Are the Marlins closely monitoring the progress of Garrett Cooper?

“How much of a leash are the Marlins giving often-injured outfielder Garrett Cooper in his return from the IL?

The Marlins made plenty of moves over the weekend with the intent of shaking up the 25-man roster.

There have been too many questions with regard to run production and getting runners on base. The pitching staff has come under fire for its lack of consistency and injuries have once again plagued this team offensively.

Amongst the moves made that were announced by the team was the addition of Garrett Cooper to the active roster and the subsequent announcement that Peter O’Brien was placed on the 10-Day IL. It was O’Brien who was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to replace Cooper’s bat in the outfield.

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The Marlins are still high on Cooper, who has spent more time dealing with injuries than he has swung a stick for the team. Now that he is healthy once again – everyone say a prayer – does this mean the coaching staff is going to monitor his progress more closely.

"“Foremost, Cooper has to show he can stay on the field. Twice he’s been on the injured list this season with two separate injuries,” Joe Frisaro of MLB.com writes. “He suffered a left calf strain in the second game of the season, and went on the IL a few days later, and on the day he returned, he was hit on the left hand by a pitch.”"

Maybe the more accurate question to ask is if the outfielder is injured once again, will the team make another move to bring New Orleans Baby Cakes slugger Austin Dean back to the Majors? Miami might make the decision to add Dean’s bat to the lineup even if Cooper can remain injury-free.

There is too much to like about what Dean is doing to ignore the success he is having. The focus for the Marlins should be on which players give them the best chance to win. Does having Cooper in the batting order make more sense over the hot bat that has erupted in the Pacific Coast League since his return from the parent club?

Just to let everyone know, it was Dean who had a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth on Monday night to secure a come from behind 3-2 win for New Orleans.

Next. Is there pitching help on the way for the Marlins?. dark

"In other News: Per Wells Duesenbury of sun-sentinel.com, “Right-handed relief pitcher Drew Steckenrider, who was diagnosed with a right flexor strain, is seeing Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion. Steckenrider was placed on 60-day IL last week.”"

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