Miami Marlins RTD: #KilltheDH?; Jose Fernandez Return

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Feb 24, 2015; Ft. Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) during workout drills at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to another Miami Marlins Round Table Discussion. On today’s agenda, we’ll be discussing the recent hot button DH issue, making predictions on the final roster, as well as predicting when Jose Fernandez will return to the mound.

1. There’s a lot of debate currently on the DH issue. Do you think the NL needs to add the DH or should it be dropped all together?

Ehsan Kassim: I have never been a fan of the DH and much prefer the National League, where the pitchers also get to bat. If you play the field, you should bat. If you bat, you should play the field. David Ortiz has made a career out of sitting on the bench on defense and I don’t agree with that. Plus, we would not have moments like this one.

Daniel Zylberkan: I think the game is far more interesting without the DH. The strategy of having to manage your bullpen, pinch hitting and having to think about decisions in advance such as double switches makes the National League game much more interesting. There is also an argument that having the pitcher hit would even speed up the pace of play. There is no question that the NL game is quicker and more interesting and I think baseball could survive a further dip in run scoring if it meant a better and more quick paced game.

Although it is inconceivable to think that the MLBPA would willingly give up 15 high paying DH jobs without a fight. I think the more likely solution would actually be the expansion of the DH to the NL which would extend the careers of even more overweight, injured and defensively limited guys.

Miller Lepree: DH should go one way or the other. I’m a fan of pinch-hitting, and the dynamic it brings to the national league. It also gives managers something to do, and gives us material to make fun of Mike Redmond‘s poor decisions. I say get rid of the DH in both leagues, sorry big papi, but one-dimensional players shouldn’t be able to hide any longer.

David Polakoff: If you asked me this 5 years ago, I would have said the DH needed to be eliminated from both leagues. But with how down offense is around the league, watching the pitcher flounder at the plate is painful. Both leagues should have the DH.

Travis Honeycutt: The DH was a stupid experiment to try to bring artificial action and scoring to the league in a time when baseball was losing popularity. As a result, we now have people like Adam Dunn and David Ortiz looking like superstars while hiding their God awful play in the field. No baseball player should get to forgo the field just because they can’t play defense. It’s a joke, and it sucks. #KillTheDH

Dillon Murrell: If Manfred and MLB are trying to infuse more offense into the game, then the DH should definitely be added to the NL. As far as my opinion on the matter, I think I’d like to see it. The NL and its affiliates are the only places where pitches hit (as far as American baseball goes), so really there isn’t any reason for pitchers to keep hitting.

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Miller Lepree: My sleeper prospect is Derek Dietrich. I’ve always liked his plus power, and I thought his season got ruined by a bad hop and a broken nose during spring training last year. Unless Adeiny Hechavarria gets hurt and Dee Gordon has to move to short, he probably doesn’t have a spot on the team in the near future, but a good season in AAA could give him some value at the deadline.

David Polakoff: Viosergy Rosa. He was the Southern League Championship MVP last year for Jacksonville, is a lefty hitter, and a 1B where the Marlins don’t have a ton of depth.

Travis Honeycutt: Viosergy Rosa. One Michael Morse injury coupled with a bad start to the triple-A season for Justin Bour (the scenario is a stretch, but go with it) and the powerful prospect could finally see his first shot at MLB. If not early in the season definitely during September callups.

Dillon Murrell: There is hardly any depth in the system, especially in the upper minors. Among the prospects in camp, the best bet (talent wise) to make the roster is JT Realmuto. However, he’s not making the team over Mathis (for whatever reason) and the team won’t be able to trade Saltalamacchia, as much as they’d love to. My sleeper would have to be Nicolino for the 5th starter spot, although he probably needs at the very least half a season in the minors before he can be considered ready.

Chris Posada: I’m keeping an eye on Justin Nicolino. The Marlins’ 2014 Organizational Pitcher of the Year was 14-4 with a 2.85 with AA Jacksonville last season and could be one of the first arms to get the call if a Miami starter goes down with an injury. Though his strikeout rate went down in 2014, his stuff is still excellent and pitching in Marlins Park will makeup for batted balls.

Shawn Flores: Andre Rienzo. He pitched a minor league no-hitter, he has Major League experience and he gave up a lot of home runs in Chicago (balls that wouldn’t be home runs in Marlins Park). Viva Brazil!

Mar 9, 2015; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Miami Marlins third baseman Reid Brignac (12) slides safely into home plate as New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki takes the throw during the spring training baseball game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

3. Who will end up winning the last two roster spots for the Marlins bench?

Ehsan Kassim: Andrew McKirahan and Donovan Solano. I think the Marlins only have 4 guys on the bench and team has a long infatuation for Solano. He’ll be on the opening day team and can backup three of the four infield spots pretty well.

Daniel Zylberkan: The Marlins will have a short bench, so this is a very interesting question. There’s probably no way the team can carry three catchers if they have 13 pitchers that probably means that Mathis will be the back up catcher and Ichiro the fourth OF. That probably leaves a place for Jeff Baker who rakes against lefties and the ever-present Donovan Solano. The team loves Solano, I wish they would commit to giving Derek Dietrich a legitimate shot to stick with the big club even if its on the bench.

Miller Lepree: My picks are Donavan Solano and Brad Hand. Both provide the team with depth, and they’ve both had big league experience. Hand is totally out of options, so he’ll probably end up being the long man unless somebody gets hurt. Solano is fairly reliable as a utility infielder, but the team could choose to go with lefty power off the bench in Justin Bour.

David Polakoff: Donovan Solano and Justin Bour.

Travis Honeycutt: Don Kelly, Reid Brignac. Kelly is a godsend (just ask Tigers fans), and Brignac is versatile. Yeah.

Dillon Murrell: I haven’t been able to watch any Marlins Spring Training games, my picks for the last 2 bench spots (assuming 8 relievers, as has been discussed) would be Justin Bour and Don Kelly. Bour is probably a decent source of some offense off the bench, especially against righties, and Kelly offers versatility. The reason I like Kelly over Solano is his left-handedness; the Marlins are pretty right-hand heavy.

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