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Jose Fernandez is MarlinsNation Pick for Rookie With Biggest Potential Contribution for 2013

April 26, 2013 in Regular Season

Well, the results of our poll are in. 39% of you voted for Jose Fernandez to be the young player on the Marlins who will have the biggest impact on the season.

Adeiny Hechavarria came in 2nd with 22% of the votes. Right now Hech is on the DL but is looking like he will make his return on schedule when May 2 rolls around.

Some of you who have a bit more of a prophetic view picked Christian Yelich with 17% of the votes. He is still currently with AA Jacksonville after serving the first few weeks on the DL himself.

Kyle Skipworth, Steve Cishek, both nabbed 6% of the votes while Nathan Eovaldi has only 4% of the votes. Eovaldi was slated to be the #2 starter as Spring Training wound down, but he is currently on the 60 day DL with inflammation in his right shoulder and is not eligible to return until May 30th.

Right now, it looks like your prognostication is spot on.

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Marlins Adding Bullpen Depth Spells Changing Role for Cishek

April 13, 2013 in Bullpen, Regular Season, Roster

Looks like the Steve Cishek experiment may be over fairly soon. Sporting a 15.43 ERA in this three appearances, it seems that the plug is being pulled on Cishek, which may be a smart move considering the Marlins already have a lot of rookies and young players at high-stake positions.

So the Marlins went out and signed David Aardsma to a minor league deal, as he will report to AAA New Orleans to get some work in. The Marlins had the worst bullpen, but that distinction seems to belong to the Washington Nationals – for now. Enlisting a veteran arm, a guy who has recored 38 and 31 saves before, may be a solid move. Getting Cishek back into a setup role may give him back his confidence and routine while also adding more depth to the pen.

Reports that the Marlins were going after Francisco Rodriguez were false but indicative that the Marlins were thinking of bolstering the pen and making a move.

Let’s face it, this Marlins team is not generating offense right now but its pitching seems to be very sustainable. Continuing to improve the pitching side of the equation will give this team hope for the future while it assesses its talents on offense.

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Marlins and Jose Valverde Reaching Deal Described As Utterly False

February 4, 2013 in Offseason

Jose-ValverdeThere are reports that the Marlins are close to signing reliever Jose Valverde to a one year deal – not so fast.

Clark Spencer reports that this is most likely a Scott Boras trick, trying to drive up his client’s value. Besides, the Marlins and Boras very rarely ever do business (see Ivan Rodriguez post 2003 season).

While there has been contact there hasn’t been any real discussions about signing him quite yet. Not to mention, internally the Marlins’ brass is high on Steve Cishek’s continued development at the backend of the bullpen. He is currently slated to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Getting Valverde would provide insurance, but the price may not be anywhere in the Marlins’ neighborhood at this point.

Valverde is also coming off a down year in 2012. His K’s per 9 IP went down to 6.3 and although he had 3.78 ERA with 35 saves, he did appear in 67 games last season.

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Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton, Steve Cishek on Team USA provisional World Baseball Classic roster – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

January 17, 2013 in Offseason

A couple of Marlins will be adding red, white and blue uniforms to their closets.

As expected, outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was one of 27 players on Team USAs provisional roster for next months World Baseball Classic. In addition, right-hander Steve Cishek also is on board to represent his country. By Feb. 20, each federation must submit its final 28-man roster, including a minimum of 13 pitchers. Cishek is one of 14 pitchers on the provisional roster.

Cishek earlier this week received a text message from Tony Clark of the Players Association to gauge his interest. The same night he heard from Team USA manager Joe Torre.”I told him it would be an absolute honor,” Cishek said. “When he called and I saw a Beverly Hills number I kind of had a feeling. I had butterflies, big time. It was pretty cool. … To even be considered was an honor.”

Cishek doesnt plan to alter his offseason workouts to ramp up for the WBC. Hell throw his first bullpen Friday and make his way down from New England to South Florida on Monday. Marlins pitchers and catchers have their first official workout in Jupiter on Feb. 12.

via Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton, Steve Cishek on Team USA provisional World Baseball Classic roster – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.

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Can Steve Cishek Take the Next Step?

January 12, 2013 in Offseason

Steve+Cishek+Chicago+Cubs+v+Miami+Marlins+-2TcJmedt6vlHe’s a bit unusual. He likens himself to Shrek for some reason, despite his slender frame, relying on the way his last name sounds perhaps (his Twitter handle is @srSHREK31). He’s an unabashed Christian. His delivery looks a bit more like Dan Quisenberry than anything prototypical. Yet in Steve Cishek, the Marlins may have found their answer for the end of the bullpen.

In a season in which everything the Marlins did went haywire, the investment they put into Heath Bell was not returned and the Marlins were, yet again, scratching around for an answer. Cishek brought the Fish relief getting 15 saves in 19 opportunities. He also made 68 appearances, logging 63 frames sporting a 2.69 ERA with 68Ks and 29BBs.

Now, over the course of two solid stints with the Marlins, Cishek has maintained a mid-2.00 ERA and has shown an ability to keep hitters off balance (hitting .221) and getting them out. His submarine delivery has been effective and isn’t just a gimmick as he has the tools to mix up his pitches effectively and get the needed K. But can he take on the closer’s role for a full season and be the “man” for the Marlins?

Reports are he is already in Jupiter working out and getting ready for the upcoming season – about 1 month before pitchers and catchers report. He’s not alone as Tom Koehler is also getting to work, hoping to get that 5th starting spot, but it seems that Cishek may have the skills and the mental wiring necessary to seize this opportunity and run with it. He emerges as the favorite to lock down the job, although AJ Ramos may offer some competition as well. Yet in Cishek you find someone that may come to typify the 2013 Marlins – a hardworking young player just trying to make the most of his opportunity. With his “aw shucks” attitude, he may become a likable personality far beyond Miami as well.

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Marlins Make it Four Straight in Nail Biter in San Diego

May 5, 2012 in Regular Season, The Latest

It has literally been by the skin of their teeth that the Marlins are on a 4 game winning streak and sometimes, that’s the way the game works. Previously they couldn’t find a win, let alone a hole to shoot a ball through for a hit. Their 6 game losing streak was snapped with some heroics back in Miami and now it seems they are unstoppable away from the new digs and the Longball Lagoon.

With a 5-0 lead and Josh Johnson on the mound, it was looking like an easier win for the Fish as they stretched out their legs on this road trip while hoping to give the bullpen a rest. At the end of this 12 inning marathon, the Marlins had tossed away two leads and used up 6 relievers to get their fourth straight. Truly a Pyrrhic victory.

What emerges are some concerns – is Josh Johnson truly healthy? His command is very much off as he left pitches over the plate and watched his 5-0 lead evaporate in just 2.2 innings when he was pulled from the game.

“You’re up, 5-0, and JJ is on the mound, you feel good about yourself,” Guillen said. “I just wonder if he’s not feeling good. He says he feels good, but command is not there. A lot of bad pitches. With two strikes, keeping the ball up. Right now, what’s killing him is he doesn’t have any command of his pitches.”

Then there is Heath Bell. His season seems to be very bumpy and there are questions circulating about whether or not he will keep the closer role through the weekend, let alone for the rest of the season. His problems also can be attributed to location as he has walked 10 batters already versus only 6 strikeouts. Hitters are hitting .308 from the left side and over .400 from the right side.

But it was Omar Infante who, again, comes up with a big hit to give the Marlins back the lead in the 12th inning which was the eventual game winner. Steve Cishek, also, has emerged as a possible candidate to replace Bell if his struggles continue. Getting the 9-8 win, the Marlins were able to get their 4th straight win, but more questions loom on the horizon about two of their big arms.

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