"It Just Seems To Continue To Spiral For Jeff."

- quote from Greensboro Grasshoppers president Donald Moore after an arrest warrant was issued for Jeff Allison. (HeraldSun.com)

Joe F. Looks Back at the Fish in the Year '06

(MLB)

Dontrelle (As Represented by Lawyers Reynoso & Reiff) Speaks!

"Related to the incident on December 22, 2006, I want to thank everyone involved for their support and encouragement. Concerning the specifics of the evening, I acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and I understand that there is a legal process that needs to be followed. As I respect this process, the police and those involved, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. Thank you again for understanding my position and for your continued support." (MLB)

Willis' Mom Speaks

'Without passing judgment on Willis' guilt or innocence, Harris felt compelled to reach out to her son's fans.

'"I felt like in my heart I owed it to the people in Florida because I just feel like after all the friends I've made, how all the people have treated us, I wanted to say something on behalf of the whole family," Harris said. "In my heart, I'm really sorry and really sad and I'm still in shock. ... Dontrelle just made a mistake."

'"I hope everybody can kind of forgive us," Harris said. "I'm taking responsibility too for what has happened. It'll take a little bit for people to process. That's human nature, but he's still the same loving kid who loves the game and is going to give Florida all he has when he's on the field." (SunSentinel)

Something I Didn't Know About Dontrelle

'On Feb. 13, 2003, Willis walked away from a horrific accident on Highway 101 in San Jose, Calif. A rear tire blew out, causing his green Mustang to flip at least five times. Alcohol was not involved, according to reports.

'"Every day I wake up I think about it," Willis told The Palm Beach Post in August 2003. "How much fun life is now and how it would have been if something unfortunate had happened."' (PalmBeachPost)

Marlins Playing Exhibition In Dayton, OH!

It will be against the Reds March 31 at always-sold-out Fifth Third Park (DaytonDailyNews)

Where's Charlie?

The Fish' opening-day pitcher is now pitching coach for the Class A California League's Inland Empire 66ers. (OurSportsCentral)

Mysterious Rumor Pops Up...

...about a three-way Marlins/Devil Rays/Rockies trade. (MinorLeagueBall)

Rays Prez Promoting Baseball Under Marlins-Like Conditions?

'Rays President Matt Silverman of the Rays moving a May series to Orlando: "It allows fans to enjoy Rays baseball at home in an open-air environment."...I implore Mr. Silverman to sit out in the bleachers of Al Lang for 81 days a year during the summer, for three hours at a time if he wants to see an open air stadium built in the future. It is easy for the purist in you to say that "baseball should be played outdoors". All climates equally temperate, I agree. However Florida is a tropical climate. It is humid. It is rainy. It is full of mosquitos. It is not comfortable. We invented air conditioning for a reason. If you want to build a retractable dome, that is a good idea. However you can't build an outdoor stadium and play baseball in it day after day in the sweltering heat and expect fans to show up, especially considering the team isn't stellar. Look at the Marlins for proof of this. It isn't practical. For every 75 degree, sunny day there is a 90 degree day with sun showers occurring every 30 minutes, or
(OOOPS-EDIT) essentially every day in July and August.' (DRaysBay)

Dave Hyde: Bargain-Basement Beinfest Befuddled By Below-Best Ballplayers Bolstered By Big Bucks

'If (Gil) Meche is worth $11 million, the Marlins' starting young pitchers are worth their weight in gold bullion. Not simply for their talent. But, outside of Dontrelle Willis, the likes of Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen, Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez will make $360,000 next season.

'So how can the Marlins afford to trade something as fragile as starting young pitchers, even if they're loaded with them? To replace them would be impossible.

'This isn't to say the Marlins have no money to spend. Too many people see the Marlins' attendance and majors' puniest payroll and say that. But do some simple math.

'The Marlins get approximately: $30 million in revenue sharing; $12 million in local TV; $18 million in national TV and $10 million in licensing and merchandising from Major League Baseball. That's $70 million before selling a single ticket, which is a good thing considering the number of tickets they sell.

'They can't spend like the Yankees or Red Sox. And they aren't so desperate as to roll the dice like the Royals and Orioles. But for the past several years Beinfest hasn't just made trades that smartly upgrade the roster but to spot bargains that worked out for everyone.

'This winter might prove the end of that.' (SunSentinel)

Marlins Strive To Allieviate Armando's Arthritis

'Benitez currently is in his native Dominican Republic, but he is scheduled to return to South Florida next week to continue rehabbing his arthritic knees...

'One member of the Benitez camp said getting him out of San Francisco's cold, damp weather and into South Florida's temperate climate again would alleviate the pitcher's condition.' (SunSentinel)

Good Luck Jack

McKeon scheduled to get hip-replacement surgery today. (MLB)

Blast From The Past: Whatever Happened to Chuckie Carr?

The man who made every catch a thrill during the inaugural season is now hitting coach for the Advanced Class A Salem Avalanche in the Astros organization. (OurSportsCentral)

Dean Treanor Returns as Isotopes Manager

'Treanor spent part of the offseason managing Escogido of the Dominican League. Treanor was fired from that post in mid-November after leading the Leones to a 10-10 record.

'"They wanted me to bring in some discipline; they said they didn't have any and they didn't," Treanor said of Escogido. "They wanted me to play certain players, some of them hadn't played in the states last year. I played some (different) younger guys and they said they wanted to go in another direction."

'Treanor noted the Leones were 10-10 when he was fired and are now 14-29.

'"I'm not sure what direction they wanted to go," he said.' (AbqTrib.com)

MORE: Rest of Marlins minor-league managers decided. (MiamiHerald)

'You Gotta Be Here!'

That seems to be the new Marlins ad slogan - at least it's prominently placed on the mailer I received about the Select-A-Seat day this Saturday. (More details about that at this link.)

Padres Fans Discuss the Mermaids...

...and whether San Diego should emulate their inspiring example. (GasLampBall)

Meet the New Team - Same as the Old Team

'Rather than go out and spend freely on high-priced free agents, the Marlins have committed themselves to retaining their own.

'As expected on Tuesday, the Marlins tendered formal contract numbers to all 36 players on their 40-man roster.' (MLB)

No Way! No More Eddie K.?

The best anti-'sports-talk' sports talk show is being cancelled - WQAM's Ed Kaplan, who suffers fools not at all and doesn't let being a fan blind him to the realities of the sports business (for example, pointing out the steriod issue years before it became a hot topic), or screw up his chances of making a couple of bucks in Vegas, is being replaced by syndicated ESPN programming. (MiamiHerald)

Devil Rays to Take Over Florida

Tampa Bay already has 4,000+ more attendees per game than the Marlins - now it spreads its tentacles (or maybe its stingers) to Vero and Port Charlotte, and is finalizing its plans to play regular-season games in Orlando (against the Rangers May 15-17). Says team president Matt Silverman, "It's a big state...And I'm sure the Marlins look at it the same way (insert fiendish laugh here)." (MiamiHerald)

MORE: They also want to take away the Marlins' pitching.(FishStripes)

Girardi Lets Loose

'Just when you thought you had heard the final word from Joe Girardi on the Marlins comes this unusual revelation: At a recent Dolphins Touchdown Club luncheon, the ousted manager told host Jim Mandich he was uncomfortable with the Marlins' scantily-clad Mermaids performing at games.

'"We have a 7-year-old daughter going to the ballpark," he said. "I don't want to teach my daughter to dress like that or shake her body like that." (The Marlins knew about Girardi's sentiments.)

'Of his firing, Girardi told the audience, "I'm still bitter and I'm still angry and that's probably why I'm not managing. It's hard to fire the Manager of the Year for what he did on the field, so you have to say something else" to discredit him.' (MiamiHerald)

Acquisitions

Marlins pick up 3 in Rule 5 draft, and Dontrelle picks up a wife today. (PalmBeachPost)

Marlins Inquiring...

...about Benitez, Hernandez, Boone, Burgos, Ellsbury. Meanwhile, Borowski is an Indian, and Griffy mentions Hanley. (SunSentinel)

Kranitz Named B.A.'s MLB Coach of the Year

(MLB)

Marlins' Dealings with Rays for Baldelli at 'Dead Ends'?

'Friends had been filling him in on the rumors, which include everything from logical possibilities such as the Orioles, Rangers, Red Sox and White Sox, to some odd fits, such as the Phillies and Tigers, to some dead ends, such as the Marlins, with whom the Rays apparently had significant differences of opinion.' (StPeteTimes)

DuPuy in South Florida Again

'Keeping a promise to help the Marlins find a solution to their stadium dilemma, Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy met with local politicians and team officials in Miami-Dade County on Tuesday.

'Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina said he spoke with DuPuy about progress toward building a stadium in Hialeah west of I-75. Sites in downtown Miami are also under consideration.

'"I think our site is very accessible to baseball fans throughout South Florida," Robaina said. But, he added, "at the end of the day wherever this community decides baseball should be, I'll support it because my goal has always been to keep baseball in South Florida."' (SunSentinel)

Ozzie Dines With Miguel

'"He has lost 15 pounds. He is going to have a great year," Guillen predicted of the Marlins' All-Star third baseman.'....ALSO, Fish interest in Kolb, Rocco, Elijah, and Jose Hernandez...and Fredi chokes down a stogie with Jack. (PalmBeachPost)

Socialist View of Today's 'Stadium Mania'

'In the early 1900s, baseball stadiums were built and paid for by the teams. By the late 1960s, new parks were springing up in most major cities. These modern venues catered to baseball and football, were usually located downtown, and were built on the public dime. Owners, politicians and the media often trumpeted these new stadiums as part of a downtown renaissance.

'But Roger G. Noll, co-author of Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: The Economic Impact of Sports Teams and Stadiums, disputes this claim: "There's never been a publicly subsidized stadium anywhere in the United States that had the effect of increasing employment and economic growth in the city in which it was built."

'In some cities, crucial services deteriorated after stadiums were built. Baltimore and Cleveland have mostly publicly funded baseball and football facilities, but their public schools are in receivership. (Cleveland's schools were actually once promised $15 million per year income from the stadiums.) And as Washington, D.C. built its new baseball stadium, thanks to the insistent "leadership" of Mayor Anthony Williams, the city also closed its only public hospital.

'In the old days, sports venues hosted multiple activities and were expected to last 60 or 70 years. By the early 1990s, owners began asserting that facilities built in the '60s and '70s were already obsolete.

'Not satisfied with simply having a new stadium, team owners also began to demand separate stadiums for each sport. They decided these new stadiums must come with private suites that teams could sell to corporations and individuals for thousands of dollars per year. For example, indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff had private suites at every sports facility in D.C. to woo his clients.

'How do sports owners get their new stadiums? Many threaten to move their teams, painting local pols as "bad guys" who won't work with them. Wealthy owners also enjoy backroom access to politicians, who get campaign donations for their troubles. Donations quadruple when you add the ones from "community leaders" who show their appreciation after stadiums are built.' (Socialism.com)

SOMEONE ELSE SPEAKS: 'Recent studies have confirmed a fatigue with public financing for stadiums. It just is not worth it. The economic advantages for the host city are less and less. The internet and cable television have made everything far closer; you can see a game anywhere in any city through such creations. Do you really need a stadium?

'Also, the greed is simply out-in-the-open now. People making $50,000 a year paying costs for billionaire owners to house millionaire players is a sham. The players have proven they don't care which city they play in, just the one paying the most. Why should a fan go out of his way and take more dough out of his pocket for this sort of thing? He should not.

'At the very least, there should be some sort of reward for public funding. How about the team making sure ticket prices remain in the bottom ten? That would be both rewarding and gracious. Instead, we often get owners who raise ticket prices almost immediately. Gee, thanks for the support, Mr. Billionaire.' (from InternetGilletteStadiumCompilation...also check out the "Top Ten Myths Surrounding the Montreal Expos")

Florida Marlins - the Chevy Aveo of Baseball

'Major League Baseball is awash in cash, having drawn a record 76 million fans and taken in a record $5.2 billion in revenue last season. And that money is trickling down by the bucketful.

'The sport's new TV deal, which kicks in next spring, will pay each club $20 million. And last summer's sale of the Washington Nationals netted each team another $10 million.

'Figure in the $195 million from MLB Advanced Media the teams will share and the revenue sharing, luxury tax and merchandising money that the majority of the 30 clubs will get, and it leaves most teams with about $50 million to spend before they sell a ticket.

'As a result, the Kansas City Royals are projecting a franchise-record $55 million payroll for next season. The Pittsburgh Pirates might top $50 million for the first time since 2003. The Orioles, Dodgers, Angels and Red Sox are spending big. And even the Tampa Bay Devil Rays paid a $4.5 million posting fee just to negotiate with Japanese infielder Akinora Iwamura.'

...And then there's the Marlins...

'"We still have our [revenue] challenges here," said Beinfest, whose payroll is expected to grow slightly, to between $22 and $30 million, still the lowest in baseball.' (MiamiHerald)

New Florida Governor 'Supports' New Marlins Stadium

"It's not a stretch at all to view it as economic development for our state...I would be very unhappy if any of our teams would leave the state. And I'll do everything I can within reason to make sure that does not happen." (Gainesville.com)

Double-Update

...on last Tuesday's post....

1. Scott Olsen Won't be appearing at Sawgrass Mills Mall - Robert Andino will be. (FishStripes)

2. Tom Verducci's findings don't seem to be statistically valid. (HardballTimes)

Maverick's Top Marlins Prospects

(FishStripes)

Borowski's Arm Falls Off During Exam

Okay, so maybe it didn't fall off...but the Phillies "team doctor examined the results of the physical and advised against giving the pitcher a multiyear contract," according to ESPN. Still, the report says multi-teams are clamoring to sign him for a year, including maybe the Phillies. Hope he gets a big fat contract, but whichever team gets him to sign better make sure that the pen he uses isn't too heavy.

Devil Rays-Marlins Games in Orlando Next Season?

'The Devil Rays are exploring the possibility of playing several regular-season games in the Orlando area, perhaps as soon as the upcoming season, as part of an effort by the franchise to broaden its fan base beyond Pinellas and Hillsborough counties....

'In order to change venues, even temporarily, the Rays would need approval from Major League Baseball and likely would have to negotiate an agreement with the players' association.

'Also, moving games away from Tropicana Field would require negotiating with the city of St. Petersburg, which holds the lease on the stadium and receives a portion of ticket sales.

'St. Petersburg mayor Rick Baker said he has been approached by the Rays about the idea...

'A spokesman for Disney's Wide World of Sports said that Disney and the Rays have had "very preliminary" discussions about using the baseball stadium there for regular-season games. The listed capacity at Disney's stadium is 9,500, but the Braves drew 11,431 fans for a spring game against the Yankees this past March, and six other Braves games drew more than 10,000 this year.

'A spokesman for MLB said the Rays have not yet contacted the commissioner's office, an indication that the idea remains in the exploratory stage. If the plan picks up steam for next season, one possibility would be to move the scheduled three-game home series against the Marlins (May 18-20).' (TBO.com)

Scott Olsen Appearing...

...at Sawgrass Mills Mall December 2. (MLB)

OH NO: He may also appear on next year's disabled list if Tom Verducci's findings prove to be more than a statistical anomoly.(SI.com)

Old Player/Broadcasters Talk About Marlins Fans, Stadium Hopes

Tommy Hutton: "Don't get me wrong: It's flattering to have so many people know who you are,...But it's frustrating, too...because that means nobody goes to the games. And as great as it is to have so many people tuning in, as wonderful as it is to get the television ratings we've been getting, you'd much rather see those people at the ballpark...I think that will change if we can get a new, retractable-roof ballpark built...I think we have a better chance of getting a ballpark in South Florida than in any of the other cities that have been talked about. Charlotte, San Antonio, Las Vegas . . . None of those other places have the population or the TV market of South Florida."

Gary Carter: "Obviously, they've won two world championships without their own stadium, so they can survive there...But if you're looking at the long term, a new stadium would be much more beneficial...I can't understand why they can't find a location...I thought the area next to where the (Florida) Panthers play was ideal...I don't know if they'd do well in the city of Miami."

Jim Kaat: "I always thought a franchise would do better in a place like Jacksonville or Orlando, where they could get the corporate support they needed...But if they're going to make it down south, they're going to need a ballpark with some type of dome. I don't see how they can survive without one. And, really, they ought to be looking closer to Palm Beach County." (TCPalm)

Frisaro's Thinking on Marlins Trade Strategy

"Barring a change of thinking, I am getting the impression the club isn't going to part with any of the starting five pitchers, and I'm not sure if a major move will be made for a center fielder. Looking around at the skyrocketing salaries for free agents thus far, coupled with the Marlins' financial limitations, I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a big-splash push for a center fielder. The reasons are first, money, and second, other teams aren't eager to part with their young players who are affordable now as well. The Pirates, for instance, aren't eager to part with Chris Duffy.

"Trading top-rated prospects, or low service-time players, for prospects rarely happens. That's because teams know what they have in their own prospects and aren't quite willing to take the risk with another team's prospects. So I wouldn't be stunned if no major deal is done for a center fielder...

"There is a chance they could swing a deal for someone like Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli, but even that seems remote because the Marlins are not looking to deal any of their starting five pitchers. So it will depend on how creative the front office can be. They still are building toward being championship caliber over the next few seasons, and there is a reluctance to part with key pieces they'll need down the road in hopes of a quick fix. So that is the challenge in searching for a center fielder. Players along the lines of Ryan Langerhans fit the profile for outfield help because the dollars aren't there to go after more established players." (MLB)

Here's A Drawing of a 'New Marlins Stadium'

...on the 'New Stadium Drawings' blog. (Click here)

David Pinto Asks...

...'just how foolish were the Fish not to try to sign Miguel Cabrera to a long term deal?' (BaseballMusings)

County Officials Talking to Themselves

Craig from Fishstripes links to a Sun-Sentinel story about a new site being discussed for a Marins downtown stadium.

Well, maybe not 'discussed'...probably 'proposed' is a better word, since the article seemed to state that the Miami-Dade County officials had only talked about this site amongst themselves.

The Marlins gave no comment about it (as if the Marlins front office has any say in the matter anymore), and MLB so far is still concentrating on the prevoius downtown parcel proposal.

I guess the article serves more as an announcement to whoever's concerned that 'Hey, we got this little plot of land right over yonder'. It's up to others to find the inevitable disagreeable aspects of it, like displacing the 'Children's Courthouse' that was supposed to go there, or the difficulty of making nefarious land deals from donated government property.

HERE'S ANOTHER: Field of Schemes contends the new site "wouldn't really be cheaper".

HAVE YOU WONDERED?: After all the years of officials moaning about where the Marlins can put a new stadium, have you wondered why it took them so long to discover this supposedly wonderful possible plot of land, especially since it is practically next door to the parcel the MLB is looking at? At least one official is wondering, too: "It was right under our nose all along."

UPDATE: 'Major League Baseball and the Marlins have been approached with Mr. Burgess' new proposal, according to county officials. But the plan to build the juvenile-justice center could scuttle the stadium project, officials say...

'Pending more information, commissioners Sosa, Gimenez and Barreiro were generally positive about Mr. Burgess' plan. "It sounds really good," Mr. Barreiro said. "If we can work things out with the children's court, this could be a perfect location. It has the Metrorail, parking and easy access. I really think it's ideal." (MarlinsBallparkNews)

Trade Time!

The Marlins trade lefties Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick to the Mets for righties Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens. They also trade righty Chris Resop to the Angels for righty Kevin Gregg. And they stick lefty Paul Mildren into their 40-man roster. (MLB)

MORE: 2 thumbs up on the trades, from BaseballGM.

Wes Could've Been a Yankee

"It came down between the Yankees and the Phillies...I definitely wanted to stay in the National League. I knew all the pitchers. I knew all the hitters. I know where to play them in the field. Everybody I know who has changed leagues, it's an adjustment period.

"It's a more comfortable place for me to come to. I think it's better for my family, also. I felt they'd be happier here than in New York.

"The role was to play first base...They were going to DH [Jason] Giambi. On the guaranteed side, they were a little higher [in salary]. But that's just me. I'm going to go where I'm happy. I felt like this is where I needed to be." (Philly.com)

Many Marlins News Notes

The 2007 Marlins Spring schedule is released. (MiamiHerald)

Beinfest checks out a day early, Gall signed, Wes signs with Phillies, and some news from Winter League (MiamiHerald)

Jacobs will get another chance, Hermida and Willis recovering, and Volstad progressing. (PalmBeachPost)

Marlins trying for Tavares, pining for Pie, happy about new Rule 5 rules (SunSentinel)

Bill Madden: Willie was 'Jobbed'

'No offense to Joe Girardi, who did a truly commendable job in guiding the $14 million "Baby Marlins" to the brink of the playoffs this season, but if you ask me, Willie Randolph got jobbed yesterday in the Baseball Writers Association NL Manager of the Year voting.

'I'm not alone on this. Mets GM Omar Minaya was amazed and two decorated veteran managers here at the GM meetings, Lou Piniella and Jim Fregosi, were likewise stunned.

'"I don't want to take anything away from Joe Girardi who did a fine job," said Minaya, "but I have a hard time justifying Manager of the Year for a team that didn't finish over .500 when my guy won 97 games. You had to look at our team and take into account the whole body of work by Willie, even though it started last year. This team plays like Willie played. They adopted his whole personality."

'A manager who has manned the dugout in both New York and the Sunshine State agreed.

'"You gotta be kiddin'!" said Piniella. "I thought Willie did an outstanding job this year. The Mets played hard all year and his starting rotation was in flux. Taking nothing away from Joe, who also did a real nice job down there in Miami, but if I had a vote, I'd have Willie first and Joe second."

'"How do you have a guy be manager of the year with a losing record?" said the equally flabbergasted Fregosi.

'How indeed? It had never happened in the history of the voting. But as Girardi - who was nevertheless fired at the end of the season after butting heads with team owner Jeffrey Loria and GM Larry Beinfest - noted in a conference call yesterday, his 78-84 Marlins were almost universally picked at the beginning of the season to do a lot more losing than that. And absolutely no one could have envisioned them contending for a playoff spot almost down to the final week of the season.

'"I'm not surprised," Girardi said of the vote. "I know an awful lot of people had us picked to lose 110-115 games, and for us to come as close to making it into the postseason as we did...I think people who watch the game every day appreciated what we accomplished."

'But the same could certainly be said for Randolph and the Mets. You had to see them every day to appreciate how they got to their NL-high 97 wins, especially after losing Pedro Martinez for the last two months and cobbling together a rotation with castoffs John Maine, Oliver Perez and Orlando Hernandez.' (NYDailyNews)

New FL Governor was Old Minor-League Lawyer

MLB Prez DuPuy courting Crist, trying to restart stadium discussions, considers Pompano a possibility. ALSO: Yankees broadcaster may be Manager of the Year, and forget Wes. (SunSentinel)

Hanley's The ROY!

(PortervilleRecorder)

ALSO: Larry comes in 2nd in the SN MLB Exec of the Year voting. (Ohio.com)

Any Certanties for the Naples GM Meeting?

Well, Willis is certain to be 'one of the hot topics'...'Cabrera is all but certain to return'...'One thing is certain, the Marlins won't go after a top free agent'...'The Marlins have had talks with the agents for right-hander Joe Borowski and first baseman Wes Helms, who each filed for free agency after solid seasons in Florida.' (PalmBeachPost)

OH, YEAH: 'Beinfest...already has signed journeyman reliever Nate Field to a minor-league contract.' (MiamiHerald)

Miguel Bringing in the Big Guns?

'Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who Friday won his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive player at this position, has severed ties with his representatives at RKL Sports and is close to signing with powerful SFX Sports, the agency that represents several Latin American stars including Alfonso Soriano, David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and Vladimir Guerrero.

'Cabrera is eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter and could be asking for as much as $7 million a season after making just $472,000 last year.' (MiamiHerald)

The Certainty of an Uncertain Future

'Owner Jeffrey Loria has provided his front office with the 2007 budget. Last year, the Marlins spent about $19.6 million (including deferred payments) on the major league roster. The 2007 figure is expected to remain in that area.

'General Manager Larry Beinfest would neither talk about payroll specifics nor whether the projected outlay would enable the Marlins to keep both arbitration-eligible stars, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. The two are expected to earn a combined $12 million or more.

'"I'd rather not comment on specific players and how they fit in the payroll other than to say those are very good, important players to the Marlins," Beinfest said.

'If the Marlins' track record holds true, neither Willis nor Cabrera will have security beyond 2007.

'"Those are pretty hefty numbers and years," said Beinfest, acknowledging the swirling speculation around Willis in particular. "We recognize his contributions, what he's done in the past and what he can do for us in the future."' (MiamiHerald)

MLB Players Vote Uggla 2006's Top Rookie

(SunSentinel)(MiamiHerald)

A Blurb

"Desperate for bullpen help, the Marlins inquired about Yankees free agent Octavio Dotel, who returned in August after elbow surgery. He had 36 saves for Oakland in 2004." (MiamiHerald)

"2007 Florida Marlins"

A clear-eyed look of the Marlins' needs and possibilities, with a few good links and comments. (MLBTradeRumors)

Dontrelle Does More Good

(MLB)

Marlins Scout Bob Oldis in the Iowa Hall of Pride

He donates his Pittsburgh Pirates baseball uniform from the 1960 World Series.(DesMoinesRegister)

Ex-Marlin Mota Gets 50-Game Suspension

(Yahoo)

Vote For The Frick!

Hey, our buddy Rich's on the ballot. Imagine that. (MLB)

Allison Piling On the Charges

Heroin possession, possession of stolen vehicles, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a public officer, felony possession of a stolen vehicle, misdemeanor larceny charge, speeding and driving without a license.

ALSO: "The Marlins on Tuesday named Gaby Sanchez and Chris Volstad as their Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively."....and Wes getting interest. (SunSentinel)

Buster Olney Says Trade Willis

"The Marlins should trade Dontrelle Willis this winter. There is so little pitching available this winter that if the Marlins dangled Willis, there would be a robust trade market for him. Willis turns 25 this winter, he's left-handed, he has a World Series ring. The Marlins could get the kind of top outfield prospect that they need if they agreed to deal Willis.

"But if Florida keeps Willis, whose salary could be in the area of $8 million next season after he goes through arbitration, and he has a season similar to what he posted last year -- a decent-but-not-great 12-12, 3.87 ERA -- his trade value will drop, as his salary rises, as he gets closer to free agency.

"There are questions about how long Willis can maintain his complicated delivery, and whether he'll stay healthy. And Florida has enough depth in its rotation (Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen, Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco) to trade Willis now and still be competitive next year. His value will never be higher than it is right now, and the Marlins should take advantage of that." (SheaNation)

ALTHOUGH: Bleed Cubbie Blue thinks Willis would be "relatively cheap... I think a package of Murton, Marshall, and a lower end prospect would be totally reasonable and that the Marlins would be insane to pass that up." (BleedCubbieBlue)

Cleveland Considering Borowski

"The Indians are looking hard for a closer. Under consideration is Joe Borowski, who had 36 saves for the Florida Marlins. He's 35, he's a free agent and this was his best season. In his career, he's 80-of-101 in saves. You want a closer to convert at least 80 percent, so Borowski is at that mark." (Ohio.com)

Borowski, Helms, Moehler and Herges - Free Agents

(MLB)

D-Train, Agent Not Expecting a Long-Term Offer

Though Dontrelle Willis was eligible for arbitration a year earlier than Miguel Cabrera, both cannot become free agents until after 2009. Knowing the Marlins usually don't give multiyear contracts to players well before free agency, Willis said he won't push for one.

'"His choice is to sign a long-term deal here, but I wouldn't be offended if they don't propose it," agent Matt Sosnick said. Without a stadium, "the Marlins' position is probably different than other teams. I can't blame them." . . .

ALSO: 'In his strongest comment since being fired, Joe Girardi told The New York Times last week the Marlins "mistreated" him at times. "Not true," Jeffrey Loria told the newspaper without elaborating. Girardi also said he was "misled a bit" about the team's payroll, "but I'm OK with that."'(MiamiHerald)

Good Bye Joe

Sad day for baseball - Mr. Niekro knuckles under. Maybe son Lance will have a chance one day to use the pitch his dad taught him. (MLB)

WS Game 5

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Virtual Marlins Games Soon?

On Second Life you can already buy virtual Marlins merchandise. (TheStreet.com)

WS Game 4 (Groundhog's Day Edition)

What, no doubleheader? At least the chance of rain is down to 80% tonight.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

MEANWHILE: Berardino plays with the idea of a neutral (definition: warm) site for the World Series.

Marlins Still After Hialeah Stadium, MLB Wants Downtown Miami

(SunSentinel)...Hell, with MLB making around $5 billion last year, why can't we have both?

WS Game 4

...with only a 90% chance of rain tonight. Where's that portable dome when you need it?

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

WS Game 3

Prediction: More miserable people will huddle in Busch Stadium in the dark to watch the shivering Boys of Summer attempt to play out another just-this-side-of-frozen late-October fiasco. Get rid of the bats and give these guys some hockey sticks.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

CONCURANCE: Rick Barry sees it the same way. (EDIT: and he can spell, too.)

Joe Says No To Nats

'Former Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi, considered for weeks the favorite to become the next manager of the Washington Nationals, took his name out of consideration for the job yesterday, saying it was a decision based on keeping his young family together but simultaneously saying he could still end up on a baseball field next season.

'Girardi had two meetings over the last three weeks, one with General Manager Jim Bowden and the other with Bowden and team president Stan Kasten. Girardi said the talks went well and that the decision to pull out was "very, very difficult."

'"I was very impressed, very impressed with Jim and Stan, the organization, the new stadium, the Lerners," Girardi said in a telephone interview. "I think it's a great ownership group, and the situation is going to be very good. I think it's a wonderful job. But I think I came to the conclusion at this time that it's not the right move for my family."

'Girardi and his wife, Kim, have three children -- two daughters, ages 7 and seven weeks, and a 5-year-old son. They have lived in suburban Miami for only 10 months after moving from Chicago, and Girardi said he didn't want more upheaval.

'"We just moved," he said. "This was a tough decision, but for my family, it's the right one."

'Girardi spoke with Bowden yesterday to relay the news. Sources close to the situation said that the job could have been Girardi's had he aggressively pursued it and that the Nationals had given indications that he was the favorite. Sources insist, however, that the Nationals had not extended a formal offer. All sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the Nationals intend to conduct the search in private.' (WashingtonPost)

David Samson Becomes Ironman, Celebrates at McDonald's, May Now Have Tattoo

(MLB)

WS Game 2

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Speculation Time

The Marlins are looking at some players to trade for, and and are thinking of using a few of their players to trade with, and Jeffrey may raise the payroll or he may 'roll the dice again', or whatever. (PalmBeachPost)

MEANWHILE: 'The Marlins made an offer to Wes Helms, but it likely won't be enough to keep him from testing free agency.'(MiamiHerald)

WS Game 1

At least no snow is forecast as of Sat. morning.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Former Fish Magadan New Red Sox Hitting Coach

'The Padres fired Magadan in mid-June when San Diego's team batting average dropped to a National League-worst .252.

'"I was shocked when I was let go," Magadan said. "I didn't see it coming at all."'

Good luck, Boston. And remember always take that first pitch. (WorcesterTelegram)

WARNING: 3rd-Degree-of-Seperation Rumor Alert!

Since there ain't many Fish stories out there (and since all Marlins players are tradeable anyway, so it isn't really news if it's true) here's a Usenet poster to the MN Twins group saying this about Josh Johnson: "Josh Johnson from the Marlins. He's a Minnesota native, and he is reportedly on the block by the Marlins (according to KFAN radio)." (GoogleGroups)

Finally Finalized

'The Florida Marlins today announced their Major League coaching staff for the 2007 season. Joining first-year manager Fredi Gonzalez will be bench coach Carlos Tosca, pitching coach Rick Kranitz, hitting coach Jim Presley, first base and infield coach Perry Hill, third base and outfield coach Bo Porter, bullpen coach Steve Foster and bullpen coordinator Pierre Arsenault. The announcement was made by Marlins Executive Vice President and General Manager Larry Beinfest.' (MLB)

Another Couple of Teams in the World Series

'Only once in the modern history of the four major professional sports leagues have 10 different teams made it to the championship finals in five consecutive years the NHL from 1992 through 1996.

'And there's only one stretch of more than seven different titlists in consecutive years: Baseball crowned 10 different champs from 1978 through 1987, and 12 different teams hoisted the trophy in 13 years from 1978 through 1990. (Lasorda's Los Angeles Dodgers broke the streak with titles in the strike-shortened season of 1981 and again in '88.)

'Baseball's postseason party, once an exclusive gathering of the gentlemen in pinstripes and similarly high-toned colleagues, is now as open as a Delta House rush night.

'Seventeen of the majors' 30 teams have made the playoffs at least once in the last five years. Only seven have failed to make one appearance since the playoffs were expanded from four to eight teams in 1995.

'That's enough to make the NFL, that paragon of parity, jealous.' (USAToday)

Game 7 - Cardinals vs Mets

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

"Why South Florida Doesn't Love It's MARLINS?"

Beach Blog Bimbo lets fly with opinions....

"management's inability to go out and trade for some pitching support in preparation for the stretch run - showing that their cheap azzes gave up on the season before it was even over....

"Here lies one of the major issues with fans in South Florida! We are New Yorkers aplenty or from Chicago or Boston. So those of us who really love baseball, root for other teams and we have yet to completely embrace the Marlins as OUR team....

"(note: The Marlins will sadly regress in 2007...by choosing Freddie Gonzalez over Giradi. Yes-men don't win championships and there's only one George in baseball.)...

"Imagine how more fan support during the season could have accounted for 10 extra wins, a playoff spot and another World Series appearance. Imagine the possibilities, if this team of youngsters had a stadium full of cheering fans through 10 close games. Maybe that extra hit or out would have gone in the Marlins favor.' (BeachBlogBimbo)

Game 6 - Cardinals at Shea, Mets Fighting Elimination

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Forget Miami and Pompano...Get Behind Hialeah Gardens All the Way!

Why? Because they deserve the Marlins stadium, that's why (but only if they really want it). And why do they deserve the stadium (but only if they really want it)? It's because they got Balls, that's why!! (And that's why I wouldn't force it on them if they don't want it.)

You want proof? How about taking on the largest, most multi-tentacled retailing monstrosity in the known universe?...

'(A)s Wal-Mart rolls out a new round of workplace restrictions, employees at a Wal-Mart Super Center in Hialeah Gardens, Fla., are taking matters into their own hands. On Oct. 16, workers on the morning shift walked out in protest against the new policies and rallied outside the store, shouting "We want justice" and criticizing the company's recent policies as "inhuman." Workers said the number of participants was about 200, or nearly all of the people on the shift.

'It's the first time that Wal-Mart has faced a worker-led revolt of such scale(!!!), according to both employees and the company(!!!!!!). Just as surprising, the company quickly said it would change at least one of the practices that had sparked the protest....

'The protest wasn't led by any union group.(!!!!!!!!) Rather, it was instigated by two department managers(!!!!!!!), Guillermo Vasquez and Rosie Larosa. The department managers were not affected directly by the changes, but they felt that the company had gone too far with certain new policies. Among them were moves to cut the hours of full-time employees from 40 hours a week to 32 hours, along with a corresponding cut in wages, and to compel workers to be available for shifts around the clock. (Boo Hiss!)

'In addition, the shifts would be decided not by managers, but by a computer at company headquarters. (Ugh! Treating people like inventory!) Employees could find themselves working 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. one week and noon to 9 p.m. the next. "So workers cannot pick up their children after school everyday, and part-timers cannot keep another job because they can be called to work anytime," says Vasquez.

'In addition to scheduling changes and reduction in hours, workers are now required to call an 800 number when they are sick. "If we are at an emergency room and spend the night in a hospital and cannot call the number, they won't respect that," says Larosa, who has worked at the store for six years. "It will be counted as an unexcused absence."

'Beginning last week, the two managers began talking with other employees, one at a time, getting their signatures in support of a protest. The demonstration may not have happened if not for the tight-knit nature of this predominantly Spanish-language community near Miami. At least 15 department managers joined the workers in speaking out against the new policies. "We are a Spanish-speaking community, some from Cuba, some from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, and if something affects my brothers and sisters, it affects me," says Yahima Morales, who has been a department manager of health and beauty aids for four years at the store.

'The employees drafted a protest letter that they have sent to executives at Wal-Mart headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., and also to Florida politicians, including Florida Governor Jeb Bush. "In the letter, we state that we want justice and that Wal-Mart should stop harassing us," says Vasquez. At least 400 store employees have signed the letter.' (MSNBC.com)

DAMN: I just had a thought: people with this type of stand-up-against-injustice-won't-take-no-crap spirit may just send Jeffrey and Ironman David scurrying away. Oh, well, back to Pompano.

Tie-Breaking NL Championship Game Tonight

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Even Earthquakes Can't Stop the Mighty Samson

(FishStripes)...as he fights off family, cellphone calls, and late-night dinners to achieve his goal. 'What drives me is training hard enough so that I can finish...Because when I cross the finish line they will say "David Samson, you are an Ironman."'(MiamiHerald)

BY THE WAY: The original Biblical Samson was a pampered, self-absorbed, doltish nutjob. (Slate)

MLB and MNF Smack Heads Tonight

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

THE HEAD HONCHO DECIDES: God wants us to see if the Bears can win on Monday night. Mets vs. Cardinals reset for tomorrow.

McKeon: Pitch on Short Rest? Sure!

'McKeon thinks the media makes a bigger deal about pitchers throwing on short rest than it actually is.

"You go back 15, 20 years ago they did it all the time," he said. "Now it's a five-man rotation instead of a four-man. Everybody is concerned about hurting someone. You go back and look at the Bob Gibsons, the Mickey Loliches, the Denny McClains, they never had rotator cuff problems.

"I think the more you pitch the less chance you have of getting hurt."' (NYPost)

Taylor Starts Charity

'Marlins reliever Taylor Tankersley is launching Eric's Legacy, a charitable foundation named in honor of Eric Smith, a high school classmate who died of brain cancer at 16. "He was kind of our honorary batboy, mascot, team spirit guy," Tankersley said. To kick things off there will be a baseball camp in Vicksburg, Miss., followed by a dinner and silent auction on Dec. 27. Tankersley will contribute the first $15,000 with hopes of awarding at least one college academic scholarship per year.' (SunSentinel)

A Scout Spouts

'One respected NL scout's postseason impressions of the Marlins: He said Florida shouldn't expect Taylor Tankersley to develop into a closer and Jeremy Hermida was overrated: "I saw a lot of holes in Hermida. . . . There's something about Anibal Sanchez where the whole is greater than the individual parts. . . . Josh Willingham reminds me of Jeff Conine with more power. . . . Hanley Ramirez has the ability to be Edgar Renteria defensively and Miguel Tejada offensively."' (MiamiHerald)

Mad Thot (Volume Uno)

Just a passing notice of a wee bit of possible irony in the fact that the hiring of Fredi Gonzalez as manager two weeks ago coincided with the revelation of the concept to build a Marlins stadium in Pompano Beach.

Irony because just at the point when the Fish finally get a Cuban-born manager, now the chance exists for the team to move farther away from the core Cuban population that they've been always trying to attract.

Dontrelle and his Future Bride Buy House

...and I hope you respect their privacy and not try to look up the home's address.

Mets at St. Louis Tonight

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

More Playoff Games Today

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Rick Kranitz Stays With Marlins

And so does hitting coach Jim Presley. (SunSentinel)

Bye Bye Chris?

'Now out of options, Aguila would have to make the Marlins coming out of Spring Training next year. So most likely, his tenure with the organization is coming to an end.' (MLB)

Crisp Playoff Weather Today

'Crisp', meaning the players in Detroit will probably be spitting ice cubes out of the dugout. Craig knows how it is to bat in the cold. Here's the games...

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Girardi to do World Series Pre-Game Show

'Fox Sports will add ex-Yankee Joe Girardi as a pregame analyst for the middle three games of the World Series, Fox Sports VP Dan Bell confirmed to NYP TV Sports.' (NYPost)

Guess What?

'(Cubs GM) Hendry...must decide what to do with some inside information. There's no way his close friend Larry Beinfest -- the Marlins' GM -- hasn't warned Hendry about the internal struggles he had with Girardi before the first-year manager was canned by a tight-wad team with two years left on his contract.

'Fans who know Girardi the player more than they know Girardi the manager are craving that the former Cubs captain get the job. Many of the baseball minds connected to the Cubs are pushing for Piniella.' (SunTimes)

ALSO: 'Reports out of Dallas indicate the Rangers want someone who will work in harmony with management. Girardi¹s troubles in this area with the Marlins may be a red flag.' (DailyHerald.com)

Cardinals at Mets Tonight

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Remembering Cory Lidle

(SunSentinel)(PalmBeachPost)

More Championship Games Tonight

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

"The AFL is Underway"

No, not Aussie football...it's the Arizona Fall League! (FishStripes)

Mad Thaught (Volume 1)

You know, it may not be all that easy for Joe Girardi to get a new managerial position.

Now you may be saying, 'Whoa! Hey, dude, if you haven't heard, the man's just won the Sporting News NL Manager of the Year, he's gonna win the Baseball Writers' NL Manager of the Year, and the Cubs and Cubs fans are falling all over themselves trying to get him over there - what about that?'

Uh, yes, I know. The Cubs in fact just finished interviewing him. But they're interviewing a few more people for the job. That in itself doesn't tell much.

And of course the team he ran had an amazing year. The Marlins front office obviously knew that he was a likely shoo-in for BBWAA-NLMOY,... yet they still were chomping like mad at the bit to get his butt out of the clubhouse, not even concerned that they have to pay his salary for the next 2 years to do it.

The interviews that I think will matter here are the ones the GM's of the needy teams had or are having with the Marlins brass under the radar, getting from them the inside low-down on why the leader of one of the most surprisingly successful campaigns in all of baseball history had to be jettisioned.

That type of talk may contain much stuff we haven't heard - maybe not nasty or salacious stuff, maybe stuff of debatable consequence, but just stuff that may make a prospective employer think twice about signing him up.

Then again, maybe not.

Uggla Named Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year

(MLB)

Time For The Second Round

So sit back, grab a coney, and watch as the Marlins North battle the A's for the AL championship.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Mariano Rivera Could've Been a Marlin

'In 1993, New York left him unprotected in the expansion draft where the Colorado Rockies or Florida Marlins could have selected him.' (USAToday)

Mad Thot (Volume 1)

By now we've seen enough of Loria and his minion that we can pinpoint at least 2 of the front office's basic operative procedures...

One: Do something that's unbelievable (he got rid of Delgado? AND Beckett?? AND Pierre??? AND so on???? And etcetera????? And ad infinitum?????)

Two: Consider doing something that a fairly large group would think is insanity to do, and then do it anyway (he fired WHO???)

I bring this up to lessen the possible shock that maybe, just maybe, even though 3 competing concepts are now hard at work in South Florida vying to be the new retractable home of the Marlins, that crazy Jeffrey may still pop out of his cave one day soon and announce "Pack up - we're moving to Delaware!!..or Kalamazoo, or Katmandu or wherever..."

Michael Mayo on the Pompano Proposal

'Major League Baseball might not be thrilled about the Marlins being entwined with a gambling operation (even one that doesn't have sports betting), but it would be hypocritical for MLB to kill the proposal. Many teams, including the Marlins, already have sponsorship deals with casinos at stadiums and on their broadcasts.

'Best of all, there is certain poetry about it: America's new pastime (gambling) subsidizing America's old pastime. And unlike most public funding formulas, this one is strictly voluntary. Nobody's forcing gamblers to put money in slot machines.

'When slots arrive, the pari-mutuel owners will make out like one-armed bandits. Why not let the Marlins benefit, too? So long as voters get to approve the slot deal changeup, the Marlins might have finally hit the stadium jackpot.' (SunSentinel)

One More 1st-Round Game to Play

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Some Facts About Fredi

- "Born in Cuba, Gonzalez was 2 when his family fled Havana aboard the first Freedom Flight allowed by Fidel Castro." (PalmBeachPost)

- His father drove The Avocado ("El Aguacate") to work, while his mother cooked 'old clothes' (ropa vieja) for dinner. (PalmBeachPost)

- 'Gonzalez become the first manager hired by the Marlins for their minor-league system. He skippered a Class A team in the New York/Penn League, and it won the championship that season, 1992.' (PalmBeachPost)

- The man who threw the first pitch ever for the Marlins organization (under Fredi in Erie) now plays safety for the Denver Broncos. (DenverPost)

- Fredi has a 6-8 record managing the Marlins as a substitute for John Boles in 1999-2000.

- During his Marlins managing stint he protested one game, and another time had Mike Lowell bunt. (PalmBeachPost)

- Loria first called Fredi on Sept. 25 - Fredi accepts job on the 27th, while Joe continues to manage 4 more games. (PalmBeachPost)

Good Grief! More Playoffs!

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Jammers Get 2 More Years as Marlins Affiliate

(PostJournal)

The Joe Borchard Story, So Far...

Girardi: "...to compare a player to Mickey Mantle? There might be one or two players a century who live up to that... It was quite unfair for him, but that's what people do." (LA-DailyNews)

Girardi Talked With The Nats on Friday...

... and will talk with the Cubs on Sunday. (SunSentinel)

Carlos Tosca New Marlins Bench Coach

(AZcentral.com)

Good Night Buck

Mr. O'Neil passes away at age 94. (SunSentinel)

Even More Playoffs

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

'The Marlins Say All of Their Announcers Will Return'

...although Cookie is being considered for Fredi's staff.

Also overall Marlins TV ratings were 2.9, down from 4.2 last year. And the heavy hand of the Marlins was felt after FSN broadcast Zimmer's positive quote on Girardi. (MiamiHerald)

Girardi Described the Cubs' Needs - 4 Years Ago

'They have to bring in someone who is pretty assertive. And someone has to take control of the clubhouse and just try to change the attitude of the whole organization.' - quote from Joe in November 2002 before Cubs hired Dusty. (SunTimes)

Still More Playoffs

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Pompano Stadium Proposal Has Advantage Over Other Sites

The advantage?...Potential truckloads of money. 'It would be like stealing. And stealing was the crucial element missing from all those other plans.' (MiamiHerald)

Former Fish Delgado Shines in 1st Postseason Game

'In his first post-season game after 1,711 regular-season games, Delgado showed patience, plate discipline and power going 4-for-5 with a monster 470-foot shot to straightaway centre as the New York Mets edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 in the opener of the best-of-five National League Division Series before 56,979 fans at Shea Stadium.' (TorontoSun)

Former Manager Basketball Team Complete

...as Showalter joins Girardi, Baker, Alou, and Robinson in the wait room. (ChronicleHerald.ca)

Angry Marlins Fans Stuns Local TV Bigwig

'Never in my tenure as Managing Editor of NBC6.net has any sports story generated as much passionate response from viewers as Girardi's firing. Not even the Heat championship run generated the number of e-mails we received during the past 24 hours.' (NBC6.net)

More Playoffs

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Opinions on Yesterday's Firing-Hiring

Greg Cote: 'It was interesting Tuesday how the new man, Gonzalez, answered when asked what he thought of the 2006 Marlins. His perspective is sharp; he saw Florida 19 times as Atlanta Braves third base coach.

'"Outstanding. Impressive," he said. "They played happy."

'Give Girardi credit for creating that atmosphere. It's far too easy to trot out the tired notion that managers aren't important simply because they aren't pitching and hitting. Even Beinfest admitted, ``Good managers can make a bad team good. Good managers can make a good team great.''

'The Marlins hired themselves a good one, just the right one to guide this young team, and then fired him in a pique because he proved a bit too strong-willed for the masters of the organization. Presumably Gonzalez -- whom the Marlins passed over in favor of Girardi a year earlier -- will be more pliant to management's power needs and whims.

'It is not incongruous to bemoan Girardi's unfair departure and also to note that Gonzalez, 42, looks like a good hire in every way. The latter has a deep background with the club, has spent four years in Atlanta learning from wise Bobby Cox and -- being Cuban-born, Miami-raised and bilingual -- enters his new market as comfortably as fingers slide into old baseball mitts.

'It's just that he happens to be taking a job that ought not have been available.' (MiamiHerald)



Dave Hyde: 'The Marlins' front office isn't perfect. Its public relations can be shaky. Its stadium thinking remains unclear. Its profit level has become staggering in light of the payroll. Its relations with the commissioner's office remains contentious.

'But when it comes to making baseball decisions the Marlins typically are an honor-roll student and up for smartest-kid-in-the-class discussion. That's where you start in any reasonable discussion of how it sounds unseemly but understandable that Girardi could be named Manager of the Year and fired in the same season.

'If the front office and manager have treated each other like sparring partners all year, as Beinfest says, the Marlins have blown only one big baseball decision of late and it's not firing Girardi.

'It's hiring him in the first place.' (SunSentinel)

Playoffs Start Today

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Look-Backs

The highs and lows and ups-and-downs of the '06 season.

Sign Petition for a Downtown Stadium

(PetitionOnline)

Anibal Named NL Rookie of the Month (Sept. Edition)

(MLB)

"Centers" Vs. Stadiums

'Miami's Carnival Center for the Performing Arts welcomes its first audiences this week, but a decade-long struggle with delays and budget woes isn't over yet. As the final touches were being applied, the project's cost rose to $518.1 million -- and is likely to go higher.

'It has become the largest single public-private project in South Florida history, according to Miami-Dade County Manager George M. Burgess.

'With hopes for a $460 million domed Florida Marlins stadium sputtering once again, the arts has trumped sports in South Florida with the most expensive cultural project south of the Lincoln Center in New York City.' (SunSentinel)

AND FARTHER NORTH...: 'Florida Atlantic University had the opportunity to compete to bring a major league baseball team spring training base to Boca Raton. Unfortunately, this was stymied by political weakness and the money pit known as the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

'Some background: As a baseball fanatic, last year I contacted FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos and suggested that he combine the FAU need for a new baseball complex with an attempt to bring a major league team to Boca Raton for spring training. The complex also would be available to local high schools and youth groups during the remaining 320 days in the year. (Note: I have no financial interest in such venture.)

'A number of teams who train in Florida were considering moving (either within Florida or to Arizona) and they were open to discussion. Not surprisingly, the teams wanted to know that local politicians were in favor of having them. The state of Florida this spring enacted legislation that provides a portion of funding for a spring training complex and which requires match funding by local government.

'We turned to the local Palm Beach County commissioners and the mayor of Boca Raton for support for a project. To our surprise, we were met with responses ranging from indifference to hostility. Only Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, stepped up as an advocate.

'A letter from the head of the Tourist Development Council explained why no hotel bed tax money would be available. Apparently, this money was needed to "cover other losses in the future" at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. This is in addition to the "over $80 million of bed tax funds in the Convention Center" already. Also, another $30 million "in other county funds" is being used to "offset the cost of building a $100 million Convention Center hotel."

'This led me to the Palm Beach County Convention Center Web site to see what we are getting for all this money. I was startled by, in my opinion, the pathetic list of forthcoming events, certainly when compared with the Broward County Convention Center: bridal expo, dive show, antique show -- hardly events that put heads in beds. Broward County need not worry about its Palm Beach County competitor.' (SunSentinel)

End-Of-Season Stuff

Many fans stayed till the end, even though the stadium was collapsing around them. Meanwhile, the veterans are thinking about where they'll be next year, just as Beinfest remained mum on Girardi's fate.

ESPN: Girardi's Gone This Week

'According to the source, the chances are "99 out of 100" that Girardi's replacement will be Braves third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez.

'Girardi's firing could come at a Tuesday morning meeting with Marlins management, according to a report on MLB.com.

'One reason the Marlins want to act quickly on naming Girardi's successor? The Nationals. Former Atlanta executive Stan Kasten, now president of the Nats, is looking for a replacement for manager Frank Robinson and is expected to consider hiring Gonzalez.' (ESPN)

End Games

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

SUNNY-DAY: Fish win their finale on a walk-off hit by Jason Wood! in the 11th to beat the Phillies 3-2.

Samson Says Marlins Still in the Poorhouse

(MiamiHerald)

Saturday's Games

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

SADDER-DAY: Fish lose 4-3. But the Phillies are still eliminated from the playoffs.

Champagne Makes Olsen Angry

"I hate the Phillies, and I don't want to see them celebrating" (PalmBeachPost)

ALSO IN THE ARTICLE: Olivo's broken but not out, the Nats may want Girardi if he's out, and Jacobs is out with his ailing brother.

MORE: Former Fish Alex Gonzales is also out for the rest of the year, and his position's uncertain. (Telegram.com)

TGIF's Games

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

GRACIOUSNESS-CAP: Fish allow sleepy Phillies to build overconfidence, allowing them to win 14-2.

Phillies Half-Asleep With Their Backs to the Wall

They lose in the wee hours of last night, coming to Florida 2 games back in the Wild Card with 3 to go. (Philly.com)

BUT: The Phils are fully aware that the Marlins have (thrown down the gauntlet.

In The Papers

Dave Hyde explains what the young Marlins had learned this year. Kevin Baxter recounts the anonymous magic of pitching coach Rick Kranitz. Mike Berardino tells how the Reds GM ruined the Marlins' chances this year. Joe Capozzi reveals why the Marlins won't campaign for their ROY canidates.

Thursday's Games

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

THUD: Marlins lose 5-1, and are insured to end up under .500 for the year.

More History

'The Marlins are the first team in major league history to have four rookie pitchers with 10 wins - Sanchez (10-3), Scott Olsen (12-9), Josh Johnson (12-7) and Ricky Nolasco (11-10). Dontrelle Willis (12-12) gives the Marlins five 10-game winners for the first time in franchise history...

'Ramirez hit his seventh leadoff homer of the season, tying him for the major league record for a rookie with Nomar Garciaparra , who hit seven with Boston in 1997.' (ProTrade)

Wednesday's Games

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

CONGRAT_A_CAP: Fish break their losing streak, beating the Reds 7-2.

Willis A 'Hometown Hero'

'In the initial announcement of "DHL presents Major League Baseball's Hometown Heroes" on ESPN Tuesday night, Dontrelle Willis was named as the Marlins representative in the first group of 10 who most embody the game's legacy and the franchise's history.

'Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (Yankees); Hank Aaron (Braves); Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles); Reggie Jackson (Athletics); Mike Schmidt (Phillies); Gary Carter (Nationals); and Wade Boggs (Devil Rays) were named in addition to Joe Carter (Blue Jays) and Frank Thomas (White Sox).'

ALSO IN THIS ARTICLE: Uggla's battles...start times are changing but starters may not...and the meeting with MLB and Hialeah is postponed again. (SunSentinel)

"Don't Forget Marlins' Amazing Ride"

(MiamiHerald)(FishStripes)

Cincinatti Reds Come to Miami

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

CONQUERED-CAP: Fish lose to Reds 5-3, and with 5 games left in the season are finally mathematically waiting till next year.

Some Girarticles

'Girardi is very prepared, works hard and takes pride in "teaching" the game. What's hurting him is dealing with others in the organization. Obviously, there have been huge differences in opinions on how to work together. I will say this, it's amazing that whatever tensions have been in place for a while didn't impact the players themselves. They've stayed focused on playing. Perhaps somehow, upper management and manager can patch up their differences in this final week of the season. It may be too late.' (MLB)



'It's hard to know whether all the leaked negative reports are true, or if any are. The Marlins' Steinbrenner wannabe, owner Jeffrey Loria, won't discuss the situation. It's hard to know, but I can say that the very first and supposedly key incident leaked doesn't ring true at all -- at least not all of it.

'The initial hint Girardi might be fired in a year in which?he is a prime candidate for Manager of the Year came when reports surfaced that Loria nearly fired Girardi for supposedly telling Loria to "shut the ---- up''?after Loria was continually yelling at home plate umpire Larry Vanover during a game this summer. While Girardi may well have told Loria to shut up (possibly after Vanover warned Girardi to curtail the chatter), the story seems just a little shakier when it is claimed that Girardi swore at Loria. In one report, Girardi's admonishment to Loria was said to be "profanity laced.'' No shot of that being true.

'"I have never, ever in my life heard Joe Girardi saying anything off-color or use a curse word," said Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay, who's known Girardi for a decade and worked with him in the YES Network booth for two years. "Sometimes it gets off-color in the breaks, but never with Joe. Never, ever. I can't even imagine him saying the 'F' word. This is a real legitimate, religious guy."

'What else has been skewed to make Girardi look bad? Did, for instance, Girardi really argue for Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco to start in the bullpen rather the rotation, as has been reported? And did he favor?slugger Josh Willingham to catch over Miguel Olivo?

'Did he really "refuse" to attend some unspecified team function this spring? And if so, who cares?

'One real yet never recounted factor in the disintegrating relationship between Girardi and his bosses came right in the beginning. When they were courting Girardi, they didn't disclose the fact that they were about to embark on a pervasive fire sale; sure, Girardi understood that A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett would be gone, but he didn't know that Juan Pierre, Carlos Delgado, Paul Lo Duca and others would be, too. If the relationship between Girardi and his bosses started to fray early, as has been written, perhaps it was over the false picture Girardi's bosses painted during the interview process.

'I do believe what unnamed sources are saying about Girardi being headstrong, even prickly, at times. He is a drill-sergeant-type, and this style has worked splendidly for the young Marlins, as they hoped it would. He offers strong opinions and upsets some folks. But he is bright and talented, and a personality clash is no reason to get rid of him.' (SI.com)



'Of 73 e-mails, 62 were supportive of Girardi. This tells of the publicity crisis Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and General Manager Larry Beinfest face. They deserve that part of this mess, too.

'Loria, who hired Girardi, didn't broker peace or stay quiet but became embroiled in a silly and public spat with his manager. Beinfest, the main figure on the Marlins' baseball side, has hid from view for most of the year, giving fans few answers to even the most harmless questions.

'But it also says something that many talking points around Girardi seem all wrong. For instance, in another common thread, Joseph of Tamarac wrote: "While I often disagree with Girardi's pitching moves ..." And "Marilyn the Marlins fan" wrote: "I like him, but you [reporters] could make him own up to the way he works the bullpen."

'Girardi may have faults as a manager, like an annoying infatuation with bunting. But the bullpen's downfall isn't on him. Who could he trust besides Joe Borowski and Taylor Tankersley as the dream season faded in September?

'Yet, night after night, when one of the league-leading 33 games were blown after the seventh inning, people increasingly questioned Girardi. The questions should have been directed at Beinfest for not making a trade. Or maybe Loria for now allowing it.

'Beinfest and his scouts did a remarkable job in trading for talent last offseason. That's been gone over, many times, and proves they're the engine that drives this franchise. Still, once in the playoff hunt, nothing was done to improve an overachieving team with a $15 million payroll.

'This franchise is printing money this year, too. Look at the ledger sheet. It got $30 million in revenue sharing last year and will get around that this year. It conservatively will make $10 million for local TV (ratings remain strong), according to a source. It can expect around another $18 million from national TV.

'Then there's licensing deals, a $10 million payout from the Washington Nationals sale coming at some point and -- oh, yeah, tickets, concessions plus whatever slice of the stadium lease that we constantly hear is the worst in sports. It surely is, too. John Henry had the same complaint. (Quick aside: H. Wayne Huizenga did offer the Marlins free rent forever in Dolphin Stadium if they just would get rid of the infield dirt. They said there was no way around the dirt).

'Couldn't they have found a reliever to keep this team in the hunt? Everybody else tried to fill holes. The Phillies got Jamie Moyer and Jeff Conine. The Dodgers got Greg Maddux. The Reds reloaded their bullpen. On and on. And Girardi got blamed when he had no arm to help in the seventh inning of games?' (SunSentinel)



'Think about it. This could be the ideal present from the Marlins organization to Chicago. A bit of payback for the Cubs falling apart like wet bread in the �03 National League Championship Series and basically handing the Marlins a spot in the World Series (which they went on to win).

'What Girardi must do now is go to great lengths to ensure his release. Call Loria at home in the middle of the night disguising your voice as Jack McKeon. Maybe slip a Whoopee Cushion beneath him during a team banquet. Something. Anything.

'Then come to Chicago and turn around a franchise in need of a swift 180.

'Cubs manager Joe Girardi. Kind of has a nice ring to it, the emphasis on ring.' (Tribstar.com)

Monday's Games

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Time for the Impossible Miracles

As Clark Spencer says, 'At this point, the Marlins have about as much chance of capturing the wild card as Doug Flutie would have of punctuating a Hail Mary touchdown pass with a drop-kick extra point.

'Blindfolded.

'Actually, at this point, the odds might favor Flutie's chances over the Marlins'.'

And also, the Marlins have to do that blindfold drop-kick pass for 7 more games. Here's today's scores...

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

DOUBLE-SWEEP: Marlins are swept by the Phillies and swept out of the Wild Card race.

Elias Returns to Willis

'Perhaps you've noticed how much we enjoy notes about pitchers who hit. Well, our friends at Elias have come up with a few beauties about Dontrelle Willis' two-homer night for the Marlins on Wednesday at Shea Stadium:

'-- In the 43-year history of the old barn, only one other pitcher has had a two-homer game at Shea: the Phillies' Larry Christenson on Sept. 5, 1976.

'-- Willis has three home runs this season, all of them at Shea (he also had a grand slam on July 7). He's the first pitcher with three homers against one club in one season since 1971, when the Phillies' Rick Wise hit three against the Giants and the Red Sox's Sonny Siebert hit four against the Orioles.

'-- Willis is the first pitcher to hit at least three in one opponent's ballpark since 1958 when Lew Burdette of the Milwaukee Braves hit three HRs at the L.A. Coliseum against the Dodgers.' (SFGate.com)

Does Hendry Want Girardi?

'If Joe Girardi doesn't return to manage the Marlins next year, there is wide speculation that his next stop could be with the Chicago Cubs.

'"Joe Girardi works for the Marlins," Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry said Friday, refusing to comment further....

'(W)hether Hendry is interested in Girardi is not known.' (PalmBeachPost)

BUT: 'Adding fuel to the Joe Girardi-to-the-Cubs rumors, Gary Hughes, the top assistant to general manager Jim Hendry, was in Philadelphia on Saturday, scouting the Marlins-Phillies game.' (ChicagoSports.com)