The Miami Marlins made one of those decisions Tuesday night that’ll have you shaking your head for weeks.
They’re leading 2-0 in the ninth inning. Sandy Alcantara is dealing, sitting at fewer than 100 pitches and going for a complete game. Sure, he’s got two runners on after allowing a double and a walk, but this is the guy who won a Cy Young just a couple years back.
What do the Marlins do? They yank him.
Now, if you’re bringing in your closer, maybe there’s logic there. But Pete Fairbanks is away from the team for the birth of a child. So instead, Anthony Bender comes in and promptly blows the save. The Cincinnati Reds end up winning 6-3 in 10 innings.
Let’s put this in perspective. Alcantara looked like his old self Tuesday night – the dominant pitcher who captured that 2022 Cy Young. It’s been a journey back to that form, but this season he’s showing flashes of that elite stuff again.
The Marlins didn’t have anyone better sitting in their bullpen. Not even close.
This wasn’t just about letting a guy chase history with a complete game. Alcantara was legitimately their best option to get out of that jam. They had no arm in the pen that matched what he was bringing to the table.
It’s the kind of move that makes you wonder what manager Skip Schumaker was thinking. Sure, modern bullpen usage says you make the move, but sometimes you’ve got to read the room. Sometimes you trust your ace.
The Marlins have gotten off to a solid start this season, and Tuesday night could’ve been one of those momentum-building wins. Instead, they’re left watching their bullpen cough up what should’ve been a statement victory.
Alcantara could only sit there and watch it all fall apart. That’s got to sting, especially when you know you had more in the tank.
It won’t make headlines outside of South Florida, but it’s exactly the type of decision that can define how a season unfolds for a team like Miami. Sometimes the old-school call is still the right call.
