hot4beckett

Thank you guys; appreciate it!!!

I like D-Train. He's a cool guy. :thumbup

Tough lineup. Pavano has been doing great so far. Beckett no so good.

That's ridiculous.

I think channel 10

I ain't gonna listen to someone that puts down the Marlins. That will tick me off.

Conine

:happybday

On the game thread every game will be updated and posted.

MARLINS SPRING TRAINING UPCOMING ? Today: Marlins RHP Brad Penny (14-10, 4.13 ERA in 2003), RHP Armando Benitez, RHP Blaine Neal, RHP Nate Bump and LHP Tommy Phelps at Los Angeles Dodgers, RHP Jeff Weaver (7-9, 5.99 ERA in 2003), LHP Wilson Alvarez, RHP Brian Falkenborg and RHP Paul Shuey, 1:05 p.m., Holman Stadium, Vero Beach. ? Friday: Marlins LHP Dontrelle Willis (14-6, 3.30 ERA in 2003) vs. St. Louis Cardinals, RHP Chris Carpenter (Injured, did not play in majors in 2003) and RHP Kiko Calero, 1:05 p.m., Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter. INJURIES ? Third baseman Mike Lowell (sore right elbow) was back in the lineup Wednesday for the first time in more than a week, serving as the Marlins' designated hitter against Minnesota. ? Right-hander A.J. Burnett (sore right elbow) threw for the first time in more than two weeks. WHO'S HOT ? Damion Easley went 2 for 4 with a double and solo home run Wednesday, giving him two home runs this spring. On the flip side, Easley also made a costly error at shortstop that led to two Minnesota runs in the sixth. WHO'S NOT ? Josh Beckett and reliever Chad Fox struggled Wednesday, allowing five runs in their combined 5 2/3 innings. Beckett gave up three runs on seven hits while Fox was charged with two runs, one of them unearned. ? Outfielder Brian Banks struck out in his first two at-bats before driving in a run with a sacrifice fly. PLAY OF THE DAY ? Nothing spectacular, but Easley did make a nice play at shortstop on Luis Rivas' ground ball in the third inning. QUOTE OF THE DAY ''He was mad at himself.'' -- Marlins pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal about Josh Beckett, who wasn't sharp Wednesday in allowing three runs to the Twins. SPRING SCHEDULE Today Los Angeles Dodgers 1:05 Friday ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 1:05 Saturday Montreal Expos 1:05 Sunday NEW YORK METS 1:05 Monday HOUSTON ASTROS 1:05 March 23 LOS ANGELES DODGERS 1:05 March 24 St. Louis Cardinals 1:05 March 25 NEW YORK METS 1:05 March 26 New York Mets 1:10 March 27 Baltimore Orioles 7:05 March 28 BOSTON RED SOX 1:05 March 29 Los Angeles Dodgers 1:05 March 30 MONTREAL EXPOS 1:05 March 31 Baltimore Orioles 1:05 April 1 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 1:05 April 2 New York Mets 7:10 April 3 NEW YORK METS 12:05 April 4 Albuquerque Isotopes 3:05 (Albuquerque, N.M.) NOTE: UPPER CASE indicates home games in Jupiter.

Beckett has eye on Opening Day By Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Thursday, March 18, 2004 FORT MYERS -- Josh Beckett is starting to think about the start of the regular season... and it showed for the second consecutive outing. The Marlins' opening-day starter pitched four innings, allowing three runs on seven hits in the Marlins' 6-5 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday. Beckett threw 70 pitches, many of which were up in the zone. "I just missed up quite a bit,'' Beckett said. "My down today was up in the zone. I got to keep working on keeping the ball down.'' In his past two outings, Beckett has allowed 12 hits and seven runs in eight innings. "I'm just so ready for the season to start, that kind of takes away from your performance,'' Beckett said. "It doesn't seem to affect anybody else, so I would never use that as an excuse.'' Pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal is not concerned, saying it's most important that Beckett is strong when the season opens April 6. "He's strong, he made some mistakes,'' Rosenthal said. "He can correct them later.'' The Marlins split their squad Wednesday with bench coach Doug Davis managing the team in Fort Myers. Manager Jack McKeon traveled with the rest of the team to face the Dodgers in Vero Beach. Lowell in the swing: Mike Lowell returned after taking off nine days and was 2-for-5 with an RBI as the designated hitter. Lowell hit a soft line drive single over second base and a routine fly to right field that would have been a sacrifice fly but dropped in for a single when Mike Restovich lost the ball in the sun. He grounded out to shortstop to end the game with the tying run on third base. Lowell, who has inflammation in his right elbow, said he felt no pain but his timing was off. "We're taking it slow just because it's the spring,'' Lowell said. Lowell, who also threw on the side Wednesday, is scheduled to play third base Friday. Looking for relief: The Marlins are looking for bullpen help and could be shopping outfielder Abraham Nunez and second baseman Kevin Hooper, according to sources. Nunez remains a top prospect who is expected to be an everyday player in the big leagues. He is battling for a reserve outfield spot with the Marlins. Nunez played 19 games with Florida in 2002 but was set back last season, missing most of spring training because of a strained hamstring. He recovered to hit.311 in 59 games at Class AAA Albuquerque last season. Hooper is in his sixth season in the organization and hit.266 last year at Albuquerque.

We do have quite a ring. :mischief2

He's gonna have no problem this year.

Lowell returns with two hits; elbow free of pain By Juan C. Rodriguez Staff Writer Posted March 18 2004 FORT MYERS ? Third baseman Mike Lowell nearly doubled his Grapefruit League at-bats total Wednesday, going 2 for 5 in a 6-5 Marlins loss to the Twins at Hammond Stadium. Sidelined the past week with an inflamed right elbow, Lowell took his cuts with "no ill effects." He remains on track to start at third base Friday, when the Marlins host the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. The elbow problem had limited Lowell to seven exhibition at-bats before Wednesday. In addition to designated hitter duty, he did some pregame fielding work. "I wouldn't say they were throws from deep in the hole, but they were good throws," said Lowell, who will remain in Jupiter today for more fielding drills while his teammates are in Vero Beach. "Definitely more than I could do a week ago." Lowell sent a soft liner over second base for his first single in the sixth. The following inning, he hit a high fly ball to the warning track in right that Michael Restovich lost in the sun for an RBI single. "I didn't pick up the off-speed [pitches] very well," Lowell said. "I was happy with the second [hit]. My first at-bat I fouled off my pitch three times."

Posted on Thu, Mar. 18, 2004 TWINS 6, MARLINS (SS) 5; MARLINS (SS) 4, DODGERS 0 Beckett not sharp; pitchers slice Dodgers By CLARK SPENCER [email protected] Josh Beckett struggled, and the Marlins lost the first of two split-squad games 6-5 to the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers on Wednesday. But in Vero Beach later, four Marlins pitchers combined on a four-hitter to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 in Vero Beach. In the night game, Wil Cordero hit a two-run home run, against the Dodgers, and relievers Michael Tejera, Justin Wayne, Mike Neu and Toby Borland put together the shutout that improved the Marlins' record this spring to 10-4. Juan Pierre had three hits and two stolen bases, and Miguel Cabrera reached base three times in the night game. In the early game, the Twins broke a tie with a run in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Franklyn Gracesqui. Damion Easley homered for the Marlins, and Mike Lowell had two hits in his first game in more than a week. But the Marlins pitchers struggled, allowing five earned runs on 10 Minnesota hits. Beckett gave up three runs on seven hits as the starter, and reliever Chad Fox was nicked for two runs, only one of them earned. Twice the Marlins took leads in the game but were unable to protect them. An RBI single by Gerald Williams and run-scoring sacrifice fly by Hee Seop Choi gave the Marlins a 2-1 lead in the third. After Minnesota regained the lead with two runs in the fourth, the Marlins tied it in the fifth on Easley's second home run of the spring and took the lead again in the sixth on Brian Banks' sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. But Minnesota came up with two runs on third baseman Michael Cuddyer's double.

Oakland's Chavez in line for big deal The Associated Press Thursday, March 18, 2004 Eric Chavez had a big afternoon at the plate, a day ahead of his big day at the bank. Chavez hit a two-run homer and Erubiel Durazo drove in three runs with two doubles in the Oakland Athletics' 10-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday in Phoenix. Chavez, the A's Gold Glove third baseman, is expected to finalize a contract extension -- thought to be worth $66 million over six years -- today. His long homer to right off Shingo Takatsu was his best hit yet in a slow spring. Chavez had 29 homers and 101 RBIs last season -- his fourth straight year with at least 25 homers. Though Chavez wasn't available for comment and the A's wouldn't say anything official, the team plans to make what it says is an important announcement today. In Surprise, Ariz., the Rangers' Chan Ho Park said he hasn't felt this healthy since he pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers three years ago. "I'm kind of afraid to say how good I am feeling," he said after giving up three earned runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings for Texas in a "B" game.

Pudge shows Tigers anything possible By Steve Gorten Staff Writer Posted March 18 2004 Lakeland -- They all wanted a peek. The moment it arrived in Detroit's spring training clubhouse for a fitting last week, Tigers players surrounded their new teammate and gazed at that dazzling, diamond-covered symbol of baseball glory. Outfielder Rondell White said the ring Pudge Rodriguez will receive for last year's World Series victory with the Marlins is the biggest he has seen. It's more impressive than his fiancee's engagement ring, White added, laughing. The sight of World Series jewelry in this clubhouse so soon after the Tigers finished with the second-worst post-1900 record adds a tinge of pride, even if it doesn't belong to them. "He brings them instant credibility," manager Alan Trammell said. Rodriguez does that because while other top free agents "turned us down and said they would never sign with us," outfielder Dmitri Young pointed out, the 32-year-old catcher left a Series winner for a club that lost 119 games -- even if his motivation primarily was money. The Tigers offered a four-year, $40 million deal, a longer-term contract than the Marlins, Cubs, Dodgers, Mariners and Orioles wanted to give. So Rodriguez settled on Detroit, where he is perceived as a savior of sorts. Just what can he do to help a franchise that lost only one fewer game than the 1962 Mets, and then only after rallying from an 8-0 deficit to beat Minnesota on the next-to-last day? The Tigers want him to produce as he has in a 13-year career that has produced a .304 batting average, 10 All-Star appearances, 10 Gold Gloves and the 1999 American League MVP Award. Perhaps as important, they want him to help cultivate a young pitching staff -- Mike Maroth (9-21 last season), Jeremy Bonderman (6-19) and Nate Cornejo (6-17) -- that Rodriguez compares favorably to the Marlins'. "What I did last year with the Marlins with [Josh Beckett, Brad Penny and Carl Pavano], I'm going to do the same here with these guys," Rodriguez said. "This is a young ballclub, young pitching staff, and I have to keep them very positive and make them do their job -- keep the ball down and throw strikes." The fear is that Rodriguez's acquisition will fail as miserably as that of his former Texas Rangers teammate, Juan Gonzalez. In his only season (2000) with Detroit, Gonzalez was hampered by injuries and played 115 games (his lowest total since 1995), batting .289 with 22 home runs and 67 RBI. "[Rodriguez's] presence on the team has been great because it's something we haven't had," Maroth said. "He's one of those guys who comes in here and is looking to help the team, not just himself. "That's what I've really noticed in his first couple of weeks of spring training. He's not just coming here to collect a paycheck and go about his own business. He's here to help improve this team and make other guys better. He proved that with the Marlins." Said former Marlins closer Braden Looper, now with the Mets: "He was everything that the hype was." Despite wearing a different uniform for the second consecutive spring, Rodriguez said he feels comfortable. Trammell says he plans to have Rodriguez in the lineup at catcher in approximately 140 games and as a DH the rest of the time. "He's been better than I expected, honestly, at this point," said Trammell, who was the shortstop when the Tigers won the 1984 World Series. "He's been assertive as far as a leadership role. ... He's been more outgoing than I expected this early." Said Young: "When you have a field general like that who thrives on winning, a lot of guys who don't know how to win, they can feed off of that." Rodriguez hasn't paraded through the clubhouse reflecting on his championship, White said. But just knowing what Rodriguez and the Marlins accomplished has given the Tigers hope. "They got all excited," Rodriguez said of his teammates when they saw the ring. "So I tell them, `We can win one.'" Before Rodriguez's arrival, the Tigers traded for shortstop Carlos Guillen and signed White, second baseman Fernando Vina and right-hander Jason Johnson. "We're walking around here with a lot of confidence, like we won [the World Series]," White said. "The past is behind us." Steve Gorten can be reached at [email protected].

Notes: Lowell back in lineup All-Star's elbow feels fine in first game back By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com Tickets Scoreboard Fantasy VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Making the final out of the game with the tying run in scoring position wasn't all bad for Marlins All-Star third baseman Mike Lowell. How he felt was more important than the result. Recovering from a sprained right elbow, Lowell saw his first Grapefruit League action in nine days Wednesday, getting five at-bats as the designated hitter in a 6-5 split-squad loss to the Twins in Fort Myers. "I felt great," the two-time All-Star said. "No ill-effects." Lowell has been hampered by right elbow inflammation that has bothered him since last August. He hadn't played since March 8 against the Expos in Jupiter. After that game, he had an MRI taken that detected the inflammation. As further precaution, the 30-year-old third baseman had a bone scan taken to rule out any stress fractures. For more than a week, Lowell has taken anti-inflammatory medication. He went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles Wednesday. He had a bloop single and the second single was a routine fly to right field that was lost in the sun. That hit drove in a run. Lowell also made the last out of the game, grounding out with the tying run in scoring position. At Vero Beach on Wednesday night for a game with the Dodgers, Marlins manager Jack McKeon said it's likely Lowell will play third base on Friday against the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. "It's up to him," McKeon said. "Whatever he wants to do. With him, you just want to get him out there to get his at-bats." Beckett a bit off: Josh Beckett struggled with his location Wednesday and the Twins took advantage with three runs on seven hits. Beckett worked four innings and tossed a spring high 70 pitches. The 23-year-old struck out two and didn't walk any Twins. "I just missed up quite a bit," Beckett said. "I was up in the zone. I've got to keep working on keeping the ball down." With Beckett and the rest of the starters, McKeon said he isn't as worried about their pitching lines as innings pitched. McKeon said in the final two weeks, the starters will progress from 80 and eventually up to 100 pitches. When the season starts, McKeon wants the starters in position to go seven or eight innings. Tejera effective: Left-hander Michael Tejera enhanced his chances for winning a reliever spot Wednesday night with an effective three-inning stint against the Dodgers. Tejera tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, with one strikeout and no walks. "I felt strong," said Tejera, who is looking to lock up a job in the bullpen. "I was down in the zone. That's why I was effective." On the playoff roster last October, Tejera is striving to make more of an impact this season. To do so, he has to improve against left-handed hitters. Last season, lefties hit .392 (31-for-79) against him. This spring, Tejera is dropping his arm angle, going more sidearm when facing lefties. "I'm dropping down against left-handers, on my fastball and my curveball," the 27-year-old said. "I'm trying to do something different with left-handers because last year they hit me so well." As for his shot at making the team, Tejera said: "I don't make the decisions. They make the decisions. Whenever they put me out there to pitch, I'm going to be available." Tejera retired all three left-handed hitting Dodgers he faced, Dave Roberts (twice), Shawn Green and Robin Ventura. Easley impressing: Veteran Damion Easley, vying for a backup infield spot, improved his chances Wednesday with an opposite-field home run at Fort Myers. Playing shortstop, Easley went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. He did, however, commit an error. Thursday's schedule: Brad Penny (1-0, 1.29) makes his third spring start on Thursday, facing the Dodgers in Vero Beach. The Dodgers will start Jeff Weaver. Thursday's game is part of the scheduling change created when the Marlins played the Astros last weekend in Mexico City. Thursday initially was going to be Florida's off-day.

Nice article.

Bonilla makes trip: Former Marlin Bobby Bonilla is among those who traveled to Mexico City for the weekend series against the Astros. That's a classic. I saw him a long time ago at an Ale House where I live. He was nice to everyone. Sounds like our guys did good last night. WOOHOO!!!!

Wow, that will be different for them.

I'm surprised you couldn't find it so quickly. I live in Pembroke Pines and that magazine is still floating around. I still see it in several stores.

I still see it in stores where I live.

Florida Marlins beat Clemens in 6-1 win over Astros in Mexico City Canadian Press Saturday, March 13, 2004 MEXICO CITY (AP) - Roger Clemens couldn't beat the Florida Marlins this time, either. The Rocket gave up two runs and seven hits in three innings Saturday, taking the loss in Florida's 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros. The last time Clemens faced the Marlins he was wearing a New York Yankees uniform in the World Series. He got a no-decision in Game 4 last October and walked off the mound to a boisterous ovation in what was supposed to be his final appearance before retiring. But Clemens came back to play for his hometown Astros, and he joined his new team in the Mexican capital for a two-game series with the Marlins. He started the game with a strike, but leadoff hitter Juan Pierre smacked his second delivery just short of the 417-foot wall in straightaway centre for a double. Miguel Cabrera made it 1-0 with an RBI single two batters later. In the bottom of the third, Cabrera fell behind Clemens 0-2, but battled back before driving a home run into the evergreens and palm trees beyond the right-field wall to make it 2-0. Cabrera also homered off Clemens in the World Series last year. The Rocket finished with three strikeouts and was relieved by Wade Miller in the fourth inning. "Every time I go, and the longer I go, I feel better," said Clemens, who still characterized himself as "nowhere close right now" to 100 per cent. "I'm not too worried about the result, I just want to get this arm stretched out, get this body stretched out a little bit each time," he said. "I did that. I felt better. My velocity picked up a little bit." Clemens was the big draw for the fans who filled about half of 27,000-seat Foro Sol Stadium. When Clemens went out to warm up, many of those packed into the cheap seats near the left-field bullpen gave him a standing ovation and chanted his name. The crowd also rooted for Clemens throughout his short outing, hissing and booing when the plate umpire didn't give him a called strike on close pitches. "It was a great feeling. I walked out to warm up and the whole stands lit up and were chanting my nickname," Clemens said. "It was really heartfelt and just really nice. It was really special to come all the way down here and see how enthusiastic they were and how excited they were to be here." The game was not the slugfest many anticipated. Mexico City's altitude of 7,200 feet is more than 2,000 feet higher than home run happy Coors Field in Denver, and last year the Dodgers and Mets combined for 57 runs, 74 hits and 14 homers in 20 innings during their two-game exhibition series at Foro Sol. Marlins manager Jack McKeon said his players had no trouble adjusting to the altitude and the city's infamous smog, calling the two-game series "a little longer road trip, that's all." "I'm here to play baseball, I'm not a pollution expert," McKeon said when asked about the local air quality. "I'm not in charge of environmental concerns." Marlins starter Darren Oliver held Houston hitless through 3 1-3 innings before Jeff Kent homered to right-centre. The lefty went 3 2-3 innings and gave up one run and one hit while striking out two and walking two to get the win. After a raucous start, the crowd quieted substantially and settled into its orange and green seats and grey bleachers as a hot and hazy afternoon gave way to a breezy and cool evening. The public address announcer was lost throughout much of the first inning, announcing the wrong batters at the wrong times. The scoreboard showed the incorrect score for more than an inning in the early going. After Clemens left the game, the largest cheer came in the bottom of the eighth, when catcher Ramon Castro and first baseman Hee-Seop Choi hit back-to-back homers to stretch the Astros' lead to 6-1. Houston manager Jimy Williams said the Astros brought 50 players to Mexico's capital so that "the Mexican people could get a look at almost our full team." "My focus is on being here in Mexico City for these two games," he said. "We're going to try to take as best care of our team as we can and get ready for the championship season." Neither club had a Mexican-born player on its roster. Cabrera, a Venezuelan, said he had "very little experience playing in Mexico," but that the crowd at Foro Sol still reminded him of home. "Being here, I feel like being in any Latin country," Cabrera said. "The people here get so excited, so emotional for baseball games that it makes what we do on the field more fun."

In addition there have been numerous occasions of males soliciting information on the females ad naseum (look it up if you don?t know what this is). Soliciting information? Can you be more specific?