Pre-Season Watch Lists, All-ACC Mentions for Hurricanes

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With the beginning of Fall Camp approaching , the Miami Hurricanes football team continues to grab attention.

Preseason watch lists are a lot of speculation, but recognition at least sets a tone of high expectations.

Miami has had several position groups mentioned in pre-season watch lists for major awards, including multiple players on the Butkus Award list.

 

Seniors Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney lead an impressive linebacker corps for the Hurricanes. Quarterman comes off a stellar 2018 season where he earned first team All-ACC honors with 82 tackles, including 14 TFL.

Not to mention he has started every game in his UM career, a streak which enters the season at 39 games.

Pinckney has also been a solid performer and a mainstay in the middle in his four years on campus. Coming off a season with 74 tackles and 11 TFL, he also earned pre-season All-ACC mentions along with tight end Brevin Jordan.

 

Jordan looks to follow a nice freshman campaign (32 receptions, 287 yards, four TD) and set the tone for a young tight end group on the rise.

Trajan Bandy joins his fellow Hurricanes on the trophy hunt, earning a spot on the Jim Thorpe Award list for best college defensive back.

 

Bandy had a breakout sophomore season in 2018 and looks to continue right where he left off.

Wearing the Turnover Chain.

Bandy led the squad with five such occasions last year.

These lists are a nice indicator of potential but really don’t mean a whole lot once the season starts.

What is shows is that the team seems to be reaching top level talent across multiple positions, on both sides of the ball.

A nice step to building elite depth on a team level.

Now let’s hope they can end the year with even more recognition.

Make sure to check out the 5 Rings Canes Podcast for in-depth Miami Hurricanes football coverage.

Tyler Patmon signing header

Dolphins sign veteran cornerback Tyler Patmon

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The Miami Dolphins have signed veteran cornerback Tyler Patmon to the roster, days before the full start of training camp. This is Patmon’s second stint with Miami. His first was in late 2015, when he signed onto the Dolphins practice squad on December 26. Over a week later, Patmon was promoted to the active roster. He played in two games before being released on July 31, 2016.

Patmon’s signing comes right after Miami added TE Dwayne Allen, LB Mike Hull, and CB Cordrea Tankersley to the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He joins a stable of corners competing for the second boundary spot alongside Xavien Howard, which includes Torry McTyer, Jalen Davis, Cornell Armstrong, and former Patriots Eric Rowe and Jomal Wiltz.

Head coach Brian Flores comes from a franchise that emphasizes the importance of the secondary. It’s likely he’ll use the same schemes, putting the defense in nickel, dime, and even quarter defenses regularly. With Tankersley on the PUP list, Patmon has a chance to stick if he does well.

In four seasons, Patmon has played a total of 49 games. He started his career with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent from 2014-15. After getting an opportunity to sign onto Dallas’ practice squad, Patmon went to Miami instead.

In 2016, Patmon bounced around several practice squads. He spent time with the Titans, Chiefs, and Panthers and did not play a game that season. Then he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2017-18, appearing in 25 games, starting two of them. During that span, he made 14 tackles and deflected a pass.

Patmon is most known for a fight between him and former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant in 2015.

There is also a separate incident in 2017, where Patmon threw a coach to the ground during the fourth quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks. It’s clear Patmon has fire in him. The question now is, will he be able to harness it and make the team?

JJ Bleday learned from hometown ‘legend’ before pro start

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Before starting his professional baseball career with the Single-A Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads, JJ Bleday got to learn from a member of the Miami Marlins organization whom he considers a legend.

No, it wasn’t Derek Jeter, who drafted him No. 4 overall in this year’s MLB Draft.

It wasn’t Don Mattingly, a fellow New York Yankees legend who manages the team.

The “legend” Bleday refers to is veteran corner infielder Neil Walker.

“He’s a legend in my area,” Bleday said. 

Bleday grew up in Titusville, PA, a small town close to Pittsburgh, where Walker grew up. He moved to the Florida Panhandle after his sophomore year and played college ball at Vanderbilt University, where he hit an NCAA-leading 27 home runs while leading the Commodores to a national championship.

Bleday said he met Walker during his childhood on the flight back to Pittsburgh from Arizona. Bleday was attending a baseball showcase that his brother was in while Walker was at teammate Joel Hanrahan’s wedding. Hanrahan was the closer for the Pirates around the same time Walker’s career was beginning to blossom.

The two took a picture together and a decade later they meet again as members of the same organization.

The two met during batting practice the day Bleday signed with the Marlins and Walker recognized him.

“I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or trying to be nice,” Bleday said. “It’s crazy how that comes around. He’s a legend in Pennsylvania. He’s won state titles in both baseball and football in Pine-Richland and that’s one of the biggest levels of High School in Pennsylvania in terms of 5A and 6A. He’s a good role model and great player and it’s crazy to share that with him.”

“He made me feel really old,” Walker said with a smile. “He said he followed the Pirates when he was a kid and he remembered watching me when I first got up to the Major Leagues in 2009-10. He definitely made me feel old.”

Batting practice is a small sample size when trying to assess a player’s skill but Walker seemed impressed with Bleday at the cage.

“He’s got a short swing. He’s got really good hands, getting the barrel to the ball,” Walker said. “Just in batting practice, you can kind of tell those things. And on top of being a good hand/eye guy, he’s got power, so that’s kind of a mixture that you look for in guys that’s pretty rare. It’s typically either one or the other. Guys who are power guys but don’t quite have the contact skills but he seems to have both and have a lot of skills as a hitter.”

While taking batting practice, Bleday made sure to learn from Walker and other veterans on the Marlins. Bleday said the most important lesson he got from them was on time management.

“You’re going to always have time with family and friends when they come and watch you play and all that,” Bleday said. “Make sure you are a little bit of selfish when it comes to staying back in your routine and getting back to the middle of playing baseball because that’s your primary objective.”

Having signed a one-year deal, Walker is likely to be traded by the MLB Trade Deadline and despite Bleday starting in High A, it’s not certain whether or not both will be playing on the same field by the time JJ debuts. Maybe the stars aligned when Walker signed and Bleday got drafted by the same team at the same year so he could have that rare moment with the local legend.

Is Bam the Heat’s bridge to the future?

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There is a lot of buzz around Bam Adebayo.

Especially now that Hassan Whiteside is no longer around.

The Heat’s 2017 first round pick was a metrics standout after he finally replaced Whiteside in the starting lineup last season, and the Heat — publicly and privately — have not been shy about their feelings for him. As long as he doesn’t get traded for someone like Bradley Beal (a story for another day), it appears Adebayo will receive the 30 minutes per night he should, and get a chance to showcase his talents.

But it’s not just the skills the Heat like — it’s his makeup.

On the night he was drafted, a team official told me they had a huge binder on Adebayo, talking to anyone and everyone who knew him, and that official described him as “the anti-Hassan.” Someone who works with the team. Someone who doesn’t need constant validation. Someone who gets it.

And when you get it, you get praise like this from the keeper of Heat culture on your birthday:

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@bam1of1 I'd be lying if I said I've had or could ask for a better young fella!!! As much as you nag, aggravate, and antagonize the hell out of me, you make it a joy to come to work everyday. The way you see the game. The way you approach the game. Who you play for. Why you play. And how you reach your goal of getting there all falls in line with the young UD. Although different styles we not that different at all kid. Been looking for someone to take this shit and run wit it and from where I'm sitting it's you! You have the mold of a lifer!! It was never more evident then watching you finish the season the way you did last year… Never complained. Just lead by example no matter the circumstances mentally or physically. This bout all the good shit you gonna hear from me til next year so enjoy it kid. Lol. We gon have a lil fun for ya bday then it's back to verbally abusing you. Lol. HBD young fella!!! Idk how old yo ass really is but it's still a blessing to see another year!! Lol. Love ya lil bro/son!!! #og

A post shared by Udonis Haslem (@ud40) on

“Been looking for someone to take this s— and run wit and from where I’m sitting it’s you!”

And of course, the skills do matter.

He showed off some in the Miami Pro League.

Skip to about 1:05.

Yeah, that’s a 7-foot man.

And that’s why I’m saying this:

 

Le Batard Shows World Wide Leader is Just a Follower

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On Thursday ESPN radio host and outspoken personality Dan Le Batard took a stand.

Le Batard said what was on his mind.

And in a lot of our hearts.

The Miami based Le Batard lashed into his employer ESPN and their “no politics” policy, calling it “weak and cowardly”.

 

It all began after a Donald Trump rally where the embattled president’s supporters chanted “send her back” when Trump was speaking about Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somalian refugee.

Omar and her family, like thousands before them, escaped a war torn country in hopes of finding a better future in America.

You know, that American Dream thing.

Whether you agree with Omar and her political view is an issue for another time.

Le Batard is the son of Cuban immigrants and has throughout his career made waves covering the uncomfortable subjects.

Taking a stand isn’t easy in Bristol, Connecticut – the home of ESPN.

Just ask Jemele Hill.

Some might say the role of a journalist is to be impartial, to not take stances.

Isn’t it a job of a journalist to uncover the truth?

To cite injustice, call out rhetoric.

Sports and politics have found ways throughout history to intersect and force change.

From Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, to John Carlos and Tommie Smith in the 1968 Olympics.

Sometimes a worldwide stage is needed to get attention on what really matters.

ESPN uses their “no politics” policy to distance themselves.

Which is exactly what they are doing to their audience.

“Stick to sports” is a popular position to take when things aren’t so black and white.

But it shouldn’t be when things are.

 

Chris Paddack reminds Marlins fans of what they gave away

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Chris Paddack broke into the scene this season and instantly became the San Diego Padres’ best starting pitcher. On a team that has a young, exciting, growing core, that added star infielder Manny Machado, Paddack steals the show whenever he starts.

Simply put, there’s a new sheriff in town.

The Austin, Tex. native walks into the ballpark dressed in cowboy regalia with a mullet and an attitude that suggests he’s the one behind the song, “Old Town Road”. He’s his own remix, and his outing against the Marlins proves it.

In his first start at Miami, Paddack took a no-hitter to the eighth inning until it was broken up by a Starlin Castro home run. He gave up one walk and struck out eight batters.

“After we saw a lot of fastballs, we were ready,” Castro said. “He threw me a first-pitch changeup, and then threw me a fastball, middle-in, and I drove it pretty good.”

Before the home run, the no-hit bid almost ended by a centimeter when first baseman Eric Hosmer tagged out a sliding Miguel Rojas to end the sixth inning.

“After the sixth inning, I was starting to count the outs,” Paddack said. “One mistake, against a good hitter.”

Prior to coming oh so close from San Diego’s first ever no-hitter, Paddack entered the game leading all qualified rookies in WHIP (0.92) and second in strikeouts (87) and opponent batting average (.194).

“He’s the easiest guy in the world to catch,” said catcher Austin Hedges. “You put your glove there, and he throws it. … He’s shown no-hit, perfect-game stuff.”

Paddack’s performance was frustrating for Marlins fans to watch because had it not been for a short-sighted trade in 2016, he would be doing this for the Marlins. Miami drafted him in the eighth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, same class as Josh Naylor, who was also traded to San Diego. He was a low-A pitcher in 2016 when the Marlins traded him for veteran closer Fernando Rodney, who at the time was an All-Star with a 0.32 ERA in 28 appearances.

Rodney posted a 5.89 ERA in 39 appearances and the Marlins missed their one chance at the playoffs and now that Paddack has emerged as a Rookie of the Year frontrunner, fans are feeling the remorse from the trade.

This game felt like revenge for the trade. Paddack hinted as much by telling reporters before the game that, “there will definitely be a little more adrenaline just with the mindset that this is the team that drafted me and then got rid of me.” He recalled being in a befuddled state when a member of the Marlins’ front office informed him he’d been traded while in Greensboro.

“It happened so quick,” Paddack said. “But it was the longest day of my life, too.”

The ownership group that made the trade three years ago is no longer in the building but are still reminded of their failures to recognize the potential of prospects with every quality start by Paddack and Luis Castillo, who was traded to San Diego, returned after three innings and an injury of Colin Rea, and then later traded to Cincinnati for Dan Straily, who was released before the start of the season.

It’s sometime hard not to envision a world where the Marlins didn’t make a single trade since 2016. No Rodney, no Straily, no Andrew Cashner. The 2017 lineup (Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, J.T. Realmuto, Marcell Ozuna and Dee Gordon) stays. Josh Naylor emerges possibly to replace Justin Bour, Rojas reaches this same point at shortstop, and Paddack and Castillo anchors the starting rotation of a potential playoff team.

“If you really break down what the Marlins had and where everyone’s at now, it’d be a super-team, man,” Paddack said. “It’s crazy to think. But that’s this game, man. Baseball changes.”

Elieser Hernandez proves he is better off in the Marlins bullpen

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Elieser Hernandez has proven that he can be a starter and a reliever.

In his second year with the Miami Marlins, Hernandez came in place of Caleb Smith during his time on the injured list and posted a 4.05 ERA and a 5.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio (32 strikeouts, six walks) in five starts.

With Smith back in the rotation, Hernandez returned to the bullpen where he has spent most of his rookie year in and notched five strikeouts in five innings.

The timing may not be ideal considering he gave up a home run to Mets second baseman Robinson Cano in his most recent appearance but his ability to get at least one strikeout per inning is important for a reliever and is something that the Marlins need in their bullpen.

Hernandez said that his method has remained the same despite the role being different and the addition of the slider has helped him improve compared to last year, when he posted a 5.21 ERA in 32 appearances including six started after being a Rule 5 Draft pick from the Houston Astros.

“[Hernandez] throws some that don’t do anything and then throws the one that actually takes off a little bit, like the [Sergio] Romo slider that kind of parachutes on you,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

Because Hernandez has spent most of this season starting in Triple-A and last month with the Marlins, he is getting close to eclipsing last year’s combined mark of 83.1. He’s currently at 78.2 innings and has only hit triple digits once in his career, throwing 107 2/3 during the 2016 season in the Astros organization. The Marlins will likely keep him in the bullpen the rest of the season as a way to monitor his innings.

The Marlins bullpen as a whole has 320 total strikeouts in 305 innings. Pretty much every team in the National League but the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies has more strikeouts than innings pitched. Only three NL bullpens have a sub-4 ERA but that stat for relievers can be misleading.

Adam Conley has had a similar situation as Hernandez, being a starter turned reliever. He currently has a 7.43 ERA but 35 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. Wei-Yin Chen, with an 8.21 ERA, has 31 strikeouts in 34 innings. Both relievers are used in lower leverage situations where things that go south only go further south. Nick Anderson leads Marlins relievers with 56 strikeouts in only 38.1 innings and is trusted in more high leverage situations like Hernandez.

Simply put, so long as a relief pitcher can get strikeouts, he has a plan in the bullpen.

Trevor Richards encabeza posibles piezas de cambio de los Marlins

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Trevor Richards podría ser la pieza de cambio mas jugosa que van a ofrecer los Marlins mientras se acerca la fecha límite de cambios en las Grandes Ligas.

El primer cuarto de temporada de los Marlins fue un desastre. No hay manera de maquillarlo. Ganar 10 de los primeros 31 encuentros te ubica dentro de proyecciones catastróficas para una franquicia, que si bien entiende la actualidad del desarrollo de los jugadores actuales, esa primera experiencia del 2019 no indicaba ninguna mejoría.

Ahora, desde entonces los Marlins son un equipo que juega para .500 (24-26 tras la jornada del domingo), el quinto mejor registro en la Liga Nacional en ese tiempo, igualados con los Gigantes de San Francisco. Varias de las piezas que forman parte del plan del futuro de los Marlins han mostrado un avance significativo y nuevos nombres han llegado a la Gran Carpa cumpliendo con lo esperado.

Sin embargo, la realidad en esta campaña sigue siendo la misma. Hablamos de un equipo ubicado en el sótano de su división sin pretensiones reales de hacer algún tipo de ruido este año, por lo que la fecha límite de cambios presenta un plan similar, pero con nombres diferentes, al de años anteriores. Los Marlins serán vendedores, eso no es un secreto.

Los candidatos primordiales a ser canjeados en esta fecha límite de cambios son los sospechosos habituales.

Caleb Smith, Trevor Richards, Sergio Romo, Curtis Granderson, Starlin Castro, Martín Prado, José Ureña, han estado sonando desde el comienzo de la campaña pero ¿quién verdaderamente pudiera estar cambiado de uniforme en estas próximas dos semanas?

La gerencia ve a Trevor Richards como la pieza principal, según fuentes, y por la cual pudieran recibir más valor. Y aunque Caleb Smith no entra en la categoría de los intocables, el precio será bastante alto. Mientras que con Castro, Walker, Romo y Granderson las exigencias serán mucho más bajas; el equipo está buscando dinero de firmas internacionales por ellos, en vez de cualquier prospecto de segunda categoría, dijo la misma fuente.

Con cambios o no, los Marlins están enfocándose al final de esta temporada en añadir a un bate de categoría, que pueda aportar a la ofensiva en el 2020. Mientras que en el invierno de ese mismo año, cuando el contrato de Wei-Yin Chen expire, Miami estará buscando un segundo bate de peso, que los haga competir en el 2021.

Se acerca el momento de Isán Díaz con los Marlins

Si sucede un canje por Castro en los próximo días, este asunto se resolvería mucho más rápido de lo esperado. Pero la oficina de Miami ha demostrado no estar apresurada con la promesa boricua, por lo que si no sucede un cambio, el segunda base boricua no estará subiendo a las Mayores para ocupar la antesala, y seguro lo hará en septiembre, cuando se expandan los roster, según dijeron fuentes.

“Es solo cuestión de tiempo”, dijo el manager de los Marlins Don Mattingly. “El departamento de desarrollo de jugadores decidirá cuándo es el momento adecuado para que suba, tome su oportunidad y se pueda sentir cómodo en este nivel”.

Es inevitable hablar de Díaz sin mencionar a Castro.

“Starlin parece estar motivado, sé que este año no ha sido tan bueno, pero ha estado bateando mucho mejor últimamente”, dijo Mattingly, quien también admite que la situación del equipo pudiera estar jugando un papel importante en su desempeño. “Para ser honestos, siempre es mejor cuando estás compitiendo por un banderín. Cuando en cada juego, cada turno que consumes es importante, con un estadio lleno de aficionados y ambiente de postemporada”.

Por: Ricardo Montes de Oca, con información de Leandro Soto

 

Ricardo Soto y Ricardo Montes de Oca aman a los Marlins. Pasaron todo el domingo en el Marlins Park disfrutando viendo al equipo, y a los mas de 400 perros que asistieron. Sigan su trabajo escuchando Cinco Razones Podcast haciendo click en este link

Dan Dakich the latest to slander Erik Spoelstra

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We don’t know how Jorge Sedano puts up with this.

Sedano, born in Miami and raised on local radio, is now in Los Angeles, and doing some sideline and analyst work for ESPN.

This gives him the great opportunity — or misfortune — to share a broadcast with the likes of Dan Dakich. You may remember Dakich from all those Heat-Pacers battles, since he’s an Indiana broadcaster who likes to talk about his Sno-Cone.

Now this…

Poor Jorge.

You can argue against Erik Spoelstra being a top-3 coach; last season, his performance didn’t warrant nearly that high a ranking.

But to say he’s “just a guy” is ludicrous. He’s the second-longest tenured coach in the NBA for a reason.

And then there was this foolishness from Dakich, about how anyone wins with LeBron.

Spoelstra has been an easy target for years, while Brad Stevens is beloved, and it’s confusing.

 

It’s funny about Miami fans.

They’re all over Spoelstra for his rotations — last season they had some cause — but then they are all over anyone who doesn’t recognize Spoelstra’s general competence.

Especially when that someone sounds as cartoonish as Dakich on this subject.

 

 

Dolphins assistant head coach Jim Caldwell taking leave of absence

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The Miami Dolphins will be missing one of their most experienced and high profile coaches for the 2019 season, as assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell is taking a leave of absence to address health issues.

A statement was released by the Dolphins on Saturday morning regarding Caldwell’s status.

“I will be stepping back due to some medical complications that require my full attention,” Caldwell said. “I want to thank Stephen Ross, Chris Grier, Coach Flores and the rest of the organization for the support they have given me and my family.”

Head coach Brian Flores offered his own sentiments within the statement.

“Our focus is on Jim’s health and supporting him in every way that we can,” He said. “With his knowledge and experience, Jim has been an invaluable member to our coaching staff and will continue to serve as a sounding board for me throughout the season.”

Caldwell will still serve as a consultant to head coach Brian Flores, but not having him physically there will have an impact. Caldwell is one of the first coaches Flores added to his staff, bringing him on board on Feb. 8, 2019. His experience as an NFL head coach was projected to be invaluable to Flores, a rookie head coach who is only just starting to learn what it means to be a head coach in this league.

Not having proven, experienced people behind him is likely part of what led former Dolphins head coach Adam Gase to make the mistakes he did. Flores was smart to hire Caldwell to be his right hand man.  He brought with him 17 years of coaching experience, with two stints as a head coach for the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-11 and the Detroit Lions from 2014-17. In that time, Caldwell put together a 62-50 (.554) regular-season record, four playoff berths, two 11-win seasons and one conference championship. He also won a Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens during the 2012 season.

On top of being the assistant head coach, Caldwell was also tasked with coaching the quarterbacks, as he’s had experience coaching the likes of Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford, and of course Peyton Manning, who spoke to Michael Rothstein of ESPN back in 2015 about Caldwell’s stressing of fundamentals and how everything had a specific purpose.

“The discipline of having that routine really made an impact on me,” Manning said. “I really felt like I just sort of took a step up during the years that he was my quarterbacks coach.”

The hope was that Caldwell would have a significant impact on the next young QB who stepped foot in the building. In this case, Josh Rosen was that young QB, and Miami is hoping he turns out to be worth his initial top ten pick draft status. Now, however, it will be up to seven-year veteran Jerry Schuplinski to fill that void, who spent his previous six seasons in the league with the New England Patriots, starting his role as assistant QB coach in 2016 for Tom Brady.

Caldwell’s absence will hurt the team, but true to form, the Miami Dolphins have made it clear that they care about the people working for them. With any luck, the 64-year old Caldwell will overcome his unspecified health issues and be able to return to the sidelines in no time. Until then, Caldwell will have the support of the team as he rests and recovers from whatever ails him.