Evil Cubs Arrive For Weekend Series

The Marlins and Cubs both have a 2-3 record in their past 5 July 31th games - the Marlins won last year, while the Cubs won in the last two years.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

GOOD-GUYS-TRIUMPH: Fish win 5-2 and keep pace with the Phillies.

Couple of Things

Trade deadline nears, but no news from the Marlins. (Google)

Hanley makes a kid's dream come true. (mlb)

Sweep?????

The Hurk hurls for the Fish, while Javier Vazquez flings for the Braves. (Yahoo)

The Braves and Marlins both have a 4-4 record in their past 8 July 30th games - the Marlins won last year, while the Braves lost in the last two years.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

NO-SWEEP: Braves win 6-3 in 10.

Game Two With Atlanta

It's Josh Johnson vs. Kenshin Kawakami tonight on the mound.

In July 29th games, the Marlins and Braves have the exact same win/loss record for the past six years (4-2, with losses in 2006 and 2008).

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Braves Come, Play Three

The Marlins have won 5 of their last 6 July 28th games (the loss was in 2007). The Braves have lost their last 3 July 28th games after (REPAIRED) winning the previous 3.

Jair Jurrjens and Ricky Nolasco start.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

GLOAD!: Ross hits a two-run walkoff-er to win the game 4-3.

Some Notes

The Hopper gets suspended and fined, and Fredi gets suspended, while the instigator Weaver only gets fined. (SunSentinel)

Chris Leroux returns from rehab, the front office says what are you doing here?, and he goes to Jacksonville. And the Zephyrs have Willie Glen. (oursportscentral)

"Atlanta has won 17 of the last 24 games and eight of 11 since the All-Star break. After taking two of three from Milwaukee over the weekend, the club has won three series in a row, something it hadn’t done since early May." (ajc.com)

Craig invades Florida. (FishStripes)

L.A. Rubber Game

Chris Volstad and Jason Schmidt start.

The Dodgers have won 4 of their last 5 July 26th games. The Marlins won last year after losing their previous 3 July 26th games. In Sunday games this year the Marlins are 7-8 and the Dodgers are 10-5. In series finales the Dodgers and the Marlins have both won 9 of their last 11.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

YES: Fish win 8-6.

Another New Blog

A Marlins blog has started under the nleastchatter.com domain - go try some Fish Guts.

Game 2 in Chavez Ravine

The Hurk and Kuroda start tonight.

Both teams won on this date last year, and both have won two of their last four July 25th games.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

MUDVILLE: The Dopdgers did the walk-off win, and someone already waxed poetic about it.

Late Night Post

At this moment the Marlins and the Dodgers are tied 3-3 after 6 innings. Here's the scores...

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

UPDATE: Marlins take the lead 4-3 in the 7th.

MORE: Coghlan homers in the 8th - Fish lead 5-3.

STILL IN THE 8TH: Cantu knocks in Hanley, and Marlins lead 6-3

GAME-OVER: Fish win 6-3.

Bye Bye Baltimore

Looks like the O's will be moving to Sarasota next year, ending 60 years of spring training in SoFla. (MiamiHerald)

Sweep!

The Fish beat the Padres 5-0 today. Here's all of today's scores...

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Moves and Non-Moves

The Fish send down Andrew, and bring up Gaby to keep the bench warm, from what Fredi said.

Chris Volstad and Chad Gaudin start.

The Marlins lost last year after winning 2 July 21st games in a row. The Padres won last year after losing 3 July 21st games in a row. In Tuesday games this year the Marlins are 7-7 and the Padres are 6-7.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

California Dreaming

The Fish head north of Tijuana for a little Resetting & Rebooting. Both teams are licking their chops thinking they might have a chance with a team on a downswing, though San Diego's downswing has been close to season-length.

The Fish have lost 5 of their last 6 but the Padres have lost 14 of their last 18 and are "a major-league worst 12-30 since June 1".

The Hurk returns (bye bye Andy) to face another inspired returnee - Tim Stauffer.

The Marlins have won their last 2, and 4 of their last 5, July 20th games. The Padres have lost their last 4 July 20th games. The Marlins are 6-3, and the Padres are 3-6, in Monday games this season.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

WOO-HOO: Fish win 3-2.

Sunday on Time

Looks like the makeup game will be scheduled for September, so there will be no double-header today. That means the Fish will finish this series either 5 or 7 games in back of the Phils, unless today's game rains out too. Today's starters are Andrew Miller and J.A. Happ.

The Marlins have an 11-4 record on July 19 since 1993, including 2 wins against the Phillies (in 1996 and last year) and wins in 4 of their last 5 July 19th games. The Phils in their last 10 July 19th games have gone 4-6, and have lost their last 2.

The Marlins are 7-7, and the Phillies are 11-3, in Sunday games this year.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

SEVEN-BACK: Fish lose 5-0, and are now in third place as they fall a half-game behind Atlanta

Sorry for the REALLY Late Post

So late in fact that today's game was postponed about 4 hours ago. Well, here are the other scores...

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Sorry for the Late Post

The Phils are leading the Fish 2-1 after two innings as I post this.

Here's today's history: The Phillies have won 5 of their last 6 July 17th games. The Marlins on July 17ths won their last two games after losing three in a row. The Phils beat the Fish on July 17, 2005. The Fish are 4-10, and the Phillies are 7-7, in Friday games this year.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Back to the Ballyard

The four-games-behind Marlins play four games against the first-place Phillies, so after this series the marlins will either be tied, or eight games back, or somewhere in-between. First time the teams have met since May 25-27, when the Fish won 2-of-3 at CBP. But Philadelphia swept the Fish the last time they were in Miami Gardens, on April 24-26. The Phils have won 9 of their last 10 games.

The Fish are 6-4, and the Phils are 4-7, in Thursday games this year.

The Phillies lost their last July 16th game after winning 4-in-a-row. The Marlins have lost 4-of-their-last-5 July 16th games. Philly beat the Fish on July 16, 2005.

It's Moyer verses Volstad tonight.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

ZORK: Moyer immobilizes the Fish - Philly wins 4-0.

Stat's Silly

All-Star break is almost over, so it's time for the Cracked Stat Dept. to come up with something.

I threw the first half of the Marlins' season at them a while back, and this is what they came up with...

First, a Quiz!!! Without looking, try to guess the only day of the week where the Marlins have a losing record so far this year. The answer's at the bottom.

Remember a couple of years back when the Fish had a long string of wins in series finales? It's almost happening this year too, Since June 14 the Marlins have won 8 out of 9 series finales. Since May 24 (a sweep-avoiding win against the Rays), and after a streak of 7 straight series finale losses, the Fish have gone 12-3 in the last games of series.

What about the first games of series? In almost that same time period (since May 25) the Marlins have an even 7-7 record in first games of series. Their total win-loss record since May 25 is 26-19, so the in-between games are a bit of a drag.

Since the ground-breaking lunacy post in March, major news organizations the world over have been clamoring to discover how the Marlins are doing this year, moon-phase wise. Here's the 2009 chart so far...

      ,_______._______._______._______._______._______._______._______.
      ||  new  |       | first |       |  full |       |  last |       |
year  ||  moon | <---> |  qtr  | <---> |  moon | <---> |  qtr  | <---> |
------||-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
2009  ||  4- 3 |  5- 5 |  4- 5 |  9- 7 |  7- 4 |  8- 9 |  5- 2 |  4- 9 |

The Fish still like that full moon, and they still have their troubles between the last quarter and the new moon. And this chart has no relevance whatsoever.


Answer to quiz: It's Friday, and boy it's a stinker. The Fish have a 4-10 record in Friday games. Since the third week of the season they have only won two Friday games. Best days win-percentage-wise for them are the lightest days on the schedule, Monday and Thursday, with records of 6-3 and 6-4 respectively.

Hump Day Headlines

Hanley impresses even with 3 groundouts. (MLB)

Charlie kept Josh off the mound,but Josh had a memorable moment nonetheless.

The Marlins' rotation for the Phillies series has been announced, and Josh gets an extra day to recover. (FishPond)

Who's gonna build the parking garage? (MiamiToday)

Watch out, Tampa! Bud Selig wants your local governments to be in debt for decades, too.(TampaBay.com)

New News

The Marlins lead the MLB in percentage of home attendance increase so far this year. (Probably thanks to the Yanks, whose own home attendance dropped this year.) (blog.pennlive.com)

Those wanting to work on the new ballpark can potentially sign up online. (blogs.trb.com)

More Reports

Fo-Fish Billy Koch arrested for "Criminal Mischief of more than $1,000, and Battery". (mysuncoast)

Pedro may sign with the Phillies. (amny.com)

Juan C. Rodriguez gives respect to the Maniac. (blogs.sun-sentinel.com)

I'm Back

I return from vacation to find the Marlins 2 games above .500, and 4 games behind the Phillies alone in 2nd place in the NL East. Other things happened last week too...

Alfredo's gone for the season. (fishstripes)

But Kiko's back. (fishstripes)

Sean West goes down. (MLB)

And Ayala's brought up. (miamiherald)

The Miami Herald admits, now that there's almost no turning back, that the stadium plan stinks. (miamiherald)

And Braman says see, I told you so. (MiamiHerald)

No money worries now for the Fish, as Beinfest says they will be buyers not sellers. (realgmbaseball)

And Hanley's leading off for the National League. (PBPost)

S.S.S.S., Pre-Break

Last year on July 12th, both the Fish and Snakes won. It was the first game both teams had played on July 12 in 5 years.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

S.S.S.S. Continues

On July 11's the Marlins have won their last 5 games (played in a span of 11 years), while the Diamondbacks have lost their last 3 (played in a span of 6 years).

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Small Sample Size Season

We're getting in that time of year where each date will have fewer games played historically because of the various All-Star breaks in the past. On July 10, for instance, the Marlins have only played 8 games in its 16-year history. In their last 4 July 10th games they've gone 2-2 (which is the same record as Arizona).

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Another Post From The Past

According to the schedule as of last Sunday, if nothing untoward has happened between then and now, then the Marlins should be in Arizona today to play the first of four against the Diamondbacks.

On July 9's, the Marlins won last year after losing their previous 4 in a row. Arizona has lost 3 of their last 4 July 9th games.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Today's Look in the Past

Both the Marlins and Giants have lost 4 of their last 5 July 8th games.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Today's History Bit

The Marlins have won their last 4 July 7th games in a row (after losing their previous 6 July 7th games in a row). The Giants have won 6 of their last 8 July 7th games.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

More Vacation

Time for a week of vacation and possibly no internet for long stretches. For the latest Marlins news, check my list of links. I setting up posts to appear through the week (like this one) to keep up with my historical blurb about the teams and the daily scoreboards.

The Marlins are supposed to play in San Francisco Monday night, barring earthquakes or any other nastinesses. The Marlins have won 7 of their last 9 July 6th games, but the Giants have won 9 of their last 11 July 6th games (they lost last year, though).

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Some Things

Jack gets back in the saddle. (news-record)

An explanation of the stadium bond fiasco that couldn't stop construction from starting. (bizofbaseball)

It's time for Marlins Mermaids Summer Dance Camp, open for girls and boys. (MiamiHerald)

And it's time to put the Bleacher Report in the blog list.

Hanley and Josh are Going to the All-Star Game

(SunSentinel)

Melted Rubber Game

Can the Marlins beat the curse of the Pirates in the Fish's hot sweltering stadium? It's Ricky Nolasco against Ross Ohlendorf today.

The Marlins lost to the Pirates on July 5, 2004. Since then both teams are 2-2 in July 5th games.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

WIN!: Ricky rubs the Pirates away - Fish win 5-0.

Happy Birthday Brendan

Who? Brendan Donnelly, whose birthday was yesterday and who is now in the Marlins' bullpen, taking Chris Leroux's spot.

MORE: Hanley's out of the lineup today with a "tight right hip flexor". (SunSentinel)

Happy Boom Boom Boom Day

A more spectacular spectacular than the usual spectacular is promised for the night skies tonight, after which KC and the Sunshine Band perform.

The Pirates have won 4-in-a-row off the Fish. It's Zach Duke and Andrew Miller on the mound tonight.

The Marlins have lost their last four July 4th games (and we won't talk about what happened last year). The Pirates, though, have lost 3 of their last 4 July 4th games.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

BOOM: Fish win 5-3 and keep pace with Philly in the NL East.

Welcome to the Worst

Now that the Marlins have climbed up to a almost-tie with the Phillies for first place in the division, it's time for people to start to proclaim that the NL East is now the worst division in baseball.

The Pirates come to town for three. The Fish were swept by the Rays, then they sweep the Nats - and the Pirates swept the Fish the last time they played. It's Charlie Morton opposing Chris Volstad tonight.

The Pirates have won their last seven July 3rd games. The Marlins have gone 3-4 in their last seven July 3rd games.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(CBSSports)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

SIGH: Fish lose 7-4.

So Much Catchup to Do

Congrats to Hanley on his record RBI performance and his new blog

Remember Alfredo Amezaga? He's going to the doc that diagnosed Beltran's bone bruise to see why it's taking so long for his bone bruise to heal. (And do you think Beltran going to come back any time soon?) (FishBytes)

Believe it or not, Danny's very selective at the plate. (FishStripes)

Not only did Marlins players express their condolences to Josh Willingham...(SunSentinel)

...but Ricky drove Scott to the stadium the night they pitched against each other. (MLBlog)

Matt, Kiko, and Anibal start tossing. (MLBLog)

And the discussion continues about Cameron, Emilio, and Jeremy.

Minor-League Marlins Shifting Spaces

Decisions are being made as to which Eastern League team will move to Richmond, VA to fill the void left when the original Miami Marlins, who played in Richmond for over 40 years, moved to Georgia this year. The favorite to move to Richmond is the Connecticut Defenders, who if they do move are most likely to be replaced in Connecticut by the Florida Marlins' New York-Penn league affiliate Jamestown Jammers. (norwichbulletin)

Marlins Pick Up Ayala

The Marlins only have to pay him the pro-rated minimun; Luis will go to Omaha to meet the Zephyrs and see if he can still pitch. (FishBytes)

UPDATE: 'Dan 2.0' says sure Luis can pitch - just not when the game is on the line. (Fishstripes)

Hey, There's No Marlins Game Today...

But The Mets already beat Pittsburgh this afternoon and Philly plays in Atlanta tonight.

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

Hey, There's a Game On

It's Camp Day at the ballpark. The Marlins are already leading 2-1 after 4-and-a-half innings as I post this. Josh Johnson has already been taken out of the game, Jordan Zimmermann is still pitching for the Nats.

Washington may have a chance today. The Nats have never lost on July 1 (they've lost as the Expos, but in their last 4 years in Washington...no). And the Marlins have lost 4 of their last 5 July 1st games.

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

OOF: Willingham hits a gapper with the bases loaded - Nats now lead 3-2.

POW: Cody hits a homer off Sean Bennett to tie the game in the 7th.

OOPS: That's Burnett, not Bennett.

BAM: Wes knocks a run in in the 8th.

ZING: And so does Cody.

TA-DA: Leo shuts them down in the 9th - Fish win 5-3.