25 Games to Go

First bad news: Colorado won again on Monday, so the Marlins are now five-and-a-half-games back in the WC race.

Amazing that the Fish are seemingly Pythagorically out of it, with one less run scored than allowed up to this point in the season. But the possibility still lingers.

Let's set up the rest of the season, Wild-Card-wise...

Colorado has 24 more games in the regular season. The Rocks have a 4-0 record against Cincinatti in 2009 and they play the next 3 games against each other in Denver - last year the Rocks had a 2-1 record over the Reds in Coors Field.
* Then 3 games at San Diego, where CR has a 4-2 record in 2009.
* Next to San Fran for 3: this year Colorado has an overall 7-8 record against the Giants but they're 1-5 at AT&T Park.
* A day off, then to Arizona for 3: the Rockies this year are 9-6 against Arizona after sweeping them at home last week, but are 3-3 so far in Phoenix.
* Another day off and back home to play the Padres, where Colorado has a 4-2 record.
* Then St. Louis comes in for 3: the Rocks beat the Cardinals all 4 games they played in Busch Stadium this year (last year they split 4 in Denver).
* Then the Brewers finish up the Rockies' home stand; Colorado won all 3 games this year at Miller Park (and in 2008 they were 2-1 against Milwaukee at home).
* The Rockies play their last 3 games of the regular season at Los Angeles, where they have a 1-5 record against the Dodgers this year.

The Giants beat the Padres yesterdday, have now a 6-1 home record against the Padres this year, and have 2 more games against them at home.
* Then the Dodgers come in for 3 games; the two teams split the 6 games they have played this year in AT&T.
* The afore-mentioned series with the Rockies closes out the homestand.
* A day off, and then down they go for 3 in L.A., where the Giants are 2-4 against the Dodgers in 2009.
* Next the Giants, who are 8-4 against Arizona this year (4-2 both home and at Chase Field), will play the Diamondbacks for 6 games away and home, split up by a 4-game series at home against the Cubs and another day off.
* The Giants have only played the Cubs 2 games at Wrigley this year, and split 1-1 (last year they split 2-2 in Frisco).
* The Giants conclude the reg. season with 3 at San Diego, where they are a perfect 0-6 aaginst the Pads this year.

The Marlins start a 3-gamer with the Mets tonight at collapsing Citi Field, where so far the two teams have a 3-3 record against each other this year.
* Then all the way down to North Miami for 3 games against the Nationals, who haven't won a game in LandShark in 6 tries this year.
* Then all the way out to St. Louis - the Fish are 1-2 against the Cardinals in Miami this year and were 1-2 in Busch last year.
* Next will be the historical challenge of four games at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinatti, where the Fish have to fight an 8-game losing streak that goes back to April of 2006.
* The Marlins get a day off, then play 3 games in 2 days at home against the Phillies, who the Fish haven't been able to beat in 6 tries this year in Miami Gardens.
* Next the Mets come to visit for 3 games: Florida has a 4-2 record over the Mets at home in 2009.
* Then the Marlins travel to Atlanta for 3 - Florida's 4-2 in Atlanta this year.
* A day off to ponder.
* Then games 160, 161, and 162 in Philly, where the Marlins are 5-1 this season.

MORE: 'dcfish' gives a more-thorough look at the rest of the Marlins' season. (FishStripes)

Sweep?

Anibal and J.D. Martin pitch today.

The Marlins lost last year after winning their previous three September 6th games. The Nats have won their last two September 6th games after losing the preceding five, including two losses against the Marlins.

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NO-NO-NUNEZ: It took 5 pitches for Leo to turn a 2-run lead into a 5-4 loss. Time to watch the scoreboards for the other games.

Watch Out! Today Is Livan's Day

You might be saying, "We've got Josh Johnson pitching tonight and Livan's getting a little long in the tooth if you know what I mean, so we should have no worries". Perhaps, but just for information's sake, Livan in his career has always won or been a part of a win whenever he's pitched on September 5. He has won outright against the Marlins twice on that date, in 2003 as an Expo and in 2005 as a National. He got the win in 9/5/2007 as a Diamondback against the Padres. And he pitched 7 innings and gave up only one run in an eventual win over Atlanta on 9/5/2004.

So far this year Livan's 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA against the Marlins.

September 5 has been one of those bad days for the Marlins. In their history they have a record of 3-10 on September 5. And the Marlins have never beaten the team now known as the Nats on that date - along with those 2 Livan wins, the Marlins have lost 3 other times to the Expos/Nationals on 9/5, in 2007 (Ayala got the win), in 1998, and in 1996.

The Marlins won last year on September 5, though. And the Nats lost on 9/5/2008 and 9/5/2006.

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NO-WORRIES: Livan gives up 6 earned runs in 5 innings and Josh does what Josh usually does. Marlins score at least 8 runs in a game for four straight games, which Glenn Geffner says the Marlins have never done before. Fish win 9-5.

National Travesty

The Marlins went 5-5 in the homestand but managed to gain a game in the Wild Card race. Now they face the Washington Nationals, the Fish returning to the scene of the sweep that had the beat writers considering giving up on the Marlins back on August 7.

The Nats, on a 6-game losing streak and scoring only 3 runs in their last 38 innings, hope to feast on Sean West as they did the last time he pitched against them, while expecting another solid start from Garrett Mock.

I hope the news that the GCL Nationals beat the GCL Marlins for the GCL title yesterday doesn't either predict or inspire.

The Nats beat the Fish on 9/4/2007. In September 4th games the Marlins have gone W-L-W-L-W-L in their last six, while the Nats lost last year after winning three September 4ths in a row.

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WIN!: 9-6 Marlins.

Accomplishments

Congrats to Mr. Coghlan for being named the NL Rookie Of The Month. (MLB)

And congrats to Mr. Ramirez for his nomination for this year's Roberto Clemente Award. (MLB)

And congrats to Mr. Uggla for reaching an historic pinnacle that only two other players have achieved, and no other player so early in their career. (MLB)

Series Finale

The Fighting Fish are in 'one big happy family' mode today, even as it was revealed that Wes and Hanley went at it last month.

Hanley's been a handful all year, maybe exacerbated by playing hurt for a chunk of the season, including being hit. He's been upset with Fredi, he's been upset with the organization, and probably more we may not want to hear.

Anyway, Jeremy's hurt too, so Nick Johnson (surprise) and Andy Gonzalez returns to the starting lineup in place of Hermida and Hanley. (Hopefully they can pick a fight with Hanley and start hitting home runs, too.)

Who's tossing the ball tonight? How about Tommy Hanson and Ricky Nolasco?

Florida beat the Braves last year on September 3rd. Both Florida and Atlanta have won 4 of their last 6 September 3rd games.

WEATHER-UPDATE: A bunch of rain fell on the stadium today - the radar looks better now (6 PM) than it did an hour ago, but we'll see.

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TA-DA: Fish win 8-3.

Next Must-Win Game Tonight - Tension Ramps Up

There's reports of frustration with Hanley, especially fron Uggla, from Juan C.

Capozzi reports a closed-door meeting after Hanley's remarks about needing to be in the game with a '10 percent' hamstring sparked a shouting match with Dan. (Hanley's now out of the lineup).

The starters are to be The Hurk and Javier Vazquez.

After the game tonight, there'll be a look behind-the-scenes of a Marlins telecast, coincidentally occuring a week after the 70th anniversary of televised major-league baseball.

Atlanta has gone L-W-L-W-L-W in their last 6 September 2nd games. They beat the Fish last September 2nd in a wild game where former evil-Marlin Jorge Julio got his first win as a Brave. Before that loss, the Marlins had won their previous 4 September 2nd games.

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KEEP-EM-ANGRY: Dan smcks it deep, and Wes wallops the game-winner - Fish 8, Braves 7

Game 2 of 4

Craig lists out the moves made by the Marlins on expanded-roster day.

An escapee from the memoribilia that was buried in the stadium had another day in court today.

Tonight's game features the return of Tim Hudson and hopefully the return to form of Anibal Sanchez.

Nasty storms surround the ballpark as of 5 PM today, we'll see if they blow away.

Florida beat Atlanta last year on September 1st. Atlanta has lost their last two September 1st games, while Florida has won their last six September 1st games.

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WEST-COAST-GAME: Game to start at 10PM ET.

DIGGING-A-HOLE: Dan shows again that he owns Soriano, but that was the bright spot. Marlins lose 4-3, are now 5 back in the WC - and Hanley has a tight hammy again.

Monday Mumbles

I think this maybe the last unemployment Monday but I'm not sure.

One less thing to note - Penny's going to San Francisco.

The new stadium will be specifically designed for people with exuberant asses.

The real news of the day splits off between Coghlan's and Hanley's accomplishments and the tense importance of this series.

Both the Fish and Braves have 32 games left, both are 3.5 games behind in the WC, and yet according to coolstandings.com, the Fish have now only a 5.4 percent hance of making the playoffs; the Braves chances are now 14.4 percent. Those last series must have something to do with it.

Tonight it's Josh and Kenshin on the mound.

Both Florida and Atlanta have lost their last three August 31st games.

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UH-MAKIN-IT-INTERESTING: Fish lose 5-1. (OOPS, Sorry, that's 5-2).

Marlins Win 6-4, Avoid Sweep

And the Rockies get swept by the Giants, meaning during this bad stretch the Fish are now 3.5 games behind the Wild Card leaders. Here's the scores....

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And Chris Coghlan's ripping up the record books too.

Turn-It-Around Game?

Chris and Gaby go back down, and Luis and Tim come back up. For the Pads, Kyle Blanks waited until after he hit a two-run homer against the Marlins to re-injure his foot and is day-to-day.

Ricky Nolasco and the artistically-named Wade LeBlanc start tonight.

The Marlins are on a 2-game losing streak in August 29th games (they're 5-5 in their last 10). The Padres have lost last year but are 4-2 in their last 6 August 29th games.

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The Padres Arrive to Face Hanley

Ethan J. Skolnick details how amazing Hanley's year has been...

"Ramirez hits day (.378) or night (.361), home (.350) or away (.384), against lefties (.313) or against righties (.386). He hits with nobody on (.359) or runners aboard (.373). Most ridiculous? He hits .457 with runners in scoring position and two out, when a lazy fly ball counts against him, not as a run-scoring sacrifice fly. That's the most pressurized situation in the sport. That's money time. That's the equivalent of Wade sinking virtually every game-winning shot, or Pennington tossing touchdowns on virtually every red zone trip."

Kevin Correia and Chris Coghlan will try to fend off the opposing teams tonight.

In August 28th games both the Padres and Marlins have won 5 of their last 8, including 2 of their last 3.

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SPILK: Fish lose.

News Blips

Jacksonville's going to the playoffs. (squarespace.com)

Larry says he may make some moves before midnight Monday. (sun-sentinel)

Ken Rosenthal says the Marlins, among others, have their sights on Brad Penny. (foxsports.com)

The Hurk won't be playing for his country in the Baseball World Cup. (mister-baseball.com)

Hanley will be at the South Dade Brandsmart on Saturday. (blogs.trb.com)

The Marlins embed 'mementos' into the superstructure of the new stadium, things that are safely hidden from prying eyes. (blogs.trb.com)

Bo Porter To Manage 'Marlins'

Boy, that headline's a stretch. Here's what it really means - Bo is set to be the manager of an Arizona Fall League team that will have many players from the Fort Myers Miracle, which used to be the Miami Marlins over 20 years ago. There, that's straightened out. (oursportscentral)

Sweep?????

An afternoon game is scheduled for today to finish off the series, although there is a report, from a news source once trusted in China, that the Mets' season may miraculously already be over.

If that's not the case, Tim Redding and Anibal Sanchez will take the mound, as the Fish try to sweep the Mets for the first time in almost 5 years.

In August 27th games Florida has won 4 of their last 5, while the Mets are 4-4 in their last 8, and both teams are on a 1-game winning streak.

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FLARG!: Not only did Anibal have troubles and the fielding allowed five runs to score, but Kiko gives up his first home run since June 17, 2007Chris' and Danny's homers were the only scoring - Fish lose 10-3.

Game Two Movements

Nick goes on the DL, Brett gets recalled, and Baker's back's sore.

Josh Johnson and Mike Pelfrey start tonight. Mets fans, who lost Johan for the year yesterday, and are seeing the uneven Oliver Perez go down today, may be watching the game just to see if Pelfrey gets hit by a meteorite or something.

Both the Mets and Marlins lost their last two August 26th games after winning the previous two.

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ZOOP: Fish win 5-3.

Don't Naturally Fall Into A State of Complacency, Marlins!

Just because Johan's out for the season, Francouer's thumb is on the bum, and the Mets actually traded Billy Wagner doesn't mean the rest of the team won't be gunning for Fish blood tonight. The Marlins went from 2 games back in the Wild Card race last week to 5.5 back now. Even with disaster all around them, the Mets can't be considered pushovers.

Replacing Santana tonight will be Nelson Figueroa. Sean West starts for the Fish.

The Mets have won their last two, and three of their last four, August 25th games. The Marlins lost their last August 25th game after winning the previous two.

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SQUEAKER: Fish win 2-1.

Some Stuff

Anibal's finally feeling no pain. (miamiherald)

Nick is still feeling it, though. (FishStripes)

Former-Fish Nate Bump impresses the Mud Hens. (pressconnects)

Here's the Marlins' all-time one-and-done team. (sun-sentinel)

Games for the Day Off

The Phillies have already beaten the Mets as of 5 PM today, but San Fran at Colorado start later tonight.

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Decision Time

Brendan goes on the DL, Cristhian is reportedly returning, and Cantu's back in the lineup.

Ricky and Derek start in this game to decide who takes third place in the Wild Card, and second place in the NL East (at least until the next game).

In August 23rd games the Marlins lost last year after winning their previous two, and the Braves won last year after losing their previous three.

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DOWN: Fish lose 7-5