repeatin04

Dude, you need to chill out. I never read in the S-S that Rick Reed was signing with the Marlins. What I read was they offered him a one-year contract. He chose to play closer to home. What's so inaccurate about that? Try reading a little more carefully. By the way, the Marlins were also at their payroll limit before they signed Pudge last year. you work for the SS? They were wrong. Said an announcement was going to be made. Plus they said he had an offer. That's hard to believe the offer was made since Darren Oliver just signed and the Marlins wanted a lefty and paid 750K. So that is INACCURATE. I win this debate, hands down. Find a job at a real place.

The Astros ballpark is similar to the OB with the highway and arena nearby. Parking is also limited to garages in the area. As it relates to Houston.... Fat-Ass Goldberg had the President of the Greater Houston Sports Development Committee on a couple of days ago. The comparisons in cost between MM park and the situation in Miami was discussed.... The main point made was that costs associated with building sporting venues like MM, etc are subject to a far greater rate of inflation. He said that if Houston had to build MM all over again today the costs would be in the $450mil neighborhood due to inflation. So the comparisons in cost some are making aren't exactly accurate. If this were the case and inflation wasn't an issue we could go buy Alaska for 12 million and build the damn park there. when Hank Goldberg is quoted, that's when I hit the mute button. Now Goldberg is explaining how to get a roof stadium in Miami. It's Goldberg who insists the team doesn't need a new stadium. Guess what, they do. Without a new stadium, bye bye Marlins.

Losing Redman was nullified by the addition of Oliver, who is just as good and far less money. I guess that's why the A's took Redman over an available Darren Oliver for almost $3 million more for the year. Maybe there's a career for you as GM of the A's because clearly you have a better handle on baseball talent than Billy Beane does. lol :thumbdown in this case, yes, it's not me who has a better handle on things than Billy Beane. It's Admin Beinfest. The Marlins get a productive lefty, just as productive as Redman. Oliver can hit, by the way. Redman couldn't even bunt. Yes on this one the Marlins totally got the better of it. Give me Darren Oliver over Mark Redman right now for the dollars spent. By the way, getting rid of Redman allowed Marlins to keep Burnett too. So think of it, Marlins get Burnett/Oliver for 3.250 mil. Redman signs for 3.9. Brilliant moves by Beinfest. Maybe Billy Beane should think more like the Marlins GM. Then he may actually figure out how to win in the playoffs.

Yes sure they have a chance but the Expos got better and so did alot of other teams , and that will make the Marlins have a tougher time. I like a challenge Expos lost Vazquez and Guerrero. How on earth did they get better? Are you completely braindead?

Inspite of losing DLee, Pudge, and Redman, could the Marlins go all the way again this season? In my opinion i would say i dont know because they lost good players but they still have the talent to do it, but it would be a little more challanging then last year. What do you think. Losing Redman was nullified by the addition of Oliver, who is just as good and far less money. Marlins are better at closer with Benitez and Fox is better setup than Vlady Nunez was to start the season. Repeating in any sport is difficult. If we get Cordero, the team will be solid in all phases. Pudge's loss won't be that great since he wasn't going to play 144 games this year anyway. Pudge will become a DH in the AL. So losing Pudge isn't that big a deal. Conine is better in left than Hollandsworth was to start last year. Cabrera is better than Encarnacion. Team is solid is all areas. Repeat is possible. Can't say automatic because you can't foresee injuries. I do foresee Burnett providing a lift late in the season the way Beckett did. I think Burnett is the key to the season. If he is strong down the stretch, watch out.

I don't believe the deal is 40 mil. If it is, it's poorly spent money by Detroit. That is stupid to so vastly overpay someone when there isn't the market to do so. Bottom line though is I WAS CORRECT. THERE WAS ZERO CHANCE OF PUDGE RETURNING TO THE MARLINS. All those who were sucked in by Berardino once again were played for fools. There wasn't 25 percent or 5 percent or a "slight chance." The fact is when December 7 passed, there was ZERO chance. He was NEVER an option to return. So let's move on and clearly know who was right and wrong in this debate. nice job Carnac. Bottom line is I was correct. I was the ONLY one accurate. I told ALL of you that this WASN'T possible. WASN'T HAPPENING. That you were being played for fools by Berardino. I was called names for my accuracy, and bottom line is I get the last word. To the victor goes the spoils. No one else made the arguments I did. Others said there was a "slight" chance or what have you. Read the posts and weep.

Pudge passed a physical in Detroit last week, why is he having his back checked in Texas? yeah, that article reeks of poorly researched, second hand info. I wouldn't be surprised if he signs with Detroit, however all the stuff I've read say that both sides are prepared to wait into February, and Pudge already took a physical... Too much wrong with that article to make it believable for me... Pudge took a physical a week or so ago in Detroit, he reportedly was seeing some spine/back/nerve specialist in Texas. So if the dollar figure of 40 mil is true, the Tigers probably want to double check everything. So Pudge reportedly was in Texas for more testing. This isn't so far out of the ordinary.

guys, oliver is heavily a groundball pitcher. he doesn't benefit from PPS as others might, and he might even do worse. he is the ideal sort of pitcher for coors since he doesn't pop up the ball too much, but he is not the ideal sort of guy who would benefit from playing here. the mark redman analogy is totally off. last year he was much better at coors than on the road. that tells you something, though it's probably not very statistically significant. he's supposed to be our crappy #5 guy, so i guess i can deal with him. the $750k is the part that sucks. Oliver is a tremendous pickup. Since when are you so bent about 750k? It's not your money, so why do you care what the guy makes. He was 13-11 last year, and regardless of the ERA, if Oliver went through arbitration with that record, he makes 4 million. So he is a bargain. With the Marlins defense behind him and Pro Player Stadium being so darn big, yes, he is a great pickup. Look at how many homers Redman gave up in the second half of last year. Oliver is essentially the same guy as Redman for 3 million less dollars. Get a clue on how the market works.

Wins dont mean too much when your a pitcher because if you dont get run support theres no way you can win.? I'm sure Oliver had great run support. As a 5th starter he isnt bad but I would have liked to seen Tejera get a chance. Tejera will get a chance. I like seeing someone who comes off the mound with a W. Plus, Oliver logged 180 innings, which is a VERY vital stat because he saves the bullpen. This is an excellent signing based on the dollars available. Heck, we are getting a guy similar to Redman and he costs 3 mil less. 180 innings? I thought the workhorses in the league, barring injury, pitched at least 200+ innings. Though he does certainly have durablility. Mr. Smarty. 180 innings from a fifth starter is very good. Marlins had one guy reach 200 innings last year, can you name him? Don't question me on this move. Yes, Oliver is similar to Redman. Redman provided innings and was fortunate that the Marlins defense is outstanding and that he pitched in Pro Player. Oliver too will benefit from our great defense and big ball park.

I don't believe the deal is 40 mil. If it is, it's poorly spent money by Detroit. That is stupid to so vastly overpay someone when there isn't the market to do so. Bottom line though is I WAS CORRECT. THERE WAS ZERO CHANCE OF PUDGE RETURNING TO THE MARLINS. All those who were sucked in by Berardino once again were played for fools. There wasn't 25 percent or 5 percent or a "slight chance." The fact is when December 7 passed, there was ZERO chance. He was NEVER an option to return. So let's move on and clearly know who was right and wrong in this debate.

Repeatin' reminds me of me. Although a smart and bold poster, he gets branded because, *gasps*, he has an opinion. Although I do believe wins/losses is the most overrated stat in the game (besides OPS), this may be the pot calling the kettle black, but be a little more open minded. Oliver is a fine pickup to be a fifth starter for a month, but don't look at it being any more than that. I would not be happy if it were to be the fifth starter all year, but it's not, so get over it. He may be getting overpaid, but an extra $250,000 won't kill us people. We now have three potential left-handed relievers, making the bullpen quite even in that department. exactly the point. This is a FIFTH STARTER. Not our ACE. I'm not saying go with a guy with a 5.00 ERA as our ACE. But I do contend that the stat geeks twist W/L to fit their argument. When Willis won the ROY, I heard all the Brandon Webb folks crying about his lower ERA. Well, to me, a good ERA for a starter is regarded as under 4.00. Anything under 3.5 is very good. Dontrelle had a 3.30 ERA to Webb's 2.84. Dontrelle however was 14-6 and Webb was 10-9. So something is missing. Obviously, Webb didn't get enough runs. Then again, he didn't do his job preventing them when it mattered. I argue that pitchers are competiting against each other in the specific game. If you have a 2 run lead, you may play for allowing a run in a certain situation. Hence, your ERA could raise based on circumstances. Never downplay the importance of Wins. A guy like Oliver has won more than 80 games and he logged 180 innings. He isn't Randy Johnson, but he is better than Tejera and good enough to make the argument that his 5-something ERA is a major concern.

You'll notice regardless of Repeat's meglomaniacal rant he can't get away from his words that this would be the "worst move in baseball history". He can call us fools, he suggests we all, individually and collectively have no baseball knowledge, that only he, he alone, has all the right answers but regardless of his namecalling, of his protests, the fact is he is still wrong. And besides, he's a boor. Baseball's landscape is littered with moves that would make this one pale in comparison. Admin Anderson for Jeff Bagwell, the Red Sox forgetting to get their commitment letters out to Pudge Fisk and Fred Lynn on time and losing them, signing Mo Vaughn (lol), Mike Hampton's deal with Rockies, the list is endless. So what "if" the Marlins decide, all in all, that they would in fact be better off with Pudge than without? People and organizations change their minds all the time. Major corporations rewrite their business plans with regularity. We live in fluid times. What was impossible to believe a day ago is today's reality. Kodak is about to stop making film cameras. Players have been traded back to the team they left before, this is not breaking any new ground. It is rare for a team to so quickly reverse direction, but if the FO determines it's in the best interest of the franchise should they be ridiculed for it? I think not. This is purely hotstove banter and should be regarded as such. The Marlins have not in any way suggested they are even considering re-signing Pudge. Regardless of the amount of truth in Berrardino's piece it gave some of us the opportunity to proclaim our respect and affection and gratitude for what Pudge did last season as a Florida Marlin. Our new "expert" poster has proven he is willing to use name calling and insults to mask the false nature of this rhetoric. We all can learn from this and not sully ourselves by sinking to his level of discourse. And we now know that which flows from his poison pen in the future will assuredly be as without merit as has been his baseless diatribe here today. Shakespeare put it best - "Me thinks he doth protest too much". You really have a comprehension problem. Bad trades aren't the "stupidest moves" in baseball history. Stupidity isn't because one player panned out and one didn't. Stupidity is just that. My argument, which I will spell out again is simple: Trading something for a player you already had and then paying that guy 40 mil over 4 years when the team said it couldn't do that is PLAIN STUPIDITY. I'm not talking about a bad trade or selling Babe Ruth when the Red Sox needed the money. Those moves are part of business. Doing a boneheaded stupid move is completely different. And by the way, it is moot because Pudge never was offered 40 mil for 4 years as was widely reported. Please learn to read and comprehend an argument. I'm totally proving you to be the fool you are.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stor..._jim&id=1720870 Jim Caple article...thought it would be appropriate to put it here in the Pudge thread. FANS' PASSION UNMATCHED Do you care more about your favorite team than the players on its roster do? Whose ties are stronger to a team, the players who give it their all on the field of play each game of the season or the fans who give it their hearts and souls most of their lives? Whose loyalties run deeper, the players who depend upon the team for their livelihoods or the fans who depend on it for their identity? Who cares more passionately, the players whose talent and work earned them the right to wear the uniform on the chests or the fans who spent a day's wages so they could wear a replica jersey? The answer depends on your definition of team allegiance. Well, maybe not in Manny Ramirez's case, but in most cases. Fans in Florida lived it up last fall as the Marlins became the world champions. For instance, who most deserved to race around the bases after winning the World Series last year, the Marlins owner/art dealer who acquired the team less than two years earlier, the Hall of Fame catcher who joined the team less than a year earlier or the fans who failed to crack the 11,000 attendance mark less than two months earlier? And who felt worse when Aaron Boone's home run sailed over the fence at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox designated hitter and MVP candidate of one season or the Boston fans who still flinch at the memory of Bucky Dent's home run sailing over the fence at Fenway Park? After all, David Ortiz may have been Boston's most valuable player last season, but until signing with the team before last season, what emotions had he ever invested in the Red Sox? Did he know what it felt like to watch the ball roll between Bill Buckner's legs or Dent's flyball sail over the Green Monster or Enos Slaughter race around the basepaths? Did he know the pain of listening to a beer-guzzling Yankee fan boast of their many world championships? Did he know the full meaning of the year 1918 or the decision to start Denny Galehouse or the name Billy Rohr? Did he have any concept of how long 85 years really is (not to mention 86 years)? Is there any way the World Series would have meant as much to him last year as it would to a card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation? On the other hand, those fans don't know what it's like to grow up in the Dominican Republic, taking English lessons after school as Ortiz did. They don't know what it's like to sign a pro contract at age 17. Or be traded at age 20. Or have a manager constantly ridicule their fielding. Or have a team tell them it doesn't want them anymore. Or to spend every winter working to get better by playing baseball in the Dominican. Is there is any way the World Series would have meant as much to the fans as it would to Ortiz? Ivan Rodriguez led the Marlins to a world championship but may leave to sign a $40 million contract with the worst team in baseball. Pudge might sign with the Tigers, a team that lost as many games last year as the Yankees have the past two years combined, that has averaged nearly 100 losses the past eight seasons, that hasn't been in the postseason since Kirk Gibson had hair. Is he disloyal? Selfish? Greedy as a Halliburton exec? Before you decide, remember that Pudge just accomplished his lifelong goal by winning a World Series. That he is an aging catcher who likely will never get another chance at a long term contract. That he is a possible Hall of Famer who has grown tired of settling for less than inferior players earn. That the Tigers are guaranteeing him more than twice as much money as anyone else. David Ortiz helped bring plenty of joy to Red Sox fans in 2003. Remember further that Rodriguez first squatted behind a major league plate two years before the Marlins and their fans even existed. That those Marlins fans barely cracked the 800,000 attendance mark the year before Florida won the World Series and that they have bought fewer 2004 season tickets than the Tigers. And remember that Jeffrey Loria was handed the Marlins just two years ago after running the Expos into the ground. Is Rodriguez any less connected to the Marlins than the team's owners or most of its fans? Fans are connected to a team, to its name, to its uniform, to its tradition, to its history and to their own memories. Cardinals fans feel as connected to the Gashouse Gang as as they do to today's lineup. To San Francisco fans, the Giants are as much Willie Mays as they are Barry Bonds. And any self-respecting Yankee fan would gladly give his Wilson basketball to the Boys and Girls Club and never step on the hardwood again if he thought playing one basketball game would cost his team its third baseman for the season. Players don't look at it that way. They feel connected to the specific team they're on that season and to their teammates. They didn't necessarily grow up rooting for the team so there is no personal attachment. The average player switches teams so often that they are rarely with any one team long enough to figure out the alternate jersey schedule let alone develop any lasting emotional connection. And they couldn't afford to develop one anyway. Fans may expect loyalty from players, but players know that loyalty doesn't exist in baseball. They know they are one bad season, one appealing trade offer or one knee injury in a winter hoops game from filling out another change of address form. Their loyalties to a team begin and end with their contract. Oh, there are exceptions. Players who not only spent an entire career with one team but grew up rooting for it -- Cal Ripken Jr. and Barry Larkin spring to mind -- probably feel as passionately about a team as the most devoted fan, but they are the vast minority. Who cares more about a team, its fans or its players? I think they care equally as much in their own ways. The important difference is the fans care for much, much longer. The players are over a postseason as soon as they file for free agency and hit the fairways. The fans relive it for the rest of their lives. Ask a Red Sox fan about Bucky Dent if you don't believe me. Jim Caple is a senior writer for ESPN.com First off, it appears that the 40 mil from Detroit was factually incorrect. Secondly, please explain how Loria ran the Expos into the ground? Loria was there TWO seasons. That franchise was in steep decline well before Loria took over. Sure Loria wanted a stadium and that fell apart. I can argue John Henry RAN the Marlins into the ground. You never see ESPN ripping Henry for his whining and lying and threatening contraction when no one ever heard of the word. Then Henry gets a plumb job owning the Red Sox. Suddenly, Henry wants A Rod and he spends like the Yankees. Give me a break. The Loria bashing is so uncalled for and so tired. Remeber this, it was John Henry who set all those deadlines to get a stadium or else. It was Henry who PROMISED to build a stadium with his own money. It was Henry who signed that awful lease deal with Huizenga. It was Henry who always was seen mopping about how bad he had it, and how it couldn't work here. It was Henry who vastly overpaid CJ and Preston. But let ESPN rip Loria. Loria has his ring and is doing just fine. The Marlins are in better shape with him than they were with Henry.

Wins dont mean too much when your a pitcher because if you dont get run support theres no way you can win. I'm sure Oliver had great run support. As a 5th starter he isnt bad but I would have liked to seen Tejera get a chance. Tejera will get a chance. I like seeing someone who comes off the mound with a W. Plus, Oliver logged 180 innings, which is a VERY vital stat because he saves the bullpen. This is an excellent signing based on the dollars available. Heck, we are getting a guy similar to Redman and he costs 3 mil less.

wins/losses = one of the most overrated stats for a pitcher. The comment about wins and losses being overrated is totally silly and is fodder for excuse makers. So rather than recognize 20 game winners or 300 game winners, we should be interested in fantasy geek stats like the WHIP. The game is about winning and losing. All other numbers are lame. Jack McKeon has said he would rather have a 15 game winner with a 5 ERA than a 15 game loser with a 2.00 ERA. I go with Jack on this over some fantasy geek. you are a fool. a pitcher winning 13 games with an ERA of 5 does so only because of superior run support. a pitching winning 6 games with an ERA in the low 3's does this because his team gives him squat for run support more often than not. you are a fool and continue to show your foolish ways with each post you make. yes the game is about winning and losing. how many 20 game winners are there with an ERA of 5. furthermore how many 300 game winners have an ERA of 5...let alone in the mid to upper 4s. sorry, you lose this argument. The guy has 83 or so career wins and has better than a .500 record. Give me his record over some loser with a 4.00 ERA and a 75-83 record. The game is about wins and losses, not WHIP. Sorry to break that to you. That is simply the facts. Superior run support. Every game is determined by superior run support. If a game is 1-0, the team with 1 had superior run support. ERA is so overrated. It's about winning. Sorry. You contradict yourself on 300 game winners, you say that wins are not important. Obviously, they are because we chart wins and 20 game winners can have high ERAs, many do. But give me Roy Halladay and his 20-plus wins over Pedro and his 12 or so wins from last year. That's the bottom line. WINNING. And wasn't Pedro out for a couple weeks or something like that? Your right about 20 games winners having high ERAs, just look out Russ Ortiz. If he had the Dodgers offense eh would've been somewhere like 10-8. Oh yeah, if you go by Coors Field pitching stats you are a fool. Thats the one ballpark you can go to and say winning isn't and indicator of a pitcher. Ignorant fool... Otherwise I like this signing and who knows what high humidity and a pitchers ballpark can do to him. I see him having a strong April and being a consistent bullpen lefty. if Pedro is out a couple of weeks, that's Halladay's fault? That shows lack of durability. For their careers, I take Pedro. But we measure players in the here and now. The latest info we have on both Halladay and Pedro is Halladay was better. That's all I can go by. All you can too. Pedro flopped in Game 7 of the ALCS, running out of gas. Plus, Boston has tremendous run support. So does Toronto. Obviously, baseball is a TEAM game. I go by guys who give you a chance to win. Guys who win obviously do. Guys like Willis last year gave the Marlins tons of chances to win. Problem today is these fantasy geeks split hairs and crunch numbers that they lose sight of the fact the game is about winning. Sure the Dodgers have a great staff. Obviously, not great enough. Mark Redman was better with Marlins because defensively FLORIDA is OUTSTANDING, plus in PPS, Redman's long fly balls surrendered were outs. Many factors in an ERA. Oliver with the Marlins defense is better than Oliver with Rockies defense. Plus, pitching in PPS helps him too.

I like the signing.... but wins/losses are overrated Ramp, if you are saying W/L are overrated, since your statements about Pudge coming back have been SOOOOO off base and WRONG, I am more convinced than ever that W/L are NOT overrated. Yes it is a good signing. I also argued, to deaf ears in this place, that Oliver is the FIFTH starter. He is an UPGRADE over Tejera. The guy can't totally be a dolt to have 80 something career wins and a plus .500 record. He is a safety valve til AJ returns. Anyone who frowns on this is very misguided.

wins/losses = one of the most overrated stats for a pitcher. The comment about wins and losses being overrated is totally silly and is fodder for excuse makers. So rather than recognize 20 game winners or 300 game winners, we should be interested in fantasy geek stats like the WHIP. The game is about winning and losing. All other numbers are lame. Jack McKeon has said he would rather have a 15 game winner with a 5 ERA than a 15 game loser with a 2.00 ERA. I go with Jack on this over some fantasy geek. you are a fool. a pitcher winning 13 games with an ERA of 5 does so only because of superior run support. a pitching winning 6 games with an ERA in the low 3's does this because his team gives him squat for run support more often than not. you are a fool and continue to show your foolish ways with each post you make. yes the game is about winning and losing. how many 20 game winners are there with an ERA of 5. furthermore how many 300 game winners have an ERA of 5...let alone in the mid to upper 4s. sorry, you lose this argument. The guy has 83 or so career wins and has better than a .500 record. Give me his record over some loser with a 4.00 ERA and a 75-83 record. The game is about wins and losses, not WHIP. Sorry to break that to you. That is simply the facts. Superior run support. Every game is determined by superior run support. If a game is 1-0, the team with 1 had superior run support. ERA is so overrated. It's about winning. Sorry. You contradict yourself on 300 game winners, you say that wins are not important. Obviously, they are because we chart wins and 20 game winners can have high ERAs, many do. But give me Roy Halladay and his 20-plus wins over Pedro and his 12 or so wins from last year. That's the bottom line. WINNING.

Validity of the argument wins the support. Notice how few counter attack my facts. Worry more about the Marlins getting a new stadium and less about Pudge and misspelled words. Your arguments make ZILCH sense. You know the bottom line of what I say is true. In the grand scheme of things, Pudge is not important. Getting the stadium and raising season tickets is. If you were so convincing in your arguments and actually got more fans to attend games when Pudge was here, then the team would have been in better position to bring Pudge back. I understand why you are so picky on the word ZILCH, because you offer ZILCH to this message board in your responses. You are LAMEEEEEEEE Support for what? What is you problem? Few care about your arguments and your personal attacks, name calling and rudeness. What do you get so excited when someone say "I hope we get Pudge back"? It is not like Loria and Beinfest are surfing the web for opinions on what to do. btw, We aren't part of the FO, so concentrating on Stadium Talk and season tickets sale is not going to get us a stadium or more season tickets. my opinions are the facts. Notice how Pudge isn't coming back. The stadium is the single most important concern with this team. Plain and simple.

please ban this repeatin04 guy asap :ban he's detrimental to the forums factual is more accurate. keep free speech alive. be an American.

One of the busiest and wildest offseasons in major league history has changed the look of several teams. It has seen five certain Hall of Famers switch clubs and it has given a number of young players an opportunity to shine. All this movement has placed significant pressure on certain players and managers. Here are 10 who will be on the spot in 2004: 10 Carlos Beltran The Royals rightfully chose not to trade Beltran even though he will be a free agent after the 2004 season, and seems certain to leave for a bigger market. Kansas City is going to try to win the AL Central with him, which likely won't happen without a spectacular season from Beltran. The bigger the year, the bigger his next contract.? 9 Bobby Crosby The A's let shortstop Miguel Tejada leave via free agency partly because they couldn't afford him, and partly because they think Crosby is ready to take over as the regular shortstop. He'd better be if the A's are going to get back to the playoffs. But, he's a former No. 1 pick, is big and strong, comes from a baseball family and won't be awed by the big leagues. Twins catcher Joe Mauer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft, could be in a similar spot. A.J. Pierzynski was traded to San Francisco to make room for Mauer, who is 20.? 8 Josh Beckett With his transcendent postseason, the expectations are going to be unreasonably high for someone with 17 career regular-season wins. Plus, the Marlins lost a lot of talent in the offseason, and the young staff, led by Beckett, will be asked to help make up for it. His stuff is terrific, his poise amazing, but can he stay healthy and focused all year?? 7 Alex Rodriguez If the trade to Boston isn't revived, the game's best player will have some making up to do with the fans in Texas. Even though he never demanded anything, he was the first to push the trade, and continues to push it. He will hear boos if he gets off to a slow start, and even if he doesn't. But he is so impossibly talented, he surely will win back Rangers fans with another sensational season.? 6 Kaz Matsui Following the successes of Ichiro and Hideki Matsui, a lot is now expected, especially in New York, from the high-priced Japanese imports. Plus, Matsui's signing switches Jose Reyes, the Mets' top prospect, from shortstop to second base in a controversial move. If Matsui starts slowly, or Reyes can't handle second base, it could get testy. But from all scouting reports, Matsui is going to impress and entertain Mets fans.? 5 Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens They left the Yankees, which few do, to sign with the Astros, their hometown team. Going home to pitch can be difficult -- nothing hurts worse than to be booed at home. Plus, the Astros now feel (rightfully so) that they have a chance, with Pettitte and Clemens, to get to the World Series for the first time.? 4 Mike Scioscia Angels owner Arte Moreno spent roughly $150 million this winter to upgrade the team with Vladimir Guerrero, Bartolo Colon, Kelvim Escobar and Jose Guillen. Scioscia, like most managers, is thrilled with his new players, but now there is an expectation to win the World Series again. Also, these four new guys can be, at times, unapproachable. One reason why the Angels won it all in 2002 was their chemistry -- they were a bunch of grinders, not a bunch of high-priced guys from other organizations. That will be Scioscia's test: turning a diverse group of players into a team. But no manager is better at communicating with his players and getting the most out of them.? 3 Gary Sheffield The Yankees became the first team in 100 years to lose three, 15-game winners in the same offseason. Sheffield is the biggest acquisition in a winter of change. He can hit anyone, any place, any time, but with the many distractions of New York, the improvement of the Red Sox and the yearly urgency to win, Sheffield is on the spot. 2 Admin Bowa The Phillies spent an enormous amount of money this winter to improve the team with Billy Wagner, Tim Worrell, Eric Milton, Roberto Hernandez and the unexpected re-signing of Kevin Millwood. The Phils are moving into a new ballpark. Phillies fans are getting anxious. Bowa's contract recently was extended, but with confidence so high in Philly, a rocky start will increase the heat on him. 1 Curt Schilling The Red Sox haven't won a World Series since 1918. Now they've brought in a 37-year-old ace, a former Red Sox farmhand, to beat the Yankees and bring a world championship to Boston. He'll have a lot of help and a good team behind him, but being trusted more than anyone to break an 86-year curse brings a lot of pressure. what a lame agrument by ESPN about Beckett. Pressure is on players without title rings. Not on players with them. Beckett will be just fine. Please explain this great talent lost? The way I see it, the team's opening day lineup is better than it was last year. Conine is improved over Hollandsworth. Cabrera is an improvement over Encarnacion in right. So Redmond isn't Pudge and Hee Seop isn't Lee, there is a tradeoff in the four different positions. The rest of the team is a year older and they know how to win. Pierre and Castillo are more in line now. Lowell is a legit big time player. Beckett, last year's day 1 starter, is far better. Benitez is better than Looper and Fox in setup is better than Vlady Nunez. I keep praying the pundits at ESPN keep picking against the Marlins. This team is still great.

I think Beinfest did this for 2 reasons: 1. Obviously, he's better than Tejera and he's going to be our 5th starter baring injury or an amazing showing by Justin Wayne 2. Left handed insurance for Dontrelle, because as much as I love the guy, you have to be concerned that he did get lit up during the second half of the year, and just in case he needs some honing in the minors, we've got a lefty ready... Dontrelle is not going to be refined in the minors. If you check the numbers, Dontrelle was strong in September, while Brandon Webb got lit up in September. Look at the numbers, they don't lie. Dontrelle is fine. Oliver is a good pickup because he is an improvement over Tejera. To hear some of you people babble that this is the end of the world, get real. The guy won 13 games last year for the Rockies. He is the FIFTH starter. AJ will be back and this guy provides insurace when another starter goes down. They aren't breaking the bank on him. Although this is another 750 K that is more proof Pudge isn't coming back.

wins/losses = one of the most overrated stats for a pitcher. The comment about wins and losses being overrated is totally silly and is fodder for excuse makers. So rather than recognize 20 game winners or 300 game winners, we should be interested in fantasy geek stats like the WHIP. The game is about winning and losing. All other numbers are lame. Jack McKeon has said he would rather have a 15 game winner with a 5 ERA than a 15 game loser with a 2.00 ERA. I go with Jack on this over some fantasy geek.

thats obvious. i guess its like...at least our fanbase is growing.... its still a concern. Why must you be so damn negative all the time? It will take some time for the fan base to grow - winning a World Series, in some ways, is bad for this franchise. I thought getting to the playoffs would be better because winning the whole thing all of a sudden means we get a huge windfall. No. Fans started coming back when the Marlins started winning. If they keep winning, people will be back. Plain and simple. Some people are still on the fence with this team - remember, last time we won a WS we lost 118 games the following year. That is clearly not going to happen here, but people are a little gun shy. The other thing, which a$$holes like LeBAstard dont realize is, people just dont have all the money right now. Holidays just passed. People live beyond their means in Miami - in fact, that is a way of life down here. There just isnt a lot of money lying around. But in the coming weeks, people will start showing up and buying tix. FanFest has been targeted as a big selling point. And as people get their tax refunds back, that money could be used towards getting tix. I also think people are non-committal with season tix because of weather concerns and it is more flexible to get a 20 game deal. I am actually very encouraged if we have only 5,000 tix at this point - and they consist completely of 20 game deals. That is 20,000 fans instead of just 5,000. So LeRetard and others (ahem...Das) should try and take an objective look here. what a lame post this is. Holidays just passed. Give me a break. Winning it all was bad, give me a break. LeBatard is ABSOLUTELY correct. Quit making excuses. You either want the team or you don't. Excuses are for losers. Your post reflects the biggest loser attitude I've ever read. It's too hot to go. We don't have money. Well, if this market doesn't have the money, some other market will. Funny how other markets have more, many more, season ticket holders than our market. They just had the holidays, and they are buying tickets. What a lame argument. Get a reality check. Why do you even come into a message board? You clearly have no interest or knowledge of what it takes to be a big league market. Go support minor league baseball somewhere. LeBatard isn't correct often, but he nailed it on this argument. As a market, we are pathetic. Until people actually admit this problem, and address it, then nothing will be done. You say if we had reached the playoffs and lost, that would have built up the hunger, what a stupid comment. You honestly believe there would be more interest if we lost to the Cubs? Braindead is the one word to describe you. Repeatin04, or should I say, Dan LeBatard, I wont resort to name-calling because clearly you have insecurity issues. If you think that now should be the time to determine whether or not this market should have this franchise then you are wrong. The fact is that there is a large population here in Dade county and a large population of baseball-knowledgeable fans. In fact, a large part of the talent in MLB comes from down here or even through here. So to say the market isnt here is naive. It is only Jan. 27th. Opening Day is April 1st. That is roughly 2 months away. Do me a favor, try and find out what the season ticket sales are actually at this moment. You will find that LeRetard (yourself) is not using ALL the facts, as he tends to do. 5,000 season tix may be a snapshot, but there are people as we speak who are sending in their orders and the Marlins office is having a hard time of keeping up with the process. In other words, business is good. Crying and whining over ticket sales in January is like whining over signing Ivan Rodriguez to a team 'clearly' not headed to the playoffs. It is like, and I quote our beloved LeRetard, "adding breast implants to a corpse". Funny, that was another estimation that LeRetard made - in January of last year. Look how dead wrong he was then. But go ahead, side with him. You seem to be the kind of guy who can rationally form arguments and instead of just citing problems (or inciting them), can offer solutions. Oops, I guess I had you confused with someone who was 'braindead'. Sorry your feelings bruise so easily. Making excuses is for losers. Give it up trying to justify the lousy fan support. Winning the World Series isn't enough for this market. It's attitudes like yours that has this team scraping to survive. LeBatard is correct is ripping the fans. If this team even has any. This is the worst market in baseball. Win championships, lose the team because of apathy. Then to have so called fans justifying not attending and making up lame arguments, just pathetic. You honestly think by opening day that the season ticket base will be substantially more than 5,000? What is impressive to you, 8,000? Wow, that will pay for a long term deal with Cabrera. Face it, this town is what it is, which isn't much. Loser excuse makers only exasperate the problem. Yes you are braindead.

well, if all this land is there, why isn't any of it being offered to the Marlins? Because these politicans are hypocrites. The OB is NOT the worst site. It is perfectly fine. Maybe not the most ideal, but certainly fine. Notice how the team hasn't said it is sold entirely on playing at the OB? That's because Samson is consistent saying the team is looking at all possibilities. Getting this done is the only thing that matters. If not, the team goes. While I would hate it, I'd blame the market not the team or baseball.

I think MLB should have required there be a new ballpark built before the team was awarded, but Wayne claimed PPS was good enough and MLB went along with it. Moving an MLB team is harder than moving a volcano. I have serious doubts the Expos will move now that rumors in Montreal have the Canadiens ownership and some former Expos owners considering buying the team back from MLB and making it work at Olympic Stadium. The Marlins, worse comes to worse, will go for the lease war with Wayne. Dade County can reinstate the ordinance it repealed when the Marlins were created that limited Pro Player Stadium to 18 events a year. That would devistate Wayne. Imagine, no more concerts or even parties in skyboxes. The Marlins have more leverage than they think. Remember PPS is on public land. while true, Miami never should have gotten the team without a real stadium, the reality is WE GOT THEM. Now, the truth is showing up in these message boards. These so called fans say the government should not help build the stadium. True. Free country. Free for Marlins to move to. I hope that makes you idealists happy when they are gone. Maybe in Memphis or Vancouver the Marlins would have the revenue stream to sign Pudge again. Then all the Pudge fans will be happy. Pudge will be a Marlin. A Memphis Marlin.