Blue Jays rough up rookie as Marlins expand roster with eye on future
MIAMI — It could be a long final month for the Marlins.
They sent out right-hander Jeff Brigham to face the Toronto Blue Jays in his big league debut Sunday. It didn’t go well. Brigham struggled to get through three innings before coming out in a 6-1 loss.
But this is September, when teams are permitted to expand their rosters and when those hopelessly out of it — like the Marlins — can start offering playing time to prospects being considered for the future.
Brigham fits that profile. He has pitched well in the minors. He could be a rotation piece down the road. Or not.
But Sunday’s otherwise mean- ingless contest between two non-contenders gave the Marlins a chance to experiment and evaluate in a sort of glorified version of spring training. It was why Chad Wallach was behind the plate and Bryan Holaday wasn’t. It was why Rule 5 pitcher Brett Graves took over for Brigham and why another September call-up, Nick Wittgren, was next to the mound.
Manager Don Mattingly said before the game to expect more of the same the rest of the way, with one notable exception.
When the Marlins face contending teams, he will put out his best lineup and best pitchers.
The only problem with that is Philadelphia is the only contender left on the schedule. Of the 25 games left in the season, six are
Marlins
against the Phillies, who are chasing the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. The Phillies open a threegame set today in Miami.
“I always felt like you owe it to the rest of the league — the Braves, whoever else is in the playoff hunt — to play your best club,” Mattingly said.
That’s one reason Mattingly had Brigham start Sunday against the Blue Jays, who are out of the race, while pushing Jose Urena — “arguably our best guy” — back one day to face the Phillies.
The Marlins are expected to call up three or four more players after the minorleague season ends today, which will create a crowded clubhouse, dugout and bullpen. The known call-ups will include pitchers Elieser Hernandez and Jarlin Garcia.
Mattingly sees the expanded roster in September as providing a valuable learning experience for players getting their first taste of the majors.
“I didn’t play much, but I learned a lot,” Mattingly said. “I was from a small (Indiana) town, pulled into New York City scared to death of everything but the field. How do I get around? Where do I stay? It’s such a shock and I think it’s really important to give them a taste. It gives you experience just knowing what the routine is.”
Mattingly didn’t exactly set the Bronx on fire — he had only two singles that year.
Perhaps Brigham can take some solace in that. He threw 82 pitches in three innings, walked four, hit a batter and received two mound visits from pitching coach Juan Nieves. Mattingly spoke after the game with Michael Hill, president of baseball operations, who told him Brigham didn’t look at all like the pitcher who had success in the minors this season.
“It’s not what he had seen in the minor leagues,” Mattingly said. “And talking with Chad, he had never seen him all over the place like that. Hopefully the next one and the ones after are more like himself.”