Thursday, January 31, 2008
D-Train Party 'Anticlimactic'
'"I still live here!" he said, leaning back in a leather recliner, dripping in diamonds diamond necklace, diamond earrings, diamond watch. His residence will remain in the 305; his office is just in a different time zone (and at a subfreezing latitude).' (MiamiNewTimes)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Puerto Rican Power!
The possibility of the Marlins and Mets playing a San Juan series apparently continues. (SunSentinel)
Ballpark Ballyhoo
It looks as if the complications of negotiations are continuing, and the Marlins are now 'eyeing a mid-February county commission meeting' for ballpark approval. Then the city will have its say, 'which could take weeks'. Issues remaining include 'financing for a parking garage and $2 million in annual stadium upkeep.' And, of course, 'a judge conceivably could halt the project if a court agrees with Braman that using $50 million in bond money -- originally designed to renovate the OB -- on a Marlins ballpark would violate the state constitution.' Mayor Diaz defends the process, saying, "There's no legal requirement for any of this to be subject to a referendum." (MiamiHerald)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Hiassen's Two Cents
Arguably South Florida's most famous writer/observer/author/satirist/columnist pens an opinion column on the Downtown Development plan that includes a new Marlins stadium. To get his main thrust, here's a quick quote:
"(T)his will be a nightmare, guaranteed."
For more thrusts, here's the whole thing.
"(T)his will be a nightmare, guaranteed."
For more thrusts, here's the whole thing.
Checking Out Once and Future Haunts
Yesterday was one of those days that happen this time of year in South Florida, when there are so many events and shows and festivals happening at one time that it's impossible to see all the ones you want to see.
Just concerning events connected with the Marlins, I've mentioned the Fan Fest in Jupiter and the Mermaid Finals in Miami. I forgot to mention the Legends Game, where Orestes and Cookie and other legends played at Ft. Lauderdale Stadium for the Joe DiMaggio Childrens' Hospital.
But the event I ended up going to was the goodbye party at the Orange Bowl, where old Dolphin and Hurricane players played for one last time at the soon-to-be-demolished stadium.
I'm not going to say how long it has been since the last time I've been at the Orange Bowl. Let's say my going there was an attempt to mix the return and flooding of past memories with a scoping-out of the area with an eye to what the potential Marlins stadium will be facing.
First off, there was a Marlins presence at the event. A table was set up with a spinning wheel for fans to spin to win trinket-type prizes, and you could sign up for a drawing to win tickets to the exhibition Yankee games at the end of March. (Just if anyone's curious, I didn't perceive any anger directed towards the Marlins about the end of the Orange Bowl. It seems everyone realizes it's not the Marlins' doing.)
Next, just walking around the outside of the stadium made me say to myself, 'They're going to try and fit both a ballpark and a soccer stadium Here?' With the stadium as it is now there is minimal parking area - the times when my family went to games was the time when we had a friend living nearby who let us park in his driveway for free. The selling of parking spaces in residents' yards is an industry here. Now with Two stadiums being planned, the parking garage would be an absolute necessity, if someone can find a place to put it.
When they talk about the neighborhood around the stadium, they mean what they say. Three of the four sides of the surrounding stadium area borders non-luxurious apartments and houses; only the north side faces a commercial street. I'm hoping this isn't a bad thing. The best ballparks I've been to (Fenway, Wrigley) seem a part of the neighborhoods they're in. There's really no reason why, with time, this neighborhood ultimately should be any different.
Saying that, the traffic situation needs work. Coming from the north on the expressways, with minimal signs, it's a guessing game for newbies to figure out how to get to the stadium. Probably, during rush hour, with those stoplights and thin streets, you'll need luck trying to get to a game on time. Some major pondering will be needed on this.
Just concerning events connected with the Marlins, I've mentioned the Fan Fest in Jupiter and the Mermaid Finals in Miami. I forgot to mention the Legends Game, where Orestes and Cookie and other legends played at Ft. Lauderdale Stadium for the Joe DiMaggio Childrens' Hospital.
But the event I ended up going to was the goodbye party at the Orange Bowl, where old Dolphin and Hurricane players played for one last time at the soon-to-be-demolished stadium.
I'm not going to say how long it has been since the last time I've been at the Orange Bowl. Let's say my going there was an attempt to mix the return and flooding of past memories with a scoping-out of the area with an eye to what the potential Marlins stadium will be facing.
First off, there was a Marlins presence at the event. A table was set up with a spinning wheel for fans to spin to win trinket-type prizes, and you could sign up for a drawing to win tickets to the exhibition Yankee games at the end of March. (Just if anyone's curious, I didn't perceive any anger directed towards the Marlins about the end of the Orange Bowl. It seems everyone realizes it's not the Marlins' doing.)
Next, just walking around the outside of the stadium made me say to myself, 'They're going to try and fit both a ballpark and a soccer stadium Here?' With the stadium as it is now there is minimal parking area - the times when my family went to games was the time when we had a friend living nearby who let us park in his driveway for free. The selling of parking spaces in residents' yards is an industry here. Now with Two stadiums being planned, the parking garage would be an absolute necessity, if someone can find a place to put it.
When they talk about the neighborhood around the stadium, they mean what they say. Three of the four sides of the surrounding stadium area borders non-luxurious apartments and houses; only the north side faces a commercial street. I'm hoping this isn't a bad thing. The best ballparks I've been to (Fenway, Wrigley) seem a part of the neighborhoods they're in. There's really no reason why, with time, this neighborhood ultimately should be any different.
Saying that, the traffic situation needs work. Coming from the north on the expressways, with minimal signs, it's a guessing game for newbies to figure out how to get to the stadium. Probably, during rush hour, with those stoplights and thin streets, you'll need luck trying to get to a game on time. Some major pondering will be needed on this.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Spring Tickets on Sale!
Eat free food, paint your face and try to sing the national anthem at Roger Dean Fun Fest tomorrow. (PalmBeachPost)
Sticking It To The Man!
The threat of absolutely no one showing up to the games this year probably inspired yesterday's announcement, that...
'Parking at Marlins games this season will remain $10 a game for individual ticket buyers, rather than increasing to $15 as initially planned, a team spokesman said Thursday.' (SunSentinel)
'Parking at Marlins games this season will remain $10 a game for individual ticket buyers, rather than increasing to $15 as initially planned, a team spokesman said Thursday.' (SunSentinel)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Dates
Remember, tonight's the night for Dontrelle's going-away party at the Seminole Hard Rock; Saturday at 5 PM will be the Mermaids Audition Finals Show at Dolphin Mall; and the Marlins Caravan begins Feb. 4.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Stadium Specs
Tons of details about this moment's possible stadium agreement are popping to light, this time through these two articles in Miami Today.
Some quick bites (Most capitilizations of Team, City and County are mine):
The Team 'would keep proceeds from the (ballpark's) naming rights'.
The Team now 'would be bound to pay costs "that exceed the stadium project budget" of $525 million' and 'would be required to set aside $20 million for cost overruns and any claims that resulted from building the stadium.'
The County and City 'would be bound to pay "for any incremental cost to the baseball stadium that may result from delays caused by it or from its failure to meet" certain deadlines' - one deadline mentioned would be 'if Miami (the City) failed to raze the Orange Bowl and remove debris by March 31.'
The Team has a deadline - April 30 - 'to sign a "non-relocation agreement" with the County, assuring that the team stays in Miami for 30 years or until the city and county bonds used to build the stadium are paid.'
The City, after paying to demolish the OB, must 'turn over the deed to the land to the County by May 31.'
'Within six months of the deal, the County or the City would provide the Marlins with at least 3,000 square feet of office space within 2 miles of the stadium "that is suitable" for the team to use as its marketing office'. (Guess the Marlins En Miami store ain't big enough.)
'The County and the City would pay for infrastructure costs needed for the new stadium.'
The Team 'must abide by county ordinance goals of 10% for small business participation in planning and design' and 'the construction manager (is) to be a Florida contractor'.
The Team wants '$1.7 million in waivers from city and county impact fees.'
The State amazingly is still requested to approve a sales tax exemption, this time in the purchase of stadium construction materials.
But in this agreement, the State doesn't seem to be crucial - if 'waivers for sales taxes and impact fees are not approved, construction costs would increase by $6.1 million and would be borne by the Team.'
The County would own the stadium, but 'the City and County would have the right to use the facility for (only) 12 community events each year', and even with that 'the Team could "reject any proposed community event".
Fighting against this is local rich guy Norman Braman, who has filed his first of probably several legal challenges against the plan that underpins the stadium deal.
IGNORANT-QUESTIONS: Once the Orange Bowl is razed, isn't there some sort of requirement that an archealogical survey be done of the site before building can begin? If so, and some Miami-Circle-like artifact is discovered there, then what next?
Some quick bites (Most capitilizations of Team, City and County are mine):
The Team 'would keep proceeds from the (ballpark's) naming rights'.
The Team now 'would be bound to pay costs "that exceed the stadium project budget" of $525 million' and 'would be required to set aside $20 million for cost overruns and any claims that resulted from building the stadium.'
The County and City 'would be bound to pay "for any incremental cost to the baseball stadium that may result from delays caused by it or from its failure to meet" certain deadlines' - one deadline mentioned would be 'if Miami (the City) failed to raze the Orange Bowl and remove debris by March 31.'
The Team has a deadline - April 30 - 'to sign a "non-relocation agreement" with the County, assuring that the team stays in Miami for 30 years or until the city and county bonds used to build the stadium are paid.'
The City, after paying to demolish the OB, must 'turn over the deed to the land to the County by May 31.'
'Within six months of the deal, the County or the City would provide the Marlins with at least 3,000 square feet of office space within 2 miles of the stadium "that is suitable" for the team to use as its marketing office'. (Guess the Marlins En Miami store ain't big enough.)
'The County and the City would pay for infrastructure costs needed for the new stadium.'
The Team 'must abide by county ordinance goals of 10% for small business participation in planning and design' and 'the construction manager (is) to be a Florida contractor'.
The Team wants '$1.7 million in waivers from city and county impact fees.'
The State amazingly is still requested to approve a sales tax exemption, this time in the purchase of stadium construction materials.
But in this agreement, the State doesn't seem to be crucial - if 'waivers for sales taxes and impact fees are not approved, construction costs would increase by $6.1 million and would be borne by the Team.'
The County would own the stadium, but 'the City and County would have the right to use the facility for (only) 12 community events each year', and even with that 'the Team could "reject any proposed community event".
Fighting against this is local rich guy Norman Braman, who has filed his first of probably several legal challenges against the plan that underpins the stadium deal.
IGNORANT-QUESTIONS: Once the Orange Bowl is razed, isn't there some sort of requirement that an archealogical survey be done of the site before building can begin? If so, and some Miami-Circle-like artifact is discovered there, then what next?
Monday, January 21, 2008
Fire Sale = Best Move?
Mike Ackerstein, writing for "the largest fully independent daily campus newspaper in the nation", in a sort-of-point-counterpoint article with another writer, has put the most positive, front-office-like spin that I've heard yet on the Cabrera-Willis trade, calling it "the best move since the season's end because it means the Fish won't have very high expectations going into 2008.
"In trading away Willis and Cabrera, Florida has effectively killed any chances that pundits and fans will expect a finish higher than fourth place in the NL East. Because the goals won't be so lofty, the atmosphere should be relaxed, creating perfect conditions for the young Marlins and the centerpiece of the deal - former Tigers first round selection, pitcher Andrew Miller - to grow at their own pace.
"Instead of dealing with questions about why they aren't winning more games or what moves they need to make for a playoff run, the Marlins can allow their cheap and youthful lineup a chance to flourish under the radar. While this should certainly help the team win games in the future, it may even give them a chance to sneak up on opponents late in this season, giving them the opportunity to make a year-end playoff push as Florida has done in years past.
"No pressure? No problems. Marlins for the win." (BadgerHerald)
"In trading away Willis and Cabrera, Florida has effectively killed any chances that pundits and fans will expect a finish higher than fourth place in the NL East. Because the goals won't be so lofty, the atmosphere should be relaxed, creating perfect conditions for the young Marlins and the centerpiece of the deal - former Tigers first round selection, pitcher Andrew Miller - to grow at their own pace.
"Instead of dealing with questions about why they aren't winning more games or what moves they need to make for a playoff run, the Marlins can allow their cheap and youthful lineup a chance to flourish under the radar. While this should certainly help the team win games in the future, it may even give them a chance to sneak up on opponents late in this season, giving them the opportunity to make a year-end playoff push as Florida has done in years past.
"No pressure? No problems. Marlins for the win." (BadgerHerald)
Marlins' World Series Games Rank With The Best
At the Hardball Times, Chris Jaffe's series of countdowns of the top 10 World Series Game Number 1's, the top 10 Game Number 2's, and so on all the way to Game Number 7's, mentions the Marlins twice, as tied for 4th place in 'Best WS Game 4's', and as number 7 in the Best Game 7's.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
New Meeting Place
FishStripes and Fish@Bat introduce us to the Teal and Black Forums, a new place to discuss all things Marlin.
Even More Radio Woes?
Most reports I've seen about our new radio mouthpiece Glenn Geffner are not very encouraging. There's even at least one entire blog devoted to his shortcomings.
Friday, January 18, 2008
More WAXY-790-The-Ticket News
From Mr. B.J. again...
'Joel Feinberg, who is leasing 790 The Ticket's signal, has discussed two scenarios: leaving the station altogether (he won't comment on that) or buying it from Lincoln Financial (which he confirmed he's trying to do). Either appears a better alternative than continuing his money-losing lease agreement.
'Either way, there's optimism that The Ticket -- which has a marketing partnership with The Miami Herald -- will remain a sports station for the foreseeable future.'
Comments: So it's the lease agreement that Feinberg says is the problem - eerily similar to the Marlins' deal with Dolphin Stadium, I suppose. He won't comment on leaving the station, but somebody must have 'discussed' it. Meanwhile their competition seemed to have gained significantly on the Ticket in the latest ratings book.
'Joel Feinberg, who is leasing 790 The Ticket's signal, has discussed two scenarios: leaving the station altogether (he won't comment on that) or buying it from Lincoln Financial (which he confirmed he's trying to do). Either appears a better alternative than continuing his money-losing lease agreement.
'Either way, there's optimism that The Ticket -- which has a marketing partnership with The Miami Herald -- will remain a sports station for the foreseeable future.'
Comments: So it's the lease agreement that Feinberg says is the problem - eerily similar to the Marlins' deal with Dolphin Stadium, I suppose. He won't comment on leaving the station, but somebody must have 'discussed' it. Meanwhile their competition seemed to have gained significantly on the Ticket in the latest ratings book.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Adios-Amigo Party For Dontrelle on Jan. 24
If you want to possibly meet him and sign a going-away card, come over to the Park Sports Club in Seminole Paradise at the Hard Rock Casino. (MiamiHerald)
Two Signings
Matt Treanor avoids arbitration and signs with the Marlins. (MLB)
And a former Miamian who partnered last year with former Fish broadcaster Dave O'Brian up in Boston will now join Dave Van Horne in the Marlins radio booth. (MLB)
OOPS: Strike that "former Miamian". If you were born and raised here, and especially if you want to come back, you're a true-blue Miamian, or South Floridian, or whatever.
And a former Miamian who partnered last year with former Fish broadcaster Dave O'Brian up in Boston will now join Dave Van Horne in the Marlins radio booth. (MLB)
OOPS: Strike that "former Miamian". If you were born and raised here, and especially if you want to come back, you're a true-blue Miamian, or South Floridian, or whatever.
Jai Miller's Story
Jai sits in Selma confidently recovering from last season, and talks about competing with his friend Cameron. (SelmaTimesJournal)
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