I still say that another 6 or 12 or 18 innings simply doesn't matter, he's earned the right to pitch beyond the arbitrary limit of his upcoming last start against ATL.

 

Instead of faltering or struggling or acting tired, he blew out WSH. He throws 98 or 99 like it's nothing. He bends curveballs for strikes routinely. He embarrasses hitters and then smiles at them. After the 1st inning, I wondered what Redmond would do if he was still pitching a perfect game after 6, and he damned near did it. Later, it was revealed that Redmond had told him not to be concerned with innings, he would get another start.

 

But, even at that, the entire proposition is slightly ridiculous. 170? Obviously not set in stone. 180? What's the big deal versus 170? 190? OK, that's probably enough. About 45 more than he threw last year. But 190 would give him his last 3 starts.

 

This team, crappy as it is, is an entirely different team when he pitches, to wit:

 

Through 112 non-Fernandez starts, they're hitting .229 and scoring 3.15 runs/game.

 

In 27 Fernandez starts, .244 and 3.67 runs/game.

 

In 9 starts since the All-Star break, .258 and 4.33 runs/game. MLB average is .254.

 

Now, the improvement in Fernandez starts is certainly not all due to Fernandez, but there is no doubt that this team gets motivated and excited and plays significantly better when he pitches JUST BECAUSE FERNANDEZ IS PITCHING.

 

Why deprive a guy who should be ROY of 20 innings and the chance to nail it down beyond all doubt, never mind the teammates who want to play behind him?

 

A team that's 36-76 when he doesn't pitch is 17-10 when he pitches. That's championship-level baseball. Let him pitch.

 

 

If Puig maintains what he's doing he'll probably lead the league in OPS+. As of now it's very close.

It really shouldn't be close...

 

Jose is 14th in baseball in WAR. Puig is tied for 39th.

 

Not to mention Jose is the media darling and Puig is apparently on America's Most Wanted every other night...

I still say that another 6 or 12 or 18 innings simply doesn't matter, he's earned the right to pitch beyond the arbitrary limit of his upcoming last start against ATL.

 

Instead of faltering or struggling or acting tired, he blew out WSH. He throws 98 or 99 like it's nothing. He bends curveballs for strikes routinely. He embarrasses hitters and then smiles at them. After the 1st inning, I wondered what Redmond would do if he was still pitching a perfect game after 6, and he damned near did it. Later, it was revealed that Redmond had told him not to be concerned with innings, he would get another start.

 

But, even at that, the entire proposition is slightly ridiculous. 170? Obviously not set in stone. 180? What's the big deal versus 170? 190? OK, that's probably enough. About 45 more than he threw last year. But 190 would give him his last 3 starts.

 

This team, crappy as it is, is an entirely different team when he pitches, to wit:

 

Through 112 non-Fernandez starts, they're hitting .229 and scoring 3.15 runs/game.

 

In 27 Fernandez starts, .244 and 3.67 runs/game.

 

In 9 starts since the All-Star break, .258 and 4.33 runs/game. MLB average is .254.

 

Now, the improvement in Fernandez starts is certainly not all due to Fernandez, but there is no doubt that this team gets motivated and excited and plays significantly better when he pitches JUST BECAUSE FERNANDEZ IS PITCHING.

 

Why deprive a guy who should be ROY of 20 innings and the chance to nail it down beyond all doubt, never mind the teammates who want to play behind him?

 

A team that's 36-76 when he doesn't pitch is 17-10 when he pitches. That's championship-level baseball. Let him pitch.

 

 

Do you think we can win the 5th place in the NL East championship this year if we don't shut him down?

Jose is tied for 5th in WAR and Puig is tied for 19th. WAR is a counting stat and what's amazing about Puig is that he has accumulated so much WAR in the only 90 or so games he has being on the roster.

It would suck if Fernandez lost ROY at this point to something so unsustainable like Puig's current season.

It would suck if Fernandez lost ROY at this point to something so unsustainable like Puig's current season.

 

 

I feel like Puig was exciting when he came up, and still is, but lost some of that buzz due to his arrogant attitude. If the numbers can't separate the two in the eyes of voters, their stories and likability likely will.

I really think it's Jose's award to lose, but it will be close. Being in a playoff race helps Puigs case for some voters though.

I still look at Puig's BABIP every time I want to have a good laugh.

I really think it's Jose's award to lose, but it will be close. Being in a playoff race helps Puigs case for some voters though.

 

 

Being an every day player also helps. I'm not a fan of any pitcher winning ROY, but Jose is making a good argument for it happening.

The Verducci effect is a farce y'all. Regardless, if Jose does get hurt in one of these last starts, the FO will have another PR nightmare on their hands. I know they could care less, but still.

 

 

So you are for shutting him down now, before he gets to that 170 innings? He's at 158.2 innings right now and averages just a tad over 6 innings a start. That's pretty much right on schedule. I don't think if he does get hurt in one of these last two it would be such a PR nightmare. Maybe with the ones that were complaining they were planning on shutting him down at 170 doing an about face and saying they should have shut him down sooner. The normal armchair, hindsight, "I will never admit I was wrong" type fans.

 

 

His average velocity on his FB has dropped from his last 5 starts compared to his previous 12 starts before those 5. I think he's getting tired, and I can't really see it being a good thing to keep pitching a guy if he's tired, so I say shut him down now. But maybe the coaches are having him not pitch as hard etc or there is some other reason or maybe these few extra days of rest will help. Small sample and all that. I really don't know. I just don't see the point of starting him again this year, although I am excited to see him a few more times so for now all I can do is sit back and watch the man pitch.

 

 

 

 

In his Friday night start he blew that theory out the window.

His average velocity on his FB has dropped from his last 5 starts compared to his previous 12 starts before those 5. I think he's getting tired, and I can't really see it being a good thing to keep pitching a guy if he's tired, so I say shut him down now.

 

In his Friday night start he blew that theory out the window.

 

Yup.

 

Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez averaged 96.3 mph on his fastball Friday night, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The average set a personal best for pitch speed in a game (...)

 

Let him pitch. All the way to ~190 -- if he wants to. Who knows? He may even agree with throwing slightly less.

 

Someone noted how much WAR Puig has accumulated (4.7) in a half-season, now 83 games. Fernandez has accumulated 5.9 in 27 games. Lack of time on the field and exposure is tough to overcome as a pitcher, but he's done it.

 

I hope Fernandez wins. Puig may be extraordinary, but what Fernandez has accomplished is much more extraordinary. Not to mention that he's not an obnoxious, walking soap opera and drama queen.

The Verducci effect is a farce y'all. Regardless, if Jose does get hurt in one of these last starts, the FO will have another PR nightmare on their hands. I know they could care less, but still.

 

 

So you are for shutting him down now, before he gets to that 170 innings? He's at 158.2 innings right now and averages just a tad over 6 innings a start. That's pretty much right on schedule. I don't think if he does get hurt in one of these last two it would be such a PR nightmare. Maybe with the ones that were complaining they were planning on shutting him down at 170 doing an about face and saying they should have shut him down sooner. The normal armchair, hindsight, "I will never admit I was wrong" type fans.

 

 

His average velocity on his FB has dropped from his last 5 starts compared to his previous 12 starts before those 5. I think he's getting tired, and I can't really see it being a good thing to keep pitching a guy if he's tired, so I say shut him down now. But maybe the coaches are having him not pitch as hard etc or there is some other reason or maybe these few extra days of rest will help. Small sample and all that. I really don't know. I just don't see the point of starting him again this year, although I am excited to see him a few more times so for now all I can do is sit back and watch the man pitch.

 

 

 

 

In his Friday night start he blew that theory out the window.

 

 

 

 

Sure did. His avg fastball velocity was the third hardest it's been all year.

His average velocity on his FB has dropped from his last 5 starts compared to his previous 12 starts before those 5. I think he's getting tired, and I can't really see it being a good thing to keep pitching a guy if he's tired, so I say shut him down now.

 

 

 

In his Friday night start he blew that theory out the window.

 

Yup.

 

Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez averaged 96.3 mph on his fastball Friday night, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The average set a personal best for pitch speed in a game (...)

 

 

 

Let him pitch. All the way to ~190 -- if he wants to. Who knows? He may even agree with throwing slightly less.

 

Someone noted how much WAR Puig has accumulated (4.7) in a half-season, now 83 games. Fernandez has accumulated 5.9 in 27 games. Lack of time on the field and exposure is tough to overcome as a pitcher, but he's done it.

 

I hope Fernandez wins. Puig may be extraordinary, but what Fernandez has accomplished is much more extraordinary. Not to mention that he's not an obnoxious, walking soap opera and drama queen.

 

Fernandez total fWAR is 6.1, not 5.9

OK. That 5.9 was from BR. 6.1? So much the better.

 

In any case, let him pitch. And they're going to, to a limited extent -- he could pitch 9 innings on Wednesday, Redmond says he won't take him out for innings-reasons, which could take him to 174 2/3. Oops, so much for 150-170.

 

Not my idea of letting him pitch, but it illustrates how meaningless an arbitrary limit was and is. He's obviously not tired-out or fatigued, he's not pitching after a 2 hour rain delay, so let him go the last 3 starts. They won't, but I would simply because he's earned the chance to do it, at least to the point where he shows some sign of being tired.

 

It's too bad we won't get to see him finish his season.

174 2/3 innings would be 40 2/3 innings more than he pitched last season. That is enough. Really, no need to let him pitch an extra 20 innings after this start. If we were in contention and REALLY needed him down the stretch, then fine. Obviously, that's not happening. Let him rest for the final three weeks.

 

Now I obviously don't know the full extent here, I'm not in the front office. However, I think we can safely assume that 170 was a soft cap with some wiggle room. If he had ended up at 168, 169 innings after his last start, I don't believe we'd see him start on Wednesday. 175 is probably the hard cap. I don't think they expected him to be as good as he's been this year, and honestly, how many of US believed that he'd be THIS GOOD in a rookie season with just one professional year under his belt? Did anyone expect him to have the second lowest ERA in ALL of baseball, or lead the NL in K/9, or, really, anywhere close to what he's done? I'm sure a lot of people expected an OK record [probably under .500 due to the team] with an ERA around 3.50 due to adjustments that he'd have to make and inexperience, but no, he's right there with the big boys.

 

Really, it's not bad AT ALL that he's not finishing off this season in the rotation. Let him rest. Save his arm for next year and beyond. He'll probably reach 200 next season.

All of the superlatives only further illustrate why he should get those extra few innings this year.

 

He's EARNED them. Unlike some of our other arms who are showing signs of wear and tear this month.

 

He's so happy to be pitching in MLB (and particularly here in Miami) that he's still, to this day bouncing off the walls, 5 months into the season. He wants to be a bat boy if he can't pitch.

 

The kid is already one of the best pitchers in all of MLB. Let him rip for as long as he doesn't show any sign of being tired, 'cause so far he ain't even close to it. He faces less than 4 hitters per inning. 50 to 100 more hitters is just no big deal.

 

They won't do it, but I say let him pitch.

All of the superlatives only further illustrate why he should get those extra few innings this year.

 

He's EARNED them. Unlike some of our other arms who are showing signs of wear and tear this month.

 

He's so happy to be pitching in MLB (and particularly here in Miami) that he's still, to this day bouncing off the walls, 5 months into the season. He wants to be a bat boy if he can't pitch.

 

The kid is already one of the best pitchers in all of MLB. Let him rip for as long as he doesn't show any sign of being tired, 'cause so far he ain't even close to it. He faces less than 4 hitters per inning. 50 to 100 more hitters is just no big deal.

 

They won't do it, but I say let him pitch.

 

 

No and no.

Those 3 extra starts are very meaningful! WE NEED TO BE THE BEST LAST PLACE TEAM!!

MIAMI — All season, Jose Fernandez has dazzled Major League hitters with his blazing fastball, baffling breaking pitches and unwavering self confidence. Few in the sport show as much fun, energy and enthusiasm as the Marlins’ 21-year-old right-hander.

 

Fernandez has become the face of the franchise as well as a serious frontrunner for National League Rookie of the Year.

 

On Wednesday night, the curtain will come down on Fernandez’s remarkable season. The Marlins are shutting down their young ace after he faces the first-place Braves at Marlins Park.

 

Because of his age, inexperience, Fernandez entered the season knowing he was facing an innings maximum of around 170. A year ago, he threw 134 innings at Class A, plus another 10 in the playoffs. So the plan was to increase him by roughly 30 innings in ’13.

 

Fernandez enters tonight at 165 2/3 innings, but he is free to go as far as he can. If it’s six, seven or eight will depend on how he performs.

 

Wednesday also is an opportunity for Fernandez to make his closing argument as to why he should be the NL Rookie of the Year.

 

Will not pitching through the end of the month hurt Fernandez’s chances?

 

To some, it may. But it really shouldn’t.

 

Fernandez opened the season with the Marlins, and he will be making his 28th start. Barring an unexpected short outing on Wednesday, he will finish with more than 170 innings, and his numbers are worthy of being in the Cy Young Award discussion, even though he likely wouldn’t be the favorite.

 

In 2003, the Marlins called up Dontrelle Willis from Double-A, and the D-Train made 27 starts and threw 160 2/3 innings. Willis ended up winning NL Rookie of the Year.

 

Fernandez is having a rookie season for the ages. Consider, since 1980, the 21-year-old’s 2.33 ERA is the lowest of any MLB rookie. He also ranks first in batting average against at .181.

 

And Fernandez’s 182 strikeouts are the ninth most in the majors since that span.

 

Some have suggested Fernandez’s rookie season brings back memories of Dwight Gooden in his 1984 rookie season. Gooden that year was 17-9 with a 2.60 ERA, and 276 strikeouts in 218 innings.

 

Bottom line is being shut down shouldn’t weigh against Fernandez any more than rookies being called up in late May or early June to delay their service-time clock.

 

While Fernandez’s season will be through with 18 games for the Marlins to go, Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was called up on June 3. Puig has appeared in 86 games.

 

Puig not playing the first two months shouldn’t hurt his chances any more than Fernandez sitting out 18 games.

 

In 2012, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper were voted top rookies in their respective leagues. Both opened in the Minor Leagues and appeared in the big leagues for the first time on April 28.

 

Chris Coghlan in 2009 became the Marlins’ third Rookie of the Year. He started playing on May 8 of that season, and appeared in 128 games.

 

Willis was an All-Star and a major reason why the Marlins won the World Series in 2003. The D-Train made his MLB debut on May 9.

 

Fernandez certainly has performed long enough, and effective enough to not have the day he throws his final pitch work against him.

Mathis

Pierre

Solano

Dobbs

Lucas

Brantly

Hill

Marisnick

Hechavarria

 

 

This is a list of players that Jose Fernandez has a higher SLG% than.

 

Also - Henderson Alvarez leads the team.

I like how Fernandez stared down Johnson at the end of the pimping of the HR.

Going back to 1920 in the live ball era for all rookies, Jose has the best ERA+, 5th best ERA (best in 32 years), 2nd best WHIP (best in 56 years), and 6th best k/9. He was historically good this year.

Going back to 1920 in the live ball era for all rookies, Jose has the best ERA+, 5th best ERA (best in 32 years), 2nd best WHIP (best in 56 years), and 6th best k/9. He was historically good this year.

 

 

And on a historically bad team.

Just nuts, I mean if Kershaw doesn't have a season like this, we could be talking Cy...

Jose could be runner-up for the Cy Young easily at least.