Mr. Girardi Believes That The Team Gave Off an Offensive Odor Last Night

"We stunk," sayeth he... "When you walk people, your defense gets sloppy. I don't know why but it's a proven fact. I'd rather get beat 18-0 with no walks." (PalmBeachPost)

And in the one moment in the game when Joe wouldn't have minded a walk...

'...Girardi walked to the mound to advise Vargas.

'He told the pitcher to be careful.

'"I told him you've got an open base, try to get him Zimmerman to chase something," Girardi said.

'Instead, Vargas delivered his 3-1 pitch to Zimmerman across the middle of the plate, and the ball was batted into center to end the game.' (MercuryNews)

Looking For Splitsville

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FINDING SPUTTER-VILLE: Marlins lose the first game of the season's 2nd half to the Nats 8-7. Mets and Braves win, Phillies lose.

Borowski Grabbing Those Incentives

MEANWHILE: Uggla's sleeves were too big,... and our famous milk-drinking batboy now works for the Nats.(PalmBeachPost)

2nd Highest-Scoring Game in Fish History

Fish had 19 hits; 2 guys had a chance to hit for the cycle; Pinto gets first save, then gets sent back to AAA (Jason Vargas returns to the big club). (MiamiHerald)

MORE: "With his win Wednesday night, Yumeiro Petit joined Howie Koplitz (Tigers, 1961) as the only two pitchers in the last 75 years to win their first Major League start after giving up four or more runs in the first inning." (MLB)

Fish a Half-Game out of 4th Place...

...and one game away from fifth. Will the 4-game slide continue?

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NOPE-CAP: Fish slap the Nats, 18-9. Mets and Braves win, Phillies lost.

In a State of Specialty Auto License Tags, How Does The Marlins Tag Rate?

Among the 12 sports-oriented tags that are available to be put on Florida cars, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the most, with 75,509 of them out there (the Dolphins are second at 63,727). The Marlins tag is third from the bottom of the list with 8,698, ahead of the Devil Rays (5,065) and the 'Support Soccer' tag (1,814). (NaplesNews)

Scouts Scrutinize The Marlins Roster

(MiamiHerald)

Independance Day Games

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UGH-CAP: Nats beat Fish on Zimmerman's 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th. Mets and Phillies win, Braves lose.

Yusmeiro Starts Wednesday

(MiamiHerald)

MORE: Resop pointed towards Albuquerque. (MaverickBall)

Josh and Dan NL Co-Rookies of the Month

(FishStripes)

Back to D. C.

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WAKEFIELD EFFECT CONTINUES: Fish get pummeled by the Nats 9-1. Mets get more pummeled 11-1; Braves win. Phillies didn't play.

411 on the Hialeah Ballpark Situation

The lack of adequate supplies of drinking water cited by the state's DCA not only stalls the stadium plans, but keeps the land's erstwhile-owner, Mr. Codina, from acquiring a huge chunk of change (surprise!). (MSNBC)

'Banged-Up Marlins'

'Right-hander Brian Moehler will undergo an MRI on his sore right foot today...(Marlins) had to sit outfielder Cody Ross (groin) and utilityman Alfredo Amezaga (knee) with injuries Sunday. Florida also has been playing first baseman Mike Jacobs (ankle) and Abercrombie (thumb) despite their injuries...(and) also have pitchers Sergio Mitre, Moehler and Carlos Martinez on the disabled list.'

MEANWHILE: Who's pitching Wednesday? (MiamiHerald)

Miguel Cabrera and Dan Uggla All-Stars!

'"I'm elated. If I could do cartwheels through the clubhouse, I would do that," Marlins manager Joe Girardi said of Uggla's selection. "He deserves to go. It's because of his hard work. I'm so happy for him."...

'"You're going to have a hard time convincing me any third baseman has any better numbers than (Cabrera) does. I had no doubt he was going to make the club," Girardi said. "The question was Danny. They looked at Danny's numbers and I think they made the right choice."' (TheLedger.com)

Rubber Game

Will the Marlins' tangle with the brutal Wakefield send the team "into a tailspin for two or three days", as Girardi feared? Stay tuned...

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MAYBE-CAP: Granted a 4-3 score doesn't look like a 'tailspin', but the Fish still lose to the Red Sox, and are back in third place after today's Phillies victory. Braves and Nats win, too.

Fish and Their Few Fans Having Fun

Steve Silver checks out the Marlins clubhouse, their manager, and what keeps the fans away. He also gives this little bit of info that I didn't know about...

"Playing in Dolphin Stadium, the Marlins receive a minimal revenue stream from concessions, parking and advertising because the stadium is controlled by the Miami Dolphins' owners as a result of a deal struck with the late Joe Robbie."

Looking beyond the fact that the living Joe Robbie was already the Dolphins' owner, I thought it was a neat trick that the late Joe Robbie is still making deals. Maybe I'll attempt one myself, although I don't know how soon he'll return my phone calls. (WashingtonTimes)

Big Moe Hurt His Toe, The Pinto Gets Recalled

(FishStripes)

The Knuckleball Returns to South Florida...

...Plus the other games.

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THE MIGHTY KNUCKLER (with a little help from Manny and David) DEFEATS THE FISH: Wakefield gets 150th win, Manny hits no. 2000 over the fence, Sox streak of 17 errorless games stops. Mets and Nats win, Phillies and Braves lose.

Helms is "3 for 9 With a Double and a Homer" off of Wakefield

'"The approach I used is I just played pepper with him," said Helms, who last faced Wakefield as a member of the Brewers in 2003. "I looked for a ball up because usually the balls up come in the strike zone. You have to go up there your first at-bat and see how it's moving because some nights it doesn't move as good as others...

'"You have to take what you get,...If it's two singles, it's two singles. Your bat will generate the power. You can't try to drive the ball off them because if you overswing you're hurting yourself."'

ALSO: Uggla's back, Cody's in center, and Ortiz's in the lineup. (SunSentinel)

Fans Remember Former Fish

'Lowell got a 30-second standing ovation before his first at-bat, and even Florida starter Dontrelle Willis stepped off the mound and joined in the applause. (Alex) Gonzalez received a similar greeting from fans on his first trip to the plate in the Red Sox gray road uniform.

'"It was as nice an ovation as I've ever gotten," Lowell said. "I felt overwhelmed. I was humbled and appreciative. I'm glad Alex received the same type of ovation. I hope they can show some highlights of Josh Beckett and bring him out, too."' (SI.com)