"There has even been speculation that Major League Baseball could take over the team as it did the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals." (Times-Leader)
OOPS: In this article Paul Hagan quotes Loria as saying:
"We do need a place to play in 2010....I've said that a million times, but we do have to find a solution to this. A domed facility."
A Domed Facility? And no mention of it moving?? Oh, boy! - here comes The Trop Part Deux!
Friday, March 31, 2006
We're Number One! We're Number One!
It takes a former Marlin to beat the Fish, who finish with the best Spring record in baseball. (SLAMSports)
Now, let the misery begin! (MiamiHerald)
Now, let the misery begin! (MiamiHerald)
More New Scoreboard News
Last night at around 7:40 I drove by the stadium and looked at what was happening with the new hi-def scoreboards. Turns out they were showing an episode of "The Big Valley". (Pass the popcorn.)
Thursday, March 30, 2006
S. A. Trying to Prove That They're Viable
"Bexar County paid an economist $50,000 to predict the area's financial future and to see if residents here can support another team." Guess what he concluded? (WOAI.com)
Joel Sherman Says "Don't Be Surprised If...
"The Marlins complete a total renovation by trading Miguel Cabrera (the Mets, A's, Angels, Red Sox) and Dontrelle Willis (Dodgers, Giants, Blue Jays, Rangers)." (NYPost)
Pierre Still Having Trouble
This spring he "is hitting .222 with a .246 on-base percentage and one stolen base in four attempts." (ChicagoSports.com)
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Bye Bye All-Time Pinch Hit Leader
ALSO: An 'adios' to Kerry, a 'see ya later' to Scott, and 'maybes' to Matt and Mike. (Forbes.com)
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
A Couple of Fun Quotes From This Year's Previews
"When Jeffrey Loria was owner of the erstwhile Montreal Expos, he willfully ran the team into the ground. Now, baseball's favorite saboteur is pressing the pillow over the face of the Florida Marlins."- Dayn Perry (FOXSports)
"After dealing away practically an All-Star team this offseason, Florida owner Jeffrey Loria wiped his hands clean of more talent Ashlee Simpson could only dream of having." - Shawn Clarke (Baseball.com)
"After dealing away practically an All-Star team this offseason, Florida owner Jeffrey Loria wiped his hands clean of more talent Ashlee Simpson could only dream of having." - Shawn Clarke (Baseball.com)
When Will These Marlins Start Playing Down to Their Potential?
"'It just gets worse every day,' manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday, when the Marlins beat the New York Mets 12-7." (SLAMSports)
Jorg Jettisoned to Cincy,...
...Marlins get Piste. ALSO: Fish acquire Wellemeyer's experienced 6.19 ERA for Holdskom and McCormack. (MLB)
Hilarious Barry Jackson Quote
"(A) ballpark in Hialeah appears unlikely, partly because Robaina has decided not to ask residents to vote on a tax to help finance it (unlike San Antonio's approach). Miami-Dade County also seems unwilling to take the referendum route." (MiamiHerald)
BWAHAHAHAHA! 'Unwilling'? How about 'Not out of their minds'?
Yes, I know Capefish said it could be done, as the vote for the AAA showed. Great! - so all the Marlins need is Pat Riley, and they got it made. "Painted themselves in a corner" I think describes the Marlins' chances in this regard.
BWAHAHAHAHA! 'Unwilling'? How about 'Not out of their minds'?
Yes, I know Capefish said it could be done, as the vote for the AAA showed. Great! - so all the Marlins need is Pat Riley, and they got it made. "Painted themselves in a corner" I think describes the Marlins' chances in this regard.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
"Wedded to the Roof"
In this previous post I spewed my "stating-the-obvious" revelation that the Marlins had the funding on at least one occasion to build a open-air or possibly even a solid-dome stadium in South Florida, but the team's non-negotiable demand for a 'retractable roof' put the kibosh on the deal (or deals), and puts the team's future here in jeopardy.
It's "stating-the-obvious" because it's been said before, not just in suggestion-form by Huizenga, but by others higher up the bling-bling chain than I, as for instance in this Miami Herald article from last September:
"'The last five stadiums built don't have roofs,' (Miami Mayor Manny) Diaz said. 'Eleven of the last 15 don't have roofs. If a husband and wife can't afford a Mercedes, then they buy a Lexus or a Chevy.'
"But (Miami-Dade County Manager George) Burgess said the Marlins remain wedded to the roof, which Major League Baseball has said is a necessity for play in rain-prone South Florida. But Burgess all but scolded the team's inflexibility on the issue, noting that it has consistently rejected a proposal to build a roof-ready park and add a roof at a later date."
The operative statement here is "Major League Baseball has said (Ol' Roofie) is a necessity for play in rain-prone South Florida." That points to the ultimate major player in this drama as Bud Selig, someone known to throw money around like a man without arms.
As today's Barry Jackson article in the Herald (quoted here in the Marlins Ballpark News) alledges, "Marlins management -- knowing baseball values the South Florida market -- asked MLB to contribute toward stadium financing, but baseball balked, citing lack of precedent. MLB will pay $20 million for the Washington Nationals' new stadium (though that will be passed on to the team's eventual owner)."
So even when MLB breaks their own precedent they desperately find a way to unbreak it again. Could've some spare change from MLB.com been found to toss towards D. C., a metro area not really recognized as having solved all of their own urban problems?
By the way, the D.C. City Council capped "the city's expenditures on the project at $611 million" (boy, that $20 million will sure help). And, even though they're also basically in a swamp, known to be reasonably hot, fetid and somewhat stormy in summertime, there doesn't seem to be a roof in their plans.
Of course in the middle of the summer misery here, a protective covering and air-conditioned breeze would be pleasurable.
But put it this way: If you had the choice between going to games in an open-air or maybe a solid-dome stadium during South Florida summers, or never going to MLB games in South Florida again, which would you prefer?
And what's the deal with the 'retractable' part, anyway? Solid-dome stadiums are supposed to be much cheaper than retractable ones, and they still keep the rain out. Even the city of Weston would have helped pay for one, just for shelter purposes.
You know what it is? Retractability is a Fashion Statement - just as much a fetish of these times (or even way back in the 90's!) as solid-dome stadiums like the Astrodome were in the 60's and 70's.
Loria and Samson have crowed and sung about how they are committed to finding a way to stay in South Florida. Okay, maybe they are. The question is, are they committed enough to this area that when their constantly-shifting deadline finally arrives, they would be willing to make, let's say, a slight modification to their inflexible demand for a sliding ceiling on their stadium, if not doing so would mean their departure from South Florida? Or is Selig really committed enough to this area to help pay for a roof (especially since he seemingly hasn't paid for anything since the Eisenhower administration)?
It's "stating-the-obvious" because it's been said before, not just in suggestion-form by Huizenga, but by others higher up the bling-bling chain than I, as for instance in this Miami Herald article from last September:
"'The last five stadiums built don't have roofs,' (Miami Mayor Manny) Diaz said. 'Eleven of the last 15 don't have roofs. If a husband and wife can't afford a Mercedes, then they buy a Lexus or a Chevy.'
"But (Miami-Dade County Manager George) Burgess said the Marlins remain wedded to the roof, which Major League Baseball has said is a necessity for play in rain-prone South Florida. But Burgess all but scolded the team's inflexibility on the issue, noting that it has consistently rejected a proposal to build a roof-ready park and add a roof at a later date."
The operative statement here is "Major League Baseball has said (Ol' Roofie) is a necessity for play in rain-prone South Florida." That points to the ultimate major player in this drama as Bud Selig, someone known to throw money around like a man without arms.
As today's Barry Jackson article in the Herald (quoted here in the Marlins Ballpark News) alledges, "Marlins management -- knowing baseball values the South Florida market -- asked MLB to contribute toward stadium financing, but baseball balked, citing lack of precedent. MLB will pay $20 million for the Washington Nationals' new stadium (though that will be passed on to the team's eventual owner)."
So even when MLB breaks their own precedent they desperately find a way to unbreak it again. Could've some spare change from MLB.com been found to toss towards D. C., a metro area not really recognized as having solved all of their own urban problems?
By the way, the D.C. City Council capped "the city's expenditures on the project at $611 million" (boy, that $20 million will sure help). And, even though they're also basically in a swamp, known to be reasonably hot, fetid and somewhat stormy in summertime, there doesn't seem to be a roof in their plans.
Of course in the middle of the summer misery here, a protective covering and air-conditioned breeze would be pleasurable.
But put it this way: If you had the choice between going to games in an open-air or maybe a solid-dome stadium during South Florida summers, or never going to MLB games in South Florida again, which would you prefer?
And what's the deal with the 'retractable' part, anyway? Solid-dome stadiums are supposed to be much cheaper than retractable ones, and they still keep the rain out. Even the city of Weston would have helped pay for one, just for shelter purposes.
You know what it is? Retractability is a Fashion Statement - just as much a fetish of these times (or even way back in the 90's!) as solid-dome stadiums like the Astrodome were in the 60's and 70's.
Loria and Samson have crowed and sung about how they are committed to finding a way to stay in South Florida. Okay, maybe they are. The question is, are they committed enough to this area that when their constantly-shifting deadline finally arrives, they would be willing to make, let's say, a slight modification to their inflexible demand for a sliding ceiling on their stadium, if not doing so would mean their departure from South Florida? Or is Selig really committed enough to this area to help pay for a roof (especially since he seemingly hasn't paid for anything since the Eisenhower administration)?
Is It Just Me, Or Is This Marlins Team Freaking You Out?
Sure, it's still spring training, but it's getting later and later in spring training, and the Fish keep on whupping the big boy's butts, as in today's game against Mark Mulder and the Cardinals. (SLAMSports)
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Marlins 6, Orioles 5
"Josh Willingham, who has been making progress defensively at catcher, made his first Grapefruit League start in left field...Miguel Olivo likely as the Opening Day catcher" (MLB)....but Matt Treanor wins today's game.(SLAMSports)
The Red Sox - Now With More Marlins Veterans Than The Marlins!
Hee Seop Choi joins Beckett, Lowell in Beantown. (WJACTV.com)
Friday, March 24, 2006
Big SoFla Ratings For WBC Final
"In Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Monday's World Baseball Classic game generated a 6.6 rating (100,452 homes) -- along with San Diego, the highest among Nielsen's 55 metered markets."
MEANWHILE: Jayson Stark doesn't hate Cubans. (MiamiHerald)
MEANWHILE: Jayson Stark doesn't hate Cubans. (MiamiHerald)
Barry Jackson Says "Significant Progress Has Not Been Made" on Hialeah Stadium...
(MiamiHerald)...but "Descarga Deportiva" is saying otherwise. (MarlnsBallparkNews)
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