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Nolesmarlin's First Power Rankings of 2008

Ok all you faithful MarlinsNation readers, your patience will finally be rewarded... presenting the first edition of Nolesmarlins' Power Rankings of 2008! Sorry about the delay, a simple password SNAFU was to blame. Fortunately, these rankings come out right in time; about 1/4 of the season has passed. And what a quarter it has been... many surprises, many disappointments, many entertaining moments (especially if you're a Marlins fan). I plan on updating the rankings weekly (every Tuesday), but since I am not one of those highly paid idiots-in-disguise working for ESPN or FOX, I do anticipate that at multiple points during this long season the ranking updates will come sporadically. As always, feel free to respond to these rankings with your comments, suggestions, praise, constructive criticism, disapproval, complaints, and plain old below-the-belt insults. So, without further ado...

1. Arizona Diamondbacks: Probably the best young lineup in baseball, excellent rotation anchored by the best starter in the National League (Brandon Webb), ROY front runner and future superstar in the outfield (Justin Upton), good bullpen, whoopin' a55 and taking names in the tough NL West... all around best team in baseball. Whats there not to like about these guys?

2. Boston Red Sox: Everyone thought they would be among the best, and they haven't disappointed. Then again, they haven't really exceeded expectations either. Their superior talent is undeniable, Dice K is an absolute beast and worth every penny, but if they want to be considered a true dynasty they need to not just win, but dominate. I don't see any domination here. However, the fact that they have easily survived Big Papi's early season slump speaks volumes.

3. Florida Marlins: Yeah I said it. I say in all seriousness and with a straight face that the Marlins are the third best baseball team on the planet... you can go ahead and label me as biased, but then I'd promptly instruct you to kiss my teal and black derriere. As of this moment, and as we all are aware, the Marlins are tied for the best record in baseball. This is no fluke at all, the numbers speak for themselves. Hanley Ramirez is the best young player in baseball, Uggla is en fuego, and this team is hitting homers like it's their job (umm, maybe because it is their job...). You may hear many of the so called "experts" on TV claiming that the Marlins' recent surge is an aberration because of pitching issues, but what these jabronis don't point out is that the Marlins' recent successes (most notably a 7 game winning streak) were not due to Dan Uggla's power explosion (that sounds almost like a porno... I apologize to the kids and social conservatives who happen to be reading this) but due to multiple successive quality starts from the rotation. This team is for real, and if you don't believe now, trust me, you will soon.

4. Chicago Cubs: Why did I put the Cubs below the Marlins even though they have the same record? Because they're the Cubs, stupid! In all seriousness, the Cubs and Marlins are very close, but I gave the Marlins the edge because I feel that the NL East is a stronger division than the NL Central. The Cubs also have many more intangible advantages that the Marlins do not enjoy (massive payroll, larger market, a stadium, etc...) but still have the same record. That being said, Geovanny Souto (I apologize if I misspelled his name) is one excellent young catcher. Fukudome has been even better than advertised. DLee is also having another monster year, and maybe, just barely maybe, beginning to merit consideration for the HOF once he retires. 100 years after their last title, the Cubs finally may have enough talent to end the longest championship drought in sporting history.

5. Tampa Bay Rays: The future of the American League. They have the young pitching to dominate their division for years. We have seen this happen before... Atlanta about 18 years ago... and right here in South Florida earlier this decade. Tampa's new ownership has certainly been paying attention. It's an exciting time for Florida baseball.

6. St. Louis Cardinals: Next person who calls Tony LaRussa a genius for leading the Cards back to relevance is gonna get slapped. What happened last year was the Cards ran into a little bad luck... this team always had talent. However, when predicting the fortunes of the 2008 Cardinals one must keep in mind the fact that Albert Pujols requires Tommy John surgery and is very likely to spend significant time on the DL because of this in the near future. The Cards can win without him, but losing a player with Pujols' game-changing ability can trip up even the best of teams, even with Ludwick doing what he does. The Cards are good, but probably not good enough without Pujols. As a side note, congrats to Rick Ankiel for his successful return to the major leagues as an outfielder. I must admit that I didn't think he had a snowball's chance in heck at returning to the bigs. Mmmmm, crow tastes good!

7. Oakland Athletics: Every pundit tends to point to the Marlins as the division leader most likely to fall out of first. As you probably can guess, I disrespectfully and emphatically disagree. Not counting the Twins (the AL Central is all sorts of FUBAR right now...) the Oakland A's most likely will succumb to the temptations of mediocrity... and the LA Angels. Why? They just don't do anything that special when taken in context. I'm not saying they aren't good, they are, I believe that they will finish above .500, and that Danny Haren trade was pure genius... but there are better teams out there, even in their division (like LA...). In my pseudo-expert opinion they are a year away from serious contention.

8. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Torii Hunter appears to be an excellent addition to this team. Garland has also turned out to be a decent pickup, bolstering a potentially suspect rotation. No reason why the Angels cannot overtake the A's at some point this year; they have the most talent in this division by far. Kelvim Escobar's injury doesn't help, though.

9. Philadelphia Phillies: BOOOOO!!!! Hehe, just had to get that out, sorry. Clearly the best of the rest in the NL East. But if this team wants to even whiff the playoffs (instead of Utley's BO) Ryan Howard needs to start hitting immediately. Chase Utley: so easy a caveman can do it!

10. Los Angeles Dodgers: Oh what might have been... if they had just kept the Dbacks from virtually wrapping up the division by the end of April. Joe Torre has finally made the correct decision by finding any way he can to put Matt Kemp in the lineup. Another up and coming young team... but unfortunately for them they are overshadowed by the other, better up and coming teams in the National League.

11. Cleveland Indians: Cliff Lee is all that is standing between this team and extreme disappointment. After the first week of the season, and Detroit's hilarious and dramatic stumble out of the gate, Cleveland was poised to take advantage of a huge opportunity. On paper, they were the most complete team in the AL behind Boston, and had the reigning AL Cy Young award winner pitching every fifth day. However, CC has been anything but CY, and the Indians have suffered because of this. But, tribesman can take comfort in the fact that this is a very long season, one that Detroit apparently wants no part of, and that the AL Central is one wacky division where anything can happen. I predict that they will pull it out in the end, they just have too many weapons not to.

12. Minnesota Twins: How is this team leading the division with Liriano in the minors and Santana on the Mets? Because the rest of the division is playing like crap. Like I said, they will eventually fall to Cleveland, but second place and a surprise wild card isn't totally out of the question.

13. Houston Astros: You can thank (or curse) three things for this team's recent success: the weak NL Central, the Marlins sweep of the Brewskis, and Lance Berkman. In case you happen to be wondering, no, there is no way this 9-1 streak will last. Not a fart's chance in a hurricane.

14. New York Mets: Look on the bright side, Mets fans (if any happen to be reading this...), imagine how horrible your team would be if you didn't pick up Johan. And that's not all guys, I have some more silver lining to the dark cloud that 2008 has become for you... believe it or not, the Mets aren't even the most disappointing team in New York! Celebration, bitches!!!

15. Atlanta Braves: I'll try to use small words as a courtesy for our uneducated, toothless friends from Dixie... Not this year, guys. Yes, Larry Jones may be hitting pretty well right now, but seriously folks, who could possibly be afraid of a man named "Chipper"? He is going to make a real run at .400? Please.

16. Baltimore Orioles: I guess this has become a yearly thing with them... start off strong and give their long suffering fans a wee inkling of hope... then they hack out their fanbase's collective hearts with a rusty machete. In douchebag owner terms, Jeff Loria aint got squat on Peter Angelos. That man really ticks me off, and I don't even care about the O's.

17. New York Yankees: Well, if they were going to have an "off year", it was going to be this year. The vets are too old and the kids are too young. Arod is on the DL. Joba is still in the bullpen. Kennedy is back in the minors. And worst of all, Joe Girardi is the manager.

18. Chicago White Sox: At least they stumble out of first with flair. What appeared for the shortest of moments to be a golden opportunity for the White Sox to return to the top slipped through their black and white fingertips after they hit their own rough patch... possibly caused by their manager/resident loudmouth's inability to STFU and focus on the game.

19. Milwaukee Brewers: Milwaukee must mean "Overrated" in ancient Native American. Same thing with "Braun" in Yiddish (yes, he is a son of Abraham if you were wondering...).

20. Detroit Tigers: I want to place them lower, but they just have too much talent. I refuse to believe that they will not get hot at one point this season. However, at this point it would take a miracle for them to completely turn it around and live up to their preseason expectations. Call me bitter, but it does make me smile to see Cabrera struggle. Next year they should return to the upper echelon, they just have too much talent, and Dombrowski is too good of an executive to sit on his butt and not improve the team in the offseason.


And I'm tired of writing, so I'm just going to list 21-30. It's not like they deserve to have anything said about them...

21. Toronto Blue Jays

22. Colorado Rockies: Ok, fine, I'll talk about them. They have fallen hard since their surprise, marlinesque run to the NL title last year, but I do see this team turning it around and having a strong finish to the year, perhaps even breaking .500. Don't get me wrong, they aren't making the postseason, but most of their failures this season have been due to simple bad luck. Trust me, it's hard to win when you have to play the Dbacks 19 times.

23. Pittsburgh Pirates

24. Kansas City Royals

25. Texas Rangers

26. Cincinnati Reds

27. Seattle Mariners: A disappointing team in a disappointing division. Why are the A's in first? Because Texas and Seattle SUCK.

28. San Francisco Giants

29. San Diego Padres

30. Washington Nationals

A Deep Fish Fry

Quick, which team in MLB has the best winning percentage? Boston? Arizona? Chicago? Oakland? Minnesota? Any team in New York city?

No, its the Florida Marlins who at 23-14 have a .622 winning percentage. It is the best start in franchise history and they are in the midst of a 7 game winning streak.

And none of the pundits saw this coming. Which begs the question, if you were an unsuccessful GM, why are you the lead analyst for your sport?

Anywho, even good ol' BSPN, er...ESPN...is taking notice. They have acknowledged that perhaps times are changing as the Marlins have signed Hanley Ramirez to a 6 year deal (just wait for the theories to start coming out about how the Marlins are going to shop the young superstar). Even paying great complement to Ramirez calling him one of the 5 best players in baseball.

About time someone noticed, huh?

It's still amazing to me that a sport such as baseball can be overlooked in some places by even their talking heads. Still, the Marlins are getting it done and right now, look unstoppable. Dan Uggla has been red hot hitting 3 home runs in the Nationals series sweep along with 7 RBIs. The starting pitching has been much more consistent and the staff ERA over this streak is a paltry 2.20.

Now they will head into Cincinnati who is nursing a 15-23 record. Seems to be at the opposite end of the spectrum from the Marlins. But they will have their work cut out for them.

The 10 Commandments of Wiley

Let's face it, this is nothing short of biblical.

Right now, the Marlins starting staff is churning out impressive outing after impressive outing. It may not be the kind of starts that will get on ESPN - a rare feat for the Fish to get on ESPN to begin with - but they are the kind of starts a winning ballclub needs.

Who is most responsible? Not to be overlooked should be Mark Wiley, the Marlins pitching guru. He stopped being a coach and went straight to guru status once Andrew Miller started throwing strikes.

Now, let's not downplay the talent on this starting staff. But let's not play it up either. Mark Hendrickson was valued as a middle relief/long relief pitcher and signed with Florida because he had the opportunity to start. He was named their opening day starter and everyone practically laughed. Scott Olsen had a ton of question marks, most notably is he mature enough to play in this league and be a productive professional? Andrew Miller, despite his high draft pick, has been knocked for not having good control. Burke Badenhop was practically a throw-in, the kind though that the Marlins tend to make a killing on with other teams. Ricky Nolasco, in 2006, was looking very promising but until recently hasn't produced much for the Marlins as a starter.

All this has changed and the Marlins are on a 7 game winning streak. Their staff ERA, over the last 7 days, is 1.67. That isn't just the starters, but the entire staff. To start the season, it was clear the bullpen was going to do a lot of cleaning up. Yet, the starters had 3 new starters in their rotation (Hendrickson, Vandenhurk, Miller). Vandenhurk was sent down in favor of Badenhop, but all that has happened since is each starter has become more consistent. What is the secret? Wiley's 10 commandments - because although we have joked that on the 7th day God created Mark Wiley, and some have joked the other way around, there is something miraculous going on here.

1. Thou shall poundeth the strike zone
   The starters' strike percentage has risen to 63.2% which means they are less likely to be behind in the count - see commandment #4.
   
2. Thou shall quicken thy pace
   Olsen has been quoted as saying what has helped him has been picking up the pace. Miller did the same once he was struggling at the beginning of the season and it helped him keep his velocity up as well as stay focused.
   
3. Thou shall have great command
   Locating your pitches is more important than the velocity of those pitches according to Wiley. In fact, it is more about having command of your pitches. Just ask any pitcher that has ever been successful like Greg Maddux.
   
4. Thou shall not get behind in the count
   When pitchers fall behind in the count, they become easier for hitters to predict which means more likely to get blasted. Control your pitches, control the count, control the hitters.
   
5. Thou shall trust your defense
   The Marlins defense is not among the best, but they are capable and are improving. One example is their timely double plays, which have saved them in past starts. They are middle of the pack for DPs based on total chances (1368) and the total dps (31) resulting in 2.2 percent (league best is 3.2%).
   
6. Thou shall not walk batters
   Only 20 BBs in 54.0 IP. That is showing a big sign of improvement.
   
7. Thou shall work on you defense
   The starters are also very good athletes and can field the ball. This will help their own cause and something the Marlins starters - and relievers - have become more known for.
   
8. Thou shall trust your pitches
   Andrew Miller had to trust in his changeup. Ricky Nolasco has a nasty curve, but wasn't throwing it for strikes. When both started to trust their pitches, better results came - and it was predicated on having good command, #3 on Wiley's list.
   
9. Thou shall trust in your bullpen
   The bullpen is deep and has been a source of strength dating back to last season. When the starters struggled to start the season, it was the bullpen that bailed them out. And if things get too hectic out there, the bullpen can come in and slam the door. This is an extra source of confidence that should allow the starters to go out and be aggressive as their bullpen will be able to pick them up but so can their offense.
   
10. Thou shall have no other coaches besides Mark Wiley
    This needs no explanation, Marlin fans. Ever since Wiley left, and we were replaced by Kranitz, we had a string of success followed by injury and inconsitency. Dontrelle Willis was vaulted into Cy Young contention under Wiley's tutelage.
    

Marlins Starters Showing Signs of Progress

Prepare to be shocked.

Over the last 5 starts, the Marlins not only have won games but their starting pitching has been phenomenal. In turn, this has enabled the bullpen to solidify and get back to normal. Look at the numbers, it is quite encouraging and if the Marlins staff can keep this up, who knows how far this team can go. It is clear that Mark Wiley's tutelage is paying off, after all he almost single-handedly turned Dontrelle Willis into a Cy Young candidate.

Today Miller will take the mound and go for another quality start and if he can do that we may have more than just an anomaly but an actual trend. Nolasco finally pitched the way we come to expect and this may be a momentum builder for him.

This team's pitching is coming along at just the right time. Look at the following table and be shocked to learn who has the 2nd lowest ERA over this span.

If you wish to see the entire stat page breakdown, click here.

Also notice the strike percentages. The pitchers are all in that 60% range and one of the basic tenants of Wiley's is to throw strikes.

Hanley Ramirez To Get Long Term Deal

Looks like things are going in the right direction for the Florida Marlins.

First they line up a new stadium, which is being designed and in the pre-construction phase at the old Orange Bowl site. Then, with their meager $21M payroll, they are starting to win games and are in sole command of 1st place in the NL East.

And now, they are looking to wrap up their rising star, Hanley Ramirez, to a long term contract. Reports are it is going to be a 6 year deal worth around $70M. This is also a good sign because it means the Marlins would avoid salary arbitration for the first time in a long time with a star player - in fact, it seems to be the first time in a long time the Marlins have committed to keeping a star player in Miami. Ramirez is eligible for arbitration at the end of this season but is now looking to sign the richest deal in franchise history.

The details are not official yet, but it is looking like a lock. Stay tuned.

Marlins Sweep Brewers

No sausage races, just cold cuts. The Marlins are running hot these days and treat their guests rudely with a sweep coming off the heals of a series win against the Padres. They outscore the Brew crew 25-10 in the sweep, and have even won 5 of their last 6 games.

With tonight's win, the Marlins are 6 games over .500 at 20-14 and hold sole command of the top spot in the NL East.

The Marlins young pitching seems to be coming around a bit as Badenhop has served up two quality starts in a row. The offense is clicking even with Josh Willingham on the 15 day DL.

Next up? The Washington Nationals. The Marlins will look to continue to dominate their rivals to the north and build on their first place hold.

The Fish Farm Report: Starting Pitching

At MarlinsNation, we work hard to bring you the latest news on our guys in teal. I wanted to start a weekly report on the minor league prospects that should be on every true MarlinsNation citizen's radar. We are going to start with the "Fish Farm Report" which will discuss players that could help out the big fish.

This week, we are growing concerned over the lack of consistent starting pitching. There is no need to regurgitate the stats as it is clear that after Olsen and Hendrickson, the rotation is - to put it nicely - swimming belly up more times than not. The ERAs are 6.10 (Nolasco), 7.20 (Badenhop) and 9.12 (Miller) and are supposed to anchor the end of the rotation. Right now, it is taxing the bullpen and with Matt Lindstrom going down with back stiffness again, the pitching is thinning when it should be surging.

Badenhop registered a quality start his last time out against the Dodgers, but the Marlins couldn't get the win. Nolasco blew up on the mound yesterday, but in his previous start in Milwaukee he got the win. Miller has been up and down in each start. I like Badenhop to stick as the #5 starter, and perhaps Nolasco can come around - but the Marlins cannot gamble on it for too long if they are to continue to "develop" Miller.

Here are some potential replacements that can be found in the minors. We are focusing on AA Carolina since the Marlins seem to like mainlining from their AA franchise to the bigs. The reason is simple as AAA Albuquerque plays in the Pacific Coast League which is known to be a hitter-friendly league due to the higher elevations.

1. Chris Volstad. A 2.61 ERA in 38.0IP over 6 games started should be attractive enough. Throw in 29 Ks and 10 BBs and a 1.03 WHIP and he is a worthwhile callup. The only question is do the Marlins want him to be arbitration eligible before the stadium is built (in 2011) or after? Expect to see him after the All Star break. Before if we start getting even more desperate.

2. Ryan Tucker. Probably the most impressive overall pitcher right now the Marlins have. He has an insane 1.08 ERA in 33.1 IP for his 6 game started. He also has 34 Ks and 15 BBs over that span with a 1.08 WHIP that mirrors his ERA. He is getting it done.

3. Brett Sinkbeil. Was looking good recently until his latest start - 7 ERs in 6 IP. His ERA is currently at 4.41 and he has given up 17 ERs on the year in his 34.2 IP. He has dropped a bit in consideration at this time mostly because of his latest outing but also he has 14Ks and 13BBs on the year. That doesn't translate so well at the MLB level. If he can right the ship and turn it around, he may indeed prove to be a solid addition - if the Marlins get desperate enough.

4. William Glen. At 30 years of age, he is a veteran still trying to catch on with a big league club. His numbers show his maturity; he has moonlighted back and forth as a starter and a reliever. His numbers as a starter - in 3 games so far - are looking pretty good. He might project as a middle relief guy for the Marlins, but still someone to keep on our radar. 14 Ks in 13 IP and only 7 BBs as a starter with a 2.77 ERA.

5. Rick Vandenhurk. Don't forget about Rick Vandenhurk, the guy pitched very well last season while toiling in AA Carolina and got a call up. He had a solid spring and won a spot in the rotation but was quickly jettisoned after he was shelled and his location was spotty. Sound familiar? Andrew Miller fans should recognize that description, although it is [painfully] obvious that the Marlins are not going to rush to judgement on their big trade acquisition. Vandenhurk currently is on the DL with upper arm tenderness which the Marlins don't feel to be too serious.

Nolasco Still Struggles

According to scouts, Ricky Nolasco is hitting the numbers on the radar gun that are impressive. Several times he hit the 95 mark on the gun with his fastball, and his curve was maintaining good velocity in the mid 80's. Yet in 4.2 innings last night, he gave up 10 hits and 6 earned runs.

The problem is his location. He has the stuff, but he is not making his pitches. One noticeable trait is his curveball which was breaking pretty hard last night, but it wasn't making it for strikes. It broke too much.

Ironically, Nolasco was a bit more wild in his last appearance, his first win of the season, in Milwaukee. He walked 4 batters in 5 innings pitched. Last night, he only walked 2.

Right now, Nolasco is too inconsistent to really be looked at as a starter. Yet, the Marlins have little answers due to all the injuries to the starting rotation over the last season. Unless the Marlins are going to call up Chris Volstad or some other minor league prospect but they face getting more of the same from Andrew Miller or Burke Badenhop. Perhaps sliding Doug Waechter into the rotation may help.

The Marlins are obviously desperate for some quality starts. Nolasco does not seem ready to give them that.

Lineup Shuffle: Hanley Hits Third

Is this a good idea? Well, only if the Marlins are planning to play Alfredo Amezaga everyday at center.

Fredi Gonzalez adapted his lineup to suit his current situation - which is losing Josh Willingham to the 15 day DL (retroactive to Sunday) and nursing along a banged up Mike Jacobs who is having problems with an irritable finger. (Jacobs received cortisone treatment on the finger and is cleared to play, returning last night to the lineup.)

So what did the lineup look like? Amezaga lead off followed by Jeremy Hermida, Hanley Ramirez, Mike Jacobs, Dan Uggla, Luis Gonzalez, Jorge Cantu and then the pitcher spot.

The Marlins put 6 runs on the board last night, so it seems it shook things up. Four of those runs, however, came from one man - Dan Uggla - who crushed 2 pitches for home runs last night. But here is what does work also - hitting Hermida second.

Hermida is a patient hitter who can work the count. He is also a dynamic enough hitter to be able to do what a #2 needs to do - adapt. He can work the count and get on base if he needs to or he can drive in a run if the lead off hitter gets on. As a lefty, you could also squeeze a runner with a bunt or possibly put a hit and run on as he will be coming out of the left-handed box which can by more time. More importantly, Hermida looked comfortable in the 2nd slot going 3 for 4 last night. He has the ability to drive in runs and put the ball in play, which means more action at the top of the lineup for the Marlins, too.

Uggla also looked like the same hitter in the 6th spot as he was in the 2nd spot. Which he admitted in a post game interview last night. So, if Uggla is going to have the same hitting approach, why put him back at the #2 spot?

This was also a chance for Hanley to become more of a run producer instead of a table setter. Despite his excellent on-base percentage, Ramirez also has excellent numbers that project to good run production. With the Marlins missing Josh Willingham at the moment and testing Mike Jacobs' health, they needed some kind of protection in the middle of the order, something they may have lacked in the Dodgers' series. Although I think Hanley is better suited to hitting first, as he is a potent weapon, we can try (again) to see him at the third spot as long as Willingham is out.

Also, it was interesting to finally see Amezaga lead off. The guy is a scrapper and makes pitchers work. What better person to have lead off than some one like that? The problem is, he is not an everyday player and when he isn't in the lineup, who will lead off?

For now, it seems Fredi is experimenting. It paid off last night against the Dodgers but Hanley still is showing signs of being in a slump (which doesn't matter where he hits right now).

Mike Jacobs Day to Day

Mike Jacobs left during an at bat in the 6th inning yesterday against the Brewers with a sprained right middle finger. The finger had been bothering Jacobs for some time, and it was aggravated in last night's at bat.

"My finger has been bothering me, and sometimes, I take some swings and it just kind of catches," said Jacobs. "It's one of those things where it kind of goes numb after that. It's hard to explain. It's something that catches real fast, hurts real bad, and then once I came back in here, I am fine."

Yet, precautionary x-rays came back negative. With a lefty on the mound today in Manny Parra, it was likely that Jacobs was going to get the day off. No immediate plans to call up a player are expected at this time.

Injuries Offer More Optimism for Marlins

When Josh Johnson went down and under the knife with Tommy John surgery, the Marlins were most obviously losing out on a valuable prospect. He had finished the 2006 season with 24 games started, 157 innings pitched, and a 12-7 record. He definitely was maturing as a pitcher and ready to take a step forward in 2007.

But the Marlins suffered another major blow in 2007 - they lost another Rookie of the Year candidate in Anibal Sanchez to shoulder surgery. Winning 10 of the 17 games he started - throwing a no-hitter along the way - the Marlins had placed great expectations on the young Venezuelan right hander.

Both are likely to be returning this season. How big of a lift would that be for this team, which is currently 14-9 and in first place?

He sports a goatee and whip-like hair, but that isn't the only thing that distinguished Sergio Mitre on this young Marlins staff: his high ERA helps. But Mitre has proven himself to be a solid middle of the rotation pitcher at times and has helped the Marlins lineup wins. He was 5-8 last season in 27 starts and 149IP, sometimes not getting the run support he needed when he did pitch well. Yet he made some strides, he was able to increase his strikeout ratio and decrease his walk/strikeout ratio as well once he became a regular starter. And it looks like he will return in June. Mitre, placed on the 60 day DL on April 18th because of a right forearm strain, has been resting his arm on a no-throw diet.

Getting these pitchers back only supplements the Marlins pitching staff and will help push them further along towards possibly shocking baseball - again.

They stand to get Mitre back in June and Sanchez, possibly, not far behind him. Then Josh Johnson is looking for a September return. Add these three to the possibility of a Chris Volstad callup and the Marlins are sitting very snuggly at the table with the other contenders in the bigs.

Olsen Leads Marlins to Victory

Scott Olsen is grown up? The same guy who was in as much drama last season as an afternoon glimpse of Telemundo? Well, it seems to be the case.

We all know Scotty O has big time talent. The lefty has shown us his abilities before. But now, Olsen has strung together a pretty good stretch of starting pitching, which is helping give the Marlins bullpen some needed rest and stability.

Friday night Scott Olsen goes 7 1/3 innings pitched, of what would become a 10 inning shutout, on his way to helping his team win their 14th game of the season. He is 3-0 right now, but also lowered his ERA to 2.06. Opponents are batting just .187 against him.

Can you say staff ace?

The scary thing is he didn't have his best stuff. He walked 5 batters and of his 99 pitches, 54 where for strikes. Yet Olsen attributes a big part of his success so far this season is working at a quicker pace on the mound. It must be working; it might be helping him stay more focused. Whatever it is, Scott Olsen is growing up and turning into that front line pitcher the Marlins envisioned him to be.

Unproven Marlins Smack Braves in the Mouth

Unproven?

Hanley Ramirez is probably the best hitting shortstop in the game today, hitting .292 with 17 home runs as a rookie and pushing it to 29 home runs last season with a .332 average. And now?

Dan Uggla has shown himself to be one of the most powerful bats at his position, logging over 25 home runs for two straight seasons. His bat is starting to heat up again this season.

Yet both are unproven.

Josh Willingham has steadily had an OPS over .850 these past two seasons. He has always shown himself to be a patient hitter, but his offense hasn't translated into a .300 batting average. Right now he is showing that.

And according to the Braves, he is unproven.

Mike Jacobs, Jorge Cantu - if they are unproven, then that should be a compliment. Because they are actually working on proving themselves to be much better hitters than they have shown in the recent past. For Jacobs, it is about hitting better in situations and manufacturing runs. Cantu just has to show his 2005 season was not a fluke.

As with the rest of the Marlins, they are all, collectively, showing signs of massive improvement. So, if they are unproven, then perhaps that could be construed as a good thing as the Braves found out just how unproven the Marlins offense is - to a tune to a 7-2 rout.

The Marlins jumped out with 3 early runs in the first inning - a home run from Hanley Ramirez and another from Mike Jacobs. Both have 7 on the season.

This Marlin offense has proven something after 21 games - they are confident and they are not just about the longball. They are starting to generate runs the old fashioned way, too.

The Braves, in their arrogance, represent what the rest of the baseball media has become - a bunch of money chasing prognosticators. Gone are the days when the talking heads would actually talk about baseball skill, instead they focus on who spends the most money. As if that were a testament to worth. Check 2003 when the lowly Florida Marlins shocked the world - except for this fan - and won the World Series.

Funny thing is, I picked this team to grab 87-90 wins this season. After 21, they are well on the pace.

Marlins Still Get No Love From ESPN

I bet you won't see that on ESPN.

Marlins win tonight 10-4 against the Pirates. They are fighting for sole possession of 1st place right now in the NL East over the Mets. And they are doing it with sexy offense.

Also, who would have thought Mark Hendrickson would be 4-1 right now? Well, he is. And the Marlins are off to a pretty good start - the likes of which none of the pundits foresaw.

Still, it won't be on ESPN. Why? The Marlins are playing the Pirates. That and the Marlins are the Marlins - and no one even knows they still have a team except us here in South Florida.

Hanley Ramirez hit his 6th home run tonight and is pushing himself to be considered one of the best in the game. Dan Uggla has come around and is starting to hit the ball. Josh Willingham is quietly putting together a pretty good resume for a LF in the NL offensively. Jorge Cantu's bat speed is there and he is hitting over .300. There are a ton of reasons to watch this team - none less than the amazing fact that they Marlins are competing despite their $21M payroll.

And still you won't see it on ESPN.

Anibal Sanchez Throws In Bullpen

One step closer to returning from shoulder surgery last June, Anibal Sanchez threw off a mound on Friday in front of pitching coach Mark Wiley.

"It was only his fifth time off the mound, but he looked good," Fredi Gonzalez said. Sanchez is feeling pretty motivated, saying that he hopes to return to the rotation by the All Star Break. The Marlins have not set a return date, but the session was for 60 pitches and the results were quite encouraging.

Sanchez's session comes only a day after Josh Johnson threw off the mound. Both pitchers are recovering from surgeries and no return date yet is expected but both could be back sometime this season.

Josh Johnson Throws Bullpen Sessions

Looks like Double J is working his way back a little bit more quickly than perhaps anticipated.

Today he threw about 65 pitches off the mound and looked very good to both pitching coach Mark Wiley and manager Fredi Gonzalez.

The Marlins are willing to err on the side of caution, and are not urging their young starter to push himself too hard. They are keeping it to a very conservative approach for the young Marlin. Keep an eye on Josh Johnson but don't expect too much even if he does get penciled in as a starter this season.

Now Will You Take the Marlins Seriously?

With 2 straight wins over the favored Braves, the Marlins aren't just sitting on top of the standings in the NL East - they are creating space.

The Marlins won a gutsy game tonight by eeking out enough runs against the Braves. They started by pounding on Tim Hudson, who is off to a very good 2008 campaign, and knocking him out in 4 innings. A dramatic pinch hit home run from Luis Gonzalez gave the Marlins the insurance they needed to keep the lead.

The Marlins are not just winning with the long ball, and with Jeremy Hermida back in the lineup everyday, they have a very deep bench that makes things a bit interesting. Gonzalez and Wes Helms both provide clubhouse leadership while also giving them a legit presence for later in the game.

The bullpen is the strength of this team but the starters are starting to turn things around a bit. With pitching coach Mark Wiley stressing throwing strikes and picking up the pace of their deliveries, the starters are starting to be more consistent which will help keep the bullpen well-rested for when they are needed.

Things are coming together in Miami. How long until the rest of the media realizes it?

Marlins: The Best Team You Will Never See

"We can't even get on SportsCenter. We swept the [Nationals], and we couldn't even get on SportsCenter. That's amazing."

Mike Jacobs is right. Marlin fans have long cried conspiracy over the national coverage of the major league franchise, and this fan in particular has always believed it. What the Marlins did last night was practically unbelievable.

They were down three runs to ace Roy Oswalt, who has struggled to start the season but was finally looking like he was getting back on track. The Marlins, without warning, went on an offensive binge and launched 8 runs in the 3rd and 4th innings to take this game over.

Jorge Cantu, emerging as a capable third baseman and trying to replace, in some fashion, the departed Miguel Cabrera bombed the top of the train tracks with his home run. It then bounced out of the park onto Crawford Street.

Hermida, on a 3-2 count facing a 3-nil score on Oswalt, tied up the game with one swing.

The Marlins are 7-3 with a $21M dollar payroll. The next closet team in payroll? The Tampa Bay Rays with $35M.

The way the Marlins are playing is scary good. They have won 4 in a row, swept the Nationals in DC and now overcame the Astros best pitcher to steal a game and blow it open. Oswalt's season is now being doubted internally and the Marlins bats, of all teams, are the ones creating this anxiety for Astro fans.

And this team can't get on any highlight reels. Why?

Totally Sweep: Marlins Sweep Nats

Of all the surprise teams, none should surprise the baseball fans around the nation more than the 1st place Marlins. Why? A $21M payroll, which is almost half of what the next lowest payrolled team in the league maybe?

That is a start.

With tonight's win, the Marlins were able to do something they haven't done in three years - sweep the Nationals in DC. In their brand spanking new ball park, nonetheless, the Marlins defeated the Nationals with timely hitting, solid defense and gasp - good pitching.

The holy trinity for baseball success has seemed to allude this team at times over the past few seasons, but tonight it all came together in what is shaping up to be a very interesting season for the young ball club.

Jorge Cantu, a Devil Ray castoff, has come into camp and won the starting third base job with impressive hitting in spring training and solid defense. Tonight, he was three for four with two RBIs and helped the Marlins to their 6th win while also building his hitting streak up to 5 games now.

Sprinkle in some defense: three double plays tonight up the middle for the Marlins, the most dramatic coming in the bottom of the ninth to end the game. Solid defense for a team that showed a big dropoff last season, especially up the middle of the field. Yet it was Josh Willingham's drop that actually saved the game tonight. In the bottom of the ninth, Nick Johnson hit a rocket to left field that would have gone over the wall if not for Willingham's desperate attempt to snag it - the ball fell out of the Hammer's glove, but saved a run for the Marlins.

A little pitching - Mark Hendrickson got the Marlins through 7 innings which is almost a miracle at this point considering no Marlin starter has been able to get through 7 innings so far this season. Kevin Gregg braved the ninth, even though he wasn't sharp he got it done by inducing the double play from ex-Marlin Paul Lo Duca.

And that is how a sweep is built: Marlins show off their bats in the first two games, then show off their growing games as they fight and scrap for runs and eek out a heady win with timely defense, solid hitting and gutsy pitching.

Look out everyone. The next test will be Houston.

Vandenhurk Down, Badenhop Hops Up

Today the Marlins sent Rick Vandenhurk back to AA Carolina and called up Burke Badenhop from the same minor league team.

Vandenhurk really has struggled since winning a spot in the rotation out of Spring Training, being weighed down with an ERA over 11. Badenhop, however, has been pitching quite well for AA Carolina since being optioned there after his stint with the Marlins in Spring Training.

Badenhop will likely make his MLB debut this weekend.

Marlins in First Place

As dramatic as a walk off home run last night was for this team, Mike Jacobs raised the stakes and pulled off another amazing feat - a grand slam home run.

It didn't directly win the game, but was a large factor in the 7-3 result. Jacobs' grand slam all but took the wind out of the Pirates sails, and no raid was to be had. With this win, the Marlins assured their first home series win of the season, but more importantly moved into sole possession of 1st place atop the NL East standings.

Need proof? Just look at the standings in the column at the right!

Imagine that. The Marlins are playing spirited baseball with a can't lose attitude. They looked outmatched in a few games against the Mets but seemed to have bounced back this series. Just look at the pitching of Mark Hendrickson tonight as compared to how he performed in the season opener a few days ago. Instead of tripping up in the 4th, he made it to the sixth inning tonight. And for the bullpen, that is two nights in a row the starters have made it the 6th, sparing their arms for a few more days.

Tomorrow in the afternoon the Marlins will look to close out the Pirates and possibly remain in 1st place. Even if it is just for now there is no harm in dreaming about a possibly great season.

And Wes Helms, acquired by the Marlins tonight, is coming along at just the right time.

Welcome Back Wes Helms

Per Tommy Hutton and Rich Waltz from tonight's FSN telecast of the Marlins' 7-3 win over the Pirates, Wes Helms has been "re-acquired" from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash.

What this means: the Marlins now gain much needed depth for 1B and 3B, a strong bat off the bench and another great veteran influence in the dugout. Combined with Luis Gonzalez, the Marlins are now adding more strength of character to their roster with Helms.

Remember, Helms as a Marlin fared very well. He batted .329 with 10 home runs in 240 at bats. It was because of that production that he was priced out of the Marlins pockets and into Philadelphia after the 2006 season.

Welcome back, Wes. Let the good times roll.

Marlins 2nd Win is the 2nd Walkoff

I don't know if I can take a season full of walk off wins, but hey, the first two this season for our boys in Teal have been just that - exciting.

The first hero was Robert Andino, a shortstop prospect that I have been writing off ever since we drafted him. But he is emerging as not just another slick-fielding prospect but one with, gulp, a bat. I still can't believe I am saying that.

Tonight's hero, however, was Mike Jacobs. The 3rd year 1st baseman has been hitting the ball very well all season but tonight finally broke through - and he knew it. Big Jake has always had a kind of swagger to me, a kind of gunslinger assurance that kind of reminds me a bit of Will Clark. Not the cocky gunslinger type so much, but his smooth lefty swing. Well tonight, after he got a nice pitch from Franky O (I am not going to try and spell the Pirates' relievers name...), he dropped his bat head about belt high and watched the ball sail into the right field bleachers for the Marlins 2nd win of the season - which, incidentally, was their 2nd walk off of the night.

You could tell it was gone, too. Jacobs spit a minor rainstorm out of his mouth after he hit it and started his trot around the bases. Immediately, the bench cleared, tossing helmets and gloves back toward the dugout as the win was ensured, and gave Jacobs his victorious beat down at home plate.

And he escaped without getting a cream pie in the face.

So, the Marlins will face the Pirates for 2 more games to close out the series. Perhaps the most exciting thing after all won't be the Brett Michael's concert after the game tomorrow night. And that is how it should be - your Marlins are playing gritty and fun baseball. Now, it is just about making it more consistent and who knows how things will progress for this team this 2008 season.

Bartman and Marlins Vindicated

Section 102 seat 113 row 1. Steve Bartman must have been extremely excited to get a ticket to the NLCS game 6 when the Marlins we coming back to Chicago to face certain defeat. The entire city was abuzz over the prospect of getting back to the World Series for the first time in literally generations.

But a foul ball, hit over to the seat Bartman was sitting in, would prove to be disastrous for Cub fans' hopes. Moises Alou raced over and tried to catch the ball in the stands, but it was not to be. Frustrated, Alou begins pointing and shouting and throwing his glove around. Very uncharacteristic for a veteran player who has seen his share of playoff games over a foul ball. And that was exactly why it proved to be something more.

We know the rest of the history. The Marlins went on to score 8 runs in that inning and took Game 6. The Cubs never recovered and squandered the series in what was one of the best postseason matches in MLB history. Certainly, one of the most entertaining.



Until now, however, the book could not be closed. At least, not entirely. Alou, now a member of the Mets, said something pretty significant while on this opening road trip to the 2008 season in Miami. The ex-Marlin, who won a title with the '97 team, said in regard to the incident some 5 years ago "I wouldn't have caught it, anyway."

Say what? Did you hear that Chicago? Did you hear that Steve Bartman? Both of you can finally wake up from your denial and embrace reality. And at the same time, the 2003 Marlins can finally be recognized as a legitimate champion.

Wrapped in all of this is not only the fact that the Cubs and its fans were in denial, or that they were simply cursed. In fact, what had happened is the whole thing led everyone rooting for the Cubs to a massive psych-out. Alou didn't catch the foul ball, but he did overreact. It was as if he was expressing the intensity of the moment everyone in Chicago was feeling. Alex Gonzalez goes on to boot a perfectly good double play opportunity - and really faces no penalty because of it. What about Prior choking all over that mound? You can still see him pointing vehemently at Bartman and Alou and begging the umpires for some kind of appeasement.

Not to mention all the naysayers of the Marlins title, which there are but a few. They shouldn't have been there because they had a payroll that was around 52M whereas teams like the Cubs and Yankees had easily double or triple that figure. In Chicago, most of the fans were in a slumber of denial as they continued to say that the Marlins were lucky and they were cursed.

But now you have proof that isn't the case. Cold, hard evidence. Unlike the ball that was destroyed to somehow release the demons from Wrigley. Or was it all just a cruel April Fool's joke by Alou on all you Cub fans out there - to make you all actually own up to the fact that your team choked?

Or perhaps the Marlins were really just the better team.

South Florida Media Still Cynical

If someone was a manic-depressive, strung out on prescription drugs all the time, would you go hang out with them? Would you discuss the finer points of life with them? Heck, would you even go to a baseball game with them?

Is it any question then that the Marlin fan, ever anxious here in Miami, has been suffering from shell-shock while reading the papers for the last 15+ years? Just look at the coverage from yesterday.

Nothing of note to begin with and any coverage is tinged with negativity.

I know it is Le Batard's nature to pee on things. That is how he shows ownership. Instead of celebrating something, he has to bring it down to his level and pee on it. Get a whiff.

The Palm Beach Post, actually, is the best source to read on the Marlins and as usual, they are exemplary here. They at least note that it was a bad 4th inning that did in the Marlins yesterday instead of choosing to focus on negative ideas about how bad the season is supposedly going to be. No digs at the ownership, no attacks on the attempts at making the game more of an event for the fans, no slams on the players. Just good coverage.

I was surprised by the Sun Sentinel's Opening Day coverage for a change. They at least tried as hard as they could to put something more positive together. They wrote an article about Loria bringing in his old professor from Yale to watch the game, someone he greatly admires. Which is shocking because Mike "I hate the Marlins" Berardino wrote it. They also put together a snippet of photos from Opening Day and had a sound bite running with the photos. What emerged was a strong illustration of why Opening Day is important to this franchise and this community. Of course it ended with a Met fan bragging about being a Met fan in Miami and Dolphins Stadium is basically Shea with some Marlin fans. Of course, in typical NY mook mode, the guy refers to the Mets winning a "national championship". Well, they have the colors of the Florida Gators...but they are professionals. At least, last I checked.

So there was Opening Day. A day for Marlin fans to celebrate another season - something that hasn't been easily expected for about a decade now but can now become a fixed event in the minds of South Floridians. Who knows, maybe in a few years the games will actually have more Marlin fans than Mets. And maybe even better coverage of our franchise that has, after all, won two World Series titles.

Wouldn't that be something?

Marlins Open 2008 With a Loss

Ok, one major criticism for my Marlins: Loria, lose the douche patrol cheerleaders.

Maybe it isn't new this year, not sure, but today I noticed some guys that looked like Met fans posing as Marlin fans. A bunch of transplants - you know the type, hats turned to the side, random armbands and wristbands, bad goatees that look more like chin straps, big sun glasses for no reason - running around trying to get people to cheer for the Marlins.

I know we got tons of Met fans down here, of course today was no exception, but do we really need people running around enforcing us to cheer? And the fact that they look like hoodlums lingering around looking to take your seat makes it annoying.

I would rather we paid to keep Miguel Cabrera instead. Or at least Miguel Cabrera's personal bat boy (who, despite rumors, is not Alfredo Amezaga).

And I also want to note that whatever you do, do NOT sit in section 443 row 12 seats 23 and 24. The aisle is on your left, which means there will constantly be people walking up and down the aisle throughout the game blocking your view. What is worse is that these same people are not only illiterate, but also can't read numbers. And then there is the railing that is used to keep these mouth-breathers from falling into the little tunnel that leads into the section that blocks your view of homeplate.

Despite all of that, and dealing with the sea of obnoxious Mets fans, it was good to take in a ball game on a beautiful afternoon. It felt good seeing the guys out there with a renewed sense of hope for the future. Now, let's get a win against these Mutts tomorrow and send their fans home in disappointment - if only it is a brief drive back down into the sewers for the visiting Mets fans.

Opening Day 2008: A New Hope

Yes, it is the title from the first Star Wars film (the real first film...). It is appropriately used here.

Wedged between the start of the season, which is today, and the end of the last one is a shining affirmation of not just hope, but of expectation. For the first time, fans of this franchise can start to expect and can begin looking up. Well, the first time since that fateful first day back in '93.

The Marlins have a stadium on the docket. Sure, it won't materialize until 2011, but the road there begins here: with a young roster with loads of talent and upside. Just don't expect all of it will be retained when we do this again in 2011 in a new stadium.

Think about that for a second: for the first time in years, Marlin fans can look at today and expect a continuation next season. Gone are the talks of contraction, the threats of relocation and that is as refreshing as the sunny weather we take for granted down here.

Let baseball be as our weather, let us take it for granted that it will return to us each and every year. Let us rejoice in this national ritual that is baseball, when everyone emerges from their homes to see the sun shining and feel hope for a brighter future.

So it is with this team. They have been able to walk the path and avert disaster. This team has emerged, today, in front of a home crowd with renewed expectation for this season and the future. It will not be without its growing pains, however.

Expect that talents like Chris Volstad and Cameron Maybin might not be called up immediately despite being ready to play on this team. They only lack experience and seasoning, which they can get here with the big club. The only reason they won't is because the Marlins will want to keep them on the roster come 2011 - they can control their contracts to that point via arbitration. It will be limited based on their years of service and arbitration.

The Marlins also will be looking to build on the momentum they closed last season with taking 2 of 3 from the Mets. In the midst of their playoff chase, the Mets came to Miami expecting to regroup against a 69-90 Marlins team. Yet this young team, never backing down, fought and took 2 crucial wins from the desperate Mets who had choked away their 7 game lead to fall short of the playoffs.

It starts today with Mark Hendrickson and Johan Santana squaring off. It starts today with a man throwing out the first pitch who was there to see the first pitch ever for this franchise at the start of his career: Jeff Conine. It was the start of his career and of this franchise. Conine has retired, officially as a Marlin as of Friday, but the franchise is still here.

Let hope be renewed. And let's play ball!

Starting Rotation Will Challenge Marlins

The success of this team is not going to be based on its offense, its defense or even, for a change, its bullpen. It will be based on how consistent their starting pitching can be.

This season, like last season, the Marlins are starting out short-handed as most of their rotation is out with injuries. Sergio Mitre is out with a strained forearm, Anibal Sanchez has undergone shoulder surgery while Josh Johnson, arguably the staff ace, had Tommy John surgery.

The new rotation for this season is going to be free agent Mark Hendrickson, followed by Rick Vandenhurk, Andrew Miller, Scott Olsen and Ricky Nolasco.

Last season, the Marlins were hard pressed to get into the 7th inning with any starter not named Dontrelle Willis: and even the now-departed D-Train had his struggles.

The starting five is not going to turn heads with name dropping. Unless you're a die hard baseball fan and you probably won't recognize the names of Mark Hendrickson or Andrew Miller. Rick Vandenhurk might only be recognized by his native Netherlands and the few dedicated Marlin fans here at MarlinsNation.

One of the more established members of this staff is now Scott Olsen. Olsen has had success and is no longer considered a prospect. He was 12-10 in 2006 with 166 Ks in 180.2 IP with a 4.04 ERA. Yet last season, he regressed a bit. His walks went up (85BBs) while his Ks and his IP went down (133Ks in 176.2 IP). His ERA also shot up to 5.81.

Olsen also had some off the field problems that only contributed to his rough season last year. Hope is renewed and the Marlins are expecting him to take another step forward this season and get back on track to being the promising lefty he was shaping up to be after the 2006 season. Another benefit for Olsen could be the return of Mark Wiley, the Marlins pitching guru that was dismissed a few seasons ago in favor of Rick Kranitz when Joe Girardi was hired as the Marlins manager. Wiley helped Dontrelle Willis get back on track a few seasons back and is being expected to do the same with this young staff.

Andrew Miller has a lot to prove as a highly-touted pitching prospect coming out of the Tigers' system. The stakes are raised a bit more as he is one of the two main assets the Marlins received in exchange for Willis and Miguel Cabrera. He seems to have control problems and the Marlins main focus this season, with the return of Wiley, is to throw strikes.

If Miller falters, there is always Gaby Hernandez and Chris Volstad waiting to step in and give it a go.

Yet the challenge will be getting consistency out of the starters this season. The bullpen was very much improved but also a bit overworked last season. With consistency, the Marlins pitching can remain in their usual roles which could lead to more wins. But will it be enough to improve on a 71-91 season of a year ago?

New Stadium Fallout

There are many things to consider with a new stadium on the horizon for the Marlins. There are effects that are going to spring forward from the events of Thursday that will create many changes.

Let's start with the immediate. Now the Marlins and us fans have hope and expectation. We covered that in the last blog here at MarlinsNation. But what is more interesting is to see how this affects the team and its players. Now, young players will have a future to look forward to that is more tangible. If they like living and playing in Miami, they will want to stay. They will reach out to the community and put forth more effort on the field. They will take more pride in their work since now, the Miami Marlins, are a legit MLB franchise. They are playing for their future contracts here, in south Florida.

This has Hanley Ramirez saying the right things and for the first time in a very, very long time, there is hope that a player can actually stay here. "I hope I can stay here for my career, they know how to treat people," Ramirez said. "They know how to treat players. It's a good organization. Hopefully, I can be here for Opening Day [2011]."

Hanley Ramirez doesn't begin arbitration until 2009, and the Marlins will lose control over his rights (he will be a free agent) after the 2011 season. That means, after the first season in the new digs.

Will payroll increase? Not likely in the immediate future. But fan interest will most undoubtedly change as they see this team is here to stay. Fans will start investing in the future of this franchise - something that was very tangible back in the '93 season, it's first ever.

Not only do the fans and the players see a future ahead, but some others have to change their business structures as a result. For example, Wayne H. Huizenga, whom yours truly refers to as H-bomb, is now basically forced to see the Dolphins franchise. Why? Because after 2010, that stadium will be losing its biggest tenant - the Florida Marlins - as they move into their new home.

And you better believe that the Marlins are an integral part of the Dolphins franchise. Without the Marlins and their rent money, H-bomb would be losing lots of money as the facility went unused for almost 7 months out of the year. That is a lot of lost revenue.

Coincidentally, H-bomb is selling the franchise. Remember, this is the same situation that drove Joe Robbie to sell the Dolphins to Wayne Huizenga in the first place. The cost of the stadium was strangling the finances of running the team and its revenue.

Ironic it is that the Marlins are moving to the original home of the Dolphins and tearing it down to build their new home. The Dolphins, in some ways, are seemingly being banished from outside of Miami left to reside in a lonely stadium that will serve only football games.

The fate of the franchise had definitely shifted.

What Took So Long?

Imagine driving your car to the old site of the Orange Bowl and seeing a beautiful gem in the heart of Miami with a sparkling new roof and a spire that enables spectators a bird's-eye view of Miami. You pull into a parking garage and walk into the stadium to hear the crowd buzzing with energy.

What stands out most is that the stadium is full. And everyone is wearing Marlins garb. It seems eerily similar to the old days, back in '93 when this town was filled with teal.

Or in '97 when strangers were walking up to each other and talking about the championship and the heroics. Teal everywhere.

Or in 2003, when the might Marlins overcame the juggernaut that was the New York Yankees.

This franchise has deserved this day - but it has been a long time coming. And it has cost the Marlins greatly. Just ask Mike Lowell, Josh Beckett, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. Just ask Jeff Conine, who has been here for practically every watershed moment in Marlins history.

What took so long?!

The Marlins are staying put. They are safe at home. Now we get to see what it is like to have a franchise with a future, and not a death sentence. Now we get to expect things - like Hanley Ramirez having a career as a Marlin, or bigger payrolls. We can expect to see Maybin develop and grow into the phenom he is. We can expect to sign free agents - maybe even see a return of old, familiar faces when they hit the market. Maybe Dontrelle Willis comes back to Miami?

Things have changed. This day has been a pivotal point for Marlin fans. We Marlin fans have been watching every game we can on TV - in fact, the networks noticed and that is why, despite trading away Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis 150 games will be televised this season.

You can also expect that those ratings will translate into a steady, and rabid, fan base that will turn out at the games. That is, when the new park is built.

But this also helps for the immediate future. Gone is the anxiety, replaced with hope and expectation. Now Marlin fans no longer have to think about supporting another franchise - since their home franchise is just a transient, like the rest of the snowbirds only here temporary. This team is here to stay. This now puts pressure in the right places - on the franchise to spend the money they will be making and on the fans to go to the games because they will have a brand new and exciting facility to attend games at. And they won't need their umbrellas and rain coats.

Indeed, it won't rain on the Marlins franchise ever again. They have a roof. And now, they can act like every other franchise - to the hope or dismay of its fanbase.

Stadium Deal Complete: Miami Marlins Coming Soon

And it is done. The stadium hunt is over. As strange as that sounds, especially for unbelieving Marlin fans, this time it is true. Sure, we have heard this song and dance before but this time is different.

Probably one of the most important days for the Florida Marlins franchise - and arguably one of the quietest - the Marlins have seen their proposal for a new stadium accepted by both the city of Miami and the Dade County panels.

The stadium will seat about 37,000, feature a retractable roof and will cost about $515M for the project which is slated to open up in 2011.

The deal also calls for the Marlins to commit to a 35 year agreement. The parking garage will have about 6,000 spots - most of which will be purchased by the Marlins each year and then sold (for a profit) each game in order to help generate revenue. The new stadium will actually enable the Marlins franchise to create a more lucrative financial situation which could help stop the rotation of young players leaving south Florida to head off to other teams.

Also, the Marlins will change their name from the Florida Marlins to the Miami Marlins since the city is funding most of the project.

Miami Approves Marlins Stadium

The city of Miami voted 4-1 for the stadium.

Now, it is up to the county to finalize the deal.

Thank God the city is not letting Norman Braman rattle things. Who knows what his agenda is, and I am skeptical of any kind of do-gooding social platform. This is about money and he isn't getting his cut.

Still, the stadium is not definite yet. Let's hope the county doesn't screw this up in the final hour. Even with a new stadium, amazingly there is still skepticism about whether or not it will help the Marlins. The fact is, their current lease at Joe Robbie, I mean Dolphins Stadium, is darn near criminal. Controlling the revenue streams for their own facility will give them more financial flexibility.

Whether or not Loria uses that money to better the club remains to be seen.

Stadium Deal In Place?

Seems the Marlins will have a new home in 2011.

The vagabond/transient franchise will finally have a place to lay its big ol' fish head: and it looks like it was the place where the Hurricanes and Dolphins abandoned.

The funding, detailed in a 94 page document, breaks down simply like this: the Miami Dade County contribution will be $347M dollars which is composed of $297M in tax dollars generated from tourism and another $155M contributed by the Florida Marlins.

The project will be centered in the Orange Bowl, where a demolition will take place and the new, 37,000 seat stadium will be erected. The new stadium is going to feature a retractable roof as well, which will obviously help the Marlins draw crowds to games during the rainy season in South Florida.

Some are skeptical about the Marlins new stadium and its supposed benefits. Still, the stadium proposal is a part of a larger, billion dollar project that looks to overhaul downtown Miami and redirect the flow of traffic.

Follow the discussion here.

Dallas McPherson Beefs up 3rd Base Depth

With Miguel Cabrera being traded away, the biggest obstacle for the Marlins in the immediate future is trying to recover some of his production. There seems to be a plan in place.

Part I was signing veteran free agents that are undervalued that the Marlins felt could make an immediate contribution. Jorge Cantu and Jose Castillo were signed to give the Marlins some solid options. Cantu, of course, has some upside and could even play 1B or 2B. Castillo has been putting together very good numbers in the Venezuelan League this fall.

Part II must have been to target a young player that is somewhat ready but undervalued. The Marlins found that player in the once highly-touted Dallas McPherson, a product of the Angels system.

Recovering from back surgery which cost him all of the 2007 season, McPherson is looking to catch on with the Marlins and get a fresh start. Players will report February 21st and McPherson expects to immediately contend for the starting 3B spot.

Read more about McPherson's climb back with the Marlins.

New Stadium One Step Closer for Marlins

The Miami Herald is reporting that the Marlins are crossing over crucial hurdles to get their stadium.

An agreement is in place that will see the new stadium built in Little Havana, and it is slated to seat about 37,000 and will have a retractable roof. The total cost for the stadium is about $525M, with the county paying $249M and maintaining ownership, the city will put in $121M while the Marlins will pay $155M up front. There is also a planned parking garage that the city would own.

The stadium is a part of a plan that will overhaul downtown Miami and the total cost of the project is being estimated at abotu $3 billion. The project includes a port-tunnel system to allow heavy trucks to bi-pass main traffic as well as a park and affordable housing and shops for the area. The Marlins proposed stadium would be set as a main draw for the area.

Cantu Signs

Can do Cantu...

Jorge Cantu just signed an agreement to play for the Marlins next season that will start at $500K and could pile on an extra 100K in incentives.

Source: FloridaMarlins.com
Confirmed: Sun-Sentinel.com

This is good news for the Marlins since they now have a 26 year old 2b/3b who has some promise if a team is willing to take a chance. Cantu, in 2005, had 28 home runs and 117 RBI. If he could replicate those numbers, he would greatly help the Marlins offense replace the departing Miguel Cabrera.

Join in the discussion.

Cantu Next?

Is Jorge Cantu the next target for the Marlins? According to his agent, Steve Canter, the two parties are "pretty far along". Cantu, the ex Devil Ray, offers some pop which the Marlins desperately need in order to even attempt to replace Miguel Cabrera's bat - especially if super prospect Maybin won't be ready.

In 2005, his best season, he had 28 home runs and batted .286 with 117 RBIs. If he could return to that kind of production, and he is only 26, the Marlins may have picked up a solid asset at maximum value. That would be a return to what the Marlins do best and Cantu would also gain an opportunity to land a larger contract in the future. So the two sides would mutually benefit. Also, let's not forget, Cantu can play 2B which could allow for Uggla to play 3B.

Another possibility is Dallas McPherson, whom the Marlins are in contact with and are working on a deal. Touted as one of the best hitting prospects in the game back in 2005 by Baseball America, McPherson could provide the Marlins with another possibility to man third base.