Thursday, November 26, 2009

More Things

The Marlins Hot Stove Radio Show will start up again this weekend, but without Glenn Geffner as a host. (MLB)

Fish-foiler Jamie Moyer goes to the hospital. (abclocal)

Coghlan receives more accolades. (MLB)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Some Things That Happened

Pujols wins the NL MVP award. Hanley came in second. And Coghlan got a vote, too. (MLB)
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The Marlins donate 460 turkey meals to residents of Little Havana, an area traditionally more accustomed to pork than pavo. (cbs4)
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Samson visits Target Field, hoping to find bargains before Black Friday. (MLB)

Monday, November 23, 2009

Today's News-in-a-Line

The Marlins may be playing in Puerto Rico in 2010, and with Cantu still on the team.

Some Weekend Stories

Chris Coghlan describes his brand of faith to Dan Le Batard. (miamiherald)

Peter Gammons says that "Florida's Cody Ross has long intrigued (the Red Sox); if the Marlins would do a Ross-Manny Delcarmen (whom they tried to get in July) swap, that could be a possibility." (espn)

Hanley should be bracing for the arrival of an enormous celebratory monstrosity from Jeffrey. (torontosun)

Friday, November 20, 2009

Anatomy of an Impasse

The first news seemed to have come from ESPN.com...
'Agent Matt Sosnick told ESPN.com that negotiations between the Marlins and Johnson have reached an 'impasse," and Johnson expects to play under a one-year deal in 2010....
'"Based on our conversations, there's no chance of doing a long-term deal with the Marlins," Sosnick said. "We made it clear that it was going to be this year or it wasn't going to happen. It was now or never. And the Marlins agreed."...
'Johnson and his agents used Zack Greinke's four-year, $38 million contract with the Kansas City Royals as a framework in contract discussions. Sosnick said talks broke down when the Marlins declined to offer more than a three-year deal -- which would buy out only one year of free agency for Johnson. Sosnick declined to discuss any differences over money in negotiations....
'...(")We were willing to give the Marlins what we thought was a significant break, but they just weren't comfortable going to the fourth year."
'Florida general manager Michael Hill declined to address the status of talks Friday.
'"Josh is our player, he's under [contractual] control, and we like him a lot," Hill said. "But we don't comment on any of our contract negotiations publicly."'
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Then Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post came up with some money figures...
'Johnson, 25, is entering his second winter of arbitration but was hoping to sign a four-year contract worth at least $40 million.
'The Marlins were believed to be willing to go no longer than three years for about $22 million.
'When the sides could not resolve their differences, the Marlins said they preferred to go year-to-year.
'"They made it very clear they only wanted to talk about a one-year deal,' Sosnick said.'
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MLB.com reported using information credited to ESPN and the Post.
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Juan C. of the Sun-Sentinel got more Sosnick quotes...
'"No one's getting any kind of a discount now," said Sosnick, who also represents Ricky Nolasco. "This was the last chance for a team to get a bargain for Josh... They money wasn't even the issue. It was shocking they wouldn't do a fourth year. Josh Johnson is going to sign one of the biggest free agent pitching deals in history. If it's in the National League, he's just going to come back and keep beating the Marlins."...
'Sosnick said President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest told him guaranteeing a fourth year was too rich for his blood. A team spokesman said the Marlins do not comment on contract negotiations, adding "We refuse to negotiate through the press."
'"The way it was sold was like they were doing us a favor by offering three years," Sosnick said. "We were willing to discount the free agent years by a lot, both of them. They wouldn't even talk about [the fourth year]...This is his last year there for sure."...
'"...They'll trade [Johnson] and get prospects back for him. There are going to be a lot of teams calling in the next couple of days."
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Finally Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald got more of the softer side of Sosnick...
'"I don't know if things are totally done, hopefully not. But it is one of those business things in baseball that you kinda don't want to have to go through," he said....
'Asked if there was any chance that negotiations could be revived, Sosnick replied: "I think Larry is an honest guy. He made it clear to me that it [a 3-year deal] is not happening. Given that, I believe him."...
'"If they're not willing to give four years to Josh Johnson, I don't know what pitchers they're going to sign," Sosnick said....
'"It their business. I'm not judging their decision-making, because the Marlins seem to make a lot of very good decisions when it comes to personnel."'

MORE: Early in-depth commentary at Marlin Maniac.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Today's Supposed Fish Stories

While Selig whines about the bad economy and about how some teams (who he wouldn't identify) lost money last season, ESPN's Jayson Stark calculates that not only each club makes more money than you could dream possible, but also that teams like the Marlins who annually keep a huge chunk of their revenue-sharing cash instead of pumping it towards the players should be charged a tax on the difference.

Juan C. speculates on who will fill up the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft cutoff deadline of tomorrow.

The Marlins will be hopping to Greensboro on April 3th.

The Hurk is playing winter ball in the land of mofongo.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Bye Bye Diamantes?

Well, that didn't take too long...a day after the Global Scouting Bureau stopped its relationship with the Florida Winter Baseball League, the FWBL suspends the rest of this year's games.

Here's Juan C. Rodriguez's story on the shutdown.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Today's Top Stories

Loud Miamians (are there any other kind?) protest the lack of stadium work given to locals. Marlins cry foul, say the building site is filled to the rafters with locals and more wiil be needed soon. Locals vow to continue to be loud. (MiamiHerald)(cbs4)(nbcmiami)

IN-RUMOR-NEWS: The Marlins are reported interested in Billy Wagner (along with most other teams), and are shopping Ricky Nolasco (along with most other Marlins).

IN-OTHER-NEWS: Alleged criminal mastermind Renyel Pinto flaunts his finger in Facebook. (miaminewtimes)

Friday, November 13, 2009

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Today's Trickle

Uggla Update: The Braves also are reported interested in him. (foxsports)

Bryan Peterson's smacking the ball around for the Solar Sox. (baseballamerica)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Some Alumni Doings

Former Fish Josh Willingham spoke to some middle-school kids from Tuscumbia, Alabama.
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Future former Marlin Dan Uggla flew from Vegas to Tennessee to co-host a benefit golf tourney with former Marlin David Weathers, who is also now a former Brewer.

Monday, November 09, 2009

From Chicago to Vegas

FOXsports is live-blogging from the Chicago GM meeting. The blog noted this about the Marlins earlier today...

"The Marlins have received calls from three teams on second baseman Dan Uggla and two on first baseman Jorge Cantu. Club officials will meet at the general managers' meetings to determine whether trading either or both will be necessary to meet payroll.

"The early signs are that the Marlins, after trading outfielder Jeremy Hermida, can afford both Uggla and Cantu. But the team still might want to move Uggla to clear second base for Chris Coghlan or Emilio Bonifacio.

"Hermida no longer fit with the Marlins, who are committing to Cody Ross in right field and Cameron Maybin in center. Left-hander Hunter Jones, the more advanced of the two pitchers the Marlins received from the Red Sox, is viewed by some scouts as a fringe major leaguer. The Marlins see him as a potential seventh-inning man."

MEANWHILE: Danny and Cody let loose in Vegas,"off the Strip, at the Hard Rock, this weekend. The All-Star second basemen and outfielder were spotted as they checked out the sexy scene at Body English Saturday." (lasvegassun.com)

Return From Somewhere

I'm back from another mini-vacation. Sorry I skipped out on you. Here's some stuff I missed...

FishStripes becomes a potential Powerblog with the addition of GameFish from HLD&S.
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Another recent addition to the Marlins blog-jam is Marlins Hood, whose mission statement declares "I have
unfortunately noticed that most Marlins blogs suck and shit. Therefore, I feel it is my duty to provide a forum
for the informed, knowledgeable, and hood Marlins fan." Go have at it.
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Cameron may be out of the operating room by now.
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Joe Frisaro discovers the Marlins plan to shrink the payroll in 2010 from what it was in 2009, even though some of last year's regulars will be due a raise in 2010, which would make those regulars players for some other teams in 2010 unless the front office listens to advice like Mr. Pinto's.
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Make your Douglas fir all toasty warm with this Florida Marlins tree skirt.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

This Could Be It (Second Try)

The Yanks again could be the champs tonight if they beat the Phillies. Pedro and Pettitte pitch.

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

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Scanning the Headlines

Craig gives you ways to follow the Fish in the AFL, and to see the Rising Stars Game with Matt Dominguez and Bryan Peterson.

Peterson went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI on Monday, ESPN blogger Jason Grey talks about what he sees in Dominguez, and Juan C. tells us recently-shut-down Stanton won't be rushed to the bigs.

This guy will give you "a FREE COPY of the Pre- Game warm up designed and incorporated for the Australian National Team and the Florida Marlins AAA Affiliate, New Orleans Zephyrs."

This other guy thinks the Marlins would trade Tankersley for Brandon Moss.

And another guy thinks the Marlins are one of the teams that may want Akinori Iwamura.

"Florida Marlins owner wants to step down", says the headline,... but not the story

UPDATE: Iwamura goes to the Pirates, and the Maniac sees this as a lesson in leverage.

Monday, November 02, 2009

This Could Be It (2009 Season Edition)

The Yanks could be the champs tonight if they beat the Phillies. Former Marlins draft pick Cliff Lee and former Marlin A.J. Burnett start tonight.

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