Officials Fear There Will Be Nothing Left Of Orange Bowl To Be Demolished

'"We understand folks wanting to have a piece of history, but we recommend they keep those memories in their heart because stealing history could land you in jail," Miami police Lt. Bill Schwartz said.' (Local10)

Samson Says Team Accepts Orange Bowl Site

But will the team embrace it with the same amount of money they offered for the Downtown site? Commissioner Gimenez says they'd better, while Samson says, "We just have to make sure it's a deal that makes sense for everybody." Talks continue. (SunSentinel)

Benitez Files For Free Agency

Boone and Byung-Hyun may not be far behind. (MLB)

UPDATE: Aaron files. (MLB)

MORE: Kim completes the trifecta. (MLB)

Girardi Finds Work

Looks like Joe is going to replace Joe as the Yankees' new manager. And it also looks like he'll be leading a team that's now lacking a third-baseman. Gosh, I wonder if he'll possibly suggest filling the hole with someone he's already acquainted with? (And will Jeffrey be able to stop squirming next year in his Yankee Stadium box seat?)

This Could Be It (2007 Season Edition)

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

BINGO!: Sox knock Rocks' socks off, win World Series. Mike Lowell is declared the MVP of the Series.

Brrrrrrr!

It's looking clear and cold in Colorado for WS Game 3.

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

Pete Gergely Profile

A quick look at the guy who runs "the largest high-definition video boards in professional sports and the longest LED ribbon board in the world" for the Fins and the Fish. (StarGazetteNews)

Bye Bye Mauro

Marlins put Zarate on waivers, Padres claim him. (MadFriars)

WQAM to Send 790 Thank-You Cards

'Though The Ticket beat WQAM, 4.9 to 0.9, (in the summer Arbitron ratings) from 7 to 10 p.m., that should be alarming to 790 because Marlins games -- which contributed largely to WQAM's low rating -- move to The Ticket in '08.' (MiamiHerald)

Marlins Stiff the City; City Says Committ or Forget About It

'City Manager Pete Hernandez told frustrated city commissioners that the Marlins are backing away from a promised $207 million contribution to the cost of the 37,000-seat, retractable-roof baseball stadium.

'Marlins officials could not be reached for comment late Thursday. But Hernandez said the club is looking to cut its contribution out of concern that building a new stadium on the site of the Orange Bowl -- a plan that has gathered support recently among city and county leaders -- would not be as profitable as the downtown site that the team prefers.'

'Miami City Commissioners decided Thursday they want a full report on the status of ballpark negotiations at their Dec. 13 meeting, but they also want a public declaration from the Marlins sooner as to whether the team wants a stadium at the Orange Bowl site.

'Commissioners said a decision needs to be made about the future of the location. Commission Vice Chairman Joe Sanchez said the city has been negotiating with the Marlins long enough and if a ballpark will not be built there, he wants the city to consider options such as a park, soccer stadium or affordable housing.' (MiamiHerald)(SunSentinel)

Tonight's Game

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

Boone "Wouldn't Mind Returning,.."

"...but will assess his options and make a decision in the next few weeks." He's at the Series but hasn't yet been beaten up by Sox fans - in apparently unrelated news, his brother Brett's family has been evacuated. (Boston.com)

Oh Yeah, There Was a Game Last Night...

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

F-F-R: Lowell went 1-3 and walked twice. Matt Herges went 1.1 innings and gave up a hit and a walk and got a strikeout. And Josh went 7, gave up an earned run on 6 hits and a walk, and struck out 9, and got the win.

Former Fish Coaches Get Jobs

Jeff Cox will be the White Sox' 3rd-base coach and Rusty Kuntz will coach 1st for the Royals.

Cliff Wants to Come Back

But where's the sense in that? (mlbtraderumors)

Darn, No Snow

It looks like a drippy day in Boston up until game time; that's when the temps drop. (NOAA)

UPDATE: As of Wednesday morning there's a 70 percent chance of rain for Wednesday night.

Willis' Agent Thinks Dontrelle Will Stay

Agent Matt Sosnick meets up with Beinfest in supermarket, gets assurances, trades coupons. (MLB)

This Could Be It (AL Edition)

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

BINGO: Boston wins. Lowell went 2-3 with an RBI and a walk.

AL Championship Game 6

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

F-F-R: Lowell went 2-4 with an RBI. Borowski went 1 inning and gave up 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks.

"Right Now, We're Focused On The Orange Bowl."

So says Samson to the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. 'Miami-Dade County manager George Burgess told Local 10, "There's more opportunity to get this done than in years."' (Local10)

"No Way"-Rod

Joe Frisaro not only puts the speculation to rest, but shows the historical lunacy in the notion that acquiring Alex would help in the push for a new stadium. (MLB)

Dontrelle Would Like Wiley to Return; Dontrelle Would Like Dontrelle to Return

(PalmBeachPost)

Replay of 2003 LCS Game 5?

This time around it's the American League, but it's still Josh Beckett.

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

F-F-R: Josh went 8 innings, gave up 1 earned run on a walk and 5 hits, and struck out 11. Mike Lowell went 1-4. And during the game Derrek Lee was on the other channel, playing himself on an episode of 'ER'.

Traffic Problems? What Traffic Problems?

A 'consultant to the City of Miami' says sure, you can reduce traffic problems at the Orange Bowl site, provided you devise a 'reversible roadway loop', close 'off a small inner ring of streets', create 'a permit parking program', implement 'a "way finding" system on all major highways, main roads and local streets', identify 'offsite parking facilities', provide 'free shuttle service to the stadium', dedicate 'a public transit lane', encourage 'Miami-Dade Transit to "maintain, advertise and enhance" bus service', restructure 'Metrorail and bus schedules to ensure only five minutes pass between each train or bus as patrons leave games', and find $12 million dollars to pay for all of these adjustments.

County Commissioner Gimenez even finds a bright spot in all this, saying that cars stuck in traffic trying to leave games at 10:00 at night at least won't be cars stuck in traffic during Rush Hour. (MiamiToday)

OOPS: That wasn't Gimenez who said that, but "Alfred Lurigados, director of engineering for the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority".

McKeon on Short-Resting Beckett in 2003 Postseason

'"I had to make my choice. Deep down, I wanted the guy who could be dominating. I wanted the guy who could overpower these Yankees hitters. I didn't think Redman could do it."

'A few days before it became public that Beckett was pitching Game 6, McKeon sat his young star down and asked how he felt.

'"It all came about when I called him in that day," McKeon said. "I said, 'How do you feel? I'm thinking about pitching you on three days' rest.' He said, 'Let me go out and throw a little bit.' He went out and threw a little bullpen [session], and then he came in and said, 'I'm ready.' That was all I needed."....

'"You know, no one brings up the point that Pettitte pitched on three days' rest and beat us, 6-1, in Game 2," McKeon said. "Guys like Josh just relished the opportunity to pitch. We didn't even think about pitching him on three days' rest."' (MLB)

Hanley Voted by His Peers as The NL's Top Shortstop

(MLB)

Will Wakefield Turn the Sox Around...

...or will Beckett be slipped in at the last minute?

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

RECAP: Wake gets rocked, his replacement gets rocked even more. Mike Lowell went 0-4.

Citizens Advisory Committee Recommends Giving $50 Million to Marlins

They still have to go through the county commission and committees and public meetings and the city comission and my great-aunt's sisiter-in-law and the guy down the street, but it seems a new ballpark is getting at least slightly closer to reality.

County Manager George Burgess said "that the county was in deep negotiations with the Marlins that must be completed in the next few weeks if the team hopes to play in a new stadium by opening day 2011."

Burgess says "there have to be absolute guarantees" on MLB staying and on the Marlins covering cost overruns, but the Marlins haven't yet guaranteed that they'll even put up the same amount of money that they offered for the Downtown site. (SunSentinel)(MiamiHerald)

Even More Playoffs

The Rockies could sweep tonight. Here's wishing that Colorado and Cleveland win, so that continuous snow-outs may extend the Series until March.

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

RECAP: Rocks are in the Series. Mike Lowell faced Joe Borowski and popped up in the 9th.

Off-Season Speculations

Here's some of Barry Jackson's perceptions: It'll be difficult to keep both Willis and Cabrera while at the same time improving the pitching....The Marlins "are very open to making a major trade"....The Marlins want to drop Olivo and acquire "a veteran free agent catcher"....They "will listen to offers for Scott Olsen but would keep him if nothing enticing surfaces".....The Marlins think Volstad is more of a major-league possibility next year than Gaby Hernandez....They want to keep Aaron Boone....The Marlins still have to "pay $4 million of Carlos Delgado's Mets salary in '08." (MiamiHerald)

NL Championship Game 3 Tonight

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

F-F-R: Livan went 5.2 innings, gave up 4 earned runs on 8 hits (including 2 homers) and 2 walks, but struck out 2 and got a hit.

AL Championship Game 2 Tonight

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

F-F-R: Lowell went 2-5, walked once, scored a run and got 3 RBI. Joe Borowski gave up 2 hits but no runs and struck out 1.

Another Former Marlin Becomes a 'Rising Star' After Leaving Miami...

...as Rick Kranitz is now referred to as "the hottest pitching coach commodity in baseball".

THE-NUMBERS: Florida offered Kranitz "only a $5,000 raise - from his already league-low $110,000 salary..." (BaltimoreSun)

More Playoffs

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

F-F-R: Matt Herges pitched 1 inning and gave up a hit but no runs. Mike Lowell went 1-3 with a walk but is credited with 3 RBI. Joe Borowski pitched an inning and gave up a hit and a walk. Josh Beckett got the win over the Indians, pitching 6 innings, giving up 2 earned runs off of 4 hits (one of them a homer), but struck out 7.

Tony Perez Receives Hispanic Heritage Award

Hear him being interviewed...(NPR)

Bye Bye Reggie and Jose; Hello to the Ticket

Astros' new 3rd-base coach Ed Romero convinced Ed Wade to pick up Abercrombie off of waivers. Recovering pitcher Jose Garcia was also taken off of waivers by Oakland and Jason, Todd and Paul are headed for Albuquerque.

Did the Marlins get anything? Yeah, a new radio home (but an old stomping ground for the Ironman). Hey, do you think the Boogster will team up with Dave Van Horne again?

Welcome Back to the Playoffs

Hope you all had a nice nap. It's now time for the NL Championship Series, this time around pitting the Rocks against the Snakes.

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

Marlins' Jacuzzi Guys Go Under

The company that "was doing Jacuzzi work for the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium" wasn't licensed to do that work - after being charged with felonies, the owners plea-bargained a deal to pay restitution to over a dozen unsatisfied customers. (MiamiHerald)

Josh Sends Us a Letter From Home

Willingham looks back at this past season, and ahead past the next two months of non-baseball-related recovery time. (TimesDaily.com)

Mr. '*' in Miami?

Alex Carver lays out the case for making Barry Bonds a Marlin. (MarlinsToday)

Kim Won't Play For Korean National Team

Citing fatigue and his uneven season, Kim does not want to be "more washed up than beach sand". (KoreaTimes)

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Joe Frisaro responds to questions about Hanley, Jeff, Andruw, the stadium, the pitching, and the arbitration-eligible. (MLB)

Wolf to AFL

Again, not Aussie football (Yay Geelong!), but the Arizona Fall League. (MLB)

Indians-Yankees Tonight

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

ALL-SET: Yankees eliminated.

F-F-R: Ron Villone made 5 pitches to complete a scoreless third-of-an-inning. Joe Borowski gave up an Abreu homer but got the save.

Marlins Need a Geek

Well, at least some of them do, when their computers break down. (MiamiHerald)

AL Playoff Games Today

The Yankees and Angels could get swept today.

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

BYE-BYE-ANGELS: Yankees hold on, though.

F-F-R: Mike Lowell went 2-for-4 including an RBI double. Justin Speier and Darren Oliver gave up 6 runs in one inning. Joe Borowski pitched an inning and gave up 2 walks but no runs.

Marlins Continue to Punish Anibal After Letting Rest of Team Run Wild

'Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez "is upset," his agent said, after a meeting with team management did not resolve a dispute over whether he was injured before or after his May 4 demotion to the minors. The issue has financial stakes, and agent Dan Lozano will proceed with a grievance against the team.

'"The Marlins are essentially questioning his integrity. That's disappointing," Lozano said. The Marlins hope Sanchez will return from shoulder surgery by spring training, or soon after. Lozano indicated he's "ahead of schedule."

'....The Marlins know they need more veteran leaders, and for reasons beyond performance. One Marlins person said there was too much childish behavior from several players (including on team flights), and no consistent policing of it. One of the first issues a coach from an opposing team brought up about the Marlins was lack of discipline." (MiamiHerald)

Only NL Playoff Games Tonight

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

BYE-BYE: Cubs and Phillies are eliminated.

F-F-R: D. Lee went 2-for-4. C.Floyd went 0-2, walked twice and was hit by a pitch. Livan pitched 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, 5 walks, one earned run, struck out 2, and got a hit.

Only AL Playoffs Today

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

F-F-R: Lowell walked once, went 0-2 but got an RBI on a sac fly, and made a throwing error.

How Good Was Hanley's Offense in 2007?

"Measured by VORP, Hanley was the second most productive hitter in baseball this year, closer to Alex Rodriguez than any NL hitter was to him. For reference, he outproduced Holliday by about 15 runs, Prince Fielder by 20, Jimmy Rollins by 23, and Ryan Howard by more than 35." (HardballTimes)

BUT-WHAT-ABOUT-MIGGY?: "For baseball nuts, there are far worse ways to kill an hour than to discover everything Baseball-Reference.com has to offer.

"Among the site's terrific toys? Something called "Similarity Scores," which attempts to compare a player's statistics to every other player in history.

"For example, who's the closest historical comp for precocious Florida Marlins slugger Miguel Cabrera? None other than Hank Aaron. Intriguing, no?" (DailyHerald)

Today's Playoff Games

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

FO-FISH-RECAP: Wes walked and scored a run, Alfonseca pitched one inning and gave up a hit. D. Lee went 1-4 with a walk and a strikeout, Dempster pitched one inning and struck out 2.

Ed Romero to Houston

The Marlins' 'roving infield coordinator' for the last three seasons will now be standing still at third-base for his buddy Cecil and the Astros. (MLB)

Hanley Has Shoulder Surgery

He should be all healed up by spring training time. (MLB)

181 Days To Go Till Opening Day

Meanwhile, to pass the time, here's the start of the playoffs...

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

FORMER-FISH-ROUNDUP: Wes Helms went 0-2 in the Phillies' loss. D.Lee went 1-4 with 3 strikeouts, Cliff F. went 0-4 with 2 strikeouts in the Cubs loss. Josh Beckett gave up 4 hits and struck out 8 in his complete-game win; Mike Lowell went 1-3.

'Former Marlin-based Playoff Predictions'

Xenod rates the playoff teams according to their FM Power. (TheImmaculateInning)

Bye Bye Roxy

The first official casualty of the postseason, Mr. Bernstein's nasal tones will no longer try to bridge the years in attempting connection with Mr. Van Horne's historical observations.

His future should be bright, as it was for other former second-banana Marlins radio guys like Dave O'Brian and Jon Sciambi. (MiamiHerald)

"The Life and Trials of David Weathers"

(HardballTimes)

Wild Card Playoff Tonight

San Diego plays one game in Colorado.

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

WILD-FINISH: Former Marlin Jorge Julio, true to form, gives up two runs, and the Padres lead 8-6 in the 13th inning. But former Marlin Trevor Hoffman, untrue to form, blows it big time, and the Rockies head to the playoffs, winning 9-8.

Beinfest Gives End-Of-Season Interview

"Given our situation, we can't rule anything out...Everything is worthy of discussion because of the needs we've identified....We cannot sit here and not be active given that we're last in pitching and defense...When you look at errors on the left side of the infield and you talk about the quality of players on the left side, they are correctable...

"I would have to say you will have to come in and show us that you want to be in the rotation again and you want to be productive...They know what's lurking in Double-A. It should be good competition...

"Ollie needs to improve several aspects...His slider needs to get back to where it was. He needs to work on controlling himself. He's an emotional guy in the game and he needs to get back to what made him successful a year ago...

"I can't give you a real reason the ERA is inflated, but Dontrelle's going to be just fine...He is a big winner. He's got a great career ahead of him...

"We may have missed a little bit of that this year and it's my fault if we didn't have enough veterans...But it think it is important and it is something that we will look at." (PalmBeachPost)