All bull in the bullpen

Another game, another blow up.

This series with the Braves have pretty much gone that way. The offense shows up, scores some runs, and the starters keep it close. The bullpen comes in to relieve but does anything but.

I guess us Marlin fans should be positive here, and notice that two thirds of the process is starting to show up more consistently. Previously it was only the offense you could count on, now you can start to add the starters to the mix. Johnson and Willis were able to get chances at wins, Willis dueled with Hudson and won. Tonight, it was Nolasco getting his first major league start and he had to face John Smoltz.

And Ricky held his own over 3.2 innings, giving up no earned runs. Yusmeiro Petit gave the Marlins 3 more strong innings.

But the wheels came off the wagon once again. A combination of Kensing, Borowski and Messenger fought as long as they could be just couldn't bring this one home.

There looks like there is no one in this Marlins bullpen that wants the ball in pressure situations. Let alone deserves to have the ball. There is no one else left. Kranitz has his work cut out for him, but it seems like this year has been particularly troublesome. Last season, the Marlins had successful years from Vargas, Moehler, Willis. Vargas is down in AAA while Moehler and Willis have only begun to show signs of hope for this season.

The only other current active Marlins that played with the team last season are Messenger, Kensing, Johnson and Olsen. And all three saw limited action.

The veterans Borowski and Borowski, were brought in to be the dependent arms in the pen for just these crucial times. They have been inconsistent, too.

The key is patience for this young staff. From both the coaching staff and the Marlins.

But it doesn't look good right now for anyone.

Barry at the Bat

The following is just a peak into the experience of Barry Bond's chase for immortality. There will be no investigation, no urine sampling or bloodletting. No asterisks, no suggestions or speculation. And even more shocking, no pictures. Just taking a look at a player trying to put his name among the loftiest of names in sports history - Babe Ruth.

I have never been to AT&T Park, formerly known as SBC Park and even previously named Pac Bell Park. (Guess AT&T is doing big things these days...) Obviously, it's reputation as a jewel among ballparks proceeds itself and it certainly lived up to expecations. We, both my cousin and myself, set foot out of his apartment at Stanford's Escondido Village ('hidden' because it houses graduate students...) for the park. Climbing aboard the CalTran, we got to our destination after about a half an hour interspersed with chatter and me trying to read my book - which wasn't happening. After all, I am here for business, too.

Once in downtown San Fran, we stepped out to the train station and were immediately asked if we needed tickets for the game. Don't know what sold us on that, since we did indeed need tickets, considering I was wearing my Dwyane Wade black pullover (very good attire for a sunny afternoon) and my cousin was wearing his Miguel Cabrera jersey/t-shirt thing. Seemed like a good deal, but we needed cash so we headed inside the Safeway to get some dough. (We didn't want to mess with the ATM fees, so we bought some items and got cash back - I bought a bag of Doritos and a Pepsi. And the express lane moved very slowly because there was some little girl incessantly screaming, writhe in pain over her foot that was apparently run over by a shopping cart. Get used to it, kiddo. Life is tough.)

With our loot, we made for the stadium waiting to be solicited for tickets - and we found our man. He had two tickets in left field, section 137 row 5 seats 18 and 19. After consulting his map to see where the tickets where we asked how much and he said $50. As the master negotiators we are, we walked away and he said $45. We balked, then said forget it and walked. I would then tell my cousin that wasn't too bad of a deal, since we were only paying a few bucks over face value, then we went back and made the exchange. Cloak and dagger style and off we went to the game.

The park is nestled on the bay and in between some meaningless business structures. Seemed very lively, but I would hate to be working next door - day dreaming - or even have to drive around at that time of day. I didn't care, I was there to witness history.

So, we went in, smuggling our Doritos and Pepsis.

The park is nice. There are all kinds of sightlines available for you to watch the game from. If you are in line for, say, garlic fries, you can look down and see the game from behind home plate. There are plenty of TVs with the game going on, too. Speaking of TVs, walked right by Pedro Gomez - the beat writer for the Giants who seems to be on ESPN every five minutes. He seemed shorter than I imagined, but with a very large head. He was eating garlic fries...hmm...there must be something about those.

The first thing we did do, though was get settled into our seats. Very good view of the game in addition to the bleachers being ergonomically fashioned for your buttocks. You could even stand up in the LF section as there is a little walkway in front of the seats and just behind the wall. This was one spot to make my dramatic catch of ball #714.

So, the Cubs come up, big deal, and make their showing. Not why I was here.

Then the Giants get their turn.

There was so much anticipation for Bonds' at bat that the first inning offensive eruption seemed to steal the thunder. A bases clearing double left first base open. Bonds was up and so was everyone in our section. Me, I kept sitting - betting they would walk him. And Dusty did.

In fact, the game takes on a different nuance when you are rooting for a single batter to get a hit. You don't want the game to become a blowout or he could get pulled. You don't want their to be so few outs or an open base when he gets up. Only strikes and challenging pitches for Barry, please. Otherwise we will all be subjected to the chicken dance song.

Damn, those garlic fries were tempting. And I was feeling hungry...so, we got up from our seats and raced down to get some eats while the Giants were hitting. We got very scared that the Giants were going to hit around in this first inning and Barry was going to get a second at bat. Randy Winn was already up again, in the bottom of the first. But did I want to lose my spot in line and risk missing the fateful #714? What to do! Garlic fries or Bonds' home run ball?

And the garlic fries are definetly worth getting. $6 but hey, you dont get those every day. Thankfully, the Giants made their third out, and we got our food. For several days I am sure I will be tasting those delightful garlic fries. I could only imaging what life must be like in Gilroy, CA.

The rest of the game was interesting. Every time Barry would come up, we would rise. In these moments there was so much potential - to witness history, to be a part of history, to catch the ball and change the fortunes of your life. Whispers of catching the ball and gears churning inside the heads of all around about what would happen if fate dropped, literally, into their lap.

By a house. Divy up the money with my family.

But it never happened. Not on this day. There was no big scare, either, just anticipation. Barry came up, and the crowd held its breath - as did the Cubs dugout. But no fireworks.

There is so much pagentry surrounding this coming feat, too. In our section in LF, there was a man in an orange jump suit - looking more like an overgrown orange - with '8 Men In' on it. Apparently 8 guys are roaming the outfield bleachers when Barry is up to bat, with accompanying camera men, to catch the ball and document it. ESPN is apparently producing this.

There is also security, both overt and covert, as well as cameramen roaming the outfield filming everything. All for Barry's big moment.

When it happens, everyone will see it and somehow be included. Then all the opinions will be spewed forth like a roaring fire. There will be asterisks and accusations and defenses - all so finely crafted that no one will seem to have any real perception on the matter.

Which is simply a ball rotating in tiny revolutions on a particular course that only fate can disclose.

Marlins miss out on tax break, again

But there still is hope...

The Florida Marlins were tossed back, once again, by the Florida state legislature. On the table, a bill that would allow the Orlando Magic a $2M tax break for 30 seasons, along with money to be allocated to various facilities in the state of Florida to improve spring training complexes.

Both pieces of this bill will benefit professional franchises with public money, yet for some reason the legislature couldn't find it to be a 'prudent' gesture to do so for the home town Marlins. A franchise that has brought the state two world championships in less than 10 years.

On Wednesday, the Marlins scored as some Miami politicians grouped together and attached the Marlins' interest to the original Orlando bill. But a representative from Tampa, Fasano, decided he was going to squash this possibility by creating a seperate bill that would contain the original components on it in order to side-step the Marlins hopes.

This happened, and the bill was passed while the bill containing the Marlins' tax break, HB615, was essentially voted down as the legislature let time pass. And once again, Tallahassee crushed the hopes of its South Florida consituents.

There does seem to be hope, however, for the Marlins to build this new stadium in the Hialeah area. The politicians from Hialeah are highly motivated and supportive of securing the Marlins in their area. Also, outgoing governor Jeb Bush seems open to the idea of helping the Marlins efforts this time around. To get the Marlins in the Hialeah area would only help the economic development of the area and re-establish its identity within the South Florida communities.

The Marlins and Hialeah estimate to be about $100M short of the $430M it will take to build a home for the franchise. The Marlins are ponying up $212M and Hialeah is going to donate the land for the venture as well as about $100M for the project from Miami-Dade County. The $60M tax break could have helped relieve the franchise as it seeks the final lump sum. As it stands, the Marlins, with a $15M payroll, look to get an estimated $30M in revenue sharing and including profits from over the course of the season (TV revenue, advertising, etc.) could see some of that money set aside in order to help finance the new stadium.