Marlins’ Cooper on what’s different, why it was needed
The Dolphins last year had success moving from an authority figure to an easygoing coach who enjoyed joking around with his players and was comfortable — at times — being their friend more than their boss.
The Marlins seemingly are taking a similar approach.
Now let’s be clear: Former Marlins manager Don Mattingly wasn’t nearly as tough on his players as former Dolphins coach Brian Flores could be. Football coaches generally yell and admonish more than baseball managers do.
But when Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper talks about new manager Skip Schumaker, it’s reminiscent of what Dolphins players said in the months after Mike McDaniel replaced Flores.
“Skip always told me he’s not far removed from playing,” Cooper said. “He wants the player and manager to have the feel together that maybe Donnie and the older-school-style manager didn’t have in today’s game.
“Skip, hopefully with this new style, this new mantra of accessibility and availability at all times, [it helps]. I talked to him five or six times just in the offseason just to catch up. To have someone like that definitely changes the vibe here.
“He wants us to be as close with him as possible. And I haven’t really seen that. I’m going into my seventh season. I haven’t seen a manager that’s that willing to be there for you 100 percent of the time and in a way that it’s almost like he’s a teammate with you, instead of ‘he’s the manager, you’re the player.’ That will create a vibe that hopefully everyone is excited to play for.”
Cooper makes clear that Donnie “is a great manager” and he’s not blaming him for the pervasive losing here.
But Cooper also notes that “we didn’t win here. We haven’t won in a lot of time here. … And something needed to change.”
The other change — one needed far more, in our view, than anything related to managers — was the decision to add better contact hitters, with Luis Arraez and Jean Segura.
Cooper spoke candidly about that, too.
“This park is big and a lot of hitters don’t realize that until they come here and play 81 games,” Cooper said. “Adding Arraez and Segura is a different feel to this lineup, a dynamic that maybe we have missed. We tried to sign all these power hitters. But solo homers are not going to do anything for you. You need guys on base. The best hitting teams are teams that have six or seven guys that are over .330 in on base [average]. That’s how winning teams win.”
The Marlins last year had one with an on-base over .330 — Cooper, at .337.
“Yeah, we would love to have the superstar that hits 45 to 50 homers a year, but the way we’re structured now, we have to be better with on base percentage,” Cooper said.
Another change is a more hands-on approach from new hitting coach Brant Brown. That certainly can’t hurt after the Marlins ranked in the bottom quarter of baseball in most offensive categories.
“Brownie is great, as eager a hitting coach, as ready to go as I’ve seen in my time here,” Cooper said.
“He texted me every other day” during the offseason, sent hitting video and asked Cooper “if I have any questions, if I want to break down new stuff.
“It’s a very hands-on approach that we haven’t had. We haven’t had that in the past few years where we’re breaking down video after almost every swing and in batting practice, where we were breaking down swings; I mean, I’ve not done that in a long time.
“The willingness to change hitters, to help hitters is at a level that I haven’t seen here before. It’s something fresh and new and exciting to be a part of.”
Does Schumaker’s McDaniellike relationship with players translate to winning? That’s unclear. But the change in offensive approach should.
CHATTER
McDaniel made clear last week that he must improve in clock management: “There are clearly some situations I’d like to have back. There were some situations that I was OK with.”
Miami led the league in presnap penalties, which McDaniel noted. That, and overall mental mistakes, were among the reasons the Dolphins dumped offensive line coach Matt Applebaum, who was replaced by
Butch Barry. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith essentially coached the team’s offensive line in the second half of the season, according to a player; McDaniel said he had too much on his own plate as a result.
McDaniel said he expects a “big jump” from linebacker
Channing Tindall in Year 2. Tindall, who played just nine defensive snaps as a rookie, and
Jerome Baker are the only inside linebackers under contract next season . ... General
AAmanager Chris Grier last week included Liam Eichenberg
among Miami’s core offensive linemen, another hint that Miami isn’t going to spend big money on a new left guard.
A UM official, on why Jason Taylor was the logical choice to move to the Canes coaching staff: “He’s a good teacher and a really good coach. The kids love him; he gets along with them. He’s a Hall of Famer who doesn’t act like one” — in terms of not acting like he’s more important than others. And Taylor doesn’t mind the recruiting grind that accompanies the job.
Why hasn’t the Heat pursued a point guard in the buyout market? Besides prioritizing size and believing Kyle Lowry will return, they had doubts about Russell Westbrook after soliciting input from those who have worked with him. One person that the Heat trusts advised peers not to sign him. The Clippers began 0-4 after Westbrook joined their starting lineup, though he has put up numbers.
Though the Heat had some interest in Kyrie Irving (as Dan Le Batard noted), it wasn’t unanimous internally and the decision was made not to offer considerable assets. At least one person inside the Heat’s hierarchy was against a pursuit because of Irving’s baggage and mercurial behavior. Another had more interest, but it never reached the point of an aggressive pursuit of Irving before Brooklyn dealt him to Dallas.
Bucks-bound Goran Dragic
would have welcomed a return to the Heat, and the Heat has fondness for him, but Miami didn’t want to cut a player to open a roster spot.
AABarry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz ultimately ended with him needing to have surgery to repair a capsular tear in his right shoulder and clean out the backside of the joint.
And then last season, Sanchez didn’t even pitch during spring training because of recurring shoulder discomfort.
He rehabbed throughout the season and got to the point where he was facing live hitters only to be sidelined again. He had surgery in October for right shoulder arthroscopic bursectomy.
Two years gone. Optimism about what’s next turned into wondering if what’s next would even come.
“It was just setback after setback and just trying to come back and trying to maintain that positive energy,” Sanchez said.
“It was very difficult, but thank goodness we’re where we are right now and looking forward.”
There’s a long road ahead still, but Sanchez is remaining upbeat that a return will come sooner than later.
“We’re going at a great pace,” Sanchez said, “but hopefully we can make this happen at some point soon.”
Jordan McPherson: 305-376-2129, @J_McPherson1126