wanks1212

So...any of you Marlins fans who said the Fish need a new stadium more than the Twins, have you ever been to the Metrodome? *crickets chirp* 754612[/snapback] I've been to both, and while Dolphins Stadium isn't a great place for a game, the Metrodome makes DS seem like Fenway Park by comparison.

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/sports/roadtos...ew_6122881.html Basically, you own a football team but your players can fight and gamble, among other things, to make you money for your team. A different approach that I think has alot of potential.

It's not close to a done deal - just a new financing plan without state funding that still has to be approved. MINNEAPOLIS -- In the shadow of a stadium he's been itching to abandon, Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad depicted the latest plan to end the protracted fight for a publicly subsidized ballpark as a can't-lose proposition. "It's something we've dreamed about, all of us. I can just visualize it out there now," said Pohlad on Monday outside the Metrodome. His plan calls for a ballpark that would open in time for the 2009 season. But while he and others spoke as though the proposed $360 million, 42,000-seat downtown stadium was a done deal, state officials who must consent to an increased Hennepin County sales tax received the plan cautiously. Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty said the proposal struck him as "reasonable" but said he would prefer that the sales tax hike -- 15 cents on every $100 spent in the county -- be put to a public referendum. Although he stopped short of demanding such a vote, a few state legislators from Hennepin County indicated they'd have trouble supporting a bill that doesn't force one. Hennepin County commissioners are scheduled to take public testimony on the Twins plan at a meeting Tuesday and vote on it as soon as next week, said board chairman Randy Johnson. Johnson opposes a referendum, which Twins officials described as a dealbreaker. "We were elected to make decisions, including decisions like this," Johnson said. The Twins, who have been after a new stadium for a decade, have been on the brink of getting one before. In 2002, a bill authorizing financing for a ballpark cleared the Legislature, but the Twins said the numbers didn't work for them. The latest plan calls for a $125 million upfront contribution from Pohlad, a billionaire who has owned the team for two decades. Jerry Bell, Pohlad's longtime point man on stadium issues, said there are no restrictions on where that payment comes from -- meaning it could come from selling naming rights or other privately raised money. It must be paid by the time the ballpark opens. Pohlad sidestepped questions about the source of his payment but said the public was getting a fair deal. "With the substantial contribution we're making, I don't know how they can say no," Pohlad said of lawmakers. The total project cost is estimated at $478 million, if roadwork, site preparation and other infrastructure improvements are factored in. The Twins and Hennepin County would make annual contributions, beginning at $600,000 and $1.4 million respectively, for future maintenance. Meanwhile, Pawlenty and leading lawmakers said the Twins bill should sit on the shelf at the Capitol until legislators finish work on the state budget. The 2005 session must adjourn by May 23, and the House and Senate have most of their budget bills left to pass. House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen said even though the proposal doesn't seek any state contribution, he remains skeptical about the public's share. "I'm not convinced if you go out to dinner in Eden Prairie that you should be paying sales tax for a stadium in downtown Minneapolis," said Paulsen, an Eden Prairie Republican. Retiree John Slattery of Plymouth echoed Paulsen. "Why should I be saddled with some kind of sales tax for a benefit that goes primarily for Carl Pohlad," Slattery said. The new plan doesn't include money for a retractable roof, although the stadium would be built to accommodate one in the future. Twins officials said that $100 million cost would have to be borne by the state, which Pawlenty called unlikely this year. Surrounded by local politicians and Twins greats Kent Hrbek and Paul Molitor on a wind-swept Metrodome plaza, the unpredictability of April baseball at a fresh-air stadium wasn't lost on Pohlad. "It's a little cold," he said. "Maybe we could vote for a roof now." http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2046185&num=0

For those who care about the Bills (which is probably few), I'll give my quick opinions on their offseason. The Buffalo Bills have, thusfar, had a somewhat curious offseason. While releasing Drew Bledsoe may count as addition by subtraction, their other moves do not seem to add up. Failing to re-sign Pat Williams and neglecting to address the DT position in the draft is a move that I cannot understand at all. Ron Edwards and Tim Anderson are both complementary players at best and cannot be expected to replace the production from Big Pat. Not matching the obscene contract Jonas Jennings received from the 49ers was also the right move, but the replacements the Bills have signed for him aren't overly enamoring. Bennie Anderson might be able to play center, allowing Trey Teague to shift outside to left tackle. However, there is a reason Teague hasn't played much LT in the NFL - he simply isn't very good as a tackle. While Roscoe Parrish is a good player, the Bills had much bigger needs at their spot in the second round. Taking Babineaux or Adam Terry would have been smarter if they were drafting on need, but Tom Donahoe rarely does that and instead opts for the "best player available" mantra, hence his selecting a 3rd wideout and return specialist (for a team that had a Pro Bowl kick returner in Terrence McGee already) instead of a DT or OT, both of which were glaring needs. Kevin Everett was a solid pickup, especially considering the late season injuries to Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus. The latter half of the draft addressed some positional needs, but Donahoe's biggest move so far has been failing to jettison Travis Henry. Now he must count on a RB getting injured in camp and a team be willing to overpay, which is a somewhat risky proposition. While Donahoe's stubbornness has paid off in the past (Peerless Price for a no.1 to Atlanta a few years ago), it may have gotten the best of him this year. Overall Buffalo looks to be better on offense by having McGahee and Evans with another year of experience and shouldn't see any significant dropoff from Bledsoe to Losman. In fact, I'd expect Losman to outperform Bledsoe next year, but that's just my opinion. The defense has some aging players (Vincent, Adams, Fletcher) who will be one year older and could experience some dropoff in production, but the unit as a whole should again be very good. Special teams was one of the best in the NFL last year, and I see no reason why that should change, either. Buffalo really should have made the playoffs last year (Football Outsiders, a website similar to Baseball Prospectus, calculates that by their numbers Buffalo should have won between 11-12 games last year). However, I don't see it happening for them this year with their schedule and the improvement of the Dolphins and Jets possibly costing them a win or two. While the Bills could push 11-12 wins if everything breaks right for them, a repeat 9-7 season is much more likely, with the leap to a real AFC Title contender coming in 2006.

Bust: Aaron Rodgers Steal: Ciatrick Fason

Hockey and soccer goalie is comparable pressure wise You can't honestly say with a straight face that anyone on here has more pressure than a soccer goalie. Goalies get killed for messing up, that's not going to happen to a QB. 750036[/snapback] Meh, maybe not, but Neil O'Donnell got it pretty bad in Pittsburgh after Super Bowl XXX. Depends on the league/level I guess, though I still maintain that a QB is the toughest position to play, and I could argue that a QB at least as much pressure, but I don't want to turn this thread into one with two people arguing relentlessly like so many others on this board turn into. After World Cup '94 when the Colombian Andres Escobar scored on his own goalie vs the U.S. and Colombia lost the game as a result, he did get shot and killed a few months later, though he wasn't a goalie. Alot of fanatics out there, and you've got a good point about the pressure on the soccer goalie.

Looks like they are doing the same basic things the Clippers do.

Great job, though I'm not sure about Pac Man Jones going before Carlos Rogers and I can't see the Skins passing on Jones with the 9 pick if he is there. I also don't think Matt Jones makes it out of the first round, or the Texans grab Williams since they already have Domanick Davis. But that's just nitpicking, and overall I think you did a very good job.

Looking at Jason Campbell.... link

Aside from the physical and mental demands placed upon the position, QB's have more pressure on them than any other position in sports. Catchers arguably have as much mental work (I'd disagree) and face as much physical pain (probably, though it's debatable). The pressure from everyone around the game (teammates, coaches, fans, parents in high school, media at the D1 and NFL level) puts QB over the top for me. How often do you hear "that damn catcher blew the game" as opposed to "that damn QB blew the game." Hockey and soccer goalie is comparable pressure wise, but the mental work is greater for a QB and makes me go with them as the toughest position in sports.

Miguel Botswana :lol

MNF must really be in the cellar if they had to move it to cable. 746702[/snapback] yup, NBC getting the Sunday Night Game is great! Now will NBC get ESPN's current Sunday Night Crew (its former crew) back or will ESPN horde them for some unkown reason? Will Michaels and Madden stay with MNF on ESPN? Will ESPN finally allow Al Michaels to call baseball again? 746706[/snapback] Hopefully ESPN takes the MNF crew and NBC hires their own announcers who aren't Patrick, Theisman, and Maguire. Every time I listen to those three on a Sunday night game, well, to be nice... :banghead

QB or CB. I voted for QB because I am more biased there than anywhere else.

I would like to see Jack try flopping Gonzalez and Castillo in the lineup for an extended period of time to take advantage of Castillo's patience and get Gonzalez better pitches to hit, but it won't happen.

The following teams have primetime games this season: Dallas (3) New Orleans (2) Cleveland (1) Cardinals (1) 49ers (1) :plain 741305[/snapback] The Cardinals and Niners actually play against each other too in a Sunday Night game, though that is the game in Mexico (which must be the sole reason for it being nationally televised, since I can think of no other reason, legitimate or not). Cleveland deserves to be nowhere near a primetime game; a Dolphins-New England game at the Pro would have been a decent primetime matchup after last year's upset.

f*** 739345[/snapback] My thoughts exactly.

Team may get new lease BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@herald.com With the Marlins facing long odds in their bid for state stadium funding, Dolphins Stadium owner Wayne Huizenga indicated for the first time Monday that he might offer the team a new long-term lease with terms that are more favorable for the Marlins. Asked last week about speculation that he might be prepared to offer the Marlins a long-term lease that would give them more revenue, Huizenga relayed through his assistant Monday, ''That is correct.'' Huizenga declined to elaborate. Huizenga has not directly conveyed that nor any other sentiment to the Marlins recently. Last November, Huizenga Holdings sent a letter to the Marlins saying their lease would not be renewed after 2010. Earlier this month, Huizenga told State Sen. President Tom Lee that he would not evict the Marlins after 2010 -- a move that could damage the team's chances of securing a $60 million sales tax rebate that would complete funding for a new stadium. The Marlins declined to comment on Huizenga's latest remark, but they have never considered staying at Dolphins Stadium an option for the long-term. Since Jeffrey Loria bought the team in 2002, the Marlins have made several unsuccessful attempts to change the terms of the lease, but always had the intention of trying to get a new ballpark. Under terms of the current lease -- which has been in effect since the Marlins came into existence under Huizenga in 1993 -- the team receives 70 percent of concession revenue, 37.5 percent of parking revenue and nothing from the lease of club seats and suites (that money goes toward retiring the stadium debt, through 2016). Dolphins Stadium keeps most of the stadium ad revenue. Marlins president David Samson has called the lease ``the single worst in baseball.'' The Marlins, who say they lost more than $20 million last season, have said they need a new stadium's revenues in order to remain competitive. The Marlins' current lease runs through 2006, with one-year options (at the Marlins' discretion) through 2010. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/11371420.htm

Marlins' stadium proposal languishing after snub by key Republican By Jean-Paul Renaud and Sarah Talalay Staff Writers Posted April 12 2005 TALLAHASSEE -- Despite the refusal of a key Republican committee chairman, Gov. Jeb Bush on Monday said a financing request for a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins deserves a full airing in the Legislature. "Let it have a fair hearing," Bush said upon learning that State Rep. Fred Brummer, R-Apopka, who chairs the House Finance and Tax Committee, is refusing to hear the request for a $60 million state sales tax rebate. "I think their proposal is better than previous years. Is it better than the other funding proposals of the state, I don't know. That's what hearings and the committee process is all about." Miami-Dade County and city of Miami officials, who are seeking the rebate to round out a $420 million plan for a ballpark east of the Orange Bowl, were already scrambling to prepare economic analyses on the benefits of a stadium for a Wednesday hearing before the Senate Commerce and Consumer Services Committee, when Brummer said he wouldn't hear the bill. Brummer said he has seen no proof a new stadium will help Miami's economy. He said the bill will die unless its sponsor, Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, can find more compelling evidence. "At this point I haven't heard any arguments in favor of hearing the bill," Brummer said. "The item does not generate substantial economic development. Unless Rep. Lopez-Cantera can come up with some new argument that will convince me otherwise, I will not hear the bill." House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, said he'd respect Brummer's decision. "He's not going to force him to hear a bill," said Towson Fraser, Bense's spokesman. Fraser said Brummer's opposition didn't mean the issue couldn't resurface. "I'm sure this is not the last we will hear about the bill," he said. Lopez-Cantera said he will present his own economic analysis this week showing a stadium's benefits. "I told [brummer] that if you can find an economist that says one thing, you can find an economist that says the opposite," Lopez-Cantera said. "Hopefully this week, I'm going to be bringing some information that will hopefully sway his opinion of the bill." Stadium supporters were unbowed. "We've got to show movement in the Senate before we can get movement in the House," said Ron Book, a lobbyist for the city and county. Any momentum the deal had was dashed last week by two main developments: a legislative economist told the Senate Commerce Committee that numerous economic studies show sports venues don't generate enough spinoff development to offset public investment, and Dolphins Stadium owner H. Wayne Huizenga told Senate President Tom Lee the Marlins could play at the stadium when their lease expires in 2010. The Marlins declined comment Monday, but have indicated they will explore moving from Florida if they cannot secure the state piece of the financing plan. The team pays rent at Dolphins Stadium and receives only percentages of concession, parking and signage revenue. Tallahassee Bureau Chief Linda Kleindienst and Staff Writer Mark Hollis contributed to this report. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins

If Enc has the type of year where the Marlins get a first round pick as compensation for another team signing him as a free agent, I'll be happy.

My bet is they will go ahead with or without the $$$ from Tallahassee. They are not going to let $30M stop the project. 737213[/snapback] I tend to agree, especially with the Marlins hiring a construction manager after all the seemingly negative news out of Tallahassee this week.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/11357233.htm FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ Will Marlins be looking to move? BARRY JACKSON bjackson@herald.com As the bid for state money for a new stadium sits on life support, the once-remote possibility of the Marlins leaving town no longer can be discounted after several setbacks last week. Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess disclosed Friday the county's and city's deal with the Marlins will be nullified if state money isn't awarded by the end of the legislative session May 6. Burgess said there is no Plan B to save the $420 million ballpark deal. ''If the state says no, the deal doesn't happen and we move on,'' Burgess said. The Marlins (contributing $192 million) and the city and county have said they won't contribute anything more. Would the Marlins, who have a lease through 2006, really leave town over $30 million? The belief here is that ownership will begin considering other suitors -- such as Las Vegas; Norfolk, Va.; and Portland, Ore. -- in May if the state rejects the Marlins' bid for $60 million (which the team would use to borrow $30 million). There are strong indications MLB won't stand in the Marlins' way. The team isn't commenting on several setbacks last week. Among them: Gov. Jeb Bush failed to give support to the Marlins' efforts; an economist told a Senate subcommittee that financing stadiums with public money produces no economic benefits; and Wayne Huizenga told State Sen. President Tom Lee he won't bounce the Marlins from Dolphins Stadium after 2010 (even though the Marlins have a letter saying he would). Rumors flew in Tallahassee last week that Huizenga might offer the Marlins a more favorable long-term lease, but there's no indication of that, and it's highly doubtful the Marlins would accept it, anyway. A close associate said Huizenga now is more receptive to keeping the Marlins because filling 81 annual dates would generate business for proposed on-site retail shops and restaurants. Although the odds are against the state helping the Marlins, it's not dead yet. ''We have some work before us in the Senate,'' Burgess said. ''It seems like there is solid support in the House.'' A Senate committee might consider it Wednesday. The Marlins' best hope is convincing Lee it's a good idea. ? No Marlins player could escape his contract early if the team relocates. Carlos Delgado asked about stadium efforts during negotiations, but the Marlins told him a new ballpark was ''very likely,'' agent David Sloane said I still have a hard time believing that 30 million kills this deal.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- As the Florida Marlins were opening their season, a Senate committee got a report from legislative staff that doesn't bode well for the request to get the team a new stadium. The Senate Commerce and Consumer Services Committee heard from a Senate staff economist Tuesday that new sports stadiums don't usually have the intended effect of spurring economic development. The report comes as the South Florida officials ask for a $60 million state tax rebate over three decades to help build a new community-owned ballpark. ``I think you could expect very small if not zero economic benefit from a new stadium,'' said Senate economist Dr. Ross Fabricant. City and county officials as well as the team have pledged money for the proposed retractable-roof facility. Meanwhile, Gov. Jeb Bush said he still isn't sure that state help is a good idea. He didn't rule it out, but said there were higher priorities. ``We can't be all things to all people. We can't fund everything that comes, I mean every idea that comes into town looking for a sponsor,'' Bush said. Fabricant's report met with skepticism from several lawmakers on the Senate panel, particularly those from South Florida, who said they didn't see how the team couldn't spur tourists to come and, in turn, drive development near the park. Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Aventura, said the Miami Dolphins' football stadium has allowed for several Super Bowls and that sports stadiums must provide an economic boost. ``I'm having a little difficulty with this,'' Margolis said of the economist's assessment. Fabricant said his review found that most economists agree that stadiums don't spur economic benefits. Ron Book, a lobbyist for the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County, said the report was preordained to be negative. ``He came in here to bang on the rebate system,'' Book said, adding that the city had experts who could say the stadium would provide a positive economic impact. ``We're not worried.'' http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/sou...-home-headlines

mlb.tv looks a lot clearer this year...not sure if its just my comp or not but it looks a lot better 726354[/snapback] It looks better for me, too.

No April Fool's joke from me. ESPN Mag is picking the Fish to grab the Wild Card (behind the Braves in the East) and take out the Red Sox in six games. Seriously. ? WILD TIMES ALL THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO A DIVISION TITLE. WHAT'S IT GET YOU? FRUSTRATED FANS (ASK THE BRAVES). IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE A FIRST-PLACE TEAM HAS WON THE WORLD SERIES. SECOND THOUGHTS? CHECK OUT THE MARLINS, WHO'VE PERFECTED THE ART OF ROARING INTO THE PLAYOFFS. THIS FALL, THEY'LL CELEBRATE A SINGULAR ACHIEVEMENT. WORLD SERIES TITLES SINCE 1997: 3. DIVISION TITLES: 0. NOW THAT'S WILD. AMERICAN LEAGUE BY BUSTER OLNEY NATIONAL LEAGUE BY TIM KURKJIAN AL W>LAA C>MIN E>NYY WC>BOS NL W>SD C>STL E>ATL WC>FLA WORLD SERIES MARLINS OVER RED SOX IN 6 Here's a link for ESPN Insider's to the Magazine's site. http://mag.espn.go.com/ActiveMagazine/getb...SPN_AM&Page=100 Here is their team preview: FLORIDA MARLINS GETTING WARMER With Carlos Delgado in the middle of the lineup and Al Leiter at the front of the rotation, the Marlins are a hot Series pick. But it all comes down to Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett. Ready, guys? In this well-balanced order, there are no easy outs PIERRE CF 200-hit machine has 166 K's in five years CASTILLO 2B With his SS arm, he's great on the pivot CABRERA LF 33 HRs in '04, 7th-most by a 21-year-old DELGADO 1B Fish had 19 HRs from lefty hitters in '04 LOWELL 3B Good move to re-sign veteran leader LO DUCA C Second in NL with .563 bases-loaded BA ENCARNACION RF $4.4M contract makes him trade bait GONZALEZ SS .270 OBP, but 23 HRs and slick glove CONINE PH Lost job to Delgado, but still Mr. Marlin New coach Mark Wiley is in heaven with these arms BECKETT SP Arrogance belies 26?26 career record LEITER SP No need to rush into broadcasting career BURNETT SP Needs to stop maxing out on every pitch WILLIS SPTrying to tighten up his big delivery VALDEZ SP Pitching for his seventh team this decade JONES SU If MLB tests for Little Debbies, it's over MOTA CL Killer fastball, but prefers the changeup HIT AND RUN Juan Pierre bunts in the cage every day, and it shows: he's the best bunter in baseball. In each of the first three spring games, he led off with a bunt single, all to different parts of the field. They also pick Cabrera to win the NL MVP, but I'm having trouble pasting that text into this post.

Sports Illustrated's preseason picks came out today. They take the Braves in the East, with the Marlins getting the Wild Card and falling to the Cardinals in the Division Series. Their World Series is the Yankees taking out the Braves. Here is their capsule on the Fish, who they rate as the 8th best team in MLB behind (in order) NYY, BOS, ATL, STL, MIN, ANA, and SF. New first baseman Carlos Delgado balances the power in an already loaded lineup In a classic case of gilt-by-association, the Marlins think first baseman Carlos Delgado can turn an otherwise middling playoff contender into pure gold. With Delgado hitting cleanup for the most balanced batting order in the division, Florida 1) has a dominant lefthanded power bat for the first time in its 13-year history, 2) will provide protection for 21-year-old leftfielder Miguel Cabrera in the number 3 hole, 3) can give third baseman Mike Lowell (190 RBIs over the past two years) even more run-producing opportunities in the 5 slot and 4) figures to force opposing managers to burn two relievers late in games while they deal with a fierce lefty sandwiched between formidable righties. "Delgado's our Manny Ramirez, our Jim Thome, our big dog," Lowell says. "Cabrera's a superstar in the making who'll reap the benefits of having Delgado there. And I know they'll be walking Delgado to face me, playing for the double play because I don't run well. I welcome that. I think we reap the benefits on both sides." Florida has had only one lefthanded batter, Cliff Floyd, belt at least 30 home runs in a season; Delgado topped that mark seven times in his 12 years with the Blue Jays. "There's a learning curve going to a new league," says Delgado, 32, who signed a four-year, $52 million free-agent contract. "So we'll see. I'm pretty hard on myself." In spring training there was awe from his new teammates and aw-shucks from Delgado, who seemed as impatient with his 0-for-12 start as centerfielder Juan Pierre was with a calf strain that kept him out for three weeks. Known for his durability, Pierre is the ideal leadoff hitter for a lineup that is strong 1 through 8 -- assuming he doesn't get giddy. Pierre ranked second in the NL with 45 steals in 2004, but he was thrown out 24 times, prompting manager Jack McKeon to urge discretion if not outright caution on the basepaths. Still, with Pierre and switch-hitter Luis Castillo at the top of the batting order, the hits should keep on coming. The Marlins are so stacked that their number 6 hitter, catcher Paul Lo Duca, batted third for the Dodgers most of last season and their number 8 hitter, shortstop Alex Gonzalez, swatted 23 homers and drove in 79 runs. Of course, blistering fingers will have perhaps an even greater impact on Florida's season than blistering speed or bats. Josh Beckett, MVP of the 2003 World Series, was bedeviled by a blister on his right middle finger that twice relegated him to the disabled list last season. The 24-year-old, who was shut down three times with blisters in 2002, avoided them during the championship season. But questions linger in the Marlins' clubhouse whether baseball's most spectacular .500 pitcher (26-26 lifetime, albeit with a 3.49 earned run average) was sufficiently diligent in caring for his digits last year. Beckett and A.J. Burnett, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2003, have been on the DL a combined 11 times over the past three seasons. If they combine for 60 starts this year -- their highest was 50, in 2002 -- they could be to Florida what Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt are to the Astros. "You have extremely talented and young starting pitchers with superior stuff," says 39-year-old lefty Al Leiter, the former Met, who was a shrewd signing because of his added value as a pitching coach without portfolio. "But there's more to it than how hard you throw. These guys are sharp, sharper than I was when I had stuff like them 12, 15 years ago. Maybe there are some things I can help bring into focus." To close games, the Marlins initially will depend on righty Guillermo Mota, another pitcher with an incendiary fastball but little track record as a closer. But a team with a $66 million payroll can't afford everything. With an improved bullpen that includes former closers Antonio Alfonseca and Todd Jones, Florida should have enough buffers to smooth Mota's transition. Delgado rejected the Mets' free-agent offer because he thought the Marlins gave him a better chance to win. If the Braves falter, the Delgado trickle-down effect could be positively uplifting in Miami. -- Michael Farber http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/...ws/marlins.html