The Next Big Thing

The Next Big Thing

This piece will not be about Brock Lesnar, so my apologies to him. No, “The Next Big Thing” goes by the name of Jose Fernandez. At 21 years old, Fernandez is having a fantastic season for the Marlins, topping it off with an appearance at this year’s All-Star Game. With a fastball that tops out at nearly 100mph and a slider/sweeping curve that drops the hammer on hitters, Fernandez is a bright spot on a roster filled with young up and coming talent. Fernandez has come a long way and been through more in his first 21 years than most of us would go through in a lifetime. His story begins in Cuba, in search of the American Dream (no not Dusty Rhodes).

Born in Cuba on July 31^st, 1992, (you know you’re getting old when you’re writing about baseball players born in the 90’s) Fernandez always loved the game of baseball and one day hoped to play in the Major Leagues. In order for that dream to become a reality he first had to defect from Cuba, which is certainly no easy task. Fernandez attempted his escape three times, getting caught each time, and being thrown in prison. While in prison he was housed in cells with murderers and hardcore criminals, something he attributes his lack of nervousness and tension to on the baseball field. When you’re living that hell at such a young age there really shouldn’t be much that fazes you or affects you. Fernandez made a fourth attempt at defection with both his mother and sister in 2008, in which they were successful, but not without any hardships, as had come to be expected. The boat that the family was in hit turbulent waters and Fernandez’s mother fell overboard. Jose had to jump into the water and rescue his mother, one more instance of life making baseball seem so meaningless and effortless.

Fernandez quickly ascended to the majors, having pitched no higher than Single A, and his dream was a reality. Before reaching the majors though, Fernandez pitched for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, where he made a connection with a special fan and a friendship was born.  

Zeb Vance is a 25 year old with special needs and a Greensboro resident. Every Marlins player that passes through Greensboro knows Zeb and his family because they regularly attend games. Players would always stop and say hello and high five Zeb, but for Fernandez it was different. He invited Vance to walk to the mound with him before a start in Greensboro and remained in contact with him and his family since. Last night, before facing the red hot Cleveland Indians, Zeb once again walked out to the mound with Jose, telling him to play good, to which Fernandez said he would win for him. Fernandez only went on to throw 8 scoreless innings and strike out 14 batters, becoming only the second Marlins rookie to have back to back double digit strikeout games, striking out 13 Pirates in his previous start.

Fernandez is having a rookie season for the ages, giving Marlins fans something to cheer about and making every 5^th day appointment television. His 8-5 record is not overly impressive but that is more indicative of the Marlins offensive woes, but his 2.54 ERA is very impressive. Since the All-Star break, Fernandez has 35 strikeouts in 23 innings of work while only surrendering 3 walks. If his rookie season is any indication of how his career will go then we as fans are in for a treat.

His personality is loud and infectious, making sure he is high fiving all teammates and going crazy when good things happen, as seen here (Jose Fernandez is very excited). He loves the game of baseball and being part of a team, especially considering he never knew whether he would actually get the chance. At 21 years old the love he shows for the game and his antics are to be understood and appreciated as a kid living in the moment, but at the same time, the emotional maturity he shows when it comes to prison sentences, rescues, and connecting with people who have special needs make this kid someone to cheer for. No matter what team you cheer for and follow, I recommend buying a ticket for the Jose Fernandez bandwagon and enjoying the ride because it will be one to remember.

The Second Wild Card Team Kills the Trade Deadline

The Second Wild Card Team Kills the Trade Deadline

July 31^st is always an exciting day in baseball. The mystery and intrigue surrounding the trade deadline always looms large on the game. What will the contenders do to add those missing pieces? What teams at the bottom of the standings will unload talent and look to rebuild? When 4 o’clock rolls around, the playoff picture should begin to take shape when assessing the moves and roster configurations. However, that has all changed.

Last year Major League Baseball added a second wild card team to the playoffs. The two wild card teams will face each other in a sudden death winner take all game and follow the three division winners into the big dance. This added game brings excitement and ratings, both great things for Major League Baseball. In the inaugural wild card game for the National League last season, the St. Louis Cardinals faced the Atlanta Braves. With Braves legend Chipper Jones retiring at year’s end, there was even the added intrigue of whether this would be Chipper’s last game. What ensued was a classic game highlighted by a horrendous infield fly ruling by umpire Sam Holbrook which could have very well cost Atlanta the game and caused the Braves fans to litter the field with trash.

Major League Baseball couldn’t have asked for a better kickoff to the process given the controversy and the Chipper Jones narrative. What they failed to realize though was how the addition of that second team would kill the trade deadline from then on. Teams who should know better than to think they still had a chance now had the hope of a second chance, and as long as they could get to that game, who knows what could happen. Without the second wild card spot far more teams would be willing to part with players and prospects. Trades will still happen of course, but the days of multiple trades that would change the course of teams seasons are gone.

The trade deadline should be moved back to mid-August, therefore eliminating the waiver deadline and giving those teams with no chance the ability to really wake up and come to their senses in realizing there’s no hope. They can then unload the one or two pieces they have to a contender, and get in return guys that can possibly help them down the line. Pushing the deadline back creates more of a sense of urgency in the contenders to give up more than they probably should to land that missing piece. Obtaining that missing piece helps them on their push to the playoffs and possibly a World Series, and the non-contender reaps the rewards with the addition of prospects that could very well speed up the rebuilding process. None of this will probably ever happen and it will just end up being a pipe dream, but a fan can always hope.