Crunch Time

The Marlins need to win all 4 games against the Pirates to finish with a .500 record. The Pirates, if they lose all 4 games, will break the record for fewest road wins in an 81-road-game season. Pittsburgh has had only one win in each of their last three road trips, and they won two nights ago in St. Louis. This year, in road games played from Thursdays through Sundays, the Pirates have a record of 5-39 (and four of those wins happened before May 16). The Fish won 3-out-of-4 in Pittsburgh on August 16-19.

Starters: The last time Chris Volstad lost was in Pittsburgh on August 16. He has never won against the Pirates, but Zach Duke has never won against the Marlins.

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Four-Word News

Uggla in 30-100 club. (mlb)

Pujols would come here. (sun-sentinel)

Writers vote Marlins awards. (miamiherald)

Marlins campaigning for Gaby. (palmbeachpost)

Mermaid-Manatee auditions in January. (mlb)

Afternoon De-Sweeping

The Atlanta paper's calling today "the year¹s biggest game" (good, let them put pressure on themselves).

The 2010 Braves may be 8-3 in Wednesday home games, but the 2010 Marlins are a respectable 7-4 in Wednesday away games. Florida puts the magical Miller on the mound, while Atlanta drags out the short-rested Derek Lowe.

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MILLER-GOES-POOF: Marlins get swept, go 1-6 on road trip.

Tuesday at Turner

The Braves this year in Tuesday home games, after winning their first three, have since then gone 3-4. The Marlins are 4-6 in Tuesday road games in 2010, and have lost their last two. The Fish have to go 4-2 to end the season at .500.

The plumb-tuckered-out Anibal Sanchez and the pitching-on-short-rest Tim Hudson start tonight.

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Four-Word News

HBO to do Marlins. (palmbeachpost)

Leo may close again. (mlb)

Guillen stays with Sox. (sun-sentinel)

More Hensley and Hoffman. (mlb)

"Happy birthday, Ed Vosberg." (lonestarball)

Burns' "Baseball" update tonight. (courant)

Gaby, Uggla do 'Synchronized-Buckner'. (yahoo)

Cox's Last Stand

The Marlins start their final road series of this season tonight at Turner Field, where they are 2-4 so far this year. Atlanta returns home after losing 5 of their last 6 games - the Braves went 3-4 in their last home stand. And yet in Monday home games this year the Braves are 7-1, and have won their last six (they haven't lost one since May 17). The Marlins this year are 4-3 in Monday away games.

Alex Sanabia and Tommy Hanson start tonight.

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Four-Word News

Will Will be back? (fishstripes)

Edwin's on short list. (palmbeachpost)

Cishek makes his debut. (capecodonline)

Rookies stylin' to hotel. (fishstripes)

LeBron wears Marlins hat. (palmbeachpost)

VandenHurk's first Orioles start. (americanchronicle)

Cousins' historic back-to-back triples. (miamiherald)

Sunday's Games

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Oh, well....

The Fish are eliminated from the playoffs, and Logan's streak has stopped. Time for the Marlins to try to get back to .500. Milwaukee lost their last Saturday home game after winning the previous five - they are 6-6 for the season. Florida won their last Saturady away game after losing the previous two - they are 3-8 this year in Sat. away games. Chris again pitches against Chris tonight.

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Edge of the Cliff

The Marlins are 9.5 games behind Atlanta in the Wild Card, and have 10 games left to play. Logan goes for No. 43 tonight.

Today's game features someone making his first MLB start and someone possibly making his last.

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Four-Word News

Hanley can pinch run. (miamiherald)

Ballad of Ozzie Martinez. (sun-sentinel)

Marlins scout watches Loux. (mlb)

Marlins' November job fair. (miamiherald)

Hensley lunches with Hoffman. (miamiherald)

Grab a Beer

The Marlins start their last road trip of the year with a four-gamer in Milwaukee. This is also the Brewers' last home series of the year - they're off to New York and Cincy after Sunday. The Brewers have a home record of 37-40 - this year they are 13-12 in first games of home series, but have lost their last three. The 2010 Brewers are 9-19 in four-game series.

The Marlins won 3 of 4 from Milwaukee in Miami earlier this year. This year they are 13-11 in first games of away series, but have won their last three. The 2010 Fish are 38-36 on the road, and are 20-12 in four-game series.

Anibal Sanchez and Yovani Gallardo start tonight.

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Four-Word News

Hanley may be done. (rototimes)

FanFest is February 19. (palmbeachpost)

John Baker's open letter. (miamiherald)

Marlins: worst infield defense. (sbnation)

Minervini's wrestling past exposed. (scrippsnews)

Marlins' stadium infield disappears. (phinphanatic)

Bye Bye Mets

Alex Sanabia and Jonathon Niese are the starters in the battle to stay uneliminated.

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TOUCHE: Marlins hold on to win 7-5.

Four-Word News

Colvin released from hospital. (google)

Ozzie's, Marlins' "intermediaries" talking. (chicagonow)

Emilio back next week? (sun-sentinel)

Hanley again not starting. (twitter)

Logan's dad seeing Logan. (mlb)

Florida's offseason shopping list. (miamiherald)

Mets For Two

In tonight's Game One, Pelfrey's looking for his first win ever in Miami, while Adalberto has his first start against someone other than the Phillies.

And Hanley's starting tonight too.

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TWO-IN-A-ROW: Gaby smacks the 3-run homer to beat the Mets 5-2

Fighting the Dark Forces

Hanley's still out, and now Bonifacio hurt his hammy. Might as well bring up the entire Suns team.

With all the crazy calamities this season, from Coghlan's celebration injury to what happened to Tyler Colvin yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if flaming meteorites come crashing down on the field today.

The Cards flew in all the way from San Diego (WRONG: from St. Louis) to play this game, and they'll be flying to Pittsburgh afterwards. They won 3 out of 4 from the Pads, after also being swept by the Cubs.

It's Chris against Chris today, on this historical day of no-hitters.

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BRAD!: Davis hits a grand slam in the 2nd!

UPDATE: After 3.5 innings it's still 4-0 Marlins.

FINAL: It Stays 4-0! Complete Game for Volstad!

Fighting Another Sweep

Historically the game's in the bag - this year the Cubs are 4-7 in Sunday away games while the Marlins are 8-2 in Sunday home games. But will the momentum of the on-going streaks speak louder?

Today's spring-training game starts Jeff Samardzija and Andrew Miller.

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SUNS WIN

Chris Hatcher wins the championship in the 9th inning and, just as predicted, Hatcher and two other Suns are called up by the Marlins on Sunday.

Saturday Salsa

The 73-73 Marlins are 6-5 on Super Saturdays, but the 66-81 Cubs this year are 8-3 in Saturday road games and have won their last 3.

MRI shows swelling, so Hanley's not in the lineup again. Cape Coral's very own Casey Coleman starts for the Cubs, while Florida's Anibal Sanchez piles on even more innings. "El Caballero de la Salsa" performs tonight.

And tonight the Suns go for the Championship.

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UGH: The Marlins were eliminated from the NL East race as they lose to Chicago 5-3.

Choices

If you're not in the mood to peruse "anticlimactic" games in a "funereal baseball atmosphere", why not listen to Game 3 of the Southern League Championship between the Jacksonville Suns and the Tennesee Smokies?

Or, for those holding on to faint glimmers of hope, it's tonight's game between the Cubs and Marlins.

The Cubs are 8-15 in first games of road series this year, but they've won 3 of their last 4. After Pinella left the team the Cubs have a record of "14-7 and 9-3 on the road" and are 5-1 on this road trip. Last year in Miami Gardens they won 3 out of 4 games. Former Fish Ryan Dempster starts tonight after making some history of his own, in his last start becoming the 4th Canadian to have achieved 100 MLB wins.

Starting for the Marlins will be the returning fighter Alex Sanabia.

MORE-PILING-ON: Hanley's left elbow's been sore for 10 days - he's out of the line-up. And Buente's shoulder's sore too. (sun-sentinel)


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MINORS-GET-IT-DONE: The Suns beat the Cubs-affiliate Tennessee Smokies 2-0, but the Cubs get past the Marlins 2-0.

Breather

It's the last day off for the Marlins this season. After today, 17 straight days of games are scheduled, 7 on the road.

4 NL games today.

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Adios Phillies

The Phillies go away after tonight's game - the Marlins won't have to play them again until the playoffs (back reality, back).

In 2010 the Phils are 6-5 in Wednesday away games. In road series finales they are 14-8 and have won their last 8 (that includes a makeup game with the Rockies). The Marlins are 14-7 in series finales in Some Life Stadium this year, but are 3-7 in Wednesday home games (they won 2 of their last 3 though).

Roy Halladay may make it past six innings tonight. Jorge Sosa will head the conga line of Marlins relievers expected to be summoned.

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The 2011 Marlins - Now With Even Fewer Home Games

The Marlins are discussing not only going back to Puerto Rico but also moving a few more home games to Canada. (sun-sentinel)

Four-Word News

Brett Sinkbell called up.....Edwin: .500 not good.....Cameron may play Wednesday.....Mets-Marlins start 2011 season. (miamiherald)

Next Game

The weather's been ugly most of the day. The 10-game pattern looks ugly too, so I don't think about it. Cole Hamels and Adalberto Mendez are the starters.

I found one hopeful stat: "PHI are 2-9 in Hamels' last 11 starts vs. FLA."... and the Phils are 3-6 this year in Tuesday road games.

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FUDGE: Fish lose 2-1.

Four-Word News

DAN UGGLA MAKES HISTORY! (fishstripes)(sun-sentinel)

Josh Johnson shut down. (allheadlinenews)

Leroux claimed by Pittsburgh. (fishstripes)

Minervini announcing USFL games. (boxscorenews)

Willingham's trials of faith. (bpsports)

Last Phillies Series for 2010

The 10-game cycle worked for the Washington series. For tonight's game the Marlins 10-game record is 8-6 (the Phillies' is 9-5).

It's Joe Blanton vs. whichever version of Andrew Miller shows up tonight.

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Four-Word Stories

Injured officer throws first. (officer.com)

Josh won't start Wednesday. (realgmbaseball)

Mike Lamb sues ex-con. (courthousenews.com)

Mike Lowell announces retirement. (americanchronicle)

Mike Stanton matches Pujols. (espn)

Trying For The Sweep

Flinging from the end of the alphabet will be Volstad and Zimmermann.

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SUCCESS: Fish win 6-5.

Success?

Edwin has managed one more game than Fredi this year while posting a winning record.

Edwin would like to stay on, but the front office won't say.

Saturday Matinee

The resurgent Jason Marquis and Anibal start.

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GREAT: Fish win 4-1.

Three-Word News

No TV today. (fishstripes)

Sanabia throws gem. (mlb)

Hensley's first save. (sun-sentinel)

Josh didn't throw. (palmbeachpost)

Pierre's Clemente nominee. (mlb)

Hermida's in Oakland. (boston.com)

Last Nationals Series for 2010

In their last 20 games the Marlins are 11-9 and the Nats are 9-11. The 60-80 Nationals are 16-6 in the first games of home series this year. The Marlins are 13-10 in the first games of road series in 2010, and they swept the Nats the last time they were in D.C.

It's Marlins game #140 - if the 10-game cycle means anything the Marlins are going into their best 3-game stretch of the cycle.

As of 5:20 Hanley is back in the line-up and so is Nyjer. Sanabia and Lannan start.

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Three-Word News

Stanton's workout ingenuity. (kffl)

"Marlins Rookie Hazing" (fishstripes)

Barden's on Team-USA. (osubeavers)

Logan's family updates. (fishstripes)

Uggla's one away. (mlb)

Robertson's again DFA'd. (mlb)

Marlins "offseason checklist" (bleacherreport)

Marlins rookies' projections. (marlinmaniac)

Cabrera trade results. (marlinsmaniacs)

Relax!

The Marlins take a day before a three-gamer in D.C. Not only are no more Nat fights expected, but the two teams will perform a rare act of symmetry this weekend.

Four NL games are on tap for today.

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Bye Bye Philadelphia

Damn if that 10-game cycle isn't showing up again - The Marlins' last two games were #137 and #138; both were losses, and both were in the losing end of the Marlins 10-day cycle. One more down-cycle game tonight, game #139 (the Phillies are playing their game #141 tonight - they are 10-4 this year in games whse number ends in 1).

Philly is 5-4 this year in the last games of homestands. The Marlins are 13-8 this year in road series finales.

It's Mr. "One Pitch is the Game" Cole Hamels against "Mr. Mustache" Andrew Miller.

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Three-Word News

Josh's season over? (miamiherald)

Baker for Clemente. (fishstripes)

No Lidge tonight. (philly.com)

Bonifacio's third fastest. (palmbeachpost)

One-For-Tuesday

8 back in the WC with 33(WRONG - that's 23) to go. So far this year the Marlins are 4-3 at Citizen's Bank Ballpark. The Phillies this year are 4-5 in the next-to-last games of homestands. Chris Volstad and Joe Blanton toss tonight.

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Late Update

Was out all day - came back tonight to find Marlins and Phillies split doubleheader.

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Three-Word News

Logan's seemingly okay. (SunSentinel)

Marlins Twitter curse? (MarlinsDiehards)

Sunday's great defense (PBPost)

Fish snub Cox. (SunSentinel)

Hensley's closing now. (USAtoday)

Rubber Game

It's Alex Sanabia against Mike Minor today.

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SERIES-WIN: Scott Cousins' first MLB hit wins the game for the Fish.

4-J Club

The Marlins are on a 3-game home win streak and the Braves are on a 4-game road losing streak. The last time the Marlins lost a Saturday home game, and the last time the Braves won a Saturday road game, was here in Miami on July 24.

Anyone taking seriously the ten-game cycle investigation I put out here a couple of days ago may be concerned that today is Game No. 134 for the Fish and that they are 4-9 in games whose numbers end in 4 this year. But I counted up the Braves games too - today is Game No. 136 for the Braves, and they too are 4-9 in games whose number end in 6. Here's the whole list for the Braves, if you're interested...

Atlanta
#_W-L
1_7-7
2_9-5
3_9-5
4_8-6
5_8-6
6_4-9
7_9-4
8_4-9
9_9-4
0_10-3

It's Josh Johnson and Jair Jurrjens on the mound, and Pitbull in the air tonight.

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Braves This Weekend

My internet was out today - couldn't get around to this or this or anything else.

The Marlins lead 2-0 after the first inning.

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Fish Recovery Day

With pieces of Marlin lying all over, and enforced vacations a distinct possibility, the boys who until recently were in teal take a much-needed scheduled day off to somwehow find some more players. The Phils, Braves and Mets see action tonight.

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Game No. 132

Tonight it's Chris Volstad vs. Former Fish Scott Olsen.

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More Crack

Expanding on yesterday's cracked stat, here's this year's Marlins' win-losses as they relate to the last digit in each game's number ("#1" means Game Number 1, Game Number 11, Game Number 21, and so on, up to last night' Game Number 131; "#2" means Game Number 2 and so on to Game Number 122; and all the way through up to #9)....

#__W-L
1__9-5
2__9-4
3__7-6
4__4-9
5__7-6
6__8-5
7__5-8
8__4-9
9__5-8
0__8-5

Looking for contiguous 10-game cycles? How about this?
Games whose numbers end in 0, 1 and 2 - 26 wins, 14 losses.
Games whose numbers end in 3, 4, 5, 6 - 26 wins, 26 losses.
Games whose numbers end in 7, 8 and 9 - 14 wins, 25 losses.

Pattern of Aggression

Brett Hayes being put out of commission by Nyjer Morgan may be excusable if Morgan hadn't plowed into the Cardinals' Bryan Anderson on Saturday and wasn't suspended for hitting a fan with a baseball, and hadn't even cursed out a fan last night.