Miami Marlins Morning Catch: Pirates Hand Marlins Sweep

Good morning, Marlin Maniac readers and welcome to Morning Catch, the daily morning news and notes column from MarlinManiac.com.

Pirates jump on Marlins relievers to complete three-game sweep

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dan Jennings is getting used to his view from the Miami Marlins dugout. It’s what the rookie manager sees on the scoreboard that’s already getting old.

Brad Hand pitched five shutout innings while making an emergency start but Miami’s bullpen let it slip away in a 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday that dropped the Marlins to just 2-8 since Jennings traded his general manager’s suit for a uniform earlier this month.

“I still believe in these guys,” Jennings said. “There’s a heck of a lot of talent out there that’s showing positive things. But you have to execute pitches in situations to get the outs and shut down innings like that when they’re getting away from you.” (Read More Here)

Marlins manager Dan Jennings has an impossible task – to the delight of many

Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH – Dan Jennings watched the reporters leave his office Wednesday afternoon after yet another Miami Marlins loss, grabbed his Bud Light, angrily slammed it on his desk, and cursed in sheer frustration.

Jennings has been on the job 10 days as the Marlins’ manager, but with the sleepless nights, stressful decisions and grueling losses, it’s already felt like 10 years.

The Marlins’ players, who so badly wanted to believe this was their year to finally make the playoffs again, sat numb in the clubhouse. There were only muffled whispers. Guys stared blankly into their cellphones, looking up only to check what time the team bus was leaving for the airport. (Read More Here)

Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton and Dee Gordon leading in All-Star voting

Sun-Sentinel

If the All-Star voting closed today, Marlins second baseball Dee Gordon and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton would be starting for the National League.

Gordon leads NL second basemen with 934,249 votes from the fans, a healthy margin over Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals (582,238).

Stanton ranks third among NL outfielders, which would put him in a starting role for the July 14 Midsummer Classic at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. Stanton has 746,926 votes, trailing the Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper (1,116,582) and the Cardinals’ Matt Holliday (979,008). (Read More Here)

A Miami Marlins Fan Pleas To Micky Arison

Dear Mr. Micky Arison,

On behalf of the fans of the Miami Marlins, I am writing you this letter that I hope finds you well. Also, I hope I am not too forth-coming in approaching you in this manner. Please do not think me to be insubordinate; I respect and honor your position as the great pillar of the South Florida sports scene. It was you who brought a sense of hope and pride to the Miami market, when you took control of the Miami Heat and helped build them to a multiple-time champion, to which we are now forever in your debt. (Read More Here)

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