Marlins Sign Castillo

I'm not saying that the Marlins have found Miggy's replacement - that will never happen. But they did find a decent 3B candidate to hold the fort until Dominguez is ready - the ex-Pirate Jose Castillo.

Castillo, who couldn't find a home run last season, has been able to his 11 and 14 in the previous two seasons before, respectively. Obviously, that isn't going to make up for Miguel's power, but if he can field his position better than Miguel, and somehow raise his average above .270 in the process, the Marlins might have found a solid solution.

Keep an eye on Castillo though. He is only 26 and is tearing up the Venezuelan league right now, hitting .370 with 7 home runs in 45 games. He might be poised to blow up this season - how nice of a change would that be for the Marlins considering their luck in past seasons with other free agent acquisitions.

Dolphins Being Sold Good Sign for Marlins

What do the Miami Dolphins have to do with the Florida Marlins? Everything.

The two form a symbiote, of course the Marlins are the cash cow for the Dolphins which is something Wayne H. Huizenga would never admit.

Let's not even rehash the sham that was the '97 fire sale and the ridiculous claims Huizenga, whom I affectionately call H-bomb, made in regards to losing money. Back then, a $52M payroll was "outrageous". Today, its bottom of the league (then there is the Marlins hovering around 20M - the Dollar Store of MLB). We can, however, focus on the near criminal lease H-bomb suckered John Henry into that present owner Jeffrey Loria is living with. That lease forces most of the revenue from Marlins games, all 81 of them per season, to line H-bomb's pockets. The Marlins, naturally, are cash strapped and cannot put a good product on the field.

Of course, some will ask is this is the chicken or the egg - is the Marlins franchise cash strapped because they don't put a name brand product on the field?

H-bomb's lease has an effect on the Marlins financial situation, no matter how you examine it.

Still, the Dolphins being put up for sale by H-bomb is not only a good sign for the Dolphins, but a good sign for the Marlins. The Marlins' stadium lease at JRS (it will not be discussed by another other name here) is up in 2010. The Marlins are pushing to get a stadium deal done so they can move in in the year 2011. What this means for the Dolphins and H-bomb is that the Marlins will no longer be a tenant after 2010 and all that surplus revenue, used towards making the Dolphins' situation a very lucrative one, will vanish.

No more Marlins means that the Dolphins, and HBomb, have to figure out a way to pay the rent on the place for the rest of the year. No tenant from February to August means no revenue generated. This is what forced Joe Robbie himself out as owner of the Dolphins in the first place. And now it is coming back to push H-bomb out as well.

He gave us the MLB franchise, but promptly attempted to destroy it while still in its infancy. If there is any justice, H-bomb should be forced to keep the Dolphins at JRS with horrible attendance just to make up for what he has done to the rest of South Florida's franchises. And I am a Dolphins fan.

All this aside, it seems that this is a barometer for things to come. If the Marlins are indeed moving out then Huizenga's desire to sell the Dolphins will be a sign that they are going to be successful in their relocation.

Finances in Place for New Stadium?

Things may be turning around for the Marlins, the laughing stock of fan bases these days. (My ears are still ringing)

In what is shaping up to be more than a last ditch effort, but an actual plan, the county of Miami-Dade is looking like a partner with the Marlins in a plan to bring the MLB franchise into the center of the city at the Orange Bowl.

With the Canes leaving for JRS, the door is open for the Marlins to switch places and renovate the OB area into a baseball haven. It looks like the Marlins will have more upfront costs to work with, and if this deal works out, the trades sending away two of the most beloved Marlins may be justified.

Further Reading
Miami Herald
Palm Beach Post - Vote Passes 4-1

Stay tuned.

Cabrera and Willis Gone

Fish no more.

Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis are no longer Marlins. Arguably one of the best hitters of his generation, Miguel Cabrera was working real hard on getting back into shape when the deal was made. As for Dontrelle, he was on vacation in Mexico when he got the news.

Neither player netted a familiar name in return, which was to be expected. The Marlins are in survival mode and unfortunately, this deal will fall on a few, concerned ears. Most Marlin fans checked out after the '03 ticker tape parade and won't be back until the next one.

The Marlins brass, although reportedly netting a pretty sizeable amount of young talent in return is leaving the PR department with a lot of work to do.

The Tigers would send outfielder Cameron Maybin, pitcher Andrew Miller, catcher Mike Rabelo and minor league pitchers Eulogio De La Cruz, Dallas Trahern and Burke Badenhop to the Marlins, ESPN reports.

Maybin has been turning heads and drawing comparisons to a certain Griffey, Jr. If that is the case, the Marlins may have started to break even in this deal. But remember, it was an unknown Dontrelle Willis the Marlins acquired for Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca several years back - a deal back then met with much reservation and protest.

A full report is on the way.

Cabrera Still Being Shopped

Miguel Cabrera, who Marlins fans hoped to be the face of the franchise for a long time, is still being shopped around.

Those who want to see him stay can continue to pray; those who want to land him on their team must also continue to prey. And the bidding is getting intense.

The Marlins front office, charged with some of the most difficult challenges of any of their peers, continue to fight the good fight and try to get as much talent in return for Cabrera. It seems the Angels and Dodgers are ponying up quite a bit to bid for Cabrera's rights. Stay tuned as the Marlins continue shopping around for Cabrera.

On the positive side, if there be one, the Marlins could land an immediate surplus of young hitting talent - they have needs at center field, and third base. It might help the Marlins in a few more years contend again - theoretically with a new stadium in place.

Torrealba Still Available

Hot stove time, and the Marlins are involved in a couple scenarios.

One of them is catcher Yorvit Torrealba. The Mets were expected to sign the free agent ex-Rockie catcher, but the deal, apparently fell apart. At this time, it is unclear why the deal fell apart but speculation includes, but certainly isn't limited to, a failed physical as a possibility. If that is the case, the Marlins are better off staying away. Still, the need for a catcher is critical with the Marlins.

Cabrera Leaving? ARod Returning?

Right now, we should be asking ourselves, is it really in the best interest of the Florida Marlins to trade Miguel Cabrera? How is the franchise with the lowest turnout and impending stadium issues going to communicate that it is here for the long haul?

By trading Cabrera?

The obvious answer is no. But if the scenario is painted correctly, perhaps not - let's dare to dream a bit.

Let's say Cabrera is dealt for a starting pitcher and a young stud center fielder. You fill two voids in the lineup but create another one. We need a third baseman and Matt Dominguez is a few years away.

Is there any real possibility that the Marlins sign Alex Rodriguez?

There is a very faint rumor - and it is probably just that - that ARod would not only be given the salary he is looking for (upwards of $30M) but also a stake in the franchise.

Let's examine that possibility. That would mean not only the likely AL MVP would be playing for the Marlins, not only be their team leader, but also he would return home and would have a vested interest in the franchise being successful. Local boy makes good, brings hope to the millions and puts a face with the organization - with a possible chance at competing for years to come.

It is viewed as a longshot right now, but so where the 2003 Marlins.

Yet, could ARod actually return to Miami? There is enough here, believe it or not, to persuade him to do so. We have lots of young talent in Miami, and it just needs a leader to congeal the team. This void of leadership is evident from the way Fredi Gonzalez runs this team - he seems to require a veteran roster to fit his managerial style. With a player of ARod's stature, that need would be met. Not to mention the Marlins would now compete as a draw and its PR campaign would mirror the Heat's with its star players Shaq and Dwyane Wade drawing international attention.

All of this, of course, hinges on the Marlins trading Miguel Cabrera and possibly even Dontrelle Willis to free up some space in the treasury to sign a guy like ARod. And surround him with young (cheap) talent to compete. Maybe that would be enough to get Marlins fans and los politicos to push for a stadium solution.

Or maybe trading Cabrera and DTrain is a prelude to contraction.

Either way you look at it, both possibilities are long shots as of right now. But there could be some good in entertaining the idea of trading Cabrera as a catalyst to positive change for this franchise.

Wiley Returns to Marlins

In a long anticipated move, the Marlins re-signed Mark Wiley, their pitching coach they let get away after they relieved Jack McKeon of managing duties.

When the Marlins hired Joe Girardi, Girardi brought on board Rick Kranitz - the Cubs minor league pitching coordinator. Things looked good last season - while the talent of Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Scott Olsen and Ricky Nolasco blossomed. Even though Girardi was fired, the Marlins managed to retain Kranitz despite suspicions of his real value.

This season, despite the injuries, seemed to show Kranitz's weaknesses as a coach and instructor and the Marlins, although they couldn't outright fire him, esteemed his value at a bit less than Kranitz did. So he walked. And now, the Marlins welcome back an old friend who is not only coming from a championship caliber organization, but also a mentor to Dontrelle Willis.

Now, the immediate challenge for Wiley is getting this pitching staff pieced back together and getting Dontrelle Willis' confidence back again. Welcome back, Wiles.

Offseason Updates

Well, not much to report - yet.

The Marlins are moving to 790 The Ticket, which will help them get more fans tuning in for radio broadcasts. Hopefully it will help their profile, too.

Rick Kranitz is apparently drawing interest from the Baltimore Orioles, while their old pitching coach Leo Mazzone is a free man. Maybe we could swap?

Reggie Abercrombie is going to have to live up to his potential somewhere else - in Houston. The Astros just picked him up off of waivers. Oakland also snagged another Marlin, Jose Garcia, who had been out all season with an elbow injury. Garcia has thrown a lot of strikeouts in his early career and the A's might get that move to pay off - not sure why the Marlins cut him loose.

Jason Wood, Trevor Linden and Paul Hoover were all optioned to AAA.

Marlins Stadium Hunt: Light At the End of the Tunnel?

Or is that Selig holding the match?

Well, as we have been following this story for the better part of 7 years now, this could be the best news yet. In fact, it could be the most pivotal moment.

Bud Selig has come to town to meet with officials about the possibilities of a new stadium for the Marlins. With UM bolting the Orange Bowl after this season for the updated Dolphin Stadium, the door has swung wide open for the Marlins to fall upon the OB and develop a project for a home.

Further Reading (and listening)
Selig's press conference
Miami Herald: Selig Visits South Florida
SI: Selig Lobbies for South Florida

Ultimately, this deal should get done. The Miami-Dade metropolitan area has one of the largest TV markets in the country - more so than any other alternative site being used as a "threat" to move the Marlins to. Selig knows this, and also is relying a bit on Jeffrey Loria to get a stadium because MLB put up a loan that made Loria ultimately the Marlins owner.

"I believe in this market," Selig told the press today. But he also stated that this market needs a roof on its stadium, indicating that he is in line with the thinking around the Marlins front office and even Bob DuPuy about what approach the Marlins should take to their design.

With the demographics of South Florida, Selig agrees that the South Florida market would be competitive with the rest of MLB - provided they get the right stadium facilities in place.

Selig also was reluctant to stamp a deadline on the project, but recognizes there is a practical concern over getting it done within a certain time period.

UM Leaves OB; Marlins Moving In?

The Hurricanes are finally done with delaying the inevitable and are giving in to Wayne Huizenga's desires and moving out of the Orange Bowl and into the faux OB, Dolphin Stadium (which will forever be known as Joe Robbie Stadium to this humble writer).

Not a shock at all. But Cane fans will be debating this move for some time, talking about the tradition of the dingy Orange Bowl and all its history. They have one final season to soak it up.

Yet, what will the city of Miami now do with this increasingly outdated structure? They had promised to put over $200M in improvements into the renovation project - should the University of Miami committed to staying.

Further Reading
UM Leaves OB
Shalala Didn't Want to Do It
A Sad Day When Tradition Loses

But now, it is time for the Marlins to explore this situation very carefully. There were plans, how serious is debatable, to see the OB turned into a sports complex with the Marlins attaching their new stadium to the side of the Orange Bowl. That vision never fully materialized due to funding and other concerns, but now that the city is losing its only tenant of the Orange Bowl, they may be pressed to strike a deal with the Marlins. The city is faced with not only missing out on the promise of their major college football tenant but could also lose out on their MLB franchise which is looking to plant roots somewhere in South Florida.

And that will mean major bucks and a lucrative tourist attraction. For the area around the Orange Bowl, it would be a needed boost.

Marlins On Two Game Win Streak

One against the Phillies and now another against the Mets. The Marlins are, dare I say, rolling. Frank the Tank would be proud:



Ok, so I shouldn't get too excited. After all, it is just two games. Yet, this is a sign of hope as the Marlins have been able to come together against two division rivals and with another chance tonight against the Mets, who knows? It is a little late to crash the Wild Card party, but it isn't too late to crash someone else's season.

Marlins Dead in the Water?

Seems like it is over too quickly for the Marlins this season.

Suffering injuries to 3/5ths of their stellar starting staff from last season hasn't been kind either. Then again, neither has this coaching staff.

Incidentally, they may all get an incomplete considering the injuries to this team but make no mistake, the Marlins have taken a big step backwards this season. There was a lot of hope and expectation for this young team coming into the season, building on the rookie seasons of Josh Johnson, Scott Olsen, Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Mike Jacobs and even Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco. Olsen has turned into a headcase; Jacobs, Johnson, Sanchez and Nolasco have all been injured while only Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla have been able to consistently get into the starting lineup each day.

And it shows.

On top of this struggle, the Marlins made changes to their coaching staff and it doesn't seem to have paid off at all. Girardi left, mostly because he blew out the starters and didn't play the right personnel - and the fruits of that destruction have come to bear as we see Josh Johnson is now out for the rest of this season and possibly next. Yet the hiring of Fredi Gonzalez, met with some fanfare since he is a local kid, has turned out to be a quagmire.

Gonzalez has yet to show any kind of leadership abilities, instead deferring mostly to bench coach Carlos Tosca. The lack of direction shows on the field as these young players tend to go up and down like elevators but never seem to find ways to get out of funks or focus on being professionals day to day. That is not to say that the Marlins have huge problems with their personnel, yet only to say that the challenge of great players is their potential and developing it to its fullest. Miguel Cabrera was battling a big weight issue and the Marlins seemed to lack any courage in addressing it and challenging Cabrera. Dan Uggla went through a big slump and very little got better for him as did Jeremy Hermida. These young players need to have a plan in order to get out these slumps or spells where they just play bad and the Marlins staff seems to side-step the opportunity to hold them accountable as professionals.

It just seems that there is too much focus on personal feelings with this group and a fear to do what is necessary to win.

Say what we want about Girardi, but his crew cut no-nonsense approach made him the focus of the team from the players and no one questioned who was in charge in that dugout. In fact, that may have been what got him fired in the end - he couldn't stop himself. Fredi seems to be the opposite - he doesn't know where he should begin.

As a result, the Marlins have performed worse despite their strong offensive numbers and their talent. Mistakes like letting Armando Benitez even set foot on the field continue, while former problems - Randy Messenger and Jorge Julio, for example - continue to improve.

Byung-Hyun Kim was a shrewd move for Julio, but now he has been placed on waivers and picked up by Arizona. A payroll move and a signal that the Marlins brass is waiving the white flag for the remainder of this season. They might as well get rid of the coaching staff too since they have seemed to all but run the Marlins into the ground now.

There is little to watch for right now other than the development of young talents like Jeremy Hermida and Rick Vanden Hurk. Of course Miguel Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez are having fine seasons and are worth the price of the ticket alone to watch each night. In fact, that is the problem - these young guys have talent and deserve to put it on display and win. For some reason, it isn't working out right now.

Nolesmarlins' Power Rankings

Imagine how good the Marlins rotation would be if we still had Penny and Beckett.

1. Detroit: Just disgusting. Kicking a$$ and taking names. The Tigers are a winning machine. Start printing those playoff tickets.

2. Los Angeles of Anaheim: Almost up there with the Tigers, but they need to improve their offense, especially in the power department. If they don't solve that problem by the deadline, they will in the off season when they inevitably get Arod.

3. Boston: I would question whether Josh Beckett has the makeup and the experience to lead a pitching staff in the playoffs, but then I remember how sick he was in 2003 for the Fish.

4. Los Angeles: Brad Penny is pitching the lights out, and they might have found something special in James Loney.

5. Cleveland: I think they should try to make a deal for Livan Hernandez. How ironic would that be... and he would really help this team. They really could use another innings eating starter. Imagine Livan coming to Cleveland and leading them to the title ten seasons after he helped beat them.

6. Seattle: They need to pull off some sort of trade deadline coup if they expect to take the Angels for the division, but they still have the talent right now to sneak past the Indians for the wild card.

7. New York Mets: Lastings Milledge might be of some use after all. This team has really no need to trade for another starter, remember they have Pedro coming back.

8. Chicago Cubs: They have definitely turned around their season, but as it stands now they won't catch Milwaukee.

9. San Diego: Need a hitter even worse than the Angels. It would be a shame if this team doesn't make the playoffs, they have the pitching staff to go very deep into October.

10. Milwaukee: Losing Ben Sheets to the DL doesn't help one bit, but he will be back. Look on the bright side, he will be fresher by the time the playoffs come around.

11. Atlanta: Chipper Jones just caught on fire.

12. New York Yankees: They aren't winning with him having the best season of his year, so they don't need to pay him $25 million a year to lose. It makes sense for everyone for Arod to leave.

13. Minnesota: I wonder how long this team will keep Maurer and Morneau together...

14. Colorado: The most schizophrenic team ever. They have a lot of young stars on this team, they just need to find some pitching that works for their environment.

15. Arizona: They were bound to fall off. Unfortunately for them, I think they may have shot themselves in the foot with this latest swoon, especially when you consider the talent in this division. Only San Francisco is a pushover. They should see what they can get for Byrnes and Hernandez.

16. Philadelphia: I hope Scotty O gets to start in the upcoming Phils-Fish series. There is no difference at all between this year's Phillies and any Philly team over the last five years. Either get Arod and Santana or something, or trade off the high priced guys vets to build a young team around Howard, Utley, Hamels, and maybe Rowand. Why spend $100 million in payroll on a team that can't even make the playoffs?

17. Florida: Well at least their rotation leads the league in something: DUIs. They have been quietly playing pretty well since the all star break, but have no illusions, they'll be very lucky to finish above .500.

18. Toronto: Why do they have Astroturf in the Skydome... oops, the Rogers Center? Its a retractable roof, they can open the thing for sunlight to shine in... Just never made any sense to me.

19. St. Louis: They should have a better second half, but losing Carpenter for a year to Tommy John surgery has pretty much screwed them over for the next two seasons. At least they won one in '06, that might have to satisfy birds fans for a while.

20. Kansas City: They WILL win at least a playoff spot within the next three seasons, I guarantee it. They just need to develop their pitching.

21. Oakland: Talk about your all time stumbles out of the gate...

22. Chicago White Sox: The unluckiest team in the game. They might even finish in fifth place.

23. Cincinnati: Have been playing slightly better under their new manager, although they just got bitch-slapped by the Marlins over the weekend.

24. Washington: Is it 2008 yet?

25. Texas: Texeria would definitely help the Yankees, but they probably won't trade for him. The problem is nobody really matches up well with Texas.

26. Houston: Maybe they should try to see if they can rob some desperate contenders (the Mets maybe) farm system by trading Oswalt.

27. Baltimore: they suck

28. San Francisco: See above. I somehow don't see Barry leaving San Fran after this year.

29. Tampa Bay: B.J. Upton has been playing pretty well fresh off the DL.

30. Pittsburgh: Have been absolutely atrocious after the ASB.

Scottie O: Oh My God What Now?

Scott Olsen is now officially a train wreck.

Sure, you got the whole fighting/tantrum thing and most of us, including yours truly, has written it off as simply Scottie O being an intense competitor.

And now this.

Our friends over at SporTech have done a pretty good job covering this story, but not enough can be said about Scott Olsen's situation: He needs help. Badly.

This is a situation the Marlins cannot take responsibility for but if they value their employees' health, they need to enforce a temporary suspension and give Olsen the vacation time and facilities to get help. Seriously.

In a world that is seemingly getting crazier and crazier each day, where stories about NBA referees possibly shaving points to help with their bookies and pro-bowl quarterbacks getting involved in illegal dogfighting activities (to say the least), something like an out of control pitcher with a penchant for tantrums is probably somewhat low-key, but in need of serious attention.

Add to this latest incident that he was arrested for a DUI and resisted arrest and fought with the police officers in front of his home in Aventura. Now, the details are not official, but that is the gist of it. How does he go from being suspended, pitching great, then going out and pulling a stunt like this? You can almost feel the vibrations of insanity here, like a volcano getting ready to explode.

Olsen needs help. His teammates, his team, his fans and especially his family all need to reach out to him. This kid is so young and has a very promising major league future in front of him. Just ask Jeffrey Allison, the once promising future Marlins starting pitcher who was highly touted and compared to a then precocious Josh Beckett.

Of just ask Josh Hamilton, who is now starting to fulfill the promise of his talents several years later with another team, the Cincinnati Reds.

Who knows what exactly is wrong with Olsen the person. Who knows what trouble is stirring in his mind and what types of ailments he could be suffering from. Maybe he is bi-polar? Maybe he is depressed? Whatever the diagnosis is, it needs to be examined by professionals as this kid is quickly burning up his chances for a bright future.

Bad Loss Shows Fredi is Not Ready

There is no such thing as a good loss. I know some will say there it, but there really isn't. You lost.

Tonight's game against the Freds was a good example of terrible. Mitre started off demonstrating what that adjective means, but pulled it together and got through 6 innings while only surrendering the 3 runs from the first inning. The Marlins' bats woke up and they took back the lead to make it 5-3.

Then it all went wrong.

Armando Benitez comes trotting out and immediately gives up hit after hit after hit. Nothing was fooling the Freds batters, Benitez might as well have been throwing beach balls up there. Yet, Fredi did not budge. He kept Benitez in and the lead evaporates and becomes a 7-5 deficit.

Now, we could go on about how the Marlins threated to come back and that they made some noise but ultimately, they still choked. Then again, why blame it all on the team when it was clearly Benitez who couldn't do anything other then throw ropes at the plate.

Yet, even that wouldn't be right. Fredi Gonzalez never made a move. Never even blinked. Tommy Hutton, long time Marlins announcer, was on the border of criticizing Fredi but let's face it, the things he said on the air were scathing criticisms, if we want to twist words like media pundits do.

And all that criticism is worth it because the Marlins never got to keep that lead and really it shouldn't have gotten that bad. In the 7th Tank loaded up the bases and Gonzalez had nothing else better to do but trot out Justin Miller. And quicker than a case of beer at a frat party, the Freds bases-loaded threat was over.

Yet, in the 8th Fredi went too long with Benitez and it cost his team a win. The lack of direction and the unwillingness to embrace confrontation when needed is keeping Fredi from growing as a manager and retarding the growth of this young Marlins ballclub. Of that, I am totally convinced now.

Marlins Nation is making improvements

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Please take the time to look over our new layout for the blog. It is more expansive, offering more features so that this site can serve as a one stop shop of sorts for all things teal.

If there is anything you would like to see added, please do not hesitate to let us know HERE.

Miggy Hits Two, Marlins Hanging in There

Still 7.5 games back of the NL East lead, but the Marlins are looking better these days taking two straight against the Washington Nationals.

And it couldn't come at a better time.

With David "Little Napoleon" Samson mouthing off over the Ichiro extension, the Marlins need to make some noise of their own - and for the positive.

Still, climbing back into the NL East race is a remote possibility. The pitching has started to come around - the Marlins bullpen is as good as ever with Kevin Gregg putting up incredible numbers as the team closer - and the hitting is, too.

Check out Miguel Cabrera hitting two bombs to help the cause, and Josh Willingham dinging his 14th on the season. For Miggy, that is numbers 20 and 21 sailing over the fences.

Who knows, maybe a nice little run is there for the taking? We'll see. Next up will be the Cardinals, who have had their share of controversy as well.

Josh Johnson Out; But for How Long?

Double J has been stashed on the 15 DL but there are discrepancies as to how long he will actually be out.

That is a good thing.

Johnson has been out for most of the season already, including spring training, and is finally starting to get his game back together when he was hit with a nagging injury. Stiffness in his right forearm, right below the elbow - the same area that shut him down previously.

Yet this time seems a bit different - the medical examination recommended that no further testing needed to be done; just simply give it some rest. So Johnson has been shut down for 15 days, at least.

Johnson said his arm remained sore Thursday but felt "a little bit better" than it did Wednesday. He was asked if he expected to pitch again this season.

"Yeah," he said. "Hopefully it's just 15 days and I'll be back."

Palm Beach Post

Craig Minervini, on today's Marlins broadcast against the Padres, reported that Johnson will make his next start and that the shoulder and elbow are fine.

We are still awaiting official word from the Marlins as this does seem to be only a precautionary measure. Initial reports were not favorable yet now, it seems like Johnson will rest and give it another shot after his 15 day stint is over - starting yesterday.

Boone Out 2-3 weeks

By JOE CAPOZZI

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

MIAMI GARDENS — First baseman Aaron Boone hobbled into the Marlins' clubhouse on crutches Tuesday a happy man.

Boone, who left Sunday's game after tweaking his left knee in the fourth inning, will be out two to three weeks with a sprained metacarpal ligament.

"Considering what it could have been, I'm actually pretty excited about all that it is,'' said Boone, who feared he might have torn a ligament in his knee.

"I felt like I was on trial for murder and the jury came back with not guilty.''

On Sunday, Boone went to cover the first-base bag before realizing the ball got through. He changed direction to prepare for the cutoff throw and felt some discomfort.

After Sunday's game, he said he expected to play Tuesday. But he said it stiffened up Sunday night. When he woke up Monday morning in pain, he underwent an MRI exam that showed the low-grade sprain.

Boone (.286, five home runs, 28 RBI) had been platooning with Mike Jacobs. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Jacobs now will get the majority of starts, even against left-handers. If there's a particularly tough left-hander, Gonzalez said he might opt to start Jason Wood.

Boone will be on crutches for two to three days and then begin rehab work by the end of the week.

He hopes to return by or right after the All-Star break. Boone said his injury is not related to two surgeries he had on the same knee in 2004. He missed that entire season after hurting the knee in a pickup basketball game. He required surgery to repair torn ligaments and had a second procedure six months later to remove loose cartilage.

Palm Beach Post

Nolesmarlins' Power Rankings

It's been awhile...


1. LA Angels: The halos take over the top spot because of an incredible June. Unfortunately for them, one of the reasons for their ascent to the zenith of the major leagues, Casey Kotchman, is on the bench with a concussion. This team would leapfrog the Red Sox for good if they can acquire another bat, preferably one that replaces Chone Figgins. Miguel Tejada shifting to third would be an exceptional acquisition.


2. San Diego: Never mind the sweep by the Mariners last week, they expended a lot of energy in their own sweep of the hated Dodgers right before and the Mariners aren't half bad. This may be the best Padres team ever... no doubt about the pitching.


3. Boston: Don't worry, even though the Yanks swept them they are in absolutely no danger of losing the division.


4. Cleveland: Grady Sizemore is one special player and all, and that Fausto Carmona kid has some electric stuff, but this team just is missing something. If they add either an impact bat or an ace (especially both) they might be able to take that last step to the series.


5. Detroit: Verlander is just amazing. If he goes on an extended hot streak his pitching and Magglio's MVP-worthy bat stand a good chance to leapfrog the Indians for the AL Central.


6. NY Mets: They are much better than their recent play, trust me. That being said, this team looks old and overpaid. Right now the Mets would have no chance in a playoff series against the Padres.


7. Milwaukee: Not too many people give this team much respect despite how much of a lead they have in the NL Central. I think that's a mistake... this is one talented young team with a very solid lineup, rotation, and bullpen.


8. Oakland: The best pitching staff nobody has ever heard of. They certainly still have a chance for the wild card, especially if Cleveland hits a rough patch.


9. Arizona: Losing Randy Johnson for a few starts doesn't help. The Dbacks probably won't be able to overtake the Padres for the division no matter how slim the lead happens to be now but they definitely have the talent to hold off the Braves and the Dodgers for the wild card. Their chances will dramatically improve if Carlos Quentin ever comes around and Johnson makes a quick return.


10. Seattle: They looked very impressive in their sweep of the Padres, unfortunately they have lost a few in a row recently. The M's can't really afford to do that again, but their recent success and the fact that they are very much in the race for the wild card ensures that Ichiro stays with this team for the rest of the year. They cannot afford to lose him to free agency.


11. LA Dodgers: Great pitching, but the Dodgers need an impact bat more than any team in baseball.


12. NY Yankees: Yeah yeah yeah, nine in a row, we all saw it. Too little too late...


13. Atlanta: They are VERY lucky that the Mets have also gone cold. Their season could have been completely over, but instead they still have an outside shot at a playoff spot.


14. Colorado: Matt Holiday is the most underrated player in the game, followed by Garrett Atkins. If they find a way to develop some young pitching that can handle the high altitude this team might actually compete for once.


15. Philly: BIG gap between #14 Colorado and #15 Philadelphia. They always seem to need starting pitching.


16. Minnesota: Johan Santana just hasn't been the same pitcher this year. Even with him, they aren't going to seriously compete until Liriano comes back.


17. Florida: The Fish have lost three series in a row. JJ's return should help, but the Marlins still have a long ways to go before they can seriously compete for the wild card. Fredi Gonzalez does not appear to be inspiring this young squad to win with his lackadaisical approach to managing.


18. Toronto: Now AJ goes to the DL... just like clockwork with him.


19. San Francisco: The Giants would be five games above .500 if they were in the Central.


20. Washington: Congrats to Dmitri Young for turning his career around. The Nats have a pretty good supporting cast going if they can manage to develop, or acquire, a couple of all star types.


21. Kansas City: The Royals' young offense has just as much potential as Tampa Bay's despite the fact that they get half of the press.


22. Tampa Bay: Carlos Pena has been a pleasant surprise for the Rays.


23. Chicago Cubs: Should have signed Zambrano when they had the chance, now they can kiss him goodbye.

24-29. Pittsburgh, Texas, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Houston: It doesn't really matter where I place these teams, they all suck about equally as much.

30. But nobody sucks as much as Baltimore: This team actually WANTS Girardi to manage them...

Enough of the Fat Jokes II

How Miguel Maximizes his Talents and the Marlins Ensure Their Future

The answer seems so obvious now: Ozzie Guillen.

He was the perfect third base coach when he was with the Marlins and his shadow still lingers. He is irreplaceable. Jeff Cox, Jerry Porter - both these men have tried to simulate in some way Guillen's aggressiveness only to discover that they couldn't.

Part of the magic of that 2003 Miracle Marlins team was Ozzie Guillen, waiving guys around the third base corner to get that run that would make the difference.

Guillen was loud, brash and fun here as a Marlin. He was a jokester, always with something witty to say to cut the mood but when it was time to get serious, he had a way of communicating it effectively to his players. This is evidenced not just with his days as a part of the Marlins coaching staff, but even as a manager on his own in Chicago.

Mike Phillips wrote an excellent rebuttal to Israel Guiterrez's dreck; both pieces dealing with Miguel's weighty issue. What Phillips depicted was Guillen's reaction to Cabrera, and it meshes very nicely with what we talked about in yesterday's blog - the Marlins need to get someone who can have an influence over Miguel that will show him how to be a professional and will hold him accountable.

Ozzie Guillen would be the man for the job. In fact, he would be the perfect Marlins manager.

Guillen loves Miguel like a son - the two have a history going back to when Ozzie arrived as part of the ex-Expo staff that took over the Marlins in 2001, the same year Cabrera arrived. Both are Venezuelan and Guillen took on a mentoring role once Miguel arrived at the bigs for that championship 2003 season. So, what he says has some weight.

"I'm a little upset with him," Guillen said. "You're still young. He knows he has a problem with that. When you are young and good, you can get away with it. But when you're older and you're not hitting home runs, then they will call you a fat boy from Venezuela...You've been eating a lot of arepas! When your mother is Venezuelan and your wife is Venezuelan, you are going to get fat. If he keeps getting bigger, his future is in the Mexican League."

Wow!

With that kind of zing, Ozzie reaches Miguel and holds him accountable. It is hard not to take the medicine with a touch of laughter and sweetness. It is done out of love, not out of jealousy because Miggy can trust in what Guillen says. The appeal from Guillen is heartfelt, it comes to Miguel as an appeal as a fellow Venezuelan, with a proud baseball heritage. This gives Ozzie even more auctoritas as his ethos is one of a professional baseball player who came from Miguel's home country. He's been through what Cabrera is going through, and Ozzie understands the bigger picture and the impact the potential of Miguel could have.

Guillen would be a perfect fit for the Marlins as a manager because he would provide the discipline and focus that Miguel needs and at the same time he could smooth things over for the rest of the team.

We talked about accountability and that although it is easy to call out Miguel for putting on weight, it really isn't as much of an issue as a few of the lightweight sportswriters have been trying to make it out to be. Yet, at the same time, the issue is larger in the sense that it really is an illustration of how the Marlins organization needs to change things. They have to install a winning culture but they also have to instill a professional culture, too. Miguel is the illustration of this, he is the poster child for neglect here. Ozzie Guillen could change all that. He could be the resolution the Marlins need to implement because, let's face it, Fredi Gonzalez is not having the kind of impact these young players need. There is no adaptation, no growth.

So Ozzie Guillen would be perfect on many levels - he would be the ideal mentor to guide Miguel in his growth to superstardom and help him find new ways to challenge himself and grow. Grow in terms of his baseball prowess, not in his waistline.

And maybe Guillen could cook up some low-fat arepas in the meantime.

Enough With the Fat Jokes

You mean Miguel Cabrera has put on weight?

And this is a problem?

This is how out of touch the South Florida media is with the Marlins - they are all a-flutter about Miguel's weight. He signed the big contract, and decided to cash in at the grocery store and is putting on weight as a result.

The apparent ballooning has been observed by the local media because of their hot/cold reactions to the Marlins. For those that cover the team everyday, and for those that follow the team religiously like those of us here at MarlinsNation.com, this is not a story.


Sure, Miguel is not the slim 20-year old SS prospect he once was, displaced on a World Series team as a LFer. But most people, as they start their 20's, put on weight. It is called the "freshman 15" for a reason. Basically, you start to grow your "man-body".

Whether or not Miguel's natural state includes man-boobs is another story.

Yet, there are a few things that are wrong here - and we won't even touch how the media does a horrible job of covering the Marlins, only choosing to pipe up when they want to portray something negatively.

Should we be concerned about Miguel's weight? Yes.

But what we should be more concerned about is how this team is handling their franchise player. Because make no mistake, Miguel Cabrera is one of those rare, generation-defining players that come along very rarely. He is the face of the Marlins today and into tomorrow. He could be not only a franchise-defining player, but an industry-defining player of historical proportions.

So long as those proportions are kept in shape, of course.

We could easily blame Miguel and his 24 year old ways, but that would be like scorning a 5 year old for not filing his taxes - it is just beyond realistic expectation.

Most 24 year olds don't know how to hit a curveball, much less how to feed themselves properly. Could Miguel hire a nutritionist and keep his weight in check? Yes, he certainly could. But does he know that he should? Does he have the proper persepctive on his life and creating longevity to play this game for another 10 years at least. Heck, does he have the desire?

The thing is when you are that good, you tend to have a total misrepresentation of yourself and reality. Miguel is so good and things come so easy for him that he doesn't have to think about preparing himself the right way for the game today, much less in 10 years. 24 year olds don't tend to think long term - they tend to think right now. Things are very microscopic and short termed, in the now - which is a good thing, with balance.

Miguel, in other words, does not know any better. The Marlins are to blame because they are not giving him the opportunity to learn.

And how could they? The Marlins are cash-strapped because their owner does not have enough resources to pull the Marlins out of the mire they are in financially. They need to overhaul their revenue streams and Loria seems content to live with what they got. If the Marlins really wanted to reach Miguel, they would have signed someone that could lead by example and get everyone to understand what it takes to be a professional baseball player.

Unfortunately, that is something Joe Girardi had going for him - but he stepped on too many toes. Fredi Gonzalez is a nice guy, but doesn't command respect the way Girardi did and is starting to show signs that he was not the right guy for the job.

And Miggy continues to run wild. Well, sort of. He can't do that much running due to his size, but within those limited concentric circles, he does what he wants because he can. No one checks him. No one in the clubhouse, no one in the front office. No one.

This isn't to say Miguel is having a bad season - not at all. That is part of the problem - he could be better. Because he is having success it is hard to upset the applecart, hard to fix what doesn't seem broken. But when you are talking about being a professional and what it takes to be a professional, the sight has to be as equally fixed on today as it is on tomorrow and the day after that. You have to be concerned with creating longevity and at this rate, it is right to be concerned about Miguel's longevity.

He might eat himself out of position.

Then again, it worked for Babe Ruth.

So the question really shouldn't be about Miguel's weight or size or overall aesthetic appeal because if anything, one can observe you don't have to be the greatest athlete in the world to be the best in a given sport.

Just as Tim Duncan. Or Joe Montana. Or Babe Ruth.

What we should all be concerned with is how the Marlins are challenging Miguel to be that franchise player. Are they concerned about his longterm career? Or only about the years they have him signed to their team?

If we are going to hold Miguel accountable for his weight, we also need to hold the Marlins accountable for making him accountable to them. They have to provided the tools that will allow Miguel to become the best player he can possibly be. If the Marlins do that for Miguel and for EVERY player, they will not have to worry about keeping talent in-house. It will be intrinsic and it will develop itself.

Miguel is the illustration of what is both right with this franchise and what is very wrong about it.

MLB Draft 2007 - Marlins begin draft at #12

Today is the day the Marlins and the rest of MLB build their future rosters. ESPN2 is televising the draft live, for the first time.

But don't expect as much draft hype as in other drafts; MLB's draft tends to be more of a crap shoot than any of the other major sports as they can pull from high school talents on up.

The Marlins will have the 12th, 76th, 106th, 136th and 166th picks through the first five rounds. In years past the Marlins have been heavy on drafting pitching talent, so we will see if that trend continues.

Post your reactions HERE.

Shallow Water: Why is Hanley Ramirez batting third?

There must be something in the water

It's a simple question - why is Hanley Ramirez batting third? Yet, there doesn't seem to be a simple answer, or even a well-thought-out answer at that.

Hanley Ramirez, last year's rookie of the year and (as first posted here) a possible MVP candidate has been shifted from the top of the order to the 3 spot. He has never hit at that position in the majors, and has been a leadoff hitter for practically all of his young professional career.

He is batting .272 with 4 homers and 10 RBI since May 15th in the third slot while he was batting .343 with 4 homers and 7 RBI leading off. His on-base percentage was the best in MLB at .426 but it has now dipped to .382.

Is it any wonder that the Marlins run production has seemed to be dipping?

This has to be one of the most boneheaded moves by Fredi "Captain Obvious" Gonzalez. What is scary to ponder is that it probably wasn't Right Said Fredi who made the call on this move. It is mind boggling.

Why do the Marlins decide that now they want to experiment with a talent like Hanley Ramirez? His highest value is in the leadoff spot, where he is comfortable and where he can excel. To force him to adjust in midseason to an unfamiliar role is just plain ridiculous and stupid. Why not ask Barry Bonds to leadoff - so he can get more at bats? Dumb.

What makes this move even more mind boggling is the fact that the Marlins have options that can hit third - Jeremy Hermida, Josh Willingham, even Aaron Boone. Why push Ramirez into the role when the Marlins are getting pretty good production at that spot already(Willingham is 9th in the NL with 39 RBIs and is batting .377 with runners in scoring position). Why try and take a leadoff hitter and make him a run producer when you have a one-two punch in Willingham and Cabrera? Or why not try and put a guy like Hermida - who is being developed as a run-producing hitter - at the third spot?

None of it makes sense.

The Marlins are sacrificing the short term and the long term by putting Hanley Ramirez into the third spot in the order. Short term because they are forcing him to adjust to an entirely new position in the order, and long term because they are actually undermining his value.

The Marlins have some very good #3 options. This isn't to say that Ramirez can't be successful, just to say that there is no reason to try this experiment. The Marlins are not banged up enough to warrant this jump.

It's just stupid, no matter how you characterize it.

Marlins Acquire Armando Benitez

An old familiar face returns to the Marlins. This time, it isn't a veteran outfielder or a starting pitcher, but a reliever that had arguably one of the most successful seasons as a reliever for the Marlins franchise. Back in 2004, Armando Benitez was practically unstoppable - he will try to do the same this season, three years later, upon his return.

The deal? Right now the details are not confirmed but it is reported to cost the Marlins Randy Messenger - a long time relief prospect for the Marlins that have left many in the Marlins braintrust wondering if he was going to ever pan out. Messenger's best chance of doing so seems to be this season, as his 2.44 ERA and 1.43 WHIP indicate he could be turning a corner.

Is this the right move for the Marlins?

First of all, it won't cost them much. The Giants are handcuffed and forced to deal Benitez mostly due to his alienating acts in the clubhouse, and are willing to eat up most of his $5M salary. And this is Benitez's last season - he is a free agent after 2007. Kind of like 2004, where he put together 47 saves in 51 appearances, and earned a big pay day as a result.

So, it is a walk year for the closer, and he will be looking to perform in order to get another big deal this offseason.

Also, Benitez, should he take over the closer's role again, will solidify the Marlins bullpen and as a result, their starting rotation. Owens is coming back, and Gregg is doing a nice job as the closer. Add Lindstrom to the mix as well as a rebounding Taylor Tankersley, and the Marlins have the makings of a tough bullpen that could be among the league's toughest coming down the stretch.

Consider also that the starting pitching should be getting Josh Johnson back in the near future, and could also be looking to add Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez as well. That means three starters - Byung Hyun Kim, Wes Obermueller and possibly Sergio Mitre - could all be bumped. This just adds even more depth to the Marlins pitching staff.

If the pitching can become more consistent, and catch up with the explosive offense, we could see the Marlins not only challenge for a wildcard spot, but possibly even the NL East crown. It will depend on how Benitez performs for the Marlins, but regardless, this move solidifies the Marlins bullpen and will help shorten the game for the starters.

Nolesmarlins' Power Rankings

I assume you guys figured out by now that I'm going to be doing these things pretty sporadically. However, I promise to try to update at least once every two weeks. They say the standings start to become significant after Memorial Day... so those teams that find themselves several games back should start to get worried.

1. NY Mets: Just barely over Boston. That sweep of the streaking Marlins really showed the rest of the NL East who is boss. They get the nod over the Saahks because their division is far more talented.

2. Boston: Winners of two straight over the second toughest team in the AL and owners of the best record in baseball. Josh Beckett is back from the DL and still undefeated. Still, I just can't see them beating the Mets in a best of 7 series.

3. Cleveland: I don't care who you are, it's darn near impossible to win a series right now against the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park. That sweep of the Tigers in Detroit was huge. Casey Blake won the AL player of the week for his efforts.

4. LA Angels: Personally, I think this team has only just begun.

5. Arizona: Led by rookie 3b Mark Reynolds, this team has won 6 straight to propel themselves to the top of the NL West. If they consistently play like they have this team may actually make the playoffs despite being in a very tough division.

6. San Diego: Kevin Kouzmanoff has been just what the doctor ordered for this team. Right now, this is my pick to win the NL West.

7. Detroit: That sweep by the Indians had to sting.

8. LA Dodgers: Once Jason Schmidt returns their rotation will be complete. Maybe he will be back in time for the Padres series.

9. Milwaukee: Very lucky to be playing in the NL Central. If they don't wake up the Marlins will slap them silly this weekend.

10. Atlanta: This team is on life support.

11. Minnesota: Well look who's back... Maurer isn't ready to come off the DL yet, but right now they don't really need him.

12. Seattle: Still finding ways to win. Adrian Beltre has become relevant again.

13. Florida: Looked exhausted and out classed this weekend by the Mets. However, that series against the Phillies was very entertaining. Forget the division, but if absolutely everything goes right and they catch on fire for an extended period of time the fish might be able to swipe the wild card.

14. Chicago White Sox: Probably would be in first place if they played in the NL Central. Ken Williams would be out of his mind to trade Mark Buehrle.

15. Oakland: Dan Johnson is for real.

16. The team that everyone hates: Swept the Braves, but lost two out of three against the Marlins and two straight against the DBacks. Scotty O would kick the snot out of Chase Ugly.

17. Colorado: Unlikely to sneak away with the Wild Card, but right now they are playing better than any Rockies team has in about a decade.

18. San Francisco: Best last place team in the majors.

19. Pittsburgh: Why is Milwaukee safe no matter how poorly they play? Pittsburgh is the second best team in this division.

20. Baltimore: Their offense has the capability to be halfway decent. I think this team is only a couple of elite starters away from competing.

21. Chicago Cubs: Sloppiest team in baseball.

22. Toronto: It's obvious they aren't going to compete this year. They should shop A.J. Burnett and Troy Glaus at the deadline for some young talent. Glaus would look good in a Dodger uniform while A.J. could help the Mets.

23. NY Yankees: It's official, the Yankees genuinely suck. I doubt Brian Cashman gets another GM job after Steinbrenner finally cans him... then again, there are some stupid teams out there.

24. Tampa Bay: Elijah Dukes needs a change of scenery. Maybe the Marlins should make a move, they need a lead off hitter and a center fielder.

25. Washington: They have been playing above their heads lately, now they appear that they will finish with less than 100 losses. Good for Manny Acta, he has done a pretty good job over there despite the glaring need for more talent.

26. St. Louis: I have a feeling that Rick Ankiel is about to get called up. That should be fun to watch...

27. Kansas City: Finally Alex Gordon decides to hit.

28. Cincinnati: That bad luck excuse only goes so far. Whatever, nothing left to do this year except trade Griffey for prospects.

29. Houston: This bunch of curmudgeons have lost 10 games in a row now.

30. Texas: Say bye bye to Texiera... The state of Texas is home to the two worst teams in baseball.

The Phillies-Marlins rivalry is nothing new

I became a Marlins fan in 2001. I had followed the team prior to that, but just here and there, nothing really serious. But then something happened, the Marlins had just fired John Boles and replaced him with Tony Perez and had a little run going. It looked like the Marlins were going to come out of the mediocrity that had surrounded the team for the last 3 seasons. I can’t remember exactly when, but shortly after the May 11th-13th series in San Diego, in which A.J. Burnett pitched a no hitter, I became hooked. Soon I was glued to my television on a nightly basis watching the young and talented Marlins making a run at first place in the National League East.

Things were going great until June 28th, 2001. The Marlins went into Philadelphia for a five game set against the Phillies. The Phillies, coming off their 26th last place finish in franchise history, were half a game behind the Braves for first place in the NL East standings. The Marlins at 41-36 were 2 games back of Atlanta, the week prior they had taken two of three from the Phillies at Dolphin Stadium.

It was a series that would make or break the season.

On Friday the 28th, the series began with a double header. The Marlins quickly lost both games by scores of 6-5 and 8-7 respectively. On Saturday, Scott Rolen started things with a three run homer off of Chuck Smith in the bottom of the first- the Marlins would lose 5-0. On Sunday, the Phillies scored 5 runs in the bottom of the fourth enroute to a 6-4 victory. The Phillies would cap off the sweep the next day with an 8-1 victory.

It was the series from hell.

The Marlins left Philadelphia 6 and a half games behind the then first place Phillies. They would never fully recover, finishing the year 10 games below .500. Philly took 14 of 19 from the Marlins that season. Bobby Abreu and Jimmy Rollins proving to be the biggest Marlin killers, and thus becoming the biggest villains for any Marlins fan.

In 2002, the Marlins would go 10-9 against the Phillies but still finish behind them in the standings.

2003 was payback time for the Marlins. The Fish lost to Philly 8-5 on Opening Day. Infact they would lose 4 of the first 6 against the Phillies that year. It was more of the same between the Marlins and the Phillies. Bobby Abreu and Jimmy Rollins continued to be the villains leading the Phillie charge, but now they had assistance from Jim Thome.

Everything changed July 4th, 2003. The Marlins went into Philadelphia once again making a little run up the standings. The Fish went ahead 2-1 in the top of the ninth thanks to a single by Derek Lee that drove in Mike Lowell.

The Marlins went on to sweep the series in Philly; they did it again at home two weeks later. The tide had turned. It was the Marlins turn.

Back and forth both teams battled that summer for the Wild Card lead. It all came down to three games the last week of the season. Nothing has more exhilarating than watching that core of players finally down the nemesis that had haunted them for so long. Not only was it a clean sweep, but all three victories were late inning back breaking victories. The fact that Jeff Conine had such a huge part in that series made it even sweeter. The final game of the series did two things, it brought the Marlins to within one win of a Wild Card berth and it eliminated the Phillies from contention. One of the greatest feelings I had as a fan was the sense of relief that came over me when the Marlins ended that series.

We all know what happened later on in that postseason.

That year the Marlins went 13-6 against the Phightins that year. Somehow the Marlins pitching staff found a way to stifle the three menaces known as Rollins, Abreu and Thome.

During the early part of the 2004 season we saw more Marlin domination. Mike Lowell had a three homer game in Philly, the third of which tied the game and sent it into extras innings where the Marlins would win.

On April 25th, the rivalry escalated even further with a bench clearing brawl in Philadelphia. The brawl started after Brett Myers threw a pitch high and inside to Alex Gonzalez. Todd Pratt then set-off Alex Gonzalez by bumping him after he stared down Myers. Both were ejected and the Marlins would eventually win the game 9-7.

Later on in the season, Hee Seop Choi hit a massive go-ahead home run at Dolphin Stadium. The ball almost went into the club level seats down the right field line. Just when you thought the Marlins couldn’t own the Phillies anymore than they already had, they would do something else. The reactions from Philadelphia ranged from disbelief to awe.

The Marlins took the 2005 season series 12-7.

Two-thousand and five was a fairly quiet year in the rivalry. For most of the year both teams played .500 against each other. Once again both teams were fighting for the Wild Card spot. On Saturday, September 17th the two teams faced off on national television. Philadelphia was 1 game out of the Wild Card spot; the Marlins 2 games out. The Marlins had Cy Young candidate Dontrelle Willis on the mound. Going into the top of the 9th, the Marlins and Willis were cruising 2-0.

Then the inning from hell.

Bloop hits, errors, bad hops -- you name it! -- it happened and it led to a 10 run Philadelphia inning. The Marlins proceeded to fall out of the Wild Card race over the last week of the season losing 6 out their next 8.

The young 2006 Marlins struggled against the Phillies going 6-13 over the season. The Phillies line-up battered the Marlins pitching staff, especially at Citizens Bank Park, the alleged major league park with short fences. New villains in Chase Utley, Jaimie Moyer and Ryan Howard joined old villains Jimmy Rollins and for half a season Bobby Abreu to plague the Fish.

Then in September Scott Olsen made the now infamous comments saying how much he hated the Phillies. Not disliked the Phillies, but hated the Phillies. He wanted to end their season. On September 24th, Olsen took the mound in Philly and was promptly lit up for 7 runs in 2 and two-thirds. He was ejected for throwing a pitch that hit Abraham Nunez.

Now, on to 2007 and this week’s three game series.

On Tuesday, Scott Olsen finally defeated his arch nemesis but not before exchanging a few words with Chase Utley after he repeatedly called time while Olsen was mid wind-up.

Thursday night, we saw Jon Lieber throw a pitch behind Dontrelle Willis. Willis responded by doing the same. After Lieber was retired, he went back to the dugout and got into a shouting match with Willis that eventually led to the benches clearly.

Understandably the first guy out of the Marlins dugout backing Willis was none other than Scott Olsen.

The Marlins would win the game 5-4 in 11 innings thanks in part to a long double from Miguel Cabrera off the Teal Tower that drove in Hanley Ramirez. The Marlins celebrated as if they had won the World Series. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel refused to have a press conference after the game.

This series had everything. Bean balls, ejected managers, rain, wind, eerie conditions, extra innings, a game past midnight, sparse crowds, energy, passion and yes, hatred. Most importantly it escalated a rivalry between both teams that had died down in recent years.

I have always seen the Phillies as our greatest rival in the division. I have always hated them. Yes, not disliked them, but hated them. I can’t stand Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Citizens Bank Park or the fans that go to that alleged major league park.

The only other team the term hate can be applied to is the Mets; even then most of the “hate” is directed at their obnoxious drunken fans that take over Dolphin Stadium every time they are in town.

I don’t “hate” the Braves. They are just programmed to win. They have always had better teams than the Marlins, their fans aren’t obnoxious and players like Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, and John Smoltz have never come across to me as “villains” like Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.

Even though the Expos/Nationals are in our division, I have never seen them as a division rival. The Marlins have had their number for the last several years and the club, except for a 2002, has never been as good as the Marlins.

Nolesmarlins' Power Rankings

1. Boston: Lose Beckett to the DL and they don't even miss a beat. Mikey Lowell is playing like the Lowell of 2003.

2. Queens: Big series win against the Yankees, especially for David Wright. He is back in a big way, but it would still be totally bogus if he, or any other NL 3rd basemen for that matter, are voted to start over Miguel Cabrera for the All Star Game.

3. Halos: The hottest team in baseball right now. Sweeping the real LA team sends a major statement to all of baseball that the Angels must be considered as a serious championship contender.

4. Cleveland: Fausto Carmona is looking like this year's Francisco Liriano. He and C.C. Sabathia form one of the the best 1-2 starting pitching combos anywhere. The AL Central is going to be loaded with pitching for many years to come.

5. Detroit: I don't care how good ARod has been, Magglio is the real AL MVP so far this year. Remember: it's not an award for the best player, it's an award for the most valuable player. How valuable can a player really be if his team is four games under .500?

6. ATLiens: There is a very good chance that this team might fall apart very soon, maybe even fatally. They have played relatively crappy recently, losing a few games to the Pirates, Red Sox, and Nationals. Now the schedule gets tougher including a series against the Mets this week. Andruw Jones is playing like his agent forgot to tell him that it's his free agent year. It gets worse... Mike Gonzalez is now on the DL. That is a lot to overcome.

7. SD: Things are looking pretty good in San Diego right now... Jake Peavy is simply incredible, so is Adrian Gonzalez, and Justin Germano has proven to be a shrewd pickup. All they need is some more hitting.

8. Milwaukee: It's not time to panic or anything but this team needs to start playing better baseball if they want to make the playoffs.

9. LA Dodgers: They need a bat even worse than San Diego does. That sweep by the Angels was embarrassing.

10. Pale Hosers: How could you not love Ozzie Guillen?

11. AZ: Welcome back Randy Johnson. You were never supposed to be a Yankee... now you're home where you belong. He may also be important to the Mariners, but he should wear a Dbacks hat when he is inducted in the HOF.

12. Oakland: Jack Cust has been the best find since Dan Uggla. Still hanging in there...

13. San Fran: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Barry Zito will ensure that the Giants will have one of the best rotations in the NL for many years.

14. FL: Led by Dan Uggla's breakout, the Fightin' Fish have won four straight and 6 out of the last 7 games. Remember, last year's turnaround started with a sweep of the Devil Rays... but this time they are one game under .500 instead of 20. Yet more bad news for the Braves...

15. Philly: I can't be partial here... I really hate this team. I would love to see Scotty O give Chase Ugly some chin music the next time they face each other.

16. Cubbies: Lou Pinella needs to make up his mind about Ryan Dempster... my vote: starter. With the Brewers reeling now would be an excellent time for a nice hot streak.

17. Seattle: Still around .500, but they shouldn't drop anytime soon if Ichiro keeps it up.

18. Toronto: Have become pretty hot lately, but probably too little too late with Boston being so far out of reach and the talent in the AL Central.

19. H Town: Hunter Pence will be the next great Astros hitter.

20. Minnesota: It really shows how much this team misses Liriano.

21. South Bronx: Clemens isn't looking too great down in AA... without him pitching lights out this team is absolutely done. If they were smart, they would trade ARod and Giambi for boatloads of prospects at the deadline, but there is no way that would ever happen... not in New York. It's too logical.

22. DRays: 9,000 a game and the Orlando adventure was a success?

23. KC: I'll be nice and rank them up here this week... they have had some good games. Those renovations to Kaufman Stadium look great.

24. Pittsburgh: Well, at least they are still ahead of the champs in the standings...

25. St. Louis: They would lose 100 games if it wasn't for Pujols.

26. Colorado: Matt Holiday is one of the most underrated players in the game today.

27. Baltimore: Something has to change with this organization... starting with the owner.

28. Cincy: On top of everything else that has gone wrong for this team, Josh Hamilton can't even have any medicine to cure his stomach ailments because of his past.

29. Texas: Losing Hank Blalock really hurts. Texas deserves a winner, this is just a shame.

30. DC: How can they expect to build a fan base if they keep cutting payroll?

Hanley Ramirez, MVP Candidate?

He is easily one of the most impressive young hitters in baseball. His resume so far this season looks like this:

• 4th in the NL in average hitting .335
• 4th in the NL with 15 stolent bases
• 1st in the NL with 39 runs scored
• 6th in the NL with OBP at .411
• 9th in NL with OPS (.953)
• 10th in SLG in NL with .541

Hanley Ramirez has arrived. He's getting plenty of praise from his peers, Ken Griffey Jr. saying that HanRam would be the guy he would start a franchise with. John Smoltz has said that both Ramirez and NY Met's SS Jose Reyes are going to redefine the prototypical SS position - which is saying a lot considering that position was previously re-defined by guys like Cal Ripken and Alex Rodriguez. Long gone are the Ozzie Smith's at the position.

All this praise and Hanley Ramirez is arguably not even the best hitter on his team - that would belong to wunderkind Miguel Cabrera. Yet right now, it would be hard to pick against Ramirez and what he is doing for the one of the NL's top offenses.

The 2006 NL Rookie of the Year is being asked, once again, to set the table for the Marlins and he is doing it in a big way. His high OBP is proving him to be an effective lead off man while his runs scored is showing that his teammates are making the most of his ability to get on base.

In fact, 18% of the Marlins runs scored (217), which the team is currently ranked tied for 4th place in the NL, are scored by Hanley Ramirez. That means almost 2 out of every 5 runs the Marlins score will see Ramirez cross the plate.

All of this production begs the question - is Hanley Ramirez a real MVP candidate? And if so, do the Red Sox regret making that trade?

It is too early to tell, much like the Marlins' season. At 21-23, the Marlins have a lot to prove as this team showed so much promise last season whereas in this current season they have suffered an enormous amount of injuries. Despite the adversity, Hanley Ramirez continues to improve and lead the team out of the gate. If he can keep up his production all season long, it will be very hard to deny MVP talk for Ramirez.

Julio Traded for Kim

Proof there is a God, and He's a Marlin fan

On Sunday, the Marlins somehow convinced the Rockies that Jorge Julio was more valuable than Byung Hyun Kim. Kim has been injured all season; Julio would have been better off on the DL.

Now, Julio will take his 12.54 ERA to Colorado where he figures to turn things around. "I'm fine. I stayed in focus all the time," said Julio. "I know this game. I know baseball here. It's work, and this is my job. Wherever I go, I want to do my job."

Good luck with that, Julio. And now the Marlins will turn to another arm they have long been interested in, Kim.

His versatility figures to help the Marlins and make an immediate impact. The plan is to use him as a starter to solidify the beaten-up rotation. When Josh Johnson comes back, Kim could slide into the bullpen, but the Marlins caution they do not envision him as a closer. (Good thing because Kim doesn't have much success in the clutch moments as a closer - as we all know.)

This is a good move for the Marlins simply because they trade Julio's contract for Kim's, which is basically the same contract (both getting $2.5M and are free agents at season's end). And anything would be better than Julio.

Further Reading:
Joe Frisaro of MLB.com

Nolesmarlins' Power Rankings Week 5

This has been an exciting first month of the season to say the least. Surprises: the Brewers with the best record in baseball, Josh Hamilton's comeback, the return of the Braves led by Tim Hudson, ARod is absolutely killing the ball, Josh Beckett's rediscovered poise, John Maine, and the Marlins' offense. Disappointments include: Philly's start, the Yankees' rotation, the Marlins' rotation, Jorge Julio, Ryan Howard, Carlos Delgado, the Cardinals, and Bud Selig's handling of the Barry Bonds situation. It will be interesting to see if Roger Clemens has a significant impact, he should be back by June.

1. Boston: Probably couldn't afford Clemens, but would have been stupid to sign him. Curt Schilling needs to shut his pie hole for once and stop being a distraction to the team. Who asked him for his opinion?

2. Cleveland: Too bad I will be in Europe when the Indians come to South Florida. I really wanted to see Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner.

3. Detroit: 8 game winning streak says it all.

4. Milwaukee: Is their MLB leading record a product of the weak NL Central or are they just really that good? Time will tell.

5. NY Mets: John Maine's emergence has been a pleasant surprise for this pitching thin team. They might actually have a decent rotation for the playoffs if Pedro is effective when he comes back.

6. Atlanta: Jarrod Saltalamaccia could be the next great player out of the Braves' farm system.

7. LA Dodgers: Brad Penny is holding the fort down in a big way. Schmidt and Penny are one of the best 1-2 pitching combos in baseball.

8. SD: Jake Peavy's performance against the Marlins on Sunday was incredible.

9. LA Angels: A 70 win team without Guerrero. A 75 win team with a balanced schedule.

10. NY Yankees: Roger Clemens gives them hope after an abysmal start, but will only make the playoffs if Boston, Detroit, or Cleveland absolutely collapse... not very likely.

11. Arizona: Shouldn't be in fourth place for long, SF is bound to fall soon.

12. Minnesota: Maurer going to the DL probably killed their chances.

13. SF: An ancient lineup, a tough division, and distractions from Barry's home run chase should soon all add up to overwhelm this overachieving team. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Barry Zito is a solid foundation to build upon in the coming seasons.

14. FL: Despite striking out more often than any other team Florida's offense is keeping the team alive in the NL East. This team could potentially become this year's Twins if the rotation issues work out.

15. Cubbies: One of the most unexpected turnarounds of the decade. Probably just an anomaly, remember who we are talking about.

16. The Other Team in Chicago: They just play in the wrong division.

17. A's: Nick Swisher is back, but Chavez needs to step it up.

18. Phoneys: Freddy Garcia looks exactly like the Rock.

19. Mariners: How this team is above .500 with King Felix on the DL and Jeff Weaver's vomitous stats is beyond me.

20. Pittsburgh: This team would certainly be a competitor if it can manage to sign an ace and a star bat or two this off season.

21. TB: Signing B.J. Upton to my fantasy team turned out to be a very smart move.

22. Houston: That was one painful weekend for Houston sports.

23. Cincy: Adam Dunn is a home run hitting machine.

24. Toronto: 6 game losing streak was pathetic.

25. Colorado: Could be above .500 if they were in the NL Central.

26. Texas: What happened to Texiera's power?

27. Baltimore: the AL East should change its name to Missed Opportunities and the Red Sox.

28. St. Louis: Could become only the second team in history to win the World Series than lose 100 games.

29. KC: Probably would have a better record if they played in a weaker division, but make no mistake, they truly suck.

30. DC: That new ballpark couldn't come soon enough.

Future Fish Report I

The following is brought to you by none other than our own Southern Illinois Marlins Fan. His opinionated opinions will be opined here about Marlins prospects and the futures market for our Fish. Keep your fish eyes on these guys.

C-Torre Langley: hasnt played yet

1B-Brad McCann
Jupiter Hammerheads(High A), R/R.
298/.310/.5126 2B, 4 HR, 15 RBI
Second consecutive year with Jupiter in the FSL, but he is rebounding from a horrible year last year(.231/.288/.360). Whether he keeps it up remains to be seen, but he is a McCann, and we see several times a year how good they can be.

2B-Drew Saylor
Jamestown Jammers(Short Season A), R/R
No stats yet

3B-Lee Mitchell
Carolina Mudcats(AA), R/R.
265/.348/.4696 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 18 RBI
2nd year with Carolina, he is still young(25) and is a decent prospect. Never be at the top or even in mosts top 10s, but he could be very useful one day off the bench with the big club as a spot starter/pinch hitter.

OF-Kris Harvey
Jupiter Hammerheads(High A) R/R.
213/.280/.3072 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI
Fastly falling off as a prospect. Part of me wants to see him maybe get a promotion to Carolina despite his overall struggles 2 years running in Jupiter. Maybe a change of scenery, even at a higher level, is what he needs? But he is too talented to play like he has.

OF-John Raynor
Greensboro Grasshoppers(A), R/R.
371/.486/.562 6 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 16 SB
Simply put, anyone not excited about John Raynor needs to have their heads checked(he hit .286/.356/.427 with 8 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, and 21 SB/only 2 CS in his debut season last year). While many would argue that Thomas Hickman has the most upside of any CF in our system, he is 3-4 years away. As it stands right now, though, Raynor is implanting himself as the CF of the future for the Florida Marlins. He should be in line for a promotion very soon, and since it seems like Jupiter tends to be a blackhole for promising hitters in our organiztion, maybe they should send him straight to Carolina Granted, he has yet to play above A ball, and my homerism could be misplaced in the future, but as of right now he looks like the real deal.

OF-Matt Kutler, L/L: No stats yet

SP-Kyle Winters, RHP, Greensboro
5 GS, 1-0, 5.46 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 5.14 K/9, .248 BAA
A promising SP that gets overlooked since he went later in the same draft as the fab 5. His 16/6 K/BB ratio is very promising. Just growing pains from a jump in leagues(last year with Jamestown he was 6-6 in 15 GS, with a 2.45 ERA, .99 WHIP, 6.13 K/9, and a .194 BAA). He doesnt give alot of free passes, as he showed an equally promising K/BB ration with Jamestown(60/15). His control, highlighted by the low amount of walks and respectible to very good BAA, makes me believe he just needs to settle down and could very well end up being one of our better SP prospects.

RP-Don Czyz, RHP, Greensboro
12 G, 0-0, 0 SV, 4.61 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 11.59 K/9, .278 BAA
His 17 K in 13.2 IP compared to just 3 walks is certainly nice to see. So is the fact that he hasnt given up any long balls. Just needs to surrender fewer hits. He gets his hits down, with his control and ability to get the K, he could end up fast tracking to the majors.

Do Marlins Have to Cut Down on K's?

The Marlins set a franchise record last season with strikeouts from their hitters - 1,249 to be exact. With 235 on the season, they are well on pace to exceed that mark.

Yet, the offense is still producing. Kind of like a Rob Deer wet dream.

The Marlins are #1 in the NL with runs scored (151) and tied for first with team batting average (.274). They are #2 in home runs (33, Braves have 38) and are fourth in on base percentage (.349).

So, as much as it easy as it can be to dwell on the strikeout numbers (ala the lazy journalism of the Miami Herald), if you take a look at the whole picture things look a bit differently.

The Marlins as a team strike out a lot. They did last season but also set the franchise record for runs scored. It is aggravating as a fan to watch guys swing through pitches a lot and not put the ball in play, but it is hard to argue with the trade off of having one of the top offenses in all of baseball, let alone the National League.

That said, the Marlins could use more contact in order to keep them fighting in games. Right now, the way the starters are struggling and the bullpen is just starting to find itself, it is the offense that will have to carry things. Of course, if Fredi played the right guys this may not be as much of an issue.

Olivo has 27 K's in 96 ABs and Borchard has 29 K's in 90 ABs. As for Olivo, there is little alternative although Treanor should play more. As for Borchard, he contributes less more often than not (you figure that one out!) but Cody Ross is hardly going to make more contact. Ross, however has a higher average and is displaying more power.

Once the Marlins get Hermida and De Aza back, things may change for the better in terms of cutting down on strikeouts. Yet, it is obvious that the Marlins have very little to quibble over at this point of the season given the production of the offense.