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Speaker 1: Hey, this is Kyle Stowers, and you're listening to Fish On First.
00:00:22
Speaker 2: All righty, Fish and Filtered, episode 135. We have a very special guest, Jacob Marcy, outfielder for the Miami Morons here with AJ Ramos as well. Jacob, we'll start right away with, I think, what everyone's looking at on the camera, which is the brace on your arm. Talk about how you're feeling right now, first of all, and just when did the discomfort start? How did this whole process go down? And I think you did this with Tyler's Uber, too, the same day that the surgery, right?
00:00:51
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, we were back-to-back, did our MRIs together, kind of did everything together, so it was kind of funny seeing him. When I was going out, walking out of the hospital, I saw him there too. But I'm feeling good. Progression's going pretty quick. Honestly, I feel like it's going a lot smoother than I expected so far, just as far as I didn't realize kind of how quick I'd get my range of motion and everything back.
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Speaker 3: But it's been good.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, so when on your, what part of your process are you on? Because when I had, what was the specific surgery? What did they work on for you?
00:01:30
Speaker 1: Yeah, I got the internal brace, which was a lot, it's a lot better than getting the full reconstruction because timeline's a lot smoother and everything. I'm pretty much full range of motion.
00:01:43
Speaker 3: I just had to work on just flexion more.
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Speaker 1: Um, and then from there, just start, start strengthening and going from there.
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Speaker 2: So what point in the season did, uh, did they tell you, did you kind of start feeling the discomfort and just how did that all play out?
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Speaker 1: Um, I can't really pinpoint the exact time it started. Um, I just remember like the last couple of weeks for sure. I was just in like a lot of pain kind of every time I threw and, um, I kind of figured something was wrong, but I didn't really want.
00:02:19
Speaker 3: To stop playing.
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Speaker 1: And it was one of those things too, where if we would have went to the playoffs and our season was still going, like there would have been no reason for me to stop playing.
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Speaker 3: I would have just kept playing through it all.
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Speaker 1: And yeah, like through the, through September, the whole time, I pretty much was hurting every time I threw a ball, which PCA kind of took advantage of that one time when we were in Chicago.
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Speaker 3: But yeah, but yeah.
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Speaker 4: Yeah man that's that's a tough part of being a competitor um i i threw through some injuries i i threw through uh i tore my my ucl in college second game of the season i end up throwing the full season and the only time i the only reason i had to stop throwing is because i was walking everybody and they were like hey what's going on with you we finally got it worked on so that that's just i mean shows your ultimate competitor but glad you got it cleaned up so that uh, so the, you start the process of getting better and then getting back your arm. And speaking of the process, it's going to be a little bit different because there's going to be an, there's an impending lockout. So what is, what is your communication been with the Marlins? So that let's say something like this does happen. What kind of plan do you have in place so that you can make sure that you stay on track so that you're on track to get back and healthy next year?
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Speaker 3: Yeah, I've been talking to them weekly.
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Speaker 1: Um, But then at the same time, I'm already working with some rehab people that are going to be in communication with the Marlins the whole time since I can't talk to the Marlins specifically. The Marlins already have been developing a relationship with them and being able to talk to them.
00:04:01
Speaker 3: So they're going to be talking constantly.
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Speaker 1: And then at the same time, I think the lockout, as much as I don't want it to happen, I mean, it can maybe help me take a step back and slow down. But either way, I should be ready to go day one of the season, which will be cool.
00:04:20
Speaker 4: That's an important part is having your team kind of away from the organization as well so that you're paying people to cover just you, right? So that's a good step in your process to make sure that you're getting all the information you need to. But when you reflect on this last season, you know, what were your thoughts on last year's team? You know, what, what areas do you feel like you guys improved? What areas did you think that you guys needed to, um, get a little bit better at? So what are your overall thoughts, uh, on the team this last year?
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Speaker 1: Yeah, I think, honestly, I think we grew a lot and kind of every area. And then at the same time, I think there's a lot of things we need to prove on in every area as well. Um, I think we have a really young group which I think that there was a lot of ups and downs this year that we were able to learn and grow from and be able to spend a whole year in the big leagues for a lot of us for the first time dealing.
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Speaker 3: With all that but.
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Speaker 1: I think overall I was pretty happy with how we competed day in day out even when we were out of games or it seemed like we were out of games we were kind of never out of them we always fought which I think is a big step and then even when we didn't score runs, I think we put a lot of traffic on the bases and stuff. So just obviously you're not going to catch them in every time, but the more you can do the little things like move runners or make life harder on the pitcher where they get out of the game a little bit sooner. I think it's just stuff you're seeing right now with the two teams, honestly, in the World Series where they don't hit a ton of homers, but they find a way to manufacture
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runs. And I think you're starting to see more of that with us this past year. I think we did a decent job, but I think there's always ways you can get better and find ways to manufacture more runs, and I think that's always something that you're looking to improve on.
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Speaker 2: How much of that is you guys trying to make that your identity, right? You were talking about the Rays and the Brewers, two teams that put a lot of pressure on opposing teams, and with the bunts, with the soft contact, and get runners on the base pass. I mean, we kind of saw that from you guys at certain points last season, especially in that month of June. Just how much of that is you guys wanting that to be a little bit of your identity. Obviously you guys do have guys that get hit for power like Stowers and Griff, but also make sure like, Hey, we're going to put pressure on you guys on the opposing teams and steal bases. You guys like major league baseball and stolen bases, you know? So how much of that is also you guys want to make that your identity?
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Speaker 3: Yeah, a hundred percent.
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Speaker 1: I think we always talk about being aggressive and, and trying to take an extra 90 every chance we can and finding any way on base. So I think, when you do those things and put more and more pressure on, on teams, they're going to make more mistakes and just, it makes life harder. I mean, I know it's, um, taxing on pitchers when they have to hold runners, even if they don't steal, if they're a base stealing threat, they're, they're constantly thinking about them.
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Speaker 3: Maybe that results in someone getting a better pitch to hit.
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Speaker 1: And, um, I think it's just something that you continue to, to grow with, but I think it's definitely something that we want to make our identity and, um, we're constantly finding ways to, to fine tune that.
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Speaker 3: And, and yeah.
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Speaker 2: Talk a little bit about your season. It was a weird one in the first half. You struggled. You had a six 15 OPS, but in the second half, complete turnaround, eight 62 OPS. Just talk about like the first half, Jacob Morrissey. And then the second half, Jacob Morrissey, what switched for you? What adjustments? Obviously you were, you're falling into some bad luck. And then that first year, you're making a lot of contact and just, didn't fall, but just talk about your season overall.
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Speaker 3: Yeah.
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Speaker 1: Um, I mean, obviously the first half was brutal.
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Speaker 3: Uh, can't lie. Like, I mean, I'll be the first one.
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Speaker 1: Sorry. I'll be the first one to, to admit that, um, that I wasn't happy with it. I, um, was literally staying up every night trying to figure out what I could do to get better and, and, uh, to help the team. Um, think the the positive sides from the the whole season as a whole was um one my ability to like grow as the year went on and and not let it phase me in other parts of
my game and just to the the defense I was able to play and show I could help the team in a lot of ways and and even still when I was struggling I was still finding a way on base um a ton which which is huge um but yeah definitely wasn't happy with the with the first half and then the second half just was able to kind.
00:08:59
Speaker 3: Of reset during that all-star break.
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Speaker 1: I think I started, um, to figure things out early in July and, um, just really get my direction back and use the whole field. I was just too much of a pull hitter in the first half and, um, try to do things that, uh, weren't me as a hitter and, um, kind of got away from myself. So I think just being able to reset and use the whole field and, um, I think it just put me in a better spot and helped lead to one, more power, but two, just like consistently getting on base and better at bat quality and contact quality. And I think that was something I was happy with, the way I was able to bounce back and just keep going.
00:09:43
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00:10:04
Speaker 6: I know it's easy but I'm looking for the deals because that's what I do even even so much like I'm we're getting such a good deal I want you to come across the river and we'll go to a Sixers game together I don't know where to sit in the stadium I but it'll let me know that it's a perfect view because I'm not a big NBA fan, but I got to go see the Sixers play with LeBron and the boys.
00:10:25
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Speaker 4: To me, it seemed like during that process, uh, you were trying to be real patient. You were real selective at the plate. And there towards the end, you were starting to jump on fastballs and starting to swing earlier in the count and making good contact on it. But the thing that I was most impressed on was that you never seemed to deviate from your plan. Even though it wasn't quite working out, you seemed to stay.
00:11:12
Speaker 4: On that game plan until finally you were figuring out how to maximize what you guys were doing. So talk a little bit about like the mindset to be able to continue on that path and trusting the process and not deviating from your plan until you can figure it out because you're, you've always been a contact guy and you've been selective and, and controlling the zone. And it seemed like you grew in that space so that you can still do that, but also maximize pitches that were in the zone that you can do damage on as well.
00:11:41
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think, I mean, I think for one, I think that's part of the reason I was struggling so much at the beginning of the year is, one, I don't think my body was in position to swing at some of the pitches I wanted to swing at. Some of the pitches I take were, I mean, I was frustrated that I was taking them still. I mean, I know I was working counts and working walks and stuff, but I mean, I'm a hitter and I want to hit first. I know it doesn't seem like that at times probably, but.
00:12:13
Speaker 3: I want to hit.
00:12:14
Speaker 1: And so when I take pitches that I know I can hit, it stinks. But at the same time, it was like my body physically wasn't in position to be able to swing at some of those pitches.
00:12:23
Speaker 3: And they seemed way further off or.
00:12:28
Speaker 1: Just like way lower than they really were. And I think that puts you in a bad spot. So I think really just getting my body in a position where I was able to actually swing at what I wanted to swing at and do what I wanted to do with those pitches, rather than, I think, early on, I was taking pitches I wanted to swing at, and in the second half, I was swinging at the pitches I wanted to swing.
00:12:52
Speaker 3: At and doing stuff with them.
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Speaker 2: How much of this season for you was also trying to figure out the type of player, you know, you're going to be at the big league level? We saw two different guys, but you know, two different kind of sides of you, the one that struggled in the first half, but the one that succeeded in the second half. Is this offseason and going to be just trying to find that guy in the middle where you do still help out, you know, in terms of the high OBP, getting on base, dealing bases, but trying to find like offensively that, you know, the Jacob Marcy that will be consistent throughout a full course and, you know, still put up good numbers regardless of, you know, the highs and the lows potentially.
00:13:28
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's just really important for, Um, me and I already, I've already been watching a ton of film from this past year and years past of just like.
00:13:38
Speaker 3: What am I doing when I'm going well? What am I doing when I'm going wrong?
00:13:41
Speaker 1: And, um, maybe that's approach, maybe that's mechanics and, and just figuring out how can you make those, those slumps, uh, shorter and how can you, um, make when you're going bad, the floor is higher where it's not, I'm not hitting one 90, I'm hitting, um, 2.30 and then when I'm going good, I'm doing what I did or even better. And then when you look at the course of the season, I end up hitting better than I did, obviously. And I think that's just something I'm always trying to improve on. And I mean, I think the first half of the season is probably some of
the worst offensive baseball I've ever played in my life. And obviously, I hope that doesn't continue to happen. I'm going to work every day to to not, but I think the second half is, um, obviously there was a lot of, uh, success like statistically, but I think like more approach and, and what I was able to, um, stick to, I think that's like the type of player I want to be all the time. Um, whether the results are there or not, I think, um, it's important to stick to my approach to, to swing at the pitches I want to.
00:14:47
Speaker 3: And I think even later in the year when I was getting out and I.
00:14:51
Speaker 1: Was hitting balls hard, I was happy with that bats and, and able to move on quicker where, uh, In the first half, it's like you're dwelling on those. One time you hit the ball hard on a line, you get out, you dwell on it, rather than when you consistently do it, more good.
00:15:04
Speaker 3: Things are going to happen.
00:15:07
Speaker 4: Yeah, it seemed like you got in sync there late in the year. You mentioned that the first half, it was one of the worst offensive seasons that you've ever had, but you did have 19 stolen bases. Was that a product of you trying to maybe overcompensate for the lack of what you did at the plate? And then on the second half, you only had four stolen bases. So what was the thing that switched for you from going from 19 in the first half stolen bases to only four in the second half?
00:15:37
Speaker 1: Um, no, I think I, I mean, if you look at my whole career, I think I've always stole a lot of bases and, um, been pretty good at it for the most part.
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Speaker 3: Uh, but I think there was a.
00:15:46
Speaker 1: Little rut where I kind of gotten some outs and honestly just got timid.
00:15:50
Speaker 3: And, and didn't really want to get in any more outs. And, um, kind of shut myself down.
00:15:55
Speaker 1: And then at the end of the year, when I started stealing a couple more bags, again, I think I just got my confidence back was watching video and, um, seeing what I, what I wanted to look for in the picture to be able to steal and, um, taking advantage of those moments that came, um, where I think when I wasn't doing good offensively and I was getting out stealing bases, then I was like, well, I don't want to, when I do get on base, I can't just get out that aspect too. So I think I like shut myself down, And it was more of a mental battle than really just being bad. I think even some of the bases I got out, if I just slide head first or, you.
00:16:33
Speaker 3: Know, I think I'm safe and then I'm not even in that little rut.
00:16:38
Speaker 1: But I don't think I was trying to compensate for anything. I think I know how to steal bases.
00:16:44
Speaker 3: And I.
00:16:45
Speaker 1: Think that's just always been part of my game. And I think when you get on base and you're not hitting extra base hits, it's a lot easier to steal bases than, when you're actually doing damage.
00:16:54
Speaker
3: With the ball.
00:16:56
Speaker 5: Right. Yeah.
00:16:56
Speaker 4: I mean, I know like as a pitcher, when guy gets on and I know he can still bases, it disrupts the timing. So like, it's a great skill to have. And you have that another great skill you have is being able to play center field. You have nine outs above average, but you had somehow a negative defensive run save. Now I'm not the most analytical savvy person, but how would you evaluate your defense in center field? And how did, I don't know if you had communication about, I'm sure you had a meeting at the end of the year with the organization. And, and so what did the organization, what was their message about how you played center field?
00:17:38
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:17:40
Speaker 1: I think the DRS thing, when I see people talk about that, it's something I get the most frustrated at because I think a lot of people talk about numbers and they don't really know what they're talking about. And, yeah, I'm kind of getting frustrated already talking about this, but I think I watched, I think I watched every single video, um, multiple times, um, that I got dinged on. And if you really watch like almost every single one of them, there's really nothing I can do. Um, but I've, I've already asked him like, what can I do better to make that number better? Um, not just for like the number to be better, but like, if that number is really that important, then I want to, uh, help the team in any way I can and I know my arm's not bad I know like at the beginning of the year I think there was a couple times where I threw um overshot the cutoff or or just uh threw it off the bag a little bit and didn't get guys out so so trail runners could um could uh advance but I think the second half of the year my my arm got way better and more accurate and um yeah I mean if you watch the plays back really like there's not a lot I can do on on almost all of them so I'm not really too worried about that, but they were pretty happy with how I played overall.
00:18:52
Speaker 4: Like, which plays? Does one come to mind where you're like, I can't believe I got dinged on that? Because I think I'm with most of the fans where I don't understand how a lot of that stuff works, right? Especially the DRS. What do they ding you on? What's the process of that?
00:19:14
Speaker 1: Well, like, So if any runner advances at any time, like an extra 90, you get kind of dinged. So say a runner was stealing second and there's a base hit up the middle, obviously they're going to get to third easy, and then you lose a quarter.
00:19:28
Speaker 3: Of a point on that.
00:19:29
Speaker 4: I see.
00:19:30
Speaker 3: You can't do anything about that. So just things like that. Or plays where.
00:19:40
Speaker 1: I mean, if you like a guy makes a good play at home where he swim moves, avoids a tag or something or just like an example like that goes from gaining a whole point.
00:19:50
Speaker 3: To losing almost, like, half a point or whatever.
00:19:52
Speaker 1: So it's just, like, things like that where it's just, like, constantly 90 feet where maybe, like, you could have had a close play at them at third, but, like, in the situation it calls for, maybe it's really more important to keep that double play in order where it doesn't really matter if you're trying to go get that guy at third. Um, and I think that's something I had to learn and grow. Cause I've always been like, nah, I'm going to get this guy out where at times it's like, we have one out and we're up three. I don't really need to get this guy at third. I can just check it down. And if we get a ground ball, we're out of the inning.
00:20:24
Speaker 2: So how much do the more owns value DRS as a, as a stat there's OAA, obviously out to above average, which you're great at. And then there's DRS. I was talking to Clayton about it during the season. And it seems like out to above average is maybe the bigger stat you guys as an organization value a little more. Just how does, How does the organization value those defensive numbers?
00:20:43
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think OAA is probably the most important, especially for outfield. I think if you're able to take balls away that are in the air and make more outs in that aspect, it's good. And I think we have our own internal numbers too that they show us all the time that I don't think they were as worried about the DRS and stuff. Obviously, it's something I want to improve and we work to improve my arm and Um, I think that it got a lot better and more accurate. Um, but I think they were more worried with OAA for the most part.
00:21:16
Speaker 4: And, um, yeah.
00:21:18
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00:22:10
Speaker 2: Talk a little bit about the new hitting coach, Dylan Lawson. That was the only coaching staff change. Had he had a chance to talk to him yet? And if so, just how did that go?
00:22:19
Speaker 1: Yeah, we had a team meeting with the offense and him. And then I actually had a phone call with him yesterday, just getting to know each.
00:22:27
Speaker 3: Other, him learning what I think works for me.
00:22:31
Speaker 1: And we'll have another conversation too about goals, but
obviously can't hit for a little bit. So just taking our time to really just grow our relationship. And I think it's really important when you can grow a relationship with someone and be able to have good communication because I think when you really know someone and you know they care, I think it means a lot more when they're telling you what you're doing wrong, especially when they just get hired. So, yeah, he seems like a great guy, and I think it definitely could help us going forward.
00:23:06
Speaker 2: I know he joined the Marlins in July of this year is what they had told us. Did he ever was he ever on the team ever before he got officially put into this role? Had you ever met the guy or was that your first time meeting him, you know, in that team meeting?
00:23:21
Speaker 3: No, I didn't.
00:23:22
Speaker 1: Honestly, I didn't even know he was with the Marlins until I saw that get put out. So, yeah, the first time I met him was in that meeting.
00:23:32
Speaker 2: So now what does your offseason look like? With the injury, you have the lockout, you're going to have maybe a little bit more time potentially to get right. What does your offseason progression look like as you head into spring training? And for you specifically, not knowing potentially when spring training is, if this does happen, how does that kind of change your offseason approach or plan?
00:23:55
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's going to change my approach too much just because of the fact that I'm trying to get my arm healthy either way. Um, so just working through that progression and, um, once I start, uh, I can start like full lifts, um, in the next couple of weeks, I'm pretty sure.
00:24:11
Speaker 3: So, uh, be able to do that.
00:24:14
Speaker 1: I've already started doing some, some lower body stuff and working on that, but just continue to work on my arm, um, watch video, learn as much as I can to grow. Um, and then once it starts like beginning of January, I'll be able to, start my progressions for both hitting and throwing and be able to go from there.
00:24:37
Speaker 4: How much of the World Series have you watched?
00:24:40
Speaker 3: Every inning.
00:24:42
Speaker 4: Every inning. Is it inspiring to you to see teams play similarly to the way you guys play? You get a lot of base hits. You play really good defense. There's some pitching, good bullpen. I mean, necessarily they don't slug as much, right? Like, so is it inspiring to see other teams in the World Series play similarly to you guys? And do you think that, you know, what have you learned from it? And what have your thoughts been so far of this World Series?
00:25:14
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been so fun to watch.
00:25:16
Speaker 1: And honestly, the Brewers team in general, I think has been just fun to watch the whole time, whether, I mean, whether they get hits or not or get on base or not, I think when they take those at-bats that they're getting out and they take them from a four-pitch at-bat to a seven-pitch at-bat and just constantly see them make the pitcher work and make it easier on the next guy. I think that just, they're playing really good team baseball right now and it's just been super.
00:25:44
Speaker 3: Fun to watch. I think that they have controlled the.
00:25:49
Speaker 1: Zone really good and I think it is like, I don't know if it's inspiring because I'm not really worried about like what other teams are doing because I think everyone has their kind of own identity.
00:26:00
Speaker 3: I mean, we're not going to have the same.
00:26:01
Speaker 1: Exact identity as them, but it's just fun to watch old school baseball in a sense of kind of just making life hard on the opposing team. And I think it does correlate to kind of how we're playing too. So definitely you can learn a lot from just watching.
00:26:24
Speaker 3: All righty.
00:26:25
Speaker 2: We'll wrap it up there. Jacob, really appreciate you taking the time out of the offseason to chat with us here for a bit. And we'll wrap it up here from AJ, Jacob, and myself. See you guys all next week. And as always, go fish.