Feb 28, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sam Dyson (36) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Marlins 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Down on the Farm Report for the Miami Marlins: May 18th

Triple-A:

New Orleans Zephyrs (18-22) @ Fresno Grizzlies (24-19)

Loss 6-3

Ed Lucas, SS: 2-for-5, R, 2 SO

Jake Smolinski, LF: 1-for-4, R

Brian Flynn, SP: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 2 HR

Jonathan Albaladejo, RP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO

After enjoying a ton of success in Double-A with the Suns, Flynn is still trying to find his groove in New Orleans. While Flynn has not been a flop in AAA, he has been nowhere near as dominating in AA ball. He owns a 3.99 ERA and a 3.81 FIP and has struck 30 in 29 2/3 innings, but he has also allowed 27 hits.

Ed Lucas continues to be one of the top hitters in the PCL with a slash line of .313/.365/.486. Lucas, about to turn 31 in two days, is a nice organizational player for the Fish.

Double-A:

Jacksonville Suns (24-15) @ Mississippi Braves (25-17)

Win 3-1

Christian Yelich, LF: 1-for-4, 3B (5), 2 SO

Jake Marisnick, CF: 2-for-4, HR (3), R, 2 RBI

Sam Dyson, SP: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 SO

Michael Brady, RP: 1.0 IP, 1 SO, SV (7)

Christian Yelich proved to the Marlins why he is ready, but also not ready for a call to the big leagues. Yelich notched his 2oth extra base hit 103 at bats, but has also continued to strike out too much. Yelich owns a 24.6% strikeout rate as of right now. That is something the Marlins would like to see improved before he gets called up. He is also just 7-for-33 (.212 BA) against lefties this season.

Jake Marisnick hit his third home run of the spring and brings his triple slash line to .242/.290/.419. He will need to continue to heat up to earn a promotion this season. Michael Brady earned his seventh save of the season and has pitched well in 2013 with a 2.82 ERA.

High Class A:

Jupiter Hammerheads (21-19) vs. Palm Beach Cardinals (17-23)

Win 5-2

Brent Keys, LF: 2-for-5, R, RBI

Alex Burg, 1B: 1-for-4, HR (1), R, 3 RBI

Jose Urena, SP: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

Jordan Conley, RP: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, SV (3)

All Keys does is hit, it seems. Keys picked up two more hits in this game brought his average up to .367 on the season. If Keys can continue to his well with the Hammerheads, it won’t be soon before he joins the Suns team in Double-A.

Jose Urena had a nice bounce back start from allowing 6 runs in just four innings of work. He lowered his ERA back down to 4.53, but his FIP looks a lot better at 3.73.

Low Class A:

Greensboro Grasshoppers (17-24) vs. Lakewood BlueClaws (17-24)

Win 8-5

Cameron Flynn, LF: 3-for-4, 2 3B (2), 2 RBI, SO

Yordy Cabrera, 3B: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B (7), RBI, SO

Daniel Oliver, SP: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 SO

Blake Logan, RP: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO, SV (9)

The Grasshoppers offense broke out, as Flynn had himself a day, hitting two triples and driving in two runs. Third base prospect Yordy Cabrera collected two hits in the game, including his seventh double of the season to bring his slash line to .241/.313/.386 with 12 extra base hits in 145 at bats. Cabrera has improved his plate discipline a bit in 2013, but still has a lot of work to do to justify the Oakland Athletics picking him in the second round in 2010.

Feb 22, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins player Jake Marisnick (77) poses for a picture during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Triple-A:

New Orleans Zephyrs (18-21) @ Fresno Grizzlies (23-19)

Loss 6-1

Box Score

Bryan Petersen, RF: 1-for-3, RBI, BB

Kyle Skipworth, C: 1-for-4, 2 SO

Doug Mathis, SP: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO

Dan Jennings, RP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB

Skipworth has struggled in 2013 with his batting and one has to wonder if the Marlins calling him up to the majors multiple times and not providing any playing time has had any lingering effect on him. Skip owns a .167/.250/.167 slash line with 6 strikeouts in 18 at bats.

Double-A:

Jacksonville Suns (23-15) @ Mississippi Braves (25-16)

Win 2-1

Box Score

Jake Marisnick, RF: 0-for-4, 3 SO

Noah Perio, 2B: 1-for-3, 2 RBI

Jay Jackson, SP: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO

Edgar Olmos, RP: 0.1 IP, SV (1)

Jake Marisnick had a rough game at the plate, going hitless and striking out three times. His line on the season now sits at .224/.277/.362. Marisnick is currently in midst of a spell where he is 3 for his last 20. He is still recovering from his broken hand he sustained in spring training and should improve as the season carries on.

Jay Jackson continues to have a strong season, although he is 26-years old and a little old for the level. Jackson owns a 2.45 ERA in 25 2/3 innings with 23 strikeouts and just 6 walks.

High Class A:

Jupiter Hammerheads (21-19) vs. Palm Beach Cardinals (17-23)

Win 2-1

Box Score

Brent Keys, LF: 2-for-4, BB, R

Isaac Galloway, CF: 0-for-4, 3 SO

Jared Rogers, SP: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Jake Esch, RP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 SO

Brent Keys continues hitting in 2013, with two more hits on Friday night, Keys brought his season slash line to .364/.444/.436.  Keys also picked up his fourth stolen base of the season. Keys is on pace to surpass his impressive 2012 numbers and become a bigger part of the Marlins future as a prospect.

Low Class A:

Greensboro Grasshoppers (16-24) vs. Lakewood BlueClaws (17-23)

Loss 6-3

Box Score

Anthony Gomez, SS: 3-for-5, RBI

Matt Juengel, DH: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB

Austin Brice, SP: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

Helpi Reyes, RP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB

Shortstop Anthony Gomez is off to a hot start in 2013, owning a .291/.331/.369 slash line. In his previous 10 games, Gomez has hit .417/.436/.528 slash line with one of the two home runs he has hit this season. Gomez was the Marlins sixth round pick in 2012 out of Vanderbilt.

March 28, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Justin Nicolino (34) delivers to the St. Louis Cardinals during the spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins have one of the top farm systems in all of baseball and it is a shame that we at Marlin Maniac have not been covering it more extensively. For this reason, I have decided to start a daily minor league report for MM viewers to update them on how the Marlins prospects fare on a game-to-game basis. This will be in the same format as the Miami Marlins Daily Minor League Report on Fishstripes.

Triple-A:

New Orleans Zephyrs (18-19) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (24-16)

Loss 4-2

Box Score

Gorkys Hernandez, CF: 2-for-3, BB, CS

Jordan Brown, DH: 2-for-4, 2B, R

Duane Below, SP: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

David Aardsma, RP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Duane Below delivered a strong start for New Orleans in a close loss. He was locked in a pitchers duel with Blake Beavan. Bevean got the better of Below, as he pitched one more inning and his team picked up more run support for him in a victory. Below has pitched well enough thus far to earn a potential call-up if a spot open in either the Marlins rotation or bullpen.

Gorkys was in competition for starting center fielder for the Marlins before Justin Ruggiano ran away with it. He has not hit too well in AAA in 2013, as his slash line sits at .245/.307/.295. The Marlins decision to not call up Hernandez when Giancarlo Stanton went down is telling about his future with the organization.

Double-A:

Jacksonville Suns (20-15) @ Mobile Bay Bears (19-19)

Loss 4-3

Box Score

Jake Marisnick, LF: 2-f0r-4, HR (2), RBI, R

Kyle Jensen, RF: 2-for-4, 2B, R, SO

Matt Neil, SP: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

Edgar Olmos: 1.2 IP, BS, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Jake Marisnick hit his second home run of the season in the top of the eight inning to give the Suns a 3-2 lead, but Edgar Olmos could not hold that lead, as he allowed a run in the bottom of the eight inning to allow the Bears to tie it at 3 a piece. Olmos also gave up the walk-off hit for the Bears victory in the ninth inning with two outs.

Marisnick continues to find his hitting stroke as he makes his way back from his broken hand sustained during spring training.  Yelich went hitless, but was still able to draw a walk in four plate appearances

High Class A:

Jupiter Hammerheads (18-19) @ Tampa Yankees (15-21)

Win 7-2

Box Score

Josh Adams, 3B: 3-for-4, 2B, 3 R, HR (1), 4 RBI

Austin Barnes, DH: 0-for-2, 1 RBI, 3 BB

Justin Nicolino, SP: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB,  5 K

Jordan Conley, RP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Adams was the Marlins 13th round pick in the 2011 MLB draft out of the University of Florida. While Adams has never been an impressive prospect, he was one of my favorite Gators to watch and has a chance to be a utility player in the future. Adams had a huge game as he drove in four runs and collected two extra base hits.

Nicolino enjoyed his best start as a Marlins prospect, as he pitched six shutout innings and was able to strike out a season high five hitters. Nicolino still has some work to do, as he has now just collected 20 strikeouts in 40 innings of work in 2013.

Low Class A:

Greensboro Grasshoppers (16-21) vs. Hagerstown Suns (21-14)

Win 8-7

Box Score

Viosergy Rosa, 1B: 3-for-5, HR (9), 2 RBI, 2 R

Matt Juengel, 3B: 1-for-3, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SO

Mason Hope, SP: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Blake Logan, RP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, SV (8)

Rosa is an interesting prospect, as he has flashed some good power in the early parts of his career, but does not still seem to be an impact prospect at this point. I will have more on Rosa and his prospect standing later on in the week.

Hope is one of my favorite prospects in the Marlins system, but he has had a tough time putting things together in 2013. After last night’s start, Hope’s ERA climbs to 5.63. Part of the issue for Hope in 2013 has been his walk rate of over 5 per nine innings.

Jeffery Loria’s lies and deception from last offseason still has lingering effect on the Marlins and the Blue Jays, as well as the respective fanbases. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

On Marlin Maniac, it is our goal to give you not only the latest updates on everything Miami Marlins related, but also top notch analysis and opinions on the Marlins roster and play. Although there are plenty of great Marlin blogs out there, we want to make MM your one-stop blog for all your Marlins information.

In order to do this, we have come up with a new idea that involves all the writers that will hopefully build up some debate in the comment section. We are going to do a bi-weekly roundtable discussion segment, where we discuss the top Marlins-related topics. We will look at between three and five questions each time and may try to find more ways to incorporate the viewers in this as we go on as well.

Here is a look at the burning questions surrounding the Marlins we discussed this past week:

Ehsan: No. I have said the trade was not a bad baseball one from the onset. The problem with the trade was the timing. Loria broke his promise to field a competitive team and instead went back to pocketing the revenue sharing. Loria may feel smart when he looks at how the Jays are playing, but no one else in South Florida, or baseball for that matter, are too happy with his decision.

Geoff: I don’t care if we traded Mendoza for Ruth, DiMaggio, and Rose.The fan base in Miami is fragile, and the optics of what he did this off season have done what may prove to be irreparable harm to the future of the franchise. Now, it may take ten years of teams in the thick of a pennant race to rebuild the fans loyalty to the point where game tickets are hard to come by.

James: No, but I am not sure the fact that our sloppy seconds haven’t helped Toronto much makes him feel like he made the right decision.

Justen: Maybe to some people. He’s not liked very well by a lot of Marlins fan. The way he handled everything with the franchise over the past year/year and a half has been atrocious. Doesn’t justify anything for me.

Will:  Still hate him. While I was never high on Buehrle, even JJ has lost it so it is nice to know this trade is evened out. Really excited about Jake Marisnick!

Placido: No, of course not. The real tragedy of the trade has nothing to do with the particular players that were traded away or received, but instead with the realization that the millions saved would not be reinvested into the roster.  If Loria had made the trade then turned around and signed Stanton to a long term deal and signed 1 or 2 of semi-significant free agents all would be fine because it would have been viewed as a baseball move made to improve the team’s results on the field (of course, what free agent would ever sign with Loria after the trade?).

Alex: No. The problem with the November trade wasn’t the baseball aspects. It was that Loria showed he really didn’t give a darn about building a likable franchise for the fans.

Andy: I don’t waste my enregy talking about Mr. Loria anymore

David: It’s not the trade that is so horrific, it’s the fact that the money was not reinvested in the team in the form of a Stanton extension or a free agent signing. It absolutely is not justified, regardless of how the players play, because it’s another example of Loria doing something for purely monetary reasons.

Daniel: The Marlins fire sale or “market adjustment” as baseball people too cowardly to admit what they did involved moving three very big name players to the Toronto Blue Jays in return for a series of top prospects. The “big three” were pitchers Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle and Shortstop Jose Reyes. The Marlins received in return Jake Marisnick, Adeiny Hechavarria, Brad Mathis and Justin Nicolino. The only player that came to Miami to have played this season in the majors is Hechavarria. Marisnick and the others are good prospects but are not close to joining the big club. Henderson Alvarez is the player who will most likely join the Marlins rotation once he returns from injury.

The question we were asked to answer is, “The blockbuster deal from November looks to be going the Marlins favor in the early going, does this justify Loria’s actions to you?” The simplest answer is no, but there is one issue that can’t be ignored which complicates the issue, dependability. Johnson, Reyes and Buehrle have historically been All-Star type players, often at MVP and Cy Young levels. But for the crafty lefty and the power right-hander father time has been following them for a long time. It might have caught up.

Feb 23, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich (76) makes a running catch on a bases loaded hit by St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Oscar Taveras (not pictured) at Roger Dean Stadium. The Marlins defeated the Cardinals 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

2. With the Marlins already calling up top prospects Jose Fernandez and Marcell Ozuna, how soon will it be before Christian Yelich gets the call to the majors?

Ehsan: Early-to-mid-June was my prediction in the preseason and I still feel good about that today. Yelich has started to hit really well with the Jacksonville Suns and with the continued struggles and injuries filling the Marlins roster, he is their best option to roll out there for the rest of the season.

Geoff: His trip to the DL has set his clock back to July, I’m afraid.  He still needs his AA at-bats to season him for the bigs.  I’d be happiest seeing him sometime after the midsummer classic.

James: I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t see him on the big league club before the All-Star game.

Justen: Soon. I think it’s a good idea to let the top prospects learn the game more in the MLB and just leave it up to the coaching and the veterans on the squad.

Will: I think Yelich will be up definitely sometime this year, September at the latest. With Ozuna and Jose both looking the part, there is a lot of promise for the future in Miami.

Placido: Since Yelich is not on the 40 man roster, I would think it takes a significant injury to Pierre or Ruggiano to force the move.  My guess is that barring that they wait until August, but with this team it is a mistake to try to apply logic so he will probably be up by June.

Alex: Yelich may have to wait a bit before being called up. I have a feeling that when he does get called up, they want it to be permanent. Unless, of course, ANOTHER Marlins gets injured.

Andy: Well I’ve been wrong with Jose and Marcell so let’s try with Christian. I like Christian and I hope he comes up soon we need his bat power. With that the Fish either have to send down Chris Coghlan or wait for him or Juan Pierre to be put on the DL. I don’t want either to happen so I will go with when baseball opens to a 40 man roster he will be called up.

David: I’m not sure Yelich sees big league time until August, if then. First, Yelich just returned from an injury, so he has some catching up to do. Additionally, when Logan Morrison and Giancarlo Stanton come back, the Marlins won’t have many places to play Yelich. If Ozuna keeps hitting (which, granted, is a big if), he’d presumably go to left, with Ruggiano in center and Stanton and right. Ruggiano isn’t having the season he had last year, but remains a source of power for the Marlins. I’m not sure the Marlins would call up Yelich without regular playing time, and I’m not sure he’d get it on this roster. If there’s an injury or a trade, however, it’s entirely possible we see him sooner.

Daniel: Christian Yelich will get called up to majors if Juan Pierre makes it obvious that he can’t be productive as an everyday major league player. So far in 2013 Pierre has struck out more often and walked less often than his career average. Has a .237/.287/.272 triple slash line a .254 wOBA as well as  a wRC+ of 55.  The JP of 2013 will never be the JP of 2003 but those numbers are unacceptable. If he is to ever get hurt or another player to be replaced Yelich who has been swinging a hot bat in Jacksonville has a good chance to get called up. I’d say that the middle of June, when Giancarlo and LoMo are scheduled to come off the DL is the time when Yelich is most likely to be called up.

Ehsan: Jeffery Loria. He has continued to meddle in day-to-day affairs an owner has no business being in. Pretty sure the idea to promote prospect Marcell Ozuna before he was ready was Loria’s as well. His decision to start flip-flop Fernandez and Nolasco in a double-header has raised even more issues.

Geoff: Hitting.  Specifically, consistent advancement of baserunners via line-drive base and extra-base hits.  Our starting pitchers desperately need run support, and we’re leaving too many runners stranded, especially the runners in scoring position. Our guys need to be hitting gapper line drives behind the runners, and we’re just not doing it enough.

James: Injuries to the young guys. Fernandez had Tommy John surgery yet, seems like that should be a mandatory requirement for all pitchers.

Justen: Simple; injuries.

Will: Biggest concerns are the facts, we are not that good, and its tough to watch at times. Still, having Jose, Ozuna, and at times Hech, it is fun to watch the young guys play ball.

Placido: The injuries to young players.  Henderson Alvarez, Nate Eovaldi and Giancarlo Stanton are all players the Marlins need significant contributions from in the next few years if they are to become a contending team.  Seeing them injured already so early into their careers does not inspire confidence that they will be able to grow into the star quality players the Marlins need them to be in the next few seasons.

Alex: Fernandez and Ozuna. Don’t want them getting injured or discouraged in the majors when their best years are some time ahead of them.

Andy: Some fan favorites are not performing well, and the back lash from the fans when those players get released, sent down  or traded. This is going to be a big problem Pierre and Coghlan are not doing so well this season but fans love them so the fans will feel hurt again if anything happens to them and that is going to be a big problem for a fan base that already feels no love.

David: My biggest concern is the health of the ballclub. Already this season we had two starting pitchers injured out of nowhere with mysterious injuries that, thus far, are looking to keep each of them out at least 60 days. We’ve had Hechavarria on the 15-day DL. Solano is injured. Stanton and Mahoney were both injured, and then each were reinjured within days of coming back into action. Kotchman is hurt. Mathis has been hurt. The team is thin (evidenced by Kyle Skipworth being the only real 40-man option to recall when Austin Kearns went on the bereavement list) and we can’t afford many more injuries.

Daniel: The bench.

As you can tell, Marlins fans still have some very strong feelings against owner Jeffery Loria. He still has his work cutout for him to regain the trust from the fanbase, if that is even possible.

Apr 16, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (3) connects for a three run home run in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Starting in the spring, and continuing through today, the Marlins have lost some key pieces of what was already being called one of the least competitive tams in the 2013 MLB field. Long lines at the team sick bay are merely rubbing salt in the fan’s wounds.

Today, the Marlins announced that starting shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, one of only a couple of Marlins to have hit a home run this year, would be making a trip to the 15-day DL to nurse an elbow contusion back to health. The trip is dated April 17^th, for those fans looking for when we can expect the elite defensive skills of Hech back to the lineup. Outfielder  Nick Green’s contract was selected to replace him on the 40-man for the time being.  Nick was one of the last guys booted out of camp, and he had a terrific spring.  Now is his chance to prove himself to Red.

The other player at the medic’s office is Nathan Eovaldi, whose shoulder inflammation seems to be persistent enough that his 15-day DL trip has expired, so he’s been moved to the 60-day.  Right now, he’s tentatively projected to return sometime in June.  Given three rough starts by LeBlanc and a doozy by Sanabia, the former Dodger can’t get healthy soon enough.

There is a silver lining to the cloudy news of the day.  SuperSlugger Giancarlo Stanton took a few hacks in BP yesterday, with no discomfort in the shoulder he bruised during a diving, rolling, highlight reel catch.  The bruise had him scratched for a few days, as he had difficulty raising his arm far enough to even pull on a shirt.

The successful BP means that he is on track to return to the lineup for tonight’s tilt against the Reds in Cincinnati. Let’s hope that the shoulder roll knocked the yips out of his bat at the same time.

Injuries have reached down to the minor leagues this year, and reports are filtering in that top prospect Marcell Ozuna is back in business, and that Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick are not far behind.  The sooner they get healthy, the sooner they complete their apprenticeships.  Their skills, like those of tonight’s starter Jose Fernandez, are needed.