Fish Finish Exhibitions With a Win

Marlins beat Reds in Fifth Third park by the score of sixth to twoth. Mitre pitched well, Miguel homers.

One of Your Nastier Marlins Previews

...with links to more problematic previews from Batter's Box and Deadspin. (OutOfLeftField)

MEANWHILE: Mr. Pinto gives a more even-tempered preview of the NL East. (BaseballMusings)

Beinfest Makes Another 'Huh?' Trade

(FutureFish)

Spring Stats Are Meaningless, But...

...'the Marlins finished their Grapefruit League season with the fewest runs scored (105) and the lowest batting average (.218) in the Major Leagues.' (BareBaseball)

Reed's Plight Frustrating

'"I don't want to say anything because I'll probably say something I'll regret." - Eric Reed, when asked for his reaction to being reassigned to minor-league camp despite hitting .351 for the Marlins in 15 spring games.'(PalmBeachPost)

Uggy's Plight Ugly

First his mother's kidnapping, and now sentenced to 14 years in prison. Loria, Dontrelle, Miguel are beside themselves. (LJworld.com)

Roster Man Vibrations

Former bully De Aza is the Marlins' new centerfielder. Here's Fredi's thoughts on Alejandro...

"Every time he gets in the game something good happens. He has won me over. He has won the staff over and he has won the team over."

"Eric Reed did everything he was supposed to do but De Aza came out of nowhere,...We had an open competition and he won.

"It's just his overall play. You can't say it's because he hit 350. It's the way he handled himself. He can play all three outfield positions above average. He's an above-average runner."

Reed was sent to AAA. Alex Sanchez was released, along with pitchers Felix Rodriguez and Mike Koplove. Tankersley and Hermida start the season on the DL. (PalmBeachPost)

ALSO: Right-field will be the Cody and Joe show for a while. And "catcher Paul Hoover, infielder Zach Sorensen and pitcher Roy Corcoran were told they would be reassigned to the minors when the Marlins break camp." (SunSentinel)

MORE: Wood and Gardner tell their families they're in.

Andy Fox Arrives

The papers converge...(SunSentinel)(PalmBeachPost)(MiamiHerald)

'Metstradamus' Previews The 2007 Marlins

(ClickHere)

Interleague Scheduler a Marlins Fan?

'The only reason the Mets are not playing all eight playoff teams from last year is that they were one of them. The Mets have wound up with an interleague schedule with three-game series against the Yankees (twice), the Twins, the Tigers and the As, 2006 postseason teams all. Their interleague opponents average 2006 winning percentage is .590, by far the highest among the 30 teams.

'Meanwhile, the Marlins, going for the same National League East crown, get two series against the Devil Rays and one each against the Royals, the Twins, the Indians and the White Sox. The combined winning percentage of their six A.L. opponents is .461, or 29th over all.' (NYTimes)

(Hat tip to Balls, Sticks & Stuff, after another hat tip to Baseball Musings)

Craig Asks (And Answers) 5 Questions About the Florida Marlins

Check them out at the Hardball Times.

Fish Finally Do the Deal

Jorge Julio is coming to close for the Marlins, and Yusmeiro is cast to the Snakes. (MLB)

MORE...

1. Beinfest has wanted Julio since 2005. (MiamiHerald)

2. It's hard to find a commenter on the Marlins blogs who likes the deal. 'alex' is one of the few I found. (SunSentinelBlog)

3. There's some question about how much money Arizona is throwing into the deal. "Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes... wouldn't say specifically how much of Julio's salary the Diamondbacks will be paying, but he did say that the deal did not require the approval of the commissioner's office, which would suggest that less than $1 million changed hands. Reports out of Florida said the opposite, that the trade had to be approved." (AZcentral)

De Aza, Gall Still Have a Chance?

And a hopeful report from Gall: "I said the other day to my wife, 'I can't remember having this much fun in a clubhouse and with a group of guys.' I really like the chemistry here."

MORE: Tank's throwing, and an early Opening Day weather forecast. (PalmBeachPost)

EDITED: Sorry, Alejandro.

See You Later, 'Superstar'

Robert Andino's back has healed well enough for him to be shipped back to Albuquerque. (MLN)

Old Marlins Player Now New Marlins Coach

Andy Fox coming down from Spokane to take over from Perry Hill as the Marlins' first-base/infield coach. (PalmBeachPost)

Hanley and Dan Made PROTRADE's 2006 MLB All-Lucky Team

In case you're wondering, that's not good. (BaseballMusings)

Bye Bye Perry

All the best wishes possible to Mr. Hill and his family.

MEANWHILE: How can you replace the irreplaceable? Maybe Ed Romero, maybe Cookie Rojas (shhh, don't mention Jack). (SunSentinel)

Bye Bye Orange Bowl?

One UM official thinks that "only if the Marlins' stadium plan collapses soon, and the city uses its $108 million Marlins contribution toward renovating the OB" would keep the Hurricanes from moving to Joe-Pro-Phin Stadium.

Sounds as if the 'Canes would get a better stadium deal than the Marlins play under right now...

"Unlike at the OB, UM would get some parking and concession revenue and pay less rent."

However, did you know that, according to "Dolphin Stadium president Bruce Schulze....the Marlins have scheduling priority even over the Dolphins." (!)

MEANWHILE: Fredi thinks Hanley will be eventually a middle-of-the-order hitter. (MiamiHerald)

Pitching Duel in Jupiter Yesterday

Willis outlasts Carpenter, De Aza drives in the winning run, Messenger closes. (MiamaHerald)

Down the Stretch They Come!

It's Reed and Sanchez coming down to the wire, and Mitre and Petit mow down the minors vying for spot No. 5... ALSO: Andino returns. (PalmBeachPost)