Beckett's Blister Problem

Josh went down with a torn finger flap.  As great a talent as he is he just can't win, can he?  I bring it up here for two reasons:

The other day on Boog's show I heard Peter Gammons say that he was sad for the Marlins when he saw Beckett, Penny, and other former Marlins doing so well.  He was saying that we should have kept the Penny, Pavano, Beckett, AJ, and Willis (the big 5) all together for many more years.  I can't help but disagree a bit.  Of course it's ideal to keep your best players, but when I look around I see mostly very good decisions.  Penny is doing well again this year, but had some down times.  Pavano has been a joke, AJ not much better, and Beckett continues to be saddled with problems.  Other teams can afford these problems and mistakes, but the Marlins can't.  Not that our young pitchers aren't getting hurt as well, but at least they aren't getting paid tens of millions to do it.

The other reason I bring it up is a concern for Sergio.  I hope that he has this situation under control.  He looked great in his last start, and I hope he can become a consistent starter for us, and not fall prey to finger issues as well.

I don't have time to write this up, but for those that prowl this site, here's the info:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15668276.htm

The Marlins fired first-year manager Joe Girardi this morning, ending an acrimonious and sometimes confrontational relationship with the Marlins owner and front office members....Girardi met Tuesday morning with club officials. The meeting was described as ``short, brief.'

While I think we'd all agree that trading Adrian Gonzalez for Ugie "Machete Man" Urbina was worth it at the time, I noticed today that the kid is doing pretty well for San Diego (which, of course, in German means 'a whale's vagina').

He's hitting .303 with 20 HR  an OBP of .353 and a SLG of .514... all the while looking like their 1B of the future as well as today.  

Would I trade our World Series in 2003 for him?  No way.  But I think it's helpful to keep in perspective what you do give up when making trades to "win now".  When it works, and you "win", then it's great and worth it.  But it's always the risk you take.

I wouldn't mind having Adrian on our team right now (no offense to Jacobs and Helms).  Although, besides batting average (which is an iffy stat anyway) they as a team are out-performing Adrian.

Maybe this was a wasted post now that I think about it.  Well, I already wrote it, so I'll post it anyway.  Good job front office!

Go Marlins.

Or... "why we should love our owndership."

Today was the deadline for trades in the MLB, in case you hadn't heard.  Looks like many teams were busy, while others (like the Florida Marlins) were relatively quiet.

Why the lack of activity on the part of the Fish?  It's because we're doing nearly everything right, and there is no need to change our strategy at this point.  Now, compare that to the Phillies.

Poll

How has our leadership done in regards to player personnel.

22%

They Stink

4 votes

66%

They should win executives of the year.

12 votes

11%

I guess they dont' quite stinl, but it's not like they should win executives of the year or anything.

2 votes

18 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

So I'm in Chicago on a trip for school stuff (to keep a long story short) and guess who I run into at a bar. Only one of my favorite Marlins of all time, one of the people most responsible for our World Series Championship, and probably one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. When I ran into him, I felt so guilty trying to talk to him. You see, some jerk had just spent five minutes harrassing him and trying to get some girl to show her boobs to him. All of this made him very uncomfortable, and he just tried to chuckle a bit. So here I come, and I just had to try and talk to him. I approached him outise a bar called Rock-it! in downtown Chicago. He's leaning against the wall after having just fended off this jerk. I say :"hi. I'm from Miami and I've been a big fan of yours for a while. Thanks for what you did for Miami. He said hi, shook my hand and said thanks. Then I asked if I could take a picture, he said yeah, and was pretty impressed with my camera phone. Yeah, a millionare was impressed with my camera phone. In retrospect that's pretty cool. Anyway, I'm honestly trying to fill space and build suspense.

Continue reading this post »

Or, how Dan Uggla became one of the best second-basemen in baseball...

Continue reading this post »

In a previous post craig asked me to comment about shoulder injuries, like the one affecting Hanley. Let me start with the usual disclaimer:

I am NOT a physician yet (2nd year med student), and even if I was, this information should not be construed as medical advice, or replace the expert opinion of a personal visit with a physician.

Sorry about that, I'm sure Craig understands ;-) If you want to read a little about shoulder injuries, click read more.

Continue reading this post »

There seem to be a lot of new people around the site, which is cool.  I feel like I've been gone so long that I'm the new guy.  In fact, I was on Spring Break.  

Before Mike gets any fancy ideas about co-eds that's not (entirely) the case.

Continue reading this post »

OK, so that might be exagerating a bit, but this recent news caught me a little by surprise. The Red Sox appear to be finalizing a feal with World Series hero Alex Gonzalez to fill in their hole at short-stop.

This according to The Boston Herald. If the Sox add Gonzalez to the mix it will make for three Florida Marlins from the 2003 roster on their team including 2003 1st Half Season MVP (In my opinion) Mike Lowell, WS Game 4 hero Gonzalez, and WS MVP/Yankee killer Joshua Patrick Beckett.

Why get creative when you can pick winners I guess.

Alex Gonzalez will probably benefit from the wall in left given his pull stroke, though his HR numbers might not since he doesn't hit the ball very high. His defense will likely fall off a bit now that he doesn't have Luis Castillo at second base, but he should look great turning that 5-4-3 with Mikey at the hot corner.

The Red Sox also jettisoned former Marlin Guillermo Mota to the Indians in a trade for Coco Crisp, but will likely retain Matt Clement and Rudy Seanez, giving them a total of 5 former Marlins on the roster, with 3 from the 2003 Season.

I'm going to hate watching these guys play for other teams.

I just saw a blurb in the MiamiHerald about Dontrelle Willis. Apparently the team execs have not completely lost their minds, and have rewarded Willis with the richest one-year contract ever for a first time arbitration eligible player.

Dontrelle will be paid $4.35 million next year, not including incentives such as winning the Cy Young or Silver Slugger awards, or being named to the NL-Allstar team.

The only downside is that we did not wrap him up longer-term. I guess for a fiscally conservative management team, this is the best that they could do. It's better than nothing, but not quite what I hoped for; though it's exactly what I expected and voted for in the poll.

Update [2006-1-16 20:20:40 by fishfan24]:Here's a link to a better write-up than the herald one, from MLB.com.

It happened in late July of 2004. We had just traded for Paul Lo Duca and Guillermo Mota.  Paul had always been a favorite of mine, and I was actually sad for him.  He was traded on my birthday July 30.  I had plans to go out with friends to dinner, but I decided to wait a little and listen to the game on mlb.com (I was having trouble with the video feed).

My friends were calling because I was running late, but I didn't care.  This game was getting late, and looking difficult, but I wanted to hear Lo Duca's first at bat.  

He came in as a pinch hitter in the 6th inning after arriving in the 5th, with a man on base. Jack never did like to wait for people to get acclimated.  You could almost see the red on his cheeks from his tears.  He had left the only team he ever played for.

He came to the plate, though, and before the announcers had time to say more than one or two words, he hit his first pitch as a Marlin into the stands for a 2-run homerun to tie the game.  I couldn't believe it.  That's how you start a new job.

His power was never quite there, though.  He was a work-horse anyway.  Playing tough, getting clutch hits, batting with a very high average with RISP.  He was the epitome of the word "gamer". Although I'm not quite sure what it means, he was it.

Now, he's gone.

As quickly and suddenly as he came in, he is gone.  I am sad to see him go.  I was a fan in 1997, but I was a little too young to be really hurt.  I had very little invested in the team, since I had just become a fan recently.  I have invested a great part of my life over the past two years on this team, though.  Catching nearly every game, going to as many as I could, writing on this site.   Basically, I have lived and died with every move, run, out, or trade that this team has made since spring training of 2003.  I have loved much of it, and been crushed by more, but never as much as this.

This really hurts guys.  I loved Luis Castillo.  I cared for Mike Lowell, and really respected him.  Same for Paulie, who I never saw as a mercenary, and instead, embraced as a Marlin from the moment he showed up and hit that homerun, tears freshly dried on his cheeks from the heartbreak that this cruel game had inflicted on him.

How appropriate that I feel that pain now.

Thank you Paul.

Thank you Mike.

Thank you Luis.

Thank you Josh.

Thank you Carlos.

Thank you all for all of those damn memories, memories which I will keep forever, even though we will make no more new ones.  Thank you for being gamers, all of you.  True to your words, and true with your effort.

Thank you Marlins.  I am sorry to see you go.

I heard a radio guy in Miami (Jeff Deforest or Defo) since a song the other day on the radio that cracked me up.  It was basically a new version of the old Mets song.

Something like this:

"Meet the Mets, Greet the Mets, come on down to watch your old Marlins play since they're now with the Mets!"

I wish I could remember the rest of it since it was hilarious, but that's really what it's starting to feel like.  Our ENTIRE TEAM IS GOING!  If that's not a "fire sale" I don't know what is.  I love the euphimism they keep spouting for it, too, "significant market correction".  Too bad the Market hasn't changed in more than 10 years.  The only correction here is a "Step dad can't waste Mommy's money any more" correction.  

I am getting sick.  At least we play the Red Sox next year, so we can see Josh and Mikey, and of course Carlos Delgado and Lo Duca when they return.  Ugh.

Poll

How much does this suck?

5%

This is the worst thing ever.

1 votes

10%

Eh, it's not so bad

2 votes

25%

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little...

5 votes

0%

Are you kidding? This is not good.

0 votes

5%

This sucks.

1 votes

30%

This sucks a hell of a lot.

6 votes

25%

I'm excited about the new kids

5 votes

20 votes | Poll has closed

I know this is a Marlins site, but since some of the regulars are big White Sox fans I thought I'd break this news (it could be old but I just heard it).

Aaron Rowand to the Phillies for Jim Thome and a boatload of cash.  

I just heard this on Boog's show.  

Thoughts?  I think it's great for the Phillies, and pretty stupid for the Sox.  I could be wrong, but at first glance Thome doesn't seem to be a major need, especially if they'd just resign Konerko.

Of course, that's also what Boog said, so my opinion may sound like his, but I think he's right.  This doesn't seem like a good move for the Sox.

Update [2005-11-23 16:1:12 by fishfan24]:Link to the ESPN story.White Sox Trade for Thome

I had this discussion once before in a diary, and I think I remember some people vehemently disagreeing with me.  I am sure that many still will, but I'm glad to see that Rob Neyer agrees with me.

The discussion is regarding saving your best pitcher for a time in a game (a save situation) that may never come if you let your inferior pitchers screw up earlier in the game.

At one point in this season, our best relief pitcher (Todd Jones for those who missed it) went something like 25 (or so) straight appearences recording a save.  It was a new record.  This was all good, but I was a bit miffed since we had been losing a lot of games in that stretch due to crappy relief pitching.  My contention at the time was that there were a few times (like late in a tied home game) where a true save situation might never materialize, and that the most important at-bats were being pitched by bad pitchers. Other times, a save situation was possible, but only if you made it there without already losing.  Why leave your best pitcher in the bullpen?

Some people here said something to the effect of "Todd Jones is our closer (period).  He's there to get saves."  While I agree that he was there to get saves, I'd argue that he's really there to pitch the most important innings late in games.  Usually, that's the ninth.  Sometimes, though, it's the 7th or eigth, or the 10th or 11th innings.

By using Todd in exclusively save situations, Jack Mckeon limitied his appearences and limited our late-game pitching.  Obviously it's a moot point now, but it looks like Neyer thinks the same thing (by Joe Torre) cost the Yankees some games.  

Suppose you're playing a one-inning game for all the marbles (or at least some of them). One inning, and then everybody goes home. Who do you select to start the game? Your pitcher with the 2.57 ERA? Or your pitcher with the 4.02 ERA? Here's what I think happens, inside Torre's mind: He recognizes the urgency of the situation but he doesn't understand it, and he worries that if he uses his best reliever and the Yankees aren't ahead, later he'll wind up losing with somebody like Tanyon Sturtze on the mound. And boy, will that look bad. So in road games, he holds Rivera in reserve for that magical save situation, ignoring the distinct possibility that the magical save situation will never make its magical appearance.

Anyway, Check out the article if your interested (ESPN Insider required)

What do you all think about the philosophies here?   Save your closer for saves, or use your best pitcher against the most dangerous hitters in whatever inning you need to?  Somewhere in between?  Where?

EDIT by Mike: Fishfan originally put this up last night and today the story is everywhere. All of the papers are covering it. It's all over the radio (even usurping Dolphins' talk at times). This is a story that needs to be discussed, but in a week that's certain to be filled with negativity, I just can't tackle it right now, so I'm not going to add to the discussion just yet (not that I'll necessarily add anything whenever I eventually get around to trying to).

And it's not because of the money according to him. Here's the excerpt from the ESPN game recap:

After the game, Burnett indicated he will not re-sign with the team after the season.

"I've got one more start here, and that's all that matters," Burnett said in an apparent reference to leaving the team as a free agent.

"It's depressing around here. There's nothing positive around here. There's nothing positive on the staff now."

Burnett was mentioned as a player who could be traded before this year's trade deadline.

"You give up one home run, and it's a funeral. ... A positive pat on the back is better than anything," he said. "I haven't seen a pat on the back since April."

Asked who he was targeting with his criticism, Burnett said, "I'm not naming names."

As if we didn't already know, it's pretty much official. AJ will pitch one more start for the Fish. Thoughts on AJ's tenure here?

Continue reading this post »

Here's a cool story about former Marlin closer Robb Nen, and his final season with the Giants:

Robb Nen's Last Pitch:

The story of the 2002 World Series is written in ThunderStix and Rally Monkeys.

It's the story of the Anaheim Angels taking Games 6 and 7 and claiming their first world championship. There are pages on Scott Spiezio's improbable home run. There are long, rhapsodic passages written about Frankie Rodriguez's whipsaw motion and wicked breaking balls. And there are whole chapters dedicated to the power of Troy Glaus.

But there's a footnote to the story, too, a bit maybe only the folks in San Francisco still carry with them. It's a little something about losing heroically, about laying it all on the line and having everything you've got not be enough.

Call it the Robb Nen note.

Click above for the rest of the story.

Did last night's win earn Dontrelle Willis your (mythical) Cy Young vote?


X Yes
X Nope - the A-Train had my vote all along
X No way - Chris Carpenter deserves the Cy
X Not a chance - Roger Clemens gets it until he
  dies or stops pitching, whichever comes first.

Discuss:

Continue reading this post »

The Rally Marlin makes his September return, just as the Marlin begin a huge roadtrip:

Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!
Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!
Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!
Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!
Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!
Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!
Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!
Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!
Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish! Let's go Fish!

More bad news about Spooneybarger:

Right-hander Tim Spooneybarger underwent another elbow operation last week to repair muscle surrounding his new ligament. Spooneybarger underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 9, 2003.

I guess we won't see him much this year, if at all.  Considering his difficulty coming back, I seriously question whether he ever will.

Wow, I really honestly hate to break this news, but it's important. I'm sure the ChiSox fans know already, but Thomas likely out for rest of season

That's really sad to me, because I happen to like him as a player. I think the Sox played well without him, so hopefully that won't hurt them too bad, but he was their main power guy, right? Injuries are the only part of the game I hate. I would like to ba able to watch guys like Griffey, Thomas, etc. all the time, without having to first check the DL's.

For those of us who can't be around for the game thread later on time to make picks, post your ichthyomancy picks here.

Continue reading this post »

I know we always talk about how runs-scored and runs-against predicting win-loss, but I'm starting to wonder about that.  Could it be that win-loss predicts RS and RA?

While that may sound like a small distinction, I will look at a couple of key cases, the Marlins and the Nationals

Continue reading this post »

It gets worse

Despite indications from several media outlets that the Orioles' pursuit of Florida pitcher A.J. Burnett is a done deal, one source familiar with the negotiations said yesterday that the team won't obtain Burnett unless the Marlins remove struggling third baseman Mike Lowell from the pending trade.

Instead, the Orioles are now closing in on a three-way trade with the Pirates and Marlins that could yield them Burnett and Pittsburgh outfielder-first baseman Daryle Ward.

We are getting fleeced in any of these scenarios.  It's sick.  It's not even that close, just becauae what we're getting, we don't need: Bullpen help (we need but not if we're trading AJ, then it's pointless), a soft-throwing lefty starter with a pretty big contract?  Come on.  TFS.

Excerpt from the Miami Herald, BY CLARK SPENCER

With trade rumors swirling from all directions, A.J. Burnett and Mike Lowell packed their bags Sunday and headed off to Arizona with the rest of the Marlins.

Whether they'll be in uniform for tonight's game against the Diamondbacks remained iffy.

Sources said it is almost certain Burnett won't be making his next scheduled start with the Marlins on Tuesday, and that he and Lowell could both be gone as soon as today.

The Baltimore Orioles remained the top contender to pry both players from the Marlins, though Florida continued to talk to a host of teams about a trade for Burnett, and one report had the two players going in a three-way trade that involved the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres.

But a source with knowledge of the discussions said the Orioles had the upper hand in dealings, and that one of the key issues hinges on whether Burnett agrees to a contract extension.

Burnett, who is eligible for free agency after the season, is thought to be looking for a 4- or 5-year deal that would pay him about $9 million to $10 million annually.

According to multiple sources, the Orioles would agree to a deal either way, but that their package to the Marlins would differ based on whether they can convince Burnett to sign long-term with them.

It's expected that any deal with the Orioles would involve sending the Marlins pitching prospect Hayden Penn, right-handed reliever Jorge Julio and outfielder Larry Bigbie. The Orioles also could throw in left-handed reliever Steve Kline.

With the July 31 trade deadline looming, the Marlins have reached a critical point, and owner Jeffrey Loria and general manager Larry Beinfest are expected to join the team in Phoenix today.

I'm not even sure what to say about this now, so I won't really say anything.  Just thought I'd post the news.

Rememer this diary by Mike?

Here's an update courtesy of The Daily Quickie (link good until Monday morning)

Best. Idea. Never.

Pour a little from your overpriced stadium beverage in honor of the Greatest Baseball Stadium Promotion That Never Was:
Two kids playing minor-league baseball on the Xbox, simulating the first two innings of the K.C. T-Bones vs. the Schaumburg Flyers ...
... With players taking the field in the third inning, picking up using the actual score from the kids' game.
What an amazing idea, nixed for Saturday night by the prudes of the independent Northern League.
I mean, do games in that league even count? That's some misplaced integrity.

Let's go Marlins! Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap! Let's go Marlins! Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap! Let's go Marlins! Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap! Let's go Marlins! Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap! Let's go Marlins! Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap! Let's go Marlins! Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap! Let's go Marlins! Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap!

It's been made official apparently.  I don't have a link since it was reported on Fox by Joe Buck, but Leiter is a Yankee.  He will likely get the start as early as tomorrow or the day after, according to Fox.

I'm not sure what they're thinking, except that they need a warm arm considering their current pitching situation.  3 out of the next for starters are named TBA.  I'm not sure who that is, but I don't hear that he has a very good fastball.

Update [2005-7-16 15:34:2 by fishfan24]:Joe Torre just confirmed the report live during Fox's broadcast. He said that Leiter will start tomorrow. He also said that they realize that Leiter has struggled this year, but that it was "important to get someone in a Yankee jersey with some experience", and that Leiter "knows how to do it". He also added another cute cliche when he said that they hoped to "catch lightening in a bottle". Here's to hoping that they don't. I like Leiter, but he has gone to the dark side.

The Florida Marlins had previously demonstrated interest in acquiring former Yankees reliever Mike Stanton LHP (1-2, 7.07).  Stanton had also expressed a willingness to entertain offers according to South Florida Sun-Sentinel writer Juan C. Rodriguez.  

The Marlins will have to look elsewhere now for lefty help as the Washington Nationals have signed Mike Stanton (AP), who was in Washington on Wednesday.  The Nats hope to bolster their bullpen depth in preparation for the second half run, which they hope will take them to their first National League East pennant.

The Marlins will no doubt continue to look for bullpen help, as that (along with their inconsistent offense) has been a weakness of late, while the starting staff seems to have a potential log-jam as starters Josh Beckett and Ismael Valdez are set to come off the DL sometime in the next month, along with reliever Antonia Alfonseca.

The help may come via a trade with the Baltimore Orioles who are interested in righty AJ Burnett.  Possible trade options would include veteran right hander Jorge Julio (2-2, 4.24), according to the Baltimore Sun.

I'm having an argument with someone, and I need a little help to settle it.  I won't say who is on what side (at least, not yet), but we're arguing over whether or not Luis Castillo has two World Series rings.  We both agree that he played over 70 games for the 1997 Marlins.  One person is stating that Castillo was not on the 40-man roster, and therefore doesn't get a ring.  The other person is unsure whether or not Castillo was on the final 40-man, but says that it doesn't matter anyway since after playing so many games he probably got a ring anyway.

Can anyone help us settle this?  I've tried to search for that year's 40-man, but can't find it.  Other than that, we need someone to settle the disagreement on WS Rings.  

Anyone have any feedback?

Ok, here's another tough one for you.  But Since Al Leiter was pitching, I'm sure you were ready for this.

Let's Go Fish.  Please.  Pretty Please.  Let's go Fish.  Let's Go Fish.  Please.  Pretty Please.  Let's go Fish.  Let's Go Fish.  Please.  Pretty Please.  Let's go Fish.  Let's Go Fish.  Please.  Pretty Please.  Let's go Fish.  Let's Go Fish.  Please.  Pretty Please.  Let's go Fish.  Let's Go Fish.  Please.  Pretty Please.  Let's go Fish.  Let's Go Fish.  Please.  Pretty Please.  Let's go Fish.  Let's Go Fish.  Please.  Pretty Please.  Let's go Fish.