MLB WINTER MEETINGS

December 4, 2023

Skip Schumaker

Miami Marlins

Press Conference

Q. Compared to last year, is there anything different at all with the organization, the way you're approaching this winter meetings, especially having had the success this season?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: Well, it's new because of the new president of baseball operations and him meeting our staff really for the first time today was pretty cool, and having lunch with Peter, and half of our staff I guess were here.

But other than that, I think us knowing the players already is good. Not a ton of meetings about each guy because we already who they are. Just trying to figure out how they can get better now is mainly the conversation instead of trying to figure out who they once were type deal.

Nothing that has really changed with that.

Q. How is that dynamic? Is it a lot of you guys catching Peter up to speed on the organization? Is it him maybe providing observations of what he's noticed as an outsider? What's that dynamic?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I think it's a combination. I think Peter is one of the brightest guys around and obviously really smart. I've already learned a lot from him in the last couple of weeks of how he sees things.

I think if I give him my take on everybody, I don't think that's fair, because I want him also to make his own opinions of people in the organization or players or whatever. We can bounce ideas off of each other as far as the players and staff and that type of thing.

I think it's a lot of organic conversations.

Q. At this time of year there's a lot of evaluating players and processes. Do you have time to do self-evaluation to look kind of back at the manager you were over this season and to look at areas where you think that maybe you could improve?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: Every day. Yeah. That's part of growing, and I think -- I tell the players every day, you have a chance to either get better or worse when you enter the clubhouse. It's the same thing for me and our staff.

I just don't believe in the saying "you are who you are." I always feel like there's a chance to get better. I know that I was not perfect by any means during the season. So you reflect every game and then the season ends. Yeah, I mean, I got my wife telling me all kinds of stuff that I need to get better at. There's always stuff to get better at.

You reflect, and with young guys, pitching moves, position changes, all that stuff, you to try to figure out what you could have done better to move the needle even more. And so, yeah, there's a lot of reflection.

Q. What was different about the gig as the head guy than maybe what you expected? Like, when you got the job a year ago, how did you expect it to be, and now that you're sitting here having done it for a full 162, what was different about it?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I didn't know if I could do it. I think that's the biggest one. Until you're a manager -- I think there were some nerves and some anxiety to know can I really do this thing? Because you think there's -- if you're the bench coach or first base coach or whatever it is, you could always go back to your hotel room or your house and say, oh, man, if I did it, I may have done it a different way; right?

Then when you are actually in this seat, it can speed up and it gets fast and then you have to make the calls and then you have to talk to your guys after the game about the bad decision or good decision, whatever you made. That was the little bit of anxiety going into this position.

So I think this year it's like, okay, I feel like I have an idea of how to navigate a game. My staff was phenomenal. I was very fortunate to have a staff around me that covered all my weaknesses and blind spots. I really do believe that -- like, I thought this and I just told Kelly -- that I thought being surrounded by good people was the biggest separator as far as going through 162.

Now I'm convinced of it. It's a people business, and when you will have 162, you need to be surrounded by people to help you grow and to learn, but also you have fun to come to the ballpark every single day. And if I don't have big personalities around me, it's not fun coming to the ballpark. And I had that.

So some things I had to make sure that it was real and then some things I had to convince myself am I actually ready for this position? So I think year two is way different.

Q. Did you have a moment during the season that you realized you could do it?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I had a couple of moments where I thought I couldn't do it for sure.

Q. What were those?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: So you have to figure out how to align yourself with front office analytics, player development, that whole thing. And you just want to get it right. And whether it's sending a guy with infield in or if it's a bunt situation and they don't want -- whatever it is. I'm not saying they don't want you to, but conversations.

In the end I think it was probably -- there was St. Louis when we pitched to Arenado -- we could talk about that all the time -- when he walked us off. There were conversations not just on our analytics, but analytically, like, you never want to put a guy on. There's also thoughts where, like, that's Nolan Arenado.

So learning from that situation like, wow, am I ready to talk about that after the game, because I don't know which is right still. I still don't know; right? I know I don't want Nolan Arenado to beat me, but there's a really hot Contreras behind him; right? Bases loaded. Do I want a wild pitch.

So certain situations like that where you're trying to figure out, am I ready for this or not? And that was late in the season.

There's other times where, yeah, I think I thought I was ready when you're having tough conversations with the guys, and then you see them buy in. Whether it was Jazz and the position change or Luis in the position change or maybe changing the closing role or that type of thing and having those really tough conversations. And then you see them having success when you do move them, I think, all right, they're buying into our message. Maybe I am right for this. I think there's different situations.

Q. Now with Miller joining the staff, obviously Brown leaving for Seattle, Bill joining you (indiscernible) but how much do you enjoy working with Mabry?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I knew Bill in my Los Angeles days. He was the special assistant. Salt of the earth. Really good guy. Fits our staff really well has no ego in this thing. Our staff, we don't have any egos. We're just trying to get better and trying to win baseball games.

I think he fits perfectly. They worked well together in St. Louis. That's important to me because those hitting guys work so many hours together in the same office that if there's any sort of disconnect, it doesn't work. So there needs to be some flow and the same language also needs to be delivered to the player. And it can't be just a million different ideas, and then these guys get lost. So that was important.

Brownie changed the whole offensive mindset, I think, in our organization and he left it in a better spot. That's the best thing you can say about a coach when he leaves; right? And when you do get guys plucked from your staff, I hate it for us, but it's also a win because that means you had success and guys want something from your staff because it was successful. And Brownie was successful and I'm happy for him.

Q. Do you think it will stay similar, the philosophy, even though he's gone, (indiscernible) people coming in, that foundation, that groundwork?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: It wasn't a finished product by any means, but I think the game-planning was better. It wasn't just one way to hit a baseball anymore. It was everybody has individualized game plans. Brownie was all-in. He was great for us. All the Minor League side bought in on his philosophy as well. I don't anticipate it being too different.

Q. With the addition of Miller, would you say the coaching staff is pretty much set for 2024?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: Close.

Q. What does that mean?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: Close. That's what it means. It's not open, but you can always add.

Q. Where would you like to?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: In different spots, categories.

Q. What did you learn after year one about what the Marlins' best path is going to be moving forward to continue to contend with a division of teams that spend more than you guys do? What did you learn about what you guys need to master organizationally to keep up with those types of teams?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I thought what we are really good at is we can pitch. We have a young pitching still that's coming through.

Looking forward to see what Max Meyer brings in 2024 because he was a stud out of college. He was hurt. To see what that looks like, whether it's -- I know he is building up as a starter right now, but I'm looking forward to seeing him. A full year of Eury in the Big Leagues. I'm looking forward to seeing him.

So I think we need to continue to develop high-quality starters. And I've heard it a million times. I just said in an interview, you're only as good as your bullpen. A manager is only as good as his bullpen. It really is. We had some firepower, some swing and miss in the bullpen with Tanner Scott. Acquired Matt Moore. And obviously Puk and Brazoban and Nardi were a lot of swing and miss.

To be sustainable, we have to develop hitters. It's just what it is. We have to develop hitters. We got some young guys that are going to be there for a while in Burger and Arraez and Jazz and De La. We have some good hitters.

But to continue to fight against some really big teams in our division, I think developing some hitters that we can control and can help us up and down the system, that's probably the next step.

Q. Is there anything you could point to about maybe what needs to get done to give yourself a better chance to develop those hitters?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I think drafting and developing is the biggest component to that; right? I think that Peter has done a really good job in Tampa of acquiring those type of hitters. You see that roster has a lot of Tampa guys on it that they developed.

We don't have that. We don't have a lot of guys that were developed in our system. It's just the reality. So getting to that point is going to be huge for us and to make this thing sustainable for a long time.

Q. How much have you been able to check in and communicate with your players compared to how you did last year and getting to know --

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I tell all of our staff to check in after Thanksgiving, give these guys a break. Pipe is the general manager in the DR, so he is checking in with a lot of those guys that are already there or are on their roster already.

I give them quite a break from me and from our staff. They don't want to hear me right now anyways. As much as I love them, they don't want to hear from me right now, so I give them a break after Thanksgiving. And then I'll start talking to them after the Winter Meetings.

Q. Pipe as a GM and Beef as a manager on the same team, obviously you know the importance of playing winter ball, but how important is it for those two members of your staff being so close and being able to feed you with some information?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: They're in first place, so they're obviously doing something right. They'll be taking my spot here pretty soon if I'm not careful.

Yeah, Beef is awesome. I'm fortunate to have him. His first year managing down there, which is pretty special. To me Pipe, I'm not sure how he is not a manager already, so I'm very lucky that he's next to me during the games.

It's nice to have somebody down there watching players internationally every single day. Two guys that are on my staff. Not only some of our players that are on that team, but having conversations with our front office about guys that they like or they see that maybe we could potentially acquire is always nice to have.

Q. Is the team open to bringing Jazz back to the infield by any chance?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I don't see that happening yet. Jazz really took off kind of the second part of the season in the outfield as our center fielder, so I don't anticipate that happening just yet.

Q. Eventually obviously developing those home-grown hitters, that takes time. In the short-term how do you guys pull up that offense or trade in free agency? How many bats do you think you need to be able to continue to compete in the division?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I think that's a Peter question. No. I really like our club. Obviously we lost Soler. That was a big bat that is a free agent. I guess we lose him, but he's a free agent.

Yeah, I think I guess one catcher on our roster right now. So I think that's probably a couple bats on the radar of Peter. And Berti played a really great shortstop when he was there. I'm sure we're looking for maybe some depth at that position. But right now Berti would probably get the bulk, if it started today obviously, with Jazz in center, to answer your previous question.

As far as players are concerned, we're talking through that right now. That's kind of why we're here. I'm anticipating we're going to sign a couple of guys, but until that happens, I can't really say names.

Q. I'm just curious compared to last year, I'm not sure how involved you are, but have you heard the perspective from free agents or maybe teams in terms of players wanting to come to the Marlins now that you have made a postseason and you have proven that you can win and compete?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I think Miami has been a destination spot just because it's in Miami. I think a lot of guys want to play there. A lot of families and a lot of players live in South Florida, or in Florida in general, I should say.

I think now that we're relevant, that people would want to come. Yeah, you hear players that want to come, but in the end they're free agents. They can go wherever they want to go. Most probably go where the money goes, so that's just what free agent is. But if you can convince some players that we can maybe help them take them to the next step or they can live at home type thing, I think that's always a good thing for their families or whatever it is.

To answer your question, I haven't reached out to all these free agents to see if they just want to come here.

Q. You mentioned catching. It's always tough to evaluate that position, but how would you like the team to address that necessity going forward?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: You want a catcher that is a leader that pitchers love throwing to that can figure out how guys can -- like, Cabrera can throw more strikes or that Luzardo can now be a Cy Young or whatever it is, and can hold guys accountable.

That's a big position. It's not just strictly an offensive position to me because we are so pitching-heavy that you need to be able to throw to a guy that you love throwing to.

The offensive part obviously we would love to have, but I think having a leader back there that it's really, really important that's done it before.

Q. First time at the winter meetings as a manager. Any different than when you have come here in the past if you have been here in the past?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: Last year was my first, but I haven't been to the Winter Meetings before that because honestly I didn't want to go.

I will say that it's been -- this year and last year is, again, building relationships over again. Last year was like building relationships with the front office and I'm kind of doing it again.

Q. Going off of that, I guess, not only the first time everyone is together, but you probably during season don't have the whole brain trust, I guess, around each other that much. Whether it's you and the front office people, because everyone kind of goes their separate ways.

SKIP SCHUMAKER: During the offseason you're saying?

Q. During then the season, and you're probably not all in the same room like this.

SKIP SCHUMAKER: During the season we have meetings quite often. So, yeah, I would say like the Minor Leagues and all those guys and the affiliates being here, it's good to catch up. We're constantly talking to coaches up and down the organization and front office.

It's good to see them. I haven't seen them in a couple of months, but those conversations are happening all the time.

Q. The team is not a finished product obviously yet, but are you already thinking of, oh, this is where X could be playing, or this is where -- Vidal, who we just acquired, this could be where he slots in. Have you already given that consideration?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: You think about that when you have your roster right before Spring Training because you just don't know what pieces are going to come or potential trades or however that works.

I think acquiring a bunch of really good athletes and really good Big Leaguers and then figuring it out after is always a plus. I know Bruján is playing down in the DR. I talk to Pipe about him all the time.

I know X. I have an idea of where he can play and where I think -- you know, outfield is probably going to be part of the equation this year.

You think about your roster, but until you get that set roster before Spring Training a week or two before, that's when you kind of navigate and see, unless there's a complete position change like we did with Jazz.

Q. We touched on it earlier. It's the offseason, but would you say that Tanner is the closer going into this year?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: Tanner is going to pitch in the highest leverage situations we have, so whether that's -- if you want to say closer, that's fine, but we pitched him in the eighth inning and ninth inning last year.

So you lose games in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, not just the ninth. If the meat of the order is in the eighth inning and I need Tanner there, there's a good chance he is going to pitch it because if I don't use him in the ninth because we just lost in the eighth, I'll be kicking myself.

I think he's our best pitcher in the bullpen if that's what you are asking. He'll probably get the bulk there, but I will use him in spots to get out of big jams or to use in the meat of the order in the eighth inning.

Q. Have you watched Japanese video this offseason? For example, Yamamoto and Imanaga.

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I have, yeah. Yeah, I have. I think it's tough not to see some of the highlights that are going on in Japan and that went on in Japan. Yeah, I'm very aware of the talent that's out there and a very special pitcher who has swing-and-miss like you just cannot find -- it's tough to find I should say -- that has some outlier pitches that are tough to hit.

When you miss bats there, it usually translates here as well. He's going to be very good for a long time.

Q. Nashville has been brought up as a potential landing spot as a franchise. If the league were ever to do that, you haven't spent a ton of time here, but you have played some Minor League ball around the state of Tennessee. In your experience what would make this such a good spot to get a team?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: Yeah, I love Nashville. We've been at the CMAs. My wife is a huge country fan, so yeah, went to CMAs last year. There's stuff to do obviously all around Nashville. We loved coming here. I played for the Memphis Redbirds for a number of years, and we came here all the time. This was a place that you kind of circled on your calendar of, like, can't wait to go to Nashville.

I think, first of all, the people here are incredible. The sports fan base here in Tennessee is really, really good, college and professional. So I think it would be a destination place that a lot of people would want to come and see a professional team play.

Q. Were you surprised at all with just the D-backs and the Rangers and how the whole playoffs unfolded, and does it give you hope as well that the D-backs -- you could be there too possibly?

SKIP SCHUMAKER: I thought it was great for the game. I'm not surprised because it's humans playing humans, and you just ever known once you get into the playoffs. You just don't know what's going to happen.

When you play the Diamondbacks, you know how hard they are to play against and game-plan against because of the platoon situations that they have. They can beat you with speed. They have two aces on the mound with Kelly and Zac. It wasn't surprising because of how well they were coached.

The firepower that the Texas Rangers had, it wasn't surprising. They kicked our butt in Arlington this year so that was not surprising at all to see them. It's the hottest teams usually in October. And also not surprised because Arizona was a good team.

So I don't want people to think that, like, oh, man, I can't believe Arizona got -- they were a good team. Again, really well-coached. It wasn't surprising at all other than I thought Philly was just so good, but either one of those teams making it was really good for baseball and happy for them.