September 25, 2016 will be remembered as the most tragic day in Miami Marlins history. On that date, 24-year-old José Fernández died in a boating accident one day after his birthday. The Fish lost much more than just an elite pitcher. They lost a franchise cornerstone and a constant, jubilant source of positive energy.
Fernandez’s influence on his team stretched far beyond the field. He was a clubhouse leader, setting the example by perfecting his craft. The city of Miami has a unique relationship with their baseball team because of its demographics. Miami’s population features a heavy Cuban influence. José gave the city a role model to be proud of and one who could relate to a lot of the complicated issues Cubans face.
Most importantly, the team lost a great friend. Fernández’s teammates adored him. Many viewed him as something much closer than a coworker. Dee Gordon’s reaction sums up how the baseball world felt when the news of Fernández’s death got out. The loss of a dear friend is a battle people often never stop fighting.
Fernández isn’t the first player to die during the season. Thurman Munson’s untimely death in 1979 stings New York Yankees fans to this day. Nick Adenhart’s death is one the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim still mourn. But the death of Jose Fernández is different. Against all odds, they have to find a way to survive without him.
They can move forward by following Gordon’s example. Do everything they do in memory of José. Win for him, knowing he’s up in heaven cheering on. Gordon stepped up last year, perhaps lifted by the spirit of his best friend. Having only hit eight career home runs prior to Miami’s first game back against the New York Mets, he led off an emotional night with an unforgettable home run. Gordon might never hit a ball that far ever again.
Gordon emerged last year as a team leader despite a PED suspension. He’s one of the best MLB leadoff hitters. Gordon’s swing-first approach is unorthodox for a batter in his role. However, he an on-base percentage of .340 with Miami, making it hard to argue with his results. On the base paths, Gordon is fearless and exciting, racking up 152 stolen bases over the past three seasons.
Moving forward, the Marlins and the community can lean on Giancarlo Santon. When healthy, few players can match his pure power. Entering the 2017 season, he’s averaging 41 home runs every 162 games. However, Stanton’s biggest issue has been staying on the field. He has only played over 150 games in a season once and over 120 games three times in seven seasons. Stanton is a phenomenally-talented player who is getting paid a premium. He’s worth every penny of what he gets paid. Perhaps his days of having terrible injury luck are over.
Christian Yelich complements the speedy Gordon and Thor-like swing from Stanton with an excellent overall game. He led the Marlins in 2016 with a 5.3 bWAR. His 4.4 fWAR was third among all left fielders. Yelich’s fWAR trailed only Kris Bryant (who started just 48 games in the outfield) and Jose Ramirez.
In addition, Marcell Ozuna has a lot of upside, hitting 23 home runs and 23 doubles in 2016. His power is his best tool, along with his fielding and arm. Miami will rely heavily on their outfield to help lift it, just as it did last season.
Fernández was an ace, no matter how you define it. Even considering his injury issues and durability, when he was on the mound, he dominated. Without him, Miami has to keep a straight face while dealing with a terrible hand.
On paper, the Marlins had the fifth-lowest starting rotation ERA in the National League in 2016. However, Fernández’s 2.86 ERA influenced it quite a bit. Without him, their starters are mediocre at best, even after accounting for the additions of Dan Straily and Edinson Volquez. They lack a true ace, but the best pitcher on the staff is probably Adam Conley, who finished with a 3.86 ERA. However, Straily could have some success after posting a career best 3.76 ERA in 2016. His pitching style could work out, as he allows a lot of fly balls in a spacious stadium. Wei-Yin Chen has a track record of success and should rebound in 2017. He was the ace for the Baltimore Orioles in 2015.
Miami will not be replacing Fernandez in the rotation, but it improved their bullpen siginficantly. And, as the Kansas City Royals will testify, a strong bullpen can overcome an average starting rotation. A.J. Ramos is a legitimate top-tier closer. David Phelps, a failed starting pitcher, made a very nice transition to the bullpen, emerging as a setup man. Add Brad Ziegler and Junichi Tazawa into the equation and the Marlins could have a quality pen.
Replacing Fernandez might be an impossible task. But the Marlins have no choice but to try to win in honor of their hero.