Perry Hill Leaves Club Indefinitely To Be With Wife

Girardi: "It was hard for him to leave. ... He felt like he was letting the team down. But I told him by no means is he doing that. There are some things that take precedent...But Perry is, in a sense, irreplaceable." (MLB)

"The Stoppable Force Vs. The Movable Object"

Last night's game "certainly lived down to its billing." (MiamiHerald)

10-Game Road Trip Starts Today Against Pirates

During this same 10 days Atlanta will be home for 7 games and then goes out to the West Coast, Mets and Phillies and Nats will be away for 6 games and them home for 3.

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

CRAPTASTIC-CAP: Marlins score 9 runs, still lose to the Pirates (and Mitre's hurt, too). Phillies and Braves win, Nats and Mets lose.

Herald 2 Days Late With Hialeah, San Antonio Update

Here's the link for those who need the authority of official organs. (MiamiHerald)

What's With Dontrelle - Theories

Hitters have been making adjustments. (PalmBeachPost)

He can't pitch inside. (MLB)

Everyone who's pitched in the WBC has been pitching lousy this season. (BaseballProspectus, subscription needed)(link found through Dave Studeman in the Hardball Times.)

Not to Put a Jinx on It, But...

...the Marlins have won every game they've played on a Thursday this year (yeah, it's only 2 games, but so what?)

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

JINXED-CAP: Marlins lose to Atlanta 9-1. Washington scores 3 in the 11th, but Cincinatti scores 4 and wins. Philadelphia beat the Mets in a rain-shrunken 5 innings.

McKeon Wins Over the Youngsters

'9-year-old Michael Davis stuck out his hand and McKeon greeted him with a high-five. The boy pulled the hand back and stared at it.

'"I'll never wash this hand again," he said.' (MiamiHerald)

Marlins Say 'No' to San Antonio

...according to Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson. Meanwhile Hialeah Mayor Robaina says it's 'important' for Marlins to get that state subsidy next year. (PalmBeachPost)

Firing on All Cylinders

Josh Johnson gave up 4 hits, Marlins get 17 hits; Cabrera, Jacobs, Borchard homered. (SunSentinel)

Plenty of Seats Still Available

Watch as the Fish try to avoid doing what no other Marlins team has done.

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

AVOIDANCE-CAP: See? You should have been there. (So should've I.) Fish fried the Braves 11-3. Nats and Phillies lose, Mets win.

You Could Have Been There

Worst record in baseball, ties their longest home losing streak, German gets injured, it starts to rain, the lights go out again, 11 Braves bat in the sixth, 4th straight game opponents have batted around, opposing starter had flu-like symptoms, Francoeur gets his first walk this year, Moehler lost his 10th consecutive decision since last season, and only 6,079 show up to stare at it all. (MiamiHerald)(Forbes)

Possible Announcement This Month?

(MarlinsBallparkNews)

Marlins Vs. Braves Today...

...while Mets play at Philly and Washington at Cincy.

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

YUCK-CAP: Atlanta beats Marlins. Both Philly and Washy win. New Yorky loses.

Teammates, Manager Heap Praise on Josh

(PalmBeachPost)

It's Not the Marlins Fans That Matter To the Franchise,...

...it's the fans of the Mets and Yankees and other big-market teams that are literally the money-stream keeping the Marlins and other small-market teams going, according to Mike S. of Mike's Mets blog.

In that link, he quotes several articles on the subject of revenue-sharing, including Jayson Stark quoting an unnamed "prominent baseball man" whose description of small-market-team economics sounds suspiciously like what the Marlins are trying to do (or avoid):

"Talk about welfare, there's zero incentive for these teams to take that (revenue-sharing) money and spend it. ... If they get better, they draw more people. If they draw more people, they get a better TV contract and they sell more hot dogs. And if you do that, you lose your $30 million a year [in revenue-sharing money only]. Then you actually have to run your franchise like a real business and make it work."

Washington Fans, Blog Commenters Shout Abuse at Josh

(PalmBeachPost)

No NL East Games Today

But here are today's matchups/scores anyway...

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

NY Press Officially Starts Willis-To-The-Mets Campaign

This article's headline isn't "Dontrelle Is One Of A Few Possible Answers". (Newsday)

The Juan Pierre of 2005 Continues

"Pierre's average has tumbled to .240 and his on-base percentage is .287. He began Sunday leading the National League in percentage of ground-ball outs (81 percent)..."(ChicagoTribune)

Scott's Best

"Today was probably the best I've felt all year," Olsen said. "I don't think I beat myself. I think they beat me. That's a little more comforting." (Yahoo)