The Astros homestand continues tonight with an appearance from the Miami Marlins. We preview that three game set with WQAM’s play-by-play voice Jack McMullen who lends us his perspective exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: We’ve seen the Marlins each of the last four seasons appear on the schedule. However, prior to that, it’s not that common of a matchup. Does it still unique when these clubs get together?
A: Tonight, will actually be my first ever broadcast from Houston. I’m excited. After that,
the only ballpark remaining for me will be Kauffman Stadium, and then I’ll have all thirty ballparks under my belt as an announcer.
Q: Miami has improved record wise in the standings relative to where they were a season ago. What’s made the biggest difference?
A: The big thing has been our starting pitching. They’ve just been fantastic this year. Max Meyer was an All-Star last week, and he’s thrown like an all-star time and time again. Eury Perez has taken a huge step forward in the last couple of months and Sandy Alcantara is back to “being Sandy” which is big thing. Sandy is leading baseball in total innings pitched and he along with a bunch of guys offensively have taken a big leap.
Q: You mentioned the offense, much of the power for the Marlins comes from Liam Hicks and Heriberto Hernandez. What are they bringing to the table each night?
A: It looks a little bit different. Hicks is a smaller in stature left-handed bat who has this innate ability to pull the ball in the air, and he always flirts with the right field foul pole. It’s been a joy to watch him put the ball over the fence. Hernandez is the kind of player who can really get into it and connect on some 440-foot homers. His swing is violent and he’s had some hot stretches. The power between those guys looks different, but at the end of the day they’ve both been neck and neck with home runs.
Q: How is manager Clayton McCullough handing the bullpen with John King on the IL?
A: No question it will be Pete Fairbanks in the 9th inning. The bullpen is slightly depleted because Anthony Bender is also on the shelf. They’re fortunate because Michael Petersen has been incredibly good against all hitters and Calvin Faucher will eat up some big-time innings as well.
Q: The Marlins are in the mix for the Wildcard. Biggest need with the trade deadline approaching, is it third base?
A: It’s a good question. They can go a bunch of different directions. It’s tough to single out a biggest need because the team is put really well together in the way that they’re presently constructed. They’re also starting to get healthier. It wouldn’t shock me if they feel really good about the team that they currently have or they can always add a starting pitcher or a right-handed bat.
