Monday, March 31, 2008

Let's Get This Party Started

I bet Jeff Conine coming out to throw the first pitch today will get a better reception than George W. did last night.

This afternoon at Insert Name Here Stadium, some guy named Johan Santana will be up against some guy named Mark Hendrickson. 20% chance of showers, temps in the low 80s, and breezy, says the weatherman. Power up those ice machines - the Manatees are all pumped up and ready for beer! (PalmBeachPost)

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

RECRAP: Mets win 7-2.

An Apology

I was going to post links to all the Marlins season previews I could find. But then I thought, why get depressed? To hell with them. Each game, each pitch is a new uncertainty waiting to happen. I'd rather enjoy the unfoldment of it all.

NO-APOLOGIES: Luis says, "Nobody is expecting anything from these young guys, but everyone loves a surprise, right? Nobody gives a [expletive] about our team. But we'd love to prove wrong the guy picking us to finish eighth in a division of five." (MiamiHerald)

Kevin says, "If other people think we're not going to be good, that's their prerogative. They're also the same people that said the Mets couldn't blow a seven-game lead at the end of the season, and it happened." (MiamiHerald)

Sunday, March 30, 2008

National League Opening Night!

Atlanta helps the Nationals start up their new ballpark. Scoreboards for today's games, from 6 different services, are below - just click to the one you want.

(Yahoo)(ESPN)(Sportsline)(MLB)(FOX)(CNNSI)

Saturday, March 29, 2008

The End of Spring

Another big crowd is expected for tonight's game against the Yankees, but probably not as big as the crowd expected in L.A. Coliseum tonight, where they hope over 100,000 people will sing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' on the song's 100th anniversary year. (Here's a recording, made in the year it was written, of the full rendition of the song).

Volstad is expected to start for the Fish and Hughes for the Yanks. Tonight may be a good night for 640 AM to sneak the Yankees' broadcast on the air, as the only local broadcast scheduled will be from the Marlins' Spanish affiliate. Then again, listening to WQBA may give us more of the flavor of what being in the new ballpark will be like a few years from now.

SPROING: Marlins lose 4-2, on a play in which De Aza suffers a "left ankle sprain". Hermida and Rabelo were put on the 15-day list "retro to March 21", and De Aza may end up on the list Sunday. Brett Carroll has been recalled.

MORE-MOVES: The Fish "purchased the contracts of infielder Jason Wood and catcher Paul Hoover. To accommodate them on the 40-man roster, right-handers Henry Owens and Josh Johnson were transferred to the 60-day disabled list." (FishStripes)

EVEN-MORE-MOVES: Volstad was reassigned to Minor League camp along with Waechter, Nelson, and Baker. (MLB)

GOOD-GRIEF-MORE-MOVES: De Aza's on the DL, Andino's called up, and Gomez is sent down. (FishStripes)

Conine Retires

He said he felt strange being in Dolphin Stadium without his uniform on.

The team won't retire either his number 18 or his number 19. Compromise - retire '18.5'. (MLB)

So Many Stories...

Loria exchanges pleasantries with Girardi, but Matt Treanor still worries when talking about Joe. (BaseballMusings)

Well, maybe he's not that worried - here's something else Matt said. (BaseballMusings)

Andrew Miller: "I think pitching under the lights, against the Yankees, puts some adrenaline in you...To see a lineup like that, there's no better test to start off the season." (PalmBeachPost)

It looks like Braman's challenge to the 'Megaplan', which includes the ballpark, will have its day in Court, and "Braman has already vowed to appeal if he loses". (TradingMrkets)

Luis hopes 2008 Marlins will surprise like the 2003 Marlins. (Freep.com)

Oh, my God, here come the MANATEES!!! (SunSentinel)

And, finally, don't believe everything you read in the newspapers, or on their websites. (Fish@Bat)

Friday, March 28, 2008

Back to Miami Gardens

The Marlins return to the best strikeout park, the third-worst park (tied with Jacobs Field) for walks, the park tied for second-highest in producing infield flies, and tied for second-worst in inducing groundballs, in the majors. (And it's not even among the 5 worst parks for home runs. Hmmm...) (HardballTimes)

Jeff Conine is expected to return today also. (FlipFlopsInAFreezerBox)(SouthFloridaFan)(FishStripes)

And so will Mr. Girardi, who'll be happy to have a couple of nights in his own bed. (NYDailyNews)

And also at the ballpark will be Luis Gonzalez, famed Yankee Killer. (SunSentinel)

Mike Mussina is expected to start for the Yanks, against Andrew Miller. (MLB)

RECAP: Marlins win 5-3.

Marlins Will Get a Taste of New Stadium Parking Headaches

On April 7 they will be at "the first game (at the Nationals' new ballpark) that starts during the weeknight rush. Assuming that any glitches discovered Sunday are fixed, the 7:10 p.m. game against the Florida Marlins will test whether Washington can handle an urban ballpark like Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago, which were built before baseball fans demanded oceans of parking."

They may be concerned in D.C., but they will have at least one thing that Miami won't - a subway stop "a half-block from the stadium." (WashingtonPost.com)

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Check Out The New FishStripes!

http://www.fishstripes.com

Fredi Finally Finalizes Rotation

It's Mark, Rick, Andrew, and Scott.  Ricky will be long relief.  Chris, Joe and Doug will be sent down.
 

Embrace the Silence

Today's game against the Cards seems to be the last one this year without any sort of local radio broadcast. The Hurk is scheduled to start aganst Lohse.

RECRAP: The Fish finish up their stay at Jupiter with a loss aaginst the Cards. At this moment, (11 PM) Kansas.com is saying the final score was 2-1, which is nice of them, since most other outlets have the score as 2-0.

Mike Gets Prepared For Marlins, And His New Team

'Jacobs is among the large contingent of Marlins (Dan Uggla, Hanley Ramirez, Jeremy Hermida, etc.) who will become eligible for arbitration, and a hefty pay increase, after this season.

'They know many of them won't be around in 2009.

'"We obviously, as players, know what's going on," Jacobs said. "We know that not only are we playing for our team, but we're playing for the 29 other teams out there. They've preached that to us as minor-leaguers coming up. That kind of stuff is out of our hands. We don't get to pick and choose where we go play."' (MiamiHerald)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

2007's 2nd Best Starter for Marlins Now Available...

...as Mr. Kim gets unconditionally released by Pittsburgh, which also sent down the starting pitcher against the Fish in 1997's WS Game 7, Jaret Wright. (MLB)

Fish at Mets Today

It'll be on 790 AM in Miami.

RECAP: Marlins beat the Mets 7-5. (ESPN)

Things Determined Yesterday

Olsen felt okay pitching; McPherson goes to AAA, leaving Cantu as our 3rd baseman; Hermida may hit the DL; and Cody and Alejandro will platoon in center. (SunSentinel)

Brutal Quote of the Day

"(T)he Marlins "develop players" in the same way KFC develop chickens -- to be sold before they spoil." (OrlandoSentinel)

Some Blog Flags

Found a relatively new site - The South Florida Fan Blog - concerned with all SoFla sports but with lots of Marlins content.

Recent posts over at Marlins Maniacs, among other things, have discussed Bill James' latest writings about the Marlins.

And Fish@Bat points us towards the wallpaper and the wiki.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Marlins at Orioles Today

It's the last chance to see the Marlins in South Florida this year for reasonable prices and in an intimate ballpark. It may also be the next-to-last Orioles game in Ft. Lauderdale Stadium if the Dodgers finally unloose their tentacles on Dodgertown. There's no local radio for this momentous game, which should goad you even further to attend.

RECRAP: Fish lose 8-1. MLB

Moves

Maybin heads for AA Carolina, which pleases Matt Birnbach. (FutureFish)

And Badenhop goes to Minor League camp, and Andino goes to AAA, and Mitre, Garcia, Sanchez, Owens and Johnson are put on the 15-day disabled list. (MLB)

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Fish and Nats in Jupiter

...if the rain stays away. It's on local radio too. (FishStripes)

RECAP: The Hurk does good as the Marlins beat the Nats 4-2. (MiamiHerald)

Hendrickson Opens the Season

...and Cody and Matt may see action soon... and hurry and get your rain-out refunds. (SunSentinel)

AND: Mike Mussina and Phil Hughes are pegged to start for the Yankees games next weekend. (NYDailyNews)

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Waive Bye-Bye

Looks like it's time for Craig to blow a fuse, as the recently-waivered Jose Castillo was snatched up by the GIANTS.

MORE: Juan and Joe discuss Jose and Jorge.

Fish in the Fort

Marlins are back in Lauderdale to play the O's this afternoon. As Donna Summer would say, the game is "WO-oh-oh-oh-On-The-Radio!" (FishStripes)

SPLASH-CAP: Game called on account of rain. (MLB)

Friday, March 21, 2008

Kissimmee Kapers

The Marlins travel to a 1:05 game against the Astros. Again the Marlins radio team will not broadcast the game but the Astro radio team will.

RECAP: Marlins win 8-3. (FishStripes)

More News

Olsen may pitch in one of the Yankees exhibition games.

Hermida, Treanor and Rabelo are healing.

Sent down to the minors are Brett Carroll and Chris Barnwell, and Castillo may be gone soon.

Cameron, Andrew and Mike Rabelo are sharing a spring training apartment, and Maybin's dissing Miller's girl.

Jack still has to smoke in the garage.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Away in Jupiter

The Fish will be the away team against the Cards at 1:05 PM today (some rain is headed into the area though). The Card's radio team is broadcasting the game, but not our local guys.

RECAP: Alfredo and Jorge hit well, Ricky and Scott pitched well as the Fish tied their stadium-mates 2-2 in 10 innings. (MLB)

Question Time

Joe Frisaro answers questions about the rotation, Henry Owens, Sean West and Dallas McPherson. (MLB)

AND: Carolina Bolado answers 5 questions about the Marlins. (HardballTimes)

Who's Nelson?

It's Joe, who's still in Marlins camp, and still hoping to get back in the big time. (SunSentinel)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Today's Game

Right, there is no game scheduled for today. But the Hurk should be pitching in a AAA game anyway. (PalmBeachPost)

RECAP: He threw 5 innings, "gave up three runs on three hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out five." (MLB)

Marlins "Seriously Considering a Trade" for a Starter

(FishStripes)

What Fredi Sees

He's seeing 'a whole new Scott Olsen', and (he hopes) 'a pretty good career -- maybe Hall-of-Fame-type numbers' for Dan Uggla.

Good Riddance

Dodgers run out of Florida, complaining about how all the stadiums are too far from each other, how they have to sit on a bus, how the weather is too good, how the parks aren't modern enough, how the practice fields' aren't designed into pretty patterns. (LADailyNews)

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

This Could Be It (Dodgers Grapefruit League Edition)

The Dodgers play their (possibly) last ever spring game in Florida today in Jupiter against the Marlins. Mark Hendrickson is expected to start against Hiroki Kuroda. The game should be on the radio. (MLB)

RECRAP: Hendrickson pitchs great but the Dodgers win 2-1. (PE.com)

Monday, March 17, 2008

Marlins in Fort Myers Today

They'll be playing the Twins. Volstad is to pitch against Francisco Liriano. The game is scheduled to be on English radio.

RECAP: Volstad continues to impress as the Marlins win 5-3.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Decisions

Scott Olsen had reportedly a good two innings of simulated-game pitching on Sunday, which may give Fredi 3 possible starters ready to pitch on Thursday.

De Aza, Maybin and Ross are fighting for the center field spot, while Castillo and Cantu may have tied up a tandem at third.

Even Hoover, Baker and Hayes are getting extra chances to prove themselves as regular catchers Treanor and Rabelo take time to heal.

The bullpen looks very similar to last year's, though Badenhop is making his mark too.

Conine to Retire as a Marlin

Rumor has it that Jeff will sign a 1-day contract with the Fish on March 28, retire, have a ceremony done in his honor on Opening Day, not have either one of his numbers retired, and continue training for the Ironman competition so that he can come back and beat up Samson (that last bit isn't rumored; let's just call it a 'noble quest'). (MLB)

Next Lazy Post

The Marlins are playing what probably is their last game against the Dodgers at Dodgertown. Maybe not though, if the Dodgers' new Arizona ballpark isn't finished by next spring. Even if it is, the park in Vero could become Oriolestown next year.

At this moment (around 2:30 EDT) the Marlins lead the Dodgers 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth. (MLB)

RECAP: Marlins win another one, 7-6. (MLB)

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Friday, March 14, 2008

Today's Game

No radio for this afternoon's game at Roger Dean against the Mets.

RECRAP: Mets win 8-2. (MiamiHerald)

Pitchin' Pennies

Fredi and Larry talk about the Marlins' pitching situation - Larry empahasized that the org. won't be spending money on any new pitchers, which prompts Dave George to make doubley-sure that Jason Wood is ready, just in case.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Dark in the Park

It's the last night game scheduled until they're back in Joe-Pro-Phin Stadium. Tonight's game against the Nats in Viera will be on the radio.

RECAP: Maybin hits the winning homer in the 9th to beat the Nats 2-1. Hendrickson, heading for the Pac-10 Hall of Honor this weekend, pitched well enough to be considered for Opening Day. (MiamiHerald)

More Injuries

Besides Treanor getting a cramp in yesterday's game, Dallas has another strain, and Renyel "stubbed his toe getting out of bed".

ALSO: Luis and Albert are helping out a slain firefighter's family. (SunSentinel)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Mitre Goes to Dr. Andrews, Comes Back in One Piece

The Good Doctor diagnoses "a right forearm strain. Mitre is under no-throw status for the next four to six weeks." (MLB)

Fish Against the Cardinals Today

No radiocast scheduled for the 1:05 PM start.

RECAP: The 'deemphasize-home-runs' training didn't take hold as Hanley, Luis, Cantu, and Cameron knock balls out of the park for a 13-7 win. (Sportsline)

Pitching Shifting

Scott and Sergio are doing better, but two early days off in the schedule gives Fredi the option to go with a four-man rotation at the start of the season.

OH-OH: Check that about Sergio. Update above.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Marlins at Vero

Today's birthday game will be at soon-to-be-Dodgersless Dodgertown.

RECAP: Tommy Lasorda returned to managing the Dodgers today (or the half-a-team that's still left in Florida), but despite his efforts the Marlins win 7-6.

It's Hard

Mike, Luis and Jason find it hard to be without their families, the Hurk finds it hard to pound the strikezone (says Fredi), and four more players hear the hard news. (SunSentinel)

"The Loria and short of it "

Mr. Brattain counts up the available numbers, and finds that Mr. Loria has not been totally up-front about the value of his franchise. (HardballTimes)

Monday, March 10, 2008

Today's Game's on the Radio...

...at 1:05 PM against the Twins.

RECRAP: Fish lose 4-2. (MarlinsBaseball)

Poll Skewed Against Stadium

The respondants "overwhelmingly oppose the county's plans to build a tunnel to the Port of Miami, a new ballpark for the Marlins, and a renovated bayfront park -- none of them even cracked 30 percent support.

"The $16,000 poll was paid for with public funds from the office account of Commissioner Javier Souto, a bitter opponent of the downtown projects. It covered 842 likely voters in districts represented by Souto, Dennis Moss, Joe Martinez and José ''Pepe'' Diaz....

"Some polling experts said the wording might have skewed the results. For example, the ballpark question pointed out that public money would be used -- but did not clarify that the source would be tourist taxes, rather than property taxes. "I would think that would make a big difference, to know whether the taxes are paid by them or someone else," said Michael Hagen, who conducts opinion polls for The Philadelphia Inquirer and is the director of the Institute for Public Affairs at Temple University." (MiamiHerald)

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Fish Against O's Today

...and more. (FishStripes)

RECAP: O's win 7-3 (and Gregg had a sore neck). (MiamiHerald)

First Cuts Announced

"Outfielder Jorge Piedra was released. Right-hander Jesus Delgado was optioned to Class AA Carolina. Reassigned to minor league camp were right-handers Marcos Carvajal, Tim Corcoran, Dallas Trahern; left-handers Chris Seddon, catcher Brad Davis, catcher Chris Hatcher, and infielders Lee Mitchell, Rex Rundgren and Gaby Sanchez."

And Scott threw a bit this morning. (PalmBeachPost)

The Flightiness of Fame

VandenHurk is becoming a TV star in the Netherlands, while Logan is getting a different sort of notoriety among enviromentalists (and helicopter salesmen).

AND: John Gall's doing the satellite-radio thing.

UPDATE: Paul T of Gainsville gives a spirited defense of Logan. (ThisIsMyBoomstick)

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Today's Port-n-Fort

The Fish split, facing the Mets in Port St. Lucie and the Red Sox in Fort Meyers this afternoon. The Mets game will be on 790 in Miami; the Boston game will be done by the Red Sox radio guys. There may be a chance that an AM station receivable in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale may be broadcasting the play-by-play - if that's the case I'll post it here.

UPDATE: Naw. I was hoping 770 from Ft. Meyers would be doing the game, seeing that they were broadcasting from City of Palms Park this morning, but no. The Red Sox game doesn't seem to be on XM either.

P.S.: Some towns hosting MLB teams in the spring can hear the games broadcast on local ststions - cases in point are 1490 in Vero doing Dodgers games and 1590 in Pt. St. Lucie with the Mets. It's been unfortunate that the Orioles don't have an outlet broadcasting their games in South Florida while they're here.

UPDATE: In Ft. Meyers, Josh Beckett left the mound during warmup tosses holding on to his back. He was replaced by DelCarmen.

RESULTS: The Marlins beat the Mets 12-4 and the Red Sox 5-2.

Friday, March 07, 2008

Fish Against Nats Today

No radiocast scheduled.

RECAP: Fish win! (FutureFish)

Bye Bye Ballpark?

The fight over whether city police or county police will patrol the new stadium may scuttle the whole agreement. With a deadline looming in two weeks, the battle is described as 'growing', and both commissions have lined up unanimously behind their own departments. (MiamiHerald)

Injury Report

Olsen's consecutive start streak ends, Maybin's back, and Mitre's progressing. (TCPalm)

All-Allison Day

All 3 loacl papers have stories about Jeff Allison's return. (MiamiHerald)(SunSentinel)(PalmBeachPost)

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Today?

Fish against Cards again. The Cards' radio team is doing the game.

RECRAP: Marlins lose 5-2, on back-to-back-to-back homers off of Gregg.

Trying to Take In All This Stuff...

Nolasco's arm's feeling (and, it seems, working) as good as in '06. (SunSentinel)

Gaby's that rarity - a player on the verge of becoming a Marlin who was actually a Marlins fan as a kid. (MiamiHerald)

'One Less Marlin in Detroit' (Fish@Bat)

"(T)he Marlins are the only team in baseball since 2006 that has not signed a free agent to a multi-year deal or extended the contract of one of its own players for multiple seasons." (SunSentinel)

Someone else on this planet wants more Knuckleball pitchers. (TheGraze.org)

Jeff Allison's on the comeback trail. (MLB-China)

MarlinsBaseball.com's 'A's to Z's' of Marlins' baseball. (A-M)(N-Z)

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Olsen Sore (Jeffrey's Thinking of a Way to Blame Girardi)

Scott will sit out at least 2 or 3 days because of left shoulder tendinitis. (MLB)

Double Your Pleasure

Watch the Marlins play the Orioles this afternoon in Ft. Lauderdale, then drive up to Jupiter and watch them play the Cardinals in Roger Dean. Local radio for the night game.

And it's almost chopping time. "Manager Fredi Gonzalez said there was a chance the Marlins would make their first round of cuts after today's split-squad games." (SunSentinel)

HALF-CAP: Fish beat the O's 2-1 and lose to the Cards 5-4. (FutureFish)

Some More Player Profiles...

...on Andrew Miller, Jai Miller, Alfredo Amezaga (and his pal Miguel Cabrera), and Kevin Gregg.

AND-ALSO: Here's a blogger who's in Marlins spring camp. (The Life and Times of Aitch)

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Mr. Appreciation

Now that the county and city has committed to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to help build his own personal money-making machine, Jeffrey has wisely decided to forego putting more money into players' salaries, and has channeled his efforts into supporting his switchover from Corvettes to Ferraris.

Today's Contest

Mets come to Roger Dean, to face the Marlins for the first time since the Fish ended their post-season hopes last year. No radio for you.

RECRAP: Mets win 6-2. (MLB)

Joe Borchard on Last Year's Clubhouse

'"Some of the stuff that went on last year [with the Marlins] might have been funny to 12 year olds, but it didn't belong in a major-league clubhouse."

'Particularly galling were some of the naked dance routines some players would do in full view of media members, including women.' (SunSentinel)

Ticket Madness

You think Boston fans paying $300 a ticket to see second-stringers play the Marlins in a spring-training game is crazy? Well, tickets for the Marlins' final game against the Mets at Shea Stadium are being scalped up to $6,000 as of yesterday.

SPEAKING-OF-BOSTON-FANS: One of the great Red Sox fans and great hot dog makers in Miami has passed away. (BabaluBlog)

Monday, March 03, 2008

Fish Against Boston

Local radio for today's game against (some of) the Red Sox.

RECAP: Marlins win 3-2. (MLB)

RADIO RECAP: On my crappy radio, I thought Geffner sounded okay, like a faster-talking, slightly-lower-toned version of Roxy. I heard him try to interrupt Van Horne once to inject some height-related fact about a player. We'll see if he wears well.

Stadium Agreement Disagreements

The "coordinator of the master's in business journalism program at Florida International University" (and a former Herald writer) checks out the stadium agreement. Some quotes:

"(T)he most startling thing about the agreement, to me, isn't that the Marlins get to keep all the revenue from the stadium, whether it's generated by ticket sales, tractor pulls or Cher's inevitable AARP tour.

"It's that the Marlins get to keep the revenue, and the agreement doesn't require them to spend it on the team....

"(L)ocal governments get to use the stadium they're paying for 16 days a year.

"Clearly, at $395 million, that's one expensive timeshare....

"The part of the document that I found most interesting was where the Marlins' financial status is alluded to.

"The team, you'll recall, persistently characterizes itself as poorer than the equipment manager of a Triple-A team. The hundreds of millions in tax money will help it get its act together and make it in the big leagues.

"Yet, the document says the agreement is based ``on an assumed value of the franchise of $250,000,000.''

"It makes you wonder. We live in a community where people are leaving because they can't afford the property taxes. Yet, we are told it's a good idea to spend $395 million of government revenue on a property tax-free home for a company worth a quarter of a billion dollars." (MiamiHerald)

What Jeffrey Says...

...(and Hanley, too). (Fish@Bat)