Miami Marlins: It’s Spring Training in Discord

There’s a lot of places online for Miami Marlins fans to convene and discuss the state of the team.

There’s Marlins Twitter, r/letsgofish on Reddit, uber-message-board marlinsbaseball.com, and assorted blogs, such as this one. Comment sections aren’t designed for a lot of zippy back-and-forth on Marlin Maniac, unfortunately. If you want an involved conversation about anything Marlins-based, the folks at the Let’s Go Fish channel on Discord are ready, willing, and able to discuss it with you. Here’s some of the takes on the channel from the past week.

Miami Marlins Center Field Picture

What does everyone think about how center field is going to shake out?

Mason: Lewis Brinson will probably get one last shot before they move on.

Greg: The team will enter camp giving Sierra and Brinson a chance to compete for the OD job. They will say others have a shot, but these two essentially be given a head start. In ST, I think Sierra wins the job. Brinson will be optioned to AAA to start the season.

You don’t think that Monte Harrison has a real shot out of camp?

Greg: I think they will say that he does, but I don’t think he wins unless the other players are truly abysmal. Basically like Gallen last year or Sandy the year before.

Protocol: I think Monte might. I assume it would depend on how well he perferms in spring. But considering we have 14 OFs on the roster, everyone’s going to want a fair look at all of them. Had Monte not had that injury, the Marlins were going to call him up last Sept anyways. His time is definitely near.

Greg: Oh no doubt he’s close. I think if it wasn’t for the injury there’s a good chance he’d be OD CF. I think by September at the latest (likely earlier) he is the starter.

I like Monte, but not as the OD CF. I agree, and thinking he may be starting in June or July if he can clean up that hole in his swing in Wichita.

RBF: It’s too much of an investment in Brinson, and too much potential to give up on… at a time when the games don’t matter.

Greg: Oh he’ll get a chance this season.

tfp360: CF is Brinson’s job to lose. That being said…..he’s likely gonna lose it. If and when Brinson loses CF, its gonna REALLY expedite Monte’s call up.

I guess the takeaway here is that the Marlins seem dead-set on giving Brinson another one last chance, although Sierra lacks another option. If Sierra doesn’t win a roster spot outright, the Marlins are going to lose him, and Monte Harrison is in the wings for a breakout.

Miami Marlins Rotation Picture

I believe most of us think that Smith, Alcantara, Lopez, and Yamamoto are four of the top five in the rotation. Who do you think is going to wind up fifth?

Mason: Urena

Greg: ^

Mason: That rotation could also suck if they don’t continue to take the next steps.

Greg: We should have signed a vet SP.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7o3irFAQDK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

VulpesInculta: I guess urena yeah but if it wasn’t him then i’d go hernandez.

Greg: I expect Elieser, Yams and Dugger to compete for the last two spots in ST if Urena is traded.

VulpesInculta: yeah neidert probably needs some more innings at AAA. I’m excited to see how he does this season.

Greg: I think they like the idea of having a guy in AAA who they can count on as a fill in if an injury requires it.

I like Elieser in that five spot short term. He was far better in the rotation than in the bullpen.

StapleAce5502: They should trade for a decent veteran pitcher for the number five spot. Or dont include a number five at all and add another reliever. Idk if that’s allowed.

Greg: Allowed yes. Will they do it no. I think Clay Bucholz is still a FA. They should sign him.

StapleAce5502: Marlins already have a rotation no need to edit from 2019.

More from Marlins News

• Why didn’t the Miami Marlins sign JDM?
• Miami Marlins rejected Boston‘s trade offer
• Miami Marlins are pursuing Michael Conforto
• Miami Marlins need to spend to win
• Miami Marlins can’t afford to botch this trade

Manfred’s Plan

Any hot takes on the playoff plan?

RBF: I don’t know if it’s a hot take, but letting half of the teams into the playoffs sounds terrible to me. When you have a 3rd of teams rebuilding anyway, it doesn’t even seem like a reward anymore. It seems like the middling teams will be incentivized to stay middling. Why invest? Why go for it? The playoffs are already a short sample size, and it wouldn’t be worth spending to improve over that set of series… it punishes competing.

VulpesInculta: Yeah the playoff plan sounds awful to me. for same reasons that RBF stated

Greg: I hate expanding the playoffs more— it devalues the regular season.