Miami Palms Blog

 The Palms started the offseason with a little bit of news regarding last year's starting second baseman, Jaspero Gonzalez and reliever Jeremy Jeffress. Both contributors had options for 2020, which were picked up by the team, meaning they will both return,. The front office has stated that they would like to work on extensions with both.

 

 

 

  The offseason is now here, and the Palms will have some decisions to make. Namely, finding a replacement for their free agents -- Yasmani Grandal, Matt Koch, Travis Jankowski and Wandy Peralta -- or resigning them, or deciding on whether or not to pick up the option on their option eligible players. Additionally, the Palms will need to account for the extra roster spot that will be available to the team in 2020. Generally, there is a bit more turmoil potentially on the offensive side of the ball. The potential openings, center field, catcher and utility are premium defensive positions so the offensive numbers might be secondary for the front office. There is a long winter ahead to sort these decisions out.

  The Palms have established their minor league system headed into the 2020 season, aligning with Major League Baseball’s organizational structure. The teams are as follows. AAA – Jackson Rebels AA – Boise Ospreys High A – Roanoke Raccoons Low A – Lafayette Aviators Rookie – Estero Palms

 Miami finished their season on a high note, and with a record 8 games above .500, but ultimately, well out of playoff position. As has often been the case this year, they got an excellent start from Manny Parra, who worked 8 innings and allowed one run on a Ji Man Choi home run. The Palms got their last homer of the season when Edwin Encarnacion hit a 2 run blast, amid the team sending everyone to the plate in the first. Greg Garcia got the last RBI and last hit for the season in the 9th, while Frank Sohn was the last man retired, and also caught the last out on a fly ball from Yandy Diaz. The Palms will tinker ahead of the 2020 season, and look to return to the playoffs as soon as they can!   Miami Palms 6, Tampa Bay Rays 1  Sunday, September 29, 2019      Miami Palms (85-77)                                      Tampa Bay Rays (9-10)      ...

Some changes are coming for the next season of Palms Baseball. While typically, it has followed closely the MLB schedule, but since 2020 was such a lost year to the world, we will be following the Out of the Park/Baseball Reference box scores.  Additionally, the NL DH is no longer in place, so pitchers are no longer batting. A mechanism for player injuries is now, unfortunately, in place, and the minor league system is going to be used. The roster size will be 26, as with the changes to the major leagues, however the extra inning ghost runner is not going to be adopted.  One more game left in 2019 before the Miami Palms offseason takes over. 

 The Palms and Rays have their post season fates sealed, so they could just enjoy what turned out to be a wild game on Saturday afternoon. Ryan Yarborough and Jarod Lantz were dominant in their outings, leaving it 2-1 in favor of the Rays going into the 8th. The Palms got two home runs in the top of the 9th, from Jaspero Gonzalez, and Travis Jankowski's 2nd of the game, giving Miami the lead by 2. Naturally, Jesus Aguilar hit only the 2nd dinger off of Chris Martin for the year. The Rays continued plugging away. A Matt Duffy triple was brought home on a sac fly, and a double followed by a walk off single from Joey Wendle ended it, with the Rays walking off their cross state rivals.  Tampa Bay Rays 5, Miami Palms 4  Saturday, September 28, 2019      Miami Palms (84-77)                                      Tampa Bay Rays (9-9)          ...

 For a team with it's eyes solely on the offseason at this point, there is nothing quite as important as a look at the prospects coming up through the minor leagues. Going into next season, the top pitching prospect is righty Brian Kragh, who has the stuff to slip into either a bullpen or rotation role on a spot start basis. On the offensive side of the ball, Jason Roeder is a versatile player who has been meeting the challenge of opposing pitching at every step of the way. With an Injured List being instituted next season, be sure to stay abreast of the prospect pool, as there will be a few new faces arriving from Jackson through the season.

 Neither team will be satisfied with their run output, after collecting double digit hits and more than a couple walks and only coming up with 6 runs combined. The Palms had 2 solo home runs, including one from Nick Markakis who had 3 hits on the day.   Miami Palms 4, Tampa Bay Rays 2  Friday, September 27, 2019      Miami Palms (83-77)                                      Tampa Bay Rays (8-9)                                      Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave        ------          -- -  - -- -- --  -...

 Miami walked off the home season with an RBI extra base hit from Yasmani Grandal in the bottom of the 9th. Fan Appreciation night ended with a winner as Grandal completed a late comeback with his hit, bringing in Yairo Munoz an inning after Brock Holt hit a bases loaded double to tie the game. Miami has only 3 games left, against Tampa, before the season is through.   Miami Palms 7, Cleveland Indians 6  Wednesday, September 25, 2019      Cleveland Indians (2-3)                                  Miami Palms (82-76)                                       Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB ...

 Miami opened their final home series with a victory on Tuesday. The Palms knocked Mike Clevinger out early, thanks to a big 3rd inning, where Miami scored all of their runs. They failed to convert with the bases loaded in the 2nd, otherwise the game could have been totally out of hand. The Palms also had a solid start from Dylan Bundy, who allowed 1 run on a long Carlos Santana blast, but otherwise was flawless in his 7 innings of work. Fan appreciation day comes tomorrow, followed by the season finale in Tampa over the weekend.  Miami Palms 5, Cleveland Indians 2  Tuesday, September 24, 2019      Cleveland Indians (2-2)                                  Miami Palms (81-76)                                       Player          AB R  H BI BB SO...

 After 4 solid innings to start the game from the rotation, it looked like another taut, well pitched affair after Sundays 17 inning marathon. Instead, Gorkys Hernandez homered in the top of the 5th to break up the shut out for Miami, and then the Palms sent everyone to the plate in the bottom of the inning. All 6 of their runs came in the bottom of the inning, effectively taking the wind out of Boston's sails and confirming a .500 record for the season.  Miami Palms 6, Boston Red Sox 2  Monday, September 23, 2019      Boston Red Sox (4-9)                                     Miami Palms (80-76)                                       Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player...

 In what was certainly the longest game of the season, the Twins and Sox got the best out of their bullpens. It was 1-0 in the 9th when the Red Sox tied things up on a long Rafael Devers to send it to extras. There were a few minor threats, such as the 13th, when the Red Sox got men at the corners before Jeremy Jeffress struck out the next three. 4 innings later, it was Edwin Encarnacion, in his 8th at bat of the game, collecting his first hit -- a walk off home run. With 6 games left, the Palms need one more win to secure a .500 record.  Miami Palms 3, Boston Red Sox 1  Sunday, September 22, 2019      Boston Red Sox (4-9)                                     Miami Palms (80-76)                                       Player          AB R ...

 This game was an ugly affair that could have gone in many different directions. Neither starting pitcher had their best stuff working, and by the 6th inning, the bullpen went to work. The Sox had a 4-3 lead entering the bottom of the 9th, when Matt Koch collected and RBI single, driving in Jaspero Gonzalez for Koch's second RBI of the game. Unfortunately, the Sox were able to get a 3 run homer from journeyman Gorkys Hernandez to go ahead and secure the victory.   Boston Red Sox 7, Miami Palms 4  Saturday, September 21, 2019      Boston Red Sox (4-8)                                     Miami Palms (79-76)                                       Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave    ...

 Miami seems to have Boston's number this season, and that seemed evident in the 7th, when after several innings deadlocked at 1, the Palms posted a two out rally, culminating with back to back doubles, a two run version from Yairo Munoz, followed by a ground rule double from Yasmani Grandal. Grandal's battery mate was good on the bump as well,  with Erick Fedde working 7 innings himself and allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 8 strikeouts  Miami Palms 5, Boston Red Sox 2  Friday, September 20, 2019      Boston Red Sox (3-8)                                     Miami Palms (79-75)                                       Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player    ...

 The Palms threatened throughout the game, but weren't able to push runners across off of Clay Buchholz. Dylan Bundy worked 7 innings, only allowing a solo home run to Randall Grichuk, which was all Toronto needed to complete the series sweep.  Toronto Blue Jays 1, Miami Palms 0  Wednesday, September 18, 2019      Toronto Blue Jays (8-3)                                  Miami Palms (78-75)                                       Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave        ------          -- -  - -- -- --  -  -  - --...

 The ball had a tough time staying in the park during the first game of a two game set with Toronto, and Manny Parra sacrificed three solo homers. The Palms smacked two of their own, but it wasn't enough to push Miami in front. The Jays scored twice without help of a homer to take an early lead they never looked back from. After their protracted winning streak, Miami has now dropped three in a row.  Toronto Blue Jays 5, Miami Palms 2  Tuesday, September 17, 2019      Toronto Blue Jays (7-3)                                  Miami Palms (78-74)                                       Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P...

 In 2020, the Major League Baseball roster will expand to 26 players, up one from the 25 it has been for eons. The Palms have traditionally leaned heavily on starting pitching, and have been sparing when using the bullpen, but the manager suggested that adding a relief pitcher and using a more structured arrangement at the end of games could well be in Miami's near future. 

 After their season long 10 game win streak ended on Saturday, the Palms took the foot of the accelerator, opting for a second string lineup on Sunday against the Rays. It as the pitching that was an issue, however. Jarod Lantz spectacularly flamed out in the 6th after a pair of home runs, a solo shot from Tommy Pham and a three run shot from Joey Wendle. Meanwhile, Braden Shipley struggled mightily in his second inning of work in the 9th. Frank Sohn drove in all three runs from the 9 spot for Miami, with a single and a 2 run homer. Miami gets some time off this week, with scheduled off days on Monday and Thursday.   Tampa Bay Rays 10, Miami Palms 3  Sunday, September 15, 2019      Tampa Bay Rays (8-8)                                     Miami Palms (78-73)                             ...

 All good things come to an end, and it was apparent that the Palms win streak was coming to a close on Saturday fairly early. Blake Johnston had a heck of a time getting batters out, and Miami was down 4-0 before they even came to bat. Nick Markakis drove in all of Miami's runs on a 3 run homer, but Travis d'Arnaud had three separate run scoring hits to balance that out and aid the Rays to a streak busting victory.  Tampa Bay Rays 7, Miami Palms 3  Saturday, September 14, 2019      Tampa Bay Rays (7-8)                                     Miami Palms (78-72)                                       Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player          AB R...