Marlins changing approach to how they build roster
The Marlins are planning to make a philosophical change in the type of hitters they will target this winter.
According to two sources, the Marlins are now inclined to pursue contact hitters who are skilled at getting on base and using the wide outfield gaps at loanDepot park, as opposed to lower-average hitters who have more power. Speed also will be prioritized.
The Marlins lead the National League in stolen bases, but they’re in the bottom six in most key offensive categories, including 25th in batting with runners in scoring position at .231, and are 22-38 in one-run games.
When Derek Jeter and Gary Denbo essentially ran the organization, the Marlins put an emphasis on finding five-tool players with high ceilings and low floors. The plan now is to focus on players who are reliable bat-to-ball hitters, not home run-or-bust sluggers.
Jorge Soler, signed before this season, would qualify as a home run-or-bust player during much of his career. He’s expected to exercise his $15 million player option this winter and has a $9 million player option for 2024.
This philosophical change was triggered by a realization that the team needs to take a different approach — because of the size of their ballpark — and also because of recent 2023 rules changes, including the banning of defensive shifts and the increase in base sizes from 15 to 18 inches, which should make it easier to steal bases.
Steering away from highpower, lower-average hitters also makes sense because balls generally don’t carry well at loanDepot park.
“In a big-league ballpark, there should always be a spot on the field where it’s not a pitcher’s part of the field,” Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper said. “This park doesn’t have one. It’s not a good hitter’s park. [The ball] doesn’t carry as much as you would like to see in your home ballpark.”
Cooper is right, but the metrics also show this, entering this past week’s final road trip: The Marlins hit equally as poorly on the road (3.6 runs, 69 homers) as they did at home (3.6 runs, 67 homers). Their home batting average is poor (.232), but their road average is worse (.226).
The Marlins who hit much better on the road: Cooper (.236 at home, .287 on the road),
Avisail Garcia (.208 at home, .250 away), Jacob Stallings (.195 at home, .253 on the road).
“When Derek was here, they said they brought [the walls] in enough,” Cooper said. “Our team has been built on pitching. It plays to their favor. But you’ve got to string together a ton of hits to get some runs here.”
Departing Marlins manager
Don Mattingly said he would leave the park the way it is and create a roster suited to play here, which the Marlins intend to do.
But he admits that the ballpark has worked against some of the team’s young hitters. “Guys that hit balls good and it doesn’t go out, it changes the way they do things,” Mattingly said. “It changes guys here.”
Does it impact the confidence of young hitters? “Absolutely, if you’re that guy that doesn’t have a true different kind of pop,” Mattingly said. “We brought it in twice since I’ve been here. And it’s still kind of the same.”
But only two of the Marlins’ top six starters pitched better at home this season, entering this week; Sandy Alcantara has a 1.64 ERA at home, 3.16 on the road, while Braxton Garrett is 2.48 at home, 4.40 on the road.
The other Marlins starters have been better on the road: Pablo Lopez (4.55 ERA at home, 3.15 on the road), Trevor Rogers (5.94 at home, 5.00 on the road); Jesus Luzardo (4.95 at home, 2.60 on road) and Edward Cabrera (4.57 at home, 1.62 on the road).
With the Marlins moving away from signing feast-orfamine type bats, there’s no incentive to move the walls in closer.
CHATTER
Though he has been dealing A with a groin injury, Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard’s play has been a bit concerning.
He has permitted a 149.3 passer rating in his coverage area; 14 of the 21 passes against him have been caught for 269 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Only Chicago’s Kyler Gordon has permitted more passing yards, per Pro Football Focus.
Howard closed last season with an 88.2 passer rating in his coverage area: 48 completions in 84 targets for 717 yards, with seven touchdowns permitted but also five interceptions
Christian Wilkins, due A $10.7 million next season, is setting himself up for a big contract after that. He’s PFF’s No. 8 defensive tackle after finishing No. 6 last season. He has 13 tackles for loss in his past 21 games (three this season) after producing just seven in his first 30.
None of the four UM players A considered the Canes’ best draft-eligible prospects has produced the desired results through four games.
Tyler Van Dyke’s college quarterback rating is 102nd in the country among 123 FBS qualifiers. Last year, it was 13th.
His passer rating, using the NFL formula, is 80.8, which would typically rank among the worst NFL starters. Last season, it was a sterling 109.8. He’s gone from 25 TD passes and six interceptions last season to four and three so far this season. He now stands at risk of possibly losing his starting job to Jake Garcia.
Zion Nelson, rated by Mel Kiper as the No. 7 offensive tackle in his newest rankings, has played just 61 snaps because of a knee injury and has graded out poorly, particularly in pass protection.
Will Mallory, ninth on Kiper’s tight-end list, has had another uneven start, with 12 catches (and two drops) in 21 targets, for 127 yards and no touchdowns. According to WQAM, UM coaches predicted Mallory would catch more than 50 passes this season. He’s on pace for 36. What’s more, PFF rates him 263 of 391 qualifying FBS tight ends and in the bottom 10 as a run blocker.
Tyrique Stevenson, rated by Kiper as the No. 8 cornerback, has had three bad plays: allowing receptions of 44 and 71 yards against inferior competition and fumbling a punt in the Texas A&M game.
Overall, per Pro Football Focus, he has permitted five of 13 passes in his coverage area to be caught for 132 yards, one touchdown and one interception; that 70 passer rating against is very good. But the three mistakes stand out.
Heat wing Max Strus A seemed bemused by a new NBA rule that has informally been dubbed The Max Strus Rule.
Essentially, the NBA has changed the timing of review announcements for shots such as Strus’ playoff three-pointer that was overruled and changed to a two-pointer several minutes of real time (and three minutes of game time) later.
Announcements now will be made as soon as the NBA’s replay center confirms the call, with blue light coming on. “It’s pretty cool,” Strus said of his name being associated with a new rule. “I wish there was a money benefit.”
Asked what part of his game he prioritized this offseason, Strus cracked: “All summer, I learned how to stay in bounds.”
Barry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz