SB Nation User Blog: jrsyeagle

Marlins Hire Randy St. Claire

jrsyeagle — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:50:15 -0000

Really?

That's all I have to say about this. The man has never lead a staff that has had more wins than losses. His professional career was with one organization that was never good during his time with them. He WAS FIRED BY THE LAST PLACE WASHINGTON NATIONALS!?!

I guess he had to come cheap if even the Nationals have fired him... How little money are we offering this position that our best option is this chiste?

Hanley or Uggla?

jrsyeagle — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:06:16 -0000

Basically I just want to put 2 polls in here, but I'm not sure how to do one, so this could be interesting.

Based on the news of Hanley v. Uggla last night, and Hanley v. Helms a month ago, I thought I would take a couple of polls regard said fights (verbal and/or physical), and the players themselves...

And apparently I can old add one poll, so we will go with the one below. But I wold also be interested in knowing who everyone thinks would have one the fights if they had managed to get physical and, say, in UFC octagon. I'm go with Uggla with a first round K/O and Hanley versus Uncle Wes, based on the age difference... though Wes looks like he could throw down.

I'll also go out on a limb and say, despite being a future HOF'er most likely, if the Marlins can take Hanley to the bank and get a solid SS, solid SP, and some farm restocking, I might consider the move this off-season. If in the future it came to JJ or Hanley, I'd rather JJ and that trade could make it possible. Moreover, Hanley has been trouble in the clubhouse this year and on a team of minimum salary players you can't have a Manny-being-Manny player. He's shown no sign of maturing this season...

Poll

Who would you rather the Marlins trade at the end of the season?

Hanley (bigger return, free up $ for JJ or others)

20 votes

Uggla )Modest return, free up less $, possibly create room for Boni)

44 votes

64 votes | Poll has closed

Final Standings Prediction

jrsyeagle — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:24:25 -0000

I'm not sure if this is going to work at all, because I've never tried to post from excel to here. ANYWAY, work is a bit slow today so I tried to figure out, based on past performance this season, how the teams that matter to us most right now will finish up. It is no secret the Giants have the hardest schedule and the Marlins not necessarily the easiest. The Rockies have the way paved with gold as the easiest schedule.

Anyway, I hope this is wrong, but based on winning percentage vs games remaining this season, the Marlins end up finishing just shy of the NL East and Wild Card - 2nd place in both. Some of the numbers don't add up to 162, because of the rounding Excel did, but it doesn't effect much.

I have come up with the keys to spoiling the odds, however. If we can do this, we can win!

Shutting out the Pads again
Actually beating the Braves
Getting back to 1st half form vs Nats
The Mets continuing to be hurt
Cody Ross not letting the ball go through his legs vs. the Cards
Continuing where we left off vs. the Phils

Playoff Odds Based on This Season						Forecast
Team	Opponent	# of Games	Wins	Losses	Winning %	Wins	Losses
Marlins	Pads	3	3	0	100.00%	3	0
	Braves	7	6	5	54.55%	4	3
	Nats	6	9	3	75.00%	5	2
	Mets	6	7	5	58.33%	4	3
	Cards	3	1	2	33.33%	1	2
	Reds	3	2	1	66.67%	2	1
	Phils	6	5	7	41.67%	3	4
	Total	34	33	23	58.93%	20	14
	Current					67	60
	Final					87	74
Rockies	Giants	6	7	5	58.33%	4	3
	Mets	3	1	3	25.00%	1	2
	Dbags	7	6	6	50.00%	4	4
	Reds	3	3	0	100.00%	3	0
	Pads	6	8	4	66.67%	4	2
	Cards	3	4	0	100.00%	3	0
	Brewers	3	3	0	100.00%	3	0
	Dodgers	3	3	12	20.00%	1	2
	Total	34	35	30	53.85%	18	16
	Current					72	56
	Final					90	72
Giants	Rox	6	5	7	41.67%	3	4
	Phils	3	3	1	75.00%	2	1
	Brewers	3	3	3	50.00%	2	2
	Pads	6	5	7	41.67%	3	4
	Dodgers	6	5	7	41.67%	3	4
	Dbags	6	8	4	66.67%	4	2
	Cubs	4	1	1	50.00%	2	2
	Total	34	30	30	50.00%	17	17
	Current					69	59
	Final					86	76
Braves	Fish	7	5	6	45.45%	3	4
	Phils	6	8	4	66.67%	4	2
	Nats	7	7	4	63.64%	4	3
	Reds	3	3	3	50.00%	2	2
	Astros	3	1	2	33.33%	1	2
	Cards	3	1	2	33.33%	1	2
	Mets	6	7	5	58.33%	4	3
	Total	35	32	26	55.17%	19	16
	Current					67	60
	Final					86	76
Phillies	Fish	6	7	5	58.33%	4	3
	Braves	6	4	8	33.33%	2	4
	Astros	8	1	1	50.00%	4	4
	Giants	3	1	3	25.00%	1	2
	Nats	6	10	2	83.33%	5	1
	Mets	4	9	5	64.29%	3	1
	Brewers	3	3	4	42.86%	1	2
	Total	36	35	28	55.56%	20	16
	Current					73	52
	Final					93	68

To Wagner, or not to Wagner?

jrsyeagle — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:51:46 -0000

That is the question.

As of 12 noon tomorrow Billy Wagner will clear the waiver wire. He is expected to do so because of the amount of money left on his contract and the buy out after this year. He will then most likely pitch in the Mets game at night to showcase his abilities.

Several scouts that have seen him rehab have said that he could surely help a team making a playoff push.

I think, if the Fish can get him at a cheap enough price, we should do it. I think a late innings rotation of Kiko, Sanches, Nunez, and Wagner is absolutely sick, leaving pinto (ugh) and Meyer as lefty specialists. The Hopper of course would be the long reliever we have come to know and love.

Thoughts?

BP on N.J. Acquisition

jrsyeagle — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:02:21 -0000

I was perusing my ESPN inside account this morning and found this tidbit on the marlins acquisition of Nick Johnson and the effect that it had on our ability win, essentially, because it removed Bonifacio from the every day lineup (curse you carlos zambrano). It also factored in dropping Miller to the minor leagues and Lindy getting activated, apparently. Sorry if this is too big of a block quote craig:

The team that had the biggest change in its expected winning percentage however -- a 42-point gain, well over twice what the Cardinals added -- is the Florida Marlins. Their only trade was to bring in Nick Johnson from the Nationals, but he essentially replaces Emilio Bonifacio in the lineup, meaning you're replacing a .220-ish EqA with a .300-ish EqA. The picture is complicated by internal changes in the pitching staff that happened at the same time -- ditching Andrew Miller for now, getting Matt Lindstrom back from the DL -- that also helped to inflate their expected win total. Still, having the best win-percentage increase only gets them a four-point gain in their playoff odds, from just three percent to seven percent, which was also the fourth-largest improvement by any club. The system still likes the Phillies and Braves a lot more than it does the Marlins, and it doesn't see many opportunities for outdoing those two teams.

Keeping with the Trend: Who would you add?

jrsyeagle — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:48:49 -0000

Basically copying my reply to another post:

I don't think we come back and win the division.

With the Phils and Dodgers battling it out for best NL record, the Marlins would be bound to play LA for the first round of the playoffs since inter-divisional games are a no-no in that set. If the Marlins got destroyed in 2 games, or 3, there's no way we are buyers. We showed we could beat the most likely first round opponent though, with what we have, so now we are buyers or standing pat. I think the decision ends up being based on asking prices of relievers and possibly a bat.

So now developing that further....

We all read who people would trade... Some Uggla, all Boni, a lot of Hermida. Maybe Miller and some of the higher up prospects, though Stanton and Morrison have been called untouchable.

We'd all like a closer, and a replacement for Boni. Maybe an OF, maybe a SP.

Let's be realistic though. Name some players you'd like to add, and try to keep it to people that are being shopped...

I for one, would have liked to see DeRosa, but since he's off the market, I will go with:

Freddy Sanchez

Justin Duscherer

George Sherrill

I need Help!

jrsyeagle — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:33:44 -0000

My 4 year old Dell Inspiron 9400 crashed last week and I need to replace it. My budget for the computer is up to $850, but the cheaper the better. I want something with at least 250GB Hard Drive, 14" screen minumum, and Intel processor, WiFi capability build in. The OS doesn't matter though I'd prefer XP. I am open to a Mac if it is at the right price. If it has bluetooth capability that is a plus, but I know the chips can be bought for $30 so am not too worried.

I have focused my search on Macs, HPs, and Lenovo IdeaPads). I also can't find many reviews for the IdeaPad's so am not sure how they are in terms of functionality and service.

Any help, suggestions, or tips would be great. I have no clue what speed processor, Ram, screen, graphics are good these days, but just use the computer for basic home work with Office, some minor photoshop, and web surfing.

Thanks!

Marlins Send Jorge Julio packing (again?)

jrsyeagle — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:58:37 -0000

Call it a parting gift? Or a thank you for all those stellar outings he had as a Marlin? Or revenge?

After last night's very Jorge Julio-esque performance by none other than Jorge Julio, and not the collective Marlins bullpen for a change, Jorge Julio was released by the Milwaukee Brewers. Sad story... NOT!

Here's the link to the story... They called up their Brian Sanches to replace him it appears.. I wish him luck, except in this series.

A notable day in Marlins history...

jrsyeagle — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:14:26 -0000

Courtesy of MLBTradeRumors.com, this gem, reminding us all that it is never too early in the season to start a firesale:

On this date 11 years ago, the Marlins traded Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and two others to the Dodgers for Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile. Piazza's tenure with the Marlins would last five games in which he was 5-18 with a triple and 5 RBI. Seven days later he was traded to the Mets for Preston Wilson and two minor league pitchers that would combine for 5 career appearances.

CJ isn't 2nd on my list of favorite Marlins (Mike Lowell #1, Conine #3, Pudge #4, Chuck Carr #5... and the list goes on). Also, Piazza should go into the HOF as a Marlin, just as a slap in the face to the Mets... hey, it's an annual, last game of the year tradition anyway...

What is the acceptable age to still wear a glove to a game?

jrsyeagle — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:16:45 -0000

So, as many of you know, Chris Coghlan hit his first carrier homerun yesterday, which also accounted for his first 2 RBIs of his Major League carreer. Happiness was inspired by the Coghlan family and Marlins fans alike.

As a 23 year who attends more baseball games than I can afford, I could not help but notice the gentleman that caught the ball seemed noticably older than me. I played baseball for several years, have worked at stadiums, and am generally a fan of the game. Most importantly for this conversation, I do not bring a glove into the stadium.

As the game went on, sadly, the happiness dissapated like too many games this year, Jeremy Hermida continued to be terrible at life, and Nolasco continued to look, as Tommy would say, "uncomfortable on the mound."

I was in much less of a positive mood as Craig Minervini interviewed the friend of the fan who caught Chris' HR ball. Again, I was struck by his age, but this time more so by the fact that "ballhawking" is a past-time, and almost a job to him.

This interview was followed by Craig interview the "Happy Youngster" himself, who touted his "ball-hawking" abilities, and had very reasonable demands for trading over the ball. No foul there, however, his apparent age pushed my disappointment to anger when I found out how often he does such things.

So, I checked out his websites here and here. Much to my dismay, this fan brings multiple outfits to games, shows up before batting practice, is 29, married, and has 2 kids. His family shows up at the regular game time to meet up with him, though he does not let this interfere with his "ball-hawking" duties. He claims to give away meaningless balls, but has pictures on the blog, in empty stadiums after games with his pockets over-filled.

I do not understand how a grown man, with a wife and family, that is a police officer, a) does this but more imperatively, b) still brings a glove to a game.

So, fellow fishstripers (obviously I'm still stewing about the loss), I ask you... how old is "too old" to still bring a baseball glove to games? Do you thing the "happy youngster," who is not too young, is sane?

You know where I stand...