SB Nation User Blog: DisplacedFan

Rumblings

DisplacedFan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:36:34 -0000

Harang not untouchable EE is?

In the Rumblings column Jayson Stark mentions that Red's sources say he could be had. I don't understand this is at all. Harang's the perfect guy to have with the young guys.

Meanwhile big surprise is that Edwin Encarnacion is on the untouchables list with non surprises Volquez, Cueto, Votto, Bruce.

What Stark doesn't mention is that Brandon Phillips doesn't make the untouchables. I definitely still think he's safer and better than EE. It just makes EE's inclusion weirder.

Braves fan on Marty

DisplacedFan — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:46:03 -0000

Shysterball Braves fan takes notice of how negative Marty is on air.

Unfortunately, I was listening to Marty Brennaman, and that poor bastard has simply lost it. Look, we all hate to listen to homer announcers, and we all find it refreshing when the guys in the booth tell the tough truths. Brennaman, however, is long past that stage and is deep into angry and bitter disgust with the Redlegs. Sure, the seven-run second inning would be tough on anyone, but Brennaman made it sound like he was being forced to watch the commission of war crimes. He sounds like a man who truly hates his job, and truly hates the Reds.

...

Perhaps the most telling thing was the fact that I was actually happy when Jeff Brantley took over next inning.

This is really sad, and I agree totally. I used to think Marty and Joe were some of the greatest and loved the radio. Up until last year I would pay for gameday audio. Now I can't stand to listen to broadcasts. Terrible.

Marlins give hook to Girardi

DisplacedFan — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:39:33 -0000

Marlins give hook to Girardi

MIAMI -- Florida Marlins manager Joe Girardi was fired Tuesday, a move that had been expected after his rift with owner Jeffrey Loria boiled over in an on-field confrontation two months ago.

Doing More With Less

Girardi
Joe Girardi lost his job with the Marlins, but he produced 78 wins with baseball's lowest payroll ($14,998,500). In fact, the Marlins had the fourth-most wins in the last 10 seasons among teams listed last in total payroll, according to USA Today's salary database.:
Team Payroll* Wins
1996 Expos $15.4M 88
2001 Twins $24.1M 85
1997 Pirates $9.0M 79
2006 Marlins $15.0M 78
2000 Twins $15.6M 69
*=Rounded up.

Girardi lost his job even though he's considered a strong candidate for NL manager of the year. The Marlins had baseball's youngest team and lowest payroll at $15 million, but Girardi led them to a 78-84 record, and they were in contention for a playoff berth until a late-September fade.

The cost-conscious Marlins wanted Girardi out so badly they were willing to let him go with two years left on a guaranteed three-year contract he signed in October 2005, when he became a manager for the first time. At 41, he was the second-youngest manager in the major leagues after spending 15 years as a big-league catcher.

Atlanta third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez is considered the front-runner to replace Girardi. Gonzalez was runner-up in the Marlins' search a year ago after Jack McKeon resigned.

Girardi said he was fired during a brief meeting in his office with team president David Samson, general manager Larry Beinfest and assistant general manager Mike Hill. Loria did not attend.

"They came in and said, 'We're going to make a change,'" Girardi said. He said no reason was given.

"To hash over what happened doesn't make any sense," Girardi said.

Marlins officials did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Girardi, an Illinois native and Northwestern graduate, becomes a potential candidate to replace Dusty Baker, whose contract with the Chicago Cubs was not renewed Monday. Two other teams are also looking for managers -- Washington parted with Frank Robinson, and San Francisco cut ties with Felipe Alou.

Girardi said he has no idea what he'll do next season and plans to discuss options with his wife.

His strained relationship with Loria and general manager Larry Beinfest became public in August. Loria subsequently declined to endorse the job Girardi did in his first year as a manager, even though the Marlins far exceeded expectations while playing 22 rookies.

The rift erupted at a game Aug. 6 when Loria berated an umpire while sitting behind the plate. From the dugout, Girardi asked the owner to stop, witnesses said. Loria angrily left his seat and confronted Girardi after the game during a 90-minute clubhouse meeting.

"Obviously, the things I did, whether they were perfect or not, the players responded. We won."
-- Joe Girardi

Loria declined to comment on the episode or respond to published reports that he fired Girardi, then changed his mind. Girardi also declined to discuss his differences with Loria and Beinfest.

"Obviously, the things I did, whether they were perfect or not, the players responded. We won," Girardi said.

Beginning in spring training, Beinfest clashed with Girardi over personnel decisions, and during the second half of the season the general manager was rarely seen in the clubhouse or manager's office.

The power struggle had no apparent affect on the team. The Marlins were widely projected to lose more than 100 games, but instead they rallied from an 11-31 start and trailed in the NL wild-card race by only two games on Sept. 12 before fading.

The Marlins became the first team to climb above .500 from 20 games under. They also became the first team to have four rookies win 10 games, and they set a record for most home runs by rookies with 112.

"People thought we were going to lose more games than any team in baseball, and we didn't," Girardi said. "And that's because of the players."

As a player, Girardi was a member of three World Series championship teams with the New York Yankees. He spent seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs and also played for the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals before retiring as a player in 2003.

The Marlins' managerial change will be the eighth since their first game in 1993.

So there are two count them two relevant poles, unfortunately I can only due one the one I won't do: Are the Marlins idiots?

Poll

Would you donate your left testicle so the Reds would fire Jerry Narron and hire Joe Girardi?

No.

13 votes

Absolutely.

18 votes

31 votes | Poll has closed

BA vs OBP

DisplacedFan — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 04:47:46 -0000

Batting Average vs. On Base Percentage

Which one is a better judgement of the value of a hitter? Why?

Poll

OBP vs BA

Batting Average is better.

4 votes

On Base Percentage is better.

32 votes

36 votes | Poll has closed

Random Off season prediction

DisplacedFan — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 03:05:00 -0000

Reds sign 2nd Baseman Adam Kennedy to a two year 3.5 million dollar deal

Kennedy, no longer needed by the Anahiem Angels because of the emergence of Howie Kendrick, will play 2nd base for the Reds precipitating the move of Brandon Phillips to Shortstop.

Liriano

DisplacedFan — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 18:36:44 -0000

If there was one player I would pay to see play right now its got to be Fransisco Liriano.

I don't know about any other player I want to see play more. I think right now I would rather see him pitch than watch the Reds and really I never get to do either. I find that sad. I just needed to get that off my chest.

It seem's like I'm not the only one who thinks relievers are hard to come by

DisplacedFan — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 18:47:13 -0000

"If anything's weaker than the starting-pitching market right now, it's the relief market"

SI.com

Which is why Krivsky may have had to overpay. But really it may seem like overpaying but the demand is high supply is low on relief pitchers. It's not like you can sign them cheaply anymore either - thank you Cubs/Yankees. Also read on it seems like he doesn't neccessarily hate the trade either.

Atl Series

DisplacedFan — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 16:01:29 -0000

"I have a good feeling about the rest of this Atlanta series"

-JD Arney

I hereby propose that JD is no longer allowed to have good feelings about series.

Poll

No more JD feelings?

Aye, JD may not have more feelings.

12 votes

Nay, JD may have more feelings.

9 votes

21 votes | Poll has closed

Homer's #1 on BA Hotsheet

DisplacedFan — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 21:01:17 -0000

The Red's a #1 prospect. Who'da thunk it? Jay Bruce is #8 to boot. 2 in the top 10? Is everyone ready for hell to freeze over.

This isn't good

DisplacedFan — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 16:41:26 -0000

standings

The reds have managed to allow more runs than they've scored. This doesn't bode well. Somehow they have more wins than they should and its still not enough.

SB Nation User Blog: DisplacedFan

Rumblings

Braves fan on Marty

Marlins give hook to Girardi

Would you donate your left testicle so the Reds would fire Jerry Narron and hire Joe Girardi?

No.

Absolutely.

BA vs OBP

OBP vs BA

Batting Average is better.

On Base Percentage is better.

Random Off season prediction

Liriano

It seem's like I'm not the only one who thinks relievers are hard to come by

Atl Series

No more JD feelings?

Aye, JD may *not* have more feelings.

Nay, JD may have more feelings.

Homer's #1 on BA Hotsheet

This isn't good

Aye, JD may not have more feelings.