Backup Ellis keeps busy as he stays ready
PHILADELPHIA — You wouldn’t know it by looking at the box scores, but A.J. Ellis works — a lot. He has played in only four games this month, none since April 18, and sat during both of the Miami Marlins’ most recent day games after night games, usually a backup catcher’s time to shine.
But the way the early season schedule has worked out, including two off days worked into this three-city road trip, makes it easier for manager Don Mattingly to stick with J.T. Relamuto behind the plate. And Ellis is fine with that. “When you come to a team like this with a catcher like J.T., you know what you’re signing up for,” Ellis said. “I know where my value is, I know what I bring to this team, the things I can do before 7 p.m. to help prepare us and help these guys.”
Ellis still puts in plenty of hours. He said he gets to the ballpark around 1 p.m. for a 7p.m. game to do all the things backstops have to do — catching bullpen and flat-ground throwing sessions, aswell as their individual work such as extra batting practice and running/lifting.
He also spends considerable time working with Realmuto, pitching coach Juan Nieves and the pitchers on that day’s and that series’ game plan. The Marlins see Ellis’ game-planning as a strength. When they signed Ellis in December, president of baseball operations Michael Hill pointed to that as one reason why.
“What’s really important is if we’re on the bench and the guy pitching tomorrow comes up to me andwants to talk about ‘Hey, Maikel Franco — how’s he swinging the bat right now?’” Ellis said. “I can actually have an answer for him in that situation, so he’s already thinking about what he wants to do about this guy tomorrow.
“J.T. is an All-Star-caliber catcher who needs to catch 125-130 games, because the value he brings offensively and defensively to the team. There’s not an ounce of me that’s over here wishing to play more or hoping to playmore. But you stay ready.”
Loria mum
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria visited the team in Philadelphia but was not interested in updating reporters on the ongoing team sale process.
“Read my lips,” Loria said before closing his lips tight. Loria was firm in his silence. “If I had anything, I’d give it to you,” Loria said. “I don’t have anything to give you.”
Felo ailing
Rafael “Felo” Ramirez, the Miami Marlins’ beloved Spanish-radio broadcaster, was hospitalized Thursday after falling while getting off the team bus Wednesday night.
Ramirez, 93, was in stable condition, a team spokesman said. He suffered several lacerations and was not scheduled to return to Miami with the Marlins after their series finale with the Phillies on Thursday afternoon.
Marlins add Gunkel
The Marlins claimed righthander Joe Gunkel off waivers from the Dodgers and assigned him to Double-A Jacksonville, where he will be in the rotation. Gunkel, 25 years old and born in Boynton Beach, was an 18th-round draft pick by the Red Sox in 2013 and also spent time in the Orioles organization. He has not pitched in the major leagues.
Miami’s 40-man roster is now full.
Makeup date
The Marlins and Phillies will play a single-admission doubleheader Aug. 22 in Philadelphia to make up for their rainout Tuesday. The first game will begin at 4:05 p.m.