Marlins arms shine at times, but first month a struggle

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The Miami Marlins were the worst team in baseball the first month of the season.

As so many expected.

They scored only 82 runs up to May 1st, prior to the second game of the series against the Cleveland Indians, hitting just .225 as a team, with a .285 OBP and just 23 home runs.

The Marlins’ loss in the first game of the series meant they finished the month with a 8-21 record, eight games behind the East Division leaders, the Philadelphia Phillies.

For most of us who have to follow the team, it has been a very painful month of baseball.

Pitching is supposedly the name of the game, but it can’t do it all.

So let’s look at what has worked, and what hasn’t.

 

The positive for the Marlins in April

Caleb Smith has been the best of the five in the starting rotation, acting as the ace.

Sandy Alcántara sparked in his first outing of the year, but then has struggled to get back to that level.

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Pablo López and Trevor Richards have also shown what they can do at this level when they are on, but there’s still some inconsistency. They are still struggling to get out of big innings. The talent is there, though, and Marlins fans should be encouraged by their development.

In fact, Pablo is the Cy Young of the majors when he faces a lineup for the first time.

He hasn’t allowed runs in 10.1 IP, with 10 K, no walks and a hit by pitch.

Now he must figure out how to be effective for the second and third time facing major league baseball lineups.

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Down in the pen

Some arms in the bullpen have also impressed in the first month of the season.

Colombian pitcher Tyron Guerrero has mad adjustments in his mechanics and it’s now one of the most trusted arms in the bullpen. Picture by Tony Capobianco

Colombian fire thrower Tyron Guerrero worked on his mechanics and has allowed just two runs in 13.0 IP, with 15 Ks and 10 walks.

He’s been getting more and more opportunities in late and or close situations and for now has gotten the job done.

Nick Anderson is a special story, making his debut in the majors with the Marlins this year and has struck out 27 hitters in 13 innings, and opposing hitters are hitting just .188 against him so far (up to April 30th).

Nick Anderson, one of the great stories for the Marlins during the first month of the season. Picture by Tony Capobianco

He’s probably the best arm in that bullpen, and a weapon we didn’t foresee coming when we talked about the depth of before the season started.

 

What can’t get worse. Or can it?

Now that I brought your hopes a little up, it’s time to come back down.

This team needs to score more runs or risk setting a record for losses in a season.

Right now, this is looking like the 2018 Baltimore Orioles.

That team ended up with 47 wins and 115 losses, scoring 3.84 runs per game.

These 2019 Miami Marlins were averaging 2.82 before Wednesday’s game against Corey Kluber and the Indians.

Dominican infielder Starlin Castro is in the last season of his contract with the Marlins. Picture by Tony Capobianco

Guys like Starlin Castro (.248), Brian Anderson (.243) and Curtis Granderson (.188) are some of those who must be more productive for this franchise to win more games.

Jorge Alfaro, one of the best hitters of the team with a .286 average, with 5 homers and 9 RBIs, promised to our Leandro Soto on Wednesday that hitting was going to get better.

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And it can only get better, I guess.

But how? They don’t reach base enough, they don’t hit with power, and they don’t hit well with runners in scoring position.

Besides, they have not been able to hit then they do get those runners in scoring position.

It’s been a little better at times of late, so hopefully that continues.

Besides, May is here, as Jeremy Tache (The Five Reasons Sports Network’s resident Justin Timberlake) predicted, and it will probably be the time for some prospects (or just players with good starts in the minors) to start coming up.


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Harold Ramírez, Magneuris Sierra and Monte Harrison look like very interesting names, besides Austin Dean, who shouldn’t be sent down again so quick.

And, of course, pitcher Zac Gallen, but that requires an entire article of its own.

For now, just patience and more patience, Marlins fans.

And not enough offense.

 

Alejandro Villegas is one of the hosts of Cinco Razones Podcast. 

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