Tag: miami marlins

Marlins’ Offensive Explosion on the 4th of July

By Miguel Mike Medina

The Miami Marlins offense was in total control against the St Louis Cardinals on the Fourth of July. Jesus Sanchez and Garrett Cooper led Marlins offense and the team finished the game with 15 runs. The Marlins scored three runs in the first inning, three runs in the fourth, and four runs in the seventh and eighth inning. Those are the innings they did the most damage.

Jesus Sanchez got the offense started when he hit one out of the ballpark in the first inning. Sanchez went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs. First baseman Garrett Cooper went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Marlins starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo had a good outing. He finished the game with eight strikeouts and zero earned runs through six innings.

Marlins won 15-2. They are playing exceptionally well. The team from South Florida improved to 50-37 in the season. 

Marlins’ Bats Triumps Arizona

By Miguel Mike Medina

Miami Marlins’ offense sets the tone on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Marlins won the game by the final score of 6-2. The Marlins improved to 18-19 in the year. They’re one game under .500 and currently in second place in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves. Marlins trail the Braves by 7 1/2 games. 

Marlins’ best hitter in the lineup Luis Arraez got another hit. He currently has a 12-game hitting streak going on. Since Jorge Soler won the World Series MVP for the Atlanta Braves in 2021, he’s been a critical difference-maker to whatever team he plays for. The dividends are paying off so far during his time with the Miami Marlins. He’s getting his money’s worth. Jorge Soler had a tremendous offensive performance against Arizona. Soler hit two home runs in this game. The first home run, he hit a 468-foot shot to left field. He had five RBIs in this game and has been doing some damage. 

Through 35 games this season, Soler has nine homers. He’s a game-changer. He can win a game by himself and bring you a lot of RBIs.

Jazz Chisholm Jr had a good night against the Diamondbacks. He got on base three times. He got a hit and scored three runs, plus picking up two stolen bases. Jazz needs to stay more discipline at the plate. It doesn’t always go right for him because, at times, he swings at everything and tries to do too much. But I like his approach on Tuesday, and he should remain focused and continue to hit line drives. 

What can we say about Jesus Sanchez? He’s been on a mission. The left fielder had two doubles in this game. He had 14 doubles last season through 98 games. In the previous 15 games, he’s hitting .359 with 14 hits, 7 RBIs, and two homers. He also has eight doubles in the year so far. Sanchez is a unique talent, and if he can continue to produce this well, then the Marlins can go far as a team this year. 

Marlins will play at 3:40 pm at Chase Field. Edward Cabrera will take the mound for the Marlins. Merrill Kelly will pitch for the Diamondbacks. 

Marlins Are Playing Good Baseball

By Miguel Mike Medina

The Miami Marlins are playing good baseball in these last four games. After going on a five-game losing streak, the ballclub turned things around and now is on a four-game winning streak. Marlins recently swept the Chicago Cubs. The Marlins have a 16-13 record and are second in the NL East division behind the Atlanta Braves. They are 10-0 in one-run games this season. How is this possible? What are they doing?

Luis Arraez is one of the biggest reasons for their solid start. The 26-year-old Venezuelan second baseman is having a historic season in his first season with the Marlins. If you thought last season was a fluke with the Minnesota Twins, you thought wrong. He leads the league in batting average and on-base percentage and tied for the league lead in hits. Arraez is hitting .438 with one home run, 12 RBIs, and 11 runs and is currently on a 4-game hitting streak.

First baseman Garrett Cooper is having a solid season so far for the Marlins. He’s batting .272 with three home runs and 13 RBIs. Also, first baseman Yuli Gurriel has been a terrific addition to Miami. The veteran and former world champion Cuban right-handed hitter hasn’t lost a step. He’s hitting .306 with two home runs and 5 RBIs with six runs. In his last three games, he’s combined for five hits. 

Jorge Soler leads the Marlins with five home runs while slugging .463. 

All of these players have been significant contributors to the Marlins. Their task doesn’t get easier as they will start a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves tonight. Bryce Elder will be going up against the Marlins ace and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara.

Derek Jeter Steps Down as CEO

Derek Jeter steps down as CEO of the Miami Marlins on Monday. The move came as a surprise because Jeter had a plan to build the franchise from the farm system.

I’m curious about what made Jeter want to step down as the CEO. I feel that he had more to accomplish as part-owner of the Marlins. The Marlins fans who were critical of him for trading big pieces such as Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, J.T. Realmuto, and Dee Strange-Gordon) might be giving him the side-eye with this news. Jeter is a winner on and off the field, and this move caught me by surprise. It made me feel a little disappointed because I wanted to see more from him.

Jeter and Sherman deserve some credit for making progress for this Marlins franchise. Sandy Alcantara, acquired in the Ozuna trade, has evolved into the staff’s ace and was given a five-year, $56 million contract extension this offseason.

The Marlins went 218-327 since 2018, the first season after the Jeter/Sherman ownership group took over in September 2017. They made the playoffs once, advancing to the National League Division Series during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season that featured 16 teams instead of the usual twelve. Although they did make the playoffs in 2020, I think they would’ve missed the postseason if it were a regular 162-game season.

General manager Kim Ng will oversee the baseball operations as she heads into her second season with the Marlins organization. Chief operating officer Caroline O’Connor will oversee business operations.

In a statement, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred thanked Jeter for “his service to the Marlins, the communities of Miami, and the game. “Derek is a winner on and off the field,” Manfred said. “In addition to his valuable contributions as a front office executive, Derek was a highly respected voice on our Diversity and Competition Committees. He helped build a talented front office with the Marlins, including moving the game forward by hiring women in top roles in the Club’s baseball operations and executive leadership, and a foundation that has positioned the Marlins for long-term success. Derek is a pillar of our game, and we look forward to his future contributions to Baseball.