 20)
  5. First Home Game (August 21)

Matchday will feature a pre and post-game piece as well.

Inter Miami CF Stadium (aka Lockhart)

As a brand new club, fans, owners, players, executives, and everyone associated with the team looks forward to the “firsts.” The first game, the first goal, the first win (soon please), and even the first home game. In a perfect world, the first home game for a brand new team comes within weeks of the season’s kickoff. In today’s world, Inter Miami will finally play its first-ever home game just a short five months and eight days after its original date.

The stadium is stunning. Driving on Commercial Boulevard now will have heads turn like never before. In a short time, Inter Miami miraculously had built a stadium that was ready for MLS action.

Old Lockhart Stadium was demolished on May 8 of last year. In what needed to be a quick turnaround, the construction of Inter Miami CF was happening quickly as a Spring debut seemed unlikely.

This photo was captured on November 18, 2019.

It took about six months for the structure to be built, and that was just the interior. Every day new and noticeable improvements seemed to be made at the site. A local Youtube channel, FutbolMiamiTV, had a running series hosted by Pieter Brown (@pieter_brown) that documented a ton of the construction as it went on.

Some color was added along with stands behind the goals by January. The stadium still had not seen the colorful seating that was yet to be inserted.

Finally, by February, a month before the first game was meant to be played, fans had a real sight of what the stadium would look like. Pink, black, grey, and white seating, along with a dark black exterior with pink accents, highlighted the looks of the club’s new home.

Just four days before March 14, the day Miami was set to play LA Galaxy in its home debut, fans were let into the stadium for a special event. A day later, everything changed.

MLS was faced with a tough decision in the following days as March 11 would be the day that the NBA announced their shutdown. A day after a special event for fans, three days before the club’s home debut, MLS announced that they would be suspending the 2020 season.

No other club, not even expansion club partners Nashville SC, will ever have to endure such a long wait to play in their first home game. Over five months since the club’s debut game, Inter Miami will finally be able to play a competitive game in South Florida. Fans in the stands are one of the critical aspects of playing at home, especially for the first time. Unfortunately for Miami, “La Familia” will not be in attendance any time soon unless it’s their cardboard $5o cardboard cutout.

The idea of no fans may hinder some of the excitement, but there’s not enough taken away to say this won’t be a monumental day. August 22, a revenge game against in-state rivals Orlando City, will be a day for the club to remember. Let’s hope the team looks a lot stronger in Fort Lauderdale than they did in Orlando.

 

 

5 Post-Practice Comments from Spoelstra, Iguodala, Leonard

/0 Comments/in /by

The Miami Heat talked with some media after practice on Friday afternoon, heading into game 3 of the first round. Erik Spoelstra talked about the offensive production of Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic, while Andre Iguodala gave many intellectual answers about this team and the game of basketball in general. Meyers Leonard also spoke about his feelings towards his new role. Here’s what was said…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the conversation that he had with Goran before making him a starter. He said, “In a perfect world, he probably would have liked to stay on the bench.” He notes that this was because of their rhythm throughout the season. Although Goran has been starting for the first two games, he still gets plenty of minutes with the second unit. And it seems as if he is more productive at times with the lineup of Tyler Herro, Andre Iguodala, Derrick Jones Jr, and Kelly Olynyk. That is because he’s the offensive leader without Jimmy on the floor, and due to the versatility of this lineup, it allows him to do what he does best which is attack the basket. This is why you see him take more floaters and mid-ranges with this lineup, since he can just truly be his best self.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Erik Spoelstra also discussed Duncan Robinson’s consistent elite shooting abilities this season. He said, “It’s a great quality of this team where guys want to help other guys get shots.” This was shown prior to yesterday’s game, when Jimmy specifically said that his purpose for game 2 was to get his shooters like Duncan and Tyler more involved. This seems to be a huge plus for Spo as well, when he said “Bam and Jimmy really get that.” He also mentioned that they truly understand how important Duncan is for their team. And as I mentioned previously, their offense seriously revolves solely around the production of Duncan Robinson, since this opens up so many other things.

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Andre Iguodala talked about his relationship with Coach Erik Spoelstra, and how it grew over the hiatus. It was speculated for a while, but Andre indeed confirmed it. It seemed as if Andre hadn’t found his place yet when he first joined the team, but in the bubble, he knows his role on this team and plays it to perfection. He’s not a guy that’s going to drop 20 points on multiple nights, but he can bring defensive discomfort and make crucial plays down the stretches of games. Andre also mentioned that him and Spo spent a lot of time talking about Bam Adebayo, and how “he can go above his own expectations.” Andre has seemed to play a pretty big role for Bam’s improvements, since he’s been apart of the closing front-court with Bam for the playoffs.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Andre Iguodala also touched on the topic of Tyler Herro, which he was asked for a viable comparison for him. He responded, “None yet.” He then gave a deep description of Tyler’s game, talking about his tight handles and other aspects. But the thing he continually harps on is his confidence. He said, “The thing I like about his confidence is he’s a very hard worker, wants to be great.” And well, hard work is the what gives you the ability to be confident, since you are totally invested in yourself. Tyler also has the confidence from his teammates to be the offensive leader that he is. Andre ends with, “That you can’t teach.”

 

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Meyers Leonard touched on his feeling towards going from starter to out of the rotation. He said, “I’m not gonna say it’s been easy. I love competing with this team.” Although he’s not playing a role on the court right now, he still plays a major role for this team. He’s a leader that will do whatever it takes to win, which is why he says he is staying ready, especially since Coach Spo has said many times that their depth will be needed down the line. Meyers also mentioned the success of this team as of late, saying “We’re so damn deep. We have so much talent. And I absolutely love it.” He also has talked to Kendrick Nunn since they share the same situation, which he told him “We are going to need you, period,” and finishes with “He will be ready for the moment. All of these things are things that a leader says, and something a leader would do is donate $100,000 to the city of Miami due to Covid and voter suppression. Which he did as well. This team truly understands the importance of Meyers Leonard.