The Bocker.com

Would I care about the Florida Marlins if fantasy baseball didn’t exist? Would I know who Rick VandenHurk was? Would I check the boxscores every day to see how teams were doing? The last question would be a resounding yes, I love baseball that much, but the first two questions are an example of how great fantasy baseball can be. The fact that I’m interested in a team that has no fans, even in its home city, shows how impact that fantasy sports have had on their real counterparts. But that’s a story for another day. We are here now to discuss the cluelessness of Fredi Gonzalez, the Marlins manager, when it comes to handling young pitching. Our two examples are both 23 years of age and have shown potential, Rick VandenHurk and Andrew Miller.

In case you don’t know (most likely because you weren’t interested), youngster VandenHurk was recently demoted to AA after two bad outings with the big club. The first outing lasted 3 innings before he was yanked after loading the bases with nobody out. The next pitcher proceeded to let those runners score and VandenHurk was charged with those runs. He was able to record 4 strikeouts and looked strong against the NY Mets before Fredi Gonzalez thought it smart to pull him. Personally, this moved was shocking to me because a young pitcher has to learn how to pitch out of a jam. And even if VandenHurk gives up three runs, are they not in the same spot as they were by bringing in the reliever? Pitchers give up runs from time to time. It’s part of the game. By leaving a pitcher in to get out of trouble the manager is sending a signal that he won’t bring out the hook too soon and the pitcher doesn’t have to fear making a mistake or two. Pitchers need to be confident and feel loose out on the mound or they are never going to succeed. Especially a young pitcher like VandenHurk.

Then in his next outing VandenHurk gave up 4 runs in 2 1/3 innings before he was pulled. Admittedly a worse outing, but the consequence for two bad outings is demotion to AA? Not even AAA, but AA. This move effectively ends the career of Rick VandenHurk as a Marlin in my opinion. Gonzalez showed he has no confidence in VandenHurk and in turn VandenHurk will probably never feel comfortable pitching for Gonzalez as well. In the era of pitch counts and pitcher coddling, it’s amazing to me that the Marlins could be this abrasive with a youngster who exudes a bit of talent like VandenHurk.

On the other end of the spectrum we have Andrew Miller. He came over from Detroit in the big Miguel Cabrera trade and it’s understandable that the Marlins would have a bit more confidence in him and put more eggs in his basket. At the same time, he has struggled so far in his young career, much like VandenHurk, and hasn’t shown that he is truely capable of overpowering major league pitching. Yet at the same time his 12.91 ERA and 16 surrendered hits in 7 2/3 innings hasn’t been enough for him to get a demotion to AA. Why does Andrew Miller get the support of Fredi Gonzalez while VandenHurk was unceremoniously cast off? Maybe Andrew Miller invites Gonzalez over for dinner, or he bought Gonzalez a new car. Whatever reason, it seems arbitrary that Miller gets to learn in the majors while VandenHurk was quit upon.

I probably care a bit more about this situation than most simply because I drafted Rick VandenHurk for my NL fantasy team and now he’s down in the minors. But this situation simply makes no sense to me. Fredi Gonzalez was basically hired because management knew he would make no waves along the lines of what former Joe Girardi was alleged to do. It seems they’ve hired themselves quite a boob.