Mike Kaffee, Community News Canes Baseball reporter.
On Tuesday, it was a hitting frenzy where the hitters took center stage knocking out 21 hits including two HRs, a triple, and three doubles. Today was an entirely different scenario. Four pitchers, embarrassed by their fellow hurlers had other ideas for the hitters who intended to have a similar day as they did on Tuesday. So say not as the Four Musketeers held the hitless Canes to just five hits. The only exception was Ethan Puig who had a 2-3 day that included a two RBI HR. To all others, today’s pitching crew laid waste to all those they faced.
With time winding down and the concern growing regarding our Achilles Heel, the catching crew brought on its newest member who had no catching experience from what was related to me by his father. Ethan Puig who has been Daniel Cuvet’s understudy playing 3B might have found himself a new home. Ethan was double dipping today exchanging gloves playing both at third and behind the plate. While our other catchers have been struggling trying to find 2B, Ethan had no problem. His throws were on the money and with more experience he might be permanently trading one glove for another. His chance for starting at third is slim to none but for catching is a whole different story. Nolan Johnson dealing with a sore elbow is out for the remainder of preseason and I am told he will be ready come spring. As for Evan Taveras, I see no hope in his ability to reach 2nd cleanly. His issue is his throwing arm and not his bat which he has shown can put metal on the ball.
Six innings of preseason play with four pitchers each throwing 3 innings apiece. Nick Robert and Michael Fernandez started on the hill under beautiful skies. I already have him slated for weekend starting duties and today reinforced a starting role. Ethan was the only one to manage to read Nick correctly with the lone hit of 12 batters faced. Nick was not exactly perfect, in hitting one and walking another. One run did score as a result of a throwing error, take one guess, a throw to second by a member bearing one of the three Achilles heels. Honors goes to Tanner Smith who in all likelihood will be our starting catcher unless Ethan really turns on the pressure and JD chances on a freshman over a senior with three years under his belt as a collegiate catcher. I don’t see this happening but if JD continues to use Ethan behind the plate, he will have two weeks to make his case.
Michael Fernandez took over the bottom half of the duties for the initial 3 innings. Defense in execution has been an issue in completing the DP. In the first after Fabio executed a perfectly laid down bunt between the pitcher and first to start the inning, Renzo hit into what should have been a routine 4-6-3 DP. Amaury DeJesus playing second misplayed the ball and barely got Renzo out at first. This has been an ongoing problem in completing the second leg of the DP. More practice should eliminate this issue. Like Nick, in the second inning, the batting crew was able to put runs on the board. Nick’s was unearned. Not so for Michael. A two-out walk to Elijah Hurt set it up for Ethan to deliver a ball halfway up the left field foul pole for a two-run round-tripper.
Jordan Vargas and Brandon Olivera had second-half duties. Jordan started off by giving up a lead-off to Jordan Marsh who took advantage of Taveras’s throwing arm easily making it into second. If he was paying closer attention to the ball being thrown into center he would be standing on third rather than second. He would eventually make it over there on a 4-3 groundout by Jake Kulikowski, and home a 1-4-3 groundout, which I am sure is not practiced, by Brandon DeGoti. Second inning 3up/3down with nothing leaving the infield. Jordan final inning was a repeat of his second 3up/3down.
Brandon’s 3up/3down first inning was almost spoiled only by a spectacular catch which I was told was made by Renzo Gonzalez. I could not make out the number and apologize if it wasn’t Renzo. I am sort of questioning it because for all of preseason, he has been playing opposite to Todd Hudson at first. Whether playing first or right, Renzo I have given the highest marks defensively as shown in the 2nd inning. A dribbling hit to the right of first which Renzo reached out for and seeing the pitcher unable to cover first dove back to the bag just beating out Michael Torres to the bag. Brandon’s final inning, an initial walk to Evan Taveras set up what again should have been a routine 6-4-3 DP but was unable to complete the second half successfully.
Hitting today other than Ethan, was basically dry. Ethan Puig was the only player with multiple numbers and an extra-base hit going 2-3 (HR,2RBI). For the rest, it is back to the cages with just five hits total. Not a good day coming off what we saw on Tuesday. BASEBALL is the only way to describe it. One day top of the world, the next in the doghouse.
Defensively, two spectacular plays both possibly from Renzo playing first and right. Defensively Renzo has always been sharp with the glove and better working the bag at first than Todd, but Renzo can not match him with his bat. I prefer Renzo at first and Todd as DH but like 3B, it ain’t going to happen. Renzo I am sure will come in the late innings for a defensive purposes but if Ethan expects to see any playing time it will have to be behind home plate.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com
Defensively, two spectacular plays both possibly from Renzo playing first and right. Defensively Renzo has always been sharp with the glove and better working the bag at first than Todd, but Renzo can not match him with his bat. I prefer Renzo at first and Todd as DH but like 3B, it ain’t going to happen. Renzo I am sure will come in the late innings for a defensive purposes but if Ethan expects to see any playing time it will have to be behind home plate.
