fanfish

I wonder who's idea it was to keep Reggie in the major league club all last year. Was it Girardi or was it the GM? Either way, I think it is best for both Reggie and the club for him to play daily in the minors rather than suffer through another horrible season at the major league level, hurting the club with every out he made. We all agree that he needs more development and he certainly failed miserably last year. So I applaud the move.

It seems as if we are not even close to having a deal on the new stadium. A ton of questions remain. Read this article in the herald (3/12/07) New Marlins stadium in a squeeze play The Florida Marlins must clear some huge hurdles for the team to get the stadium it interminably lobbies for. BY CHARLES RABIN crabin@MiamiHerald.com Related Content Sunday's game | Marlins 5, Mets 5 The Florida Marlins' latest hope for a new ballpark focuses on two publicly owned properties: one, the old football stadium in Little Havana; the other, a nine-acre plot in downtown Miami that could prove costly. County Manager George Burgess recently proposed spending $490 million to build a 37,000-seat ballpark with 60 suites and a retractable roof on what now is mostly a parking lot just north of Government Center. The plan was quickly shot down by a majority of county commissioners. They were worried a Children's Courthouse and a Miami police training academy that are planned for the site could be delayed and cost more at a new location. Already, $3.7 million in taxpayer money has been spent designing those buildings. The commission chose to forward Burgess' plan to the state Legislature without mentioning a particular site. Once again, the Orange Bowl comes into play. Last year, a plan to build a baseball stadium next to the aging Orange Bowl fell apart when state legislators ended their session before discussing a bill that would have plugged the Marlins' $30 million shortfall. This time, the problem is twofold: The team still needs that money, and City Manager Pete Hernandez must navigate negotiations between the University of Miami and the city to improve the decaying structure, while convincing his commission that the Marlins need to play there, too. EITHER/OR The problem is, it likely has to be one or the other. ''I don't think that's a scenario in this go-round, having both,'' said Hernandez. The 70-year-old Orange Bowl is home to a UM football team that is threatening to leave if Miami doesn't spend about $170 million to renovate the structure. The team is expected to make its decision in about 45 days. But Miami can't afford both projects, Hernandez said. So, ''we have to be very cautious [in negotiations] right now,'' he said. Real estate experts interviewed agree the Orange Bowl, with its vast expanse and less-intensive underground infrastructure, would be an easier place to build a new stadium. ''Maybe it's time the Orange Bowl gets torn down,'' said Michael Y. Cannon, managing director of South Florida's Integra Realty Resources. Land downtown around Government Center sells for about $9 million an acre. Mary Conway, Miami's chief of operations, says she's not aware of any other available city-owned property where a training center for Miami police could be built. County Budget Director Jennifer Glazer-Moon said talks are under way with Florida East Coast Industries about building the Children's Courthouse on a tract of land it owns just east of the Government Center. COSTLY DEAL Current plans for the two sites take up just under five acres -- two similar sites could cost as much as $45 million, according to Cannon. Burgess said building on the FEC site could be quicker and cheaper, but some county commissioners listening to his argument weren't convinced because he failed to provide details. ''If the top priority is the Children's Courthouse, why did this come before us with a complete plan for the Children's Courthouse?'' Commissioner Katy Sorenson asked Burgess. The county manager's response: ``We believe we can build it faster and potentially less expensive.'' Chief Circuit Court Judge Joseph Farina addressed the commission, saying he wanted to make sure county staff doesn't hurt a project he's crusaded almost a decade for. ''I just hope I'm not wrong in keeping the faith with you,'' he said. PRICEY DESIGNS Workers have yet to break ground on the courthouse or the College of Policing, but the city and county have paid architects and engineers millions of dollars to design the buildings. Additional costs involved with changing sites could include surveying, soil tests and moving utilities under ground, landscaping -- even building new right-of-way for supply trucks to enter and exit the buildings, agreed Duncan Broyd, managing principal of the architectural firm HOK, which is undertaking the courthouse project. ''No two sites are alike,'' said Cannon, ``but the biggest problem is finding the land.'' The nine-acre tract the Marlins crave lies on city- and county-owned land between Government Center to the south, Metrorail to the east, Northwest Fourth Street to the north, and the Miami police headquarters on the west. The $33 million, 102,000-square-foot College of Policing would be built on 1.5 acres just south of Miami police headquarters at 400 NW Second Ave. Construction could begin by year's end, and be done sometime in 2009. Kelly Penton, Miami's director of communications, said work on the academy has cost $1.16 million. But Hernandez said little research has been done on an alternative location. County administrators dismiss talk of added costs, saying there's a chance the 300,000-square-footprint of the courthouse could be picked up and moved at little or no expense. The entire site is about 3.4 acres. 2011 TARGET DATE Glazer-Moon said construction of the 11-floor, $118 million building could begin next year and be completed by 2011. The county has spent $2.5 million on its design. ''I just think that our priorities should be children over baseball,'' the Juvenile Court's top judge, Cindy Lederman, said after learning of Burgess' plan. The judge said she often hears rats scurry along the ceiling of the 30-year-old rotting Juvenile Assessment Center on Northwest 27th Avenue that the county built, then promptly sold to the state for $1. ''This [courthouse] is a mirror of what society feels about [the juveniles],'' Lederman said. Adding to any delay could be the time it takes Miami and county commissioners to approve any move -- a political hot potato. SAVE THE CHILDREN ''Let me make this very clear. I leveraged a lot of political capital on not losing the funding source for that [courthouse] building. This is critical to us. As important and nice as baseball may be, the children and the courthouse should not come second to playing ball,'' said County Commissioner Sally Heyman. Heyman was instrumental in passing a measure three years ago that increased fines for moving traffic violations. It's that money that is going toward the construction of the courthouse. Burgess has always maintained that if the courthouse plan is affected negatively in any way, he'd fight to stop any attempt to build a baseball stadium downtown. ''We're very intrigued by the urban location,'' said Burgess. ``But there are issues we still have to resolve.''

but their big problem if their try to mess with OB if i not mistaking OB is under a rule that cannot be taking down because it historical site. i e-mail Bureau of Historic Preservation to if their under that rule if OB is .their will need look at hialeah site. Reportedly, there are two options at the OB site. They can demolish it if the Canes choose to play at Dolphin Stadium, or they can build the Marlins stadium next to the OB.

The Miami-Dade County Commission meeting from 3/06/07 was re-broadcast this afternoon. The downtown site is totally OFF the table! The clear majority of the commissioners were against the site just north of the Government Center. There was strong support for the OB site again, even from those who opposed the downtown site. The media reports about that meeting that I read last week were not as clear about the degree of opposition to the downtown site. After watching the meeting there is no question in my mind that the stadium will not be built downtown.

Here we go again! Another legislative session is starting, the Marlins are asking for money, and the anti-Marlins crowd is gathering. We will hear and read: Why should tax payers pay for a millionaire's stadium? If they want a stadium let them pay for it. They over-pay millions to players and now they say they need the State's help to build a stadium. The Marlins want to "double-dip". They already took their rebate to refurbish Dolphin Stadium for baseball. With the projected revenue decline, now is not the time to give money away to millionaires to build a stadium. We need to feed the hungry, build schools, fund police , etc before we help fund a stadium. All these standard anti-Marlins garbage is music to the ears of any Florida resident north of PBC and politicians feel great spiting it out for their consumption. I'm sooooo tired of this!

Pedro Hernandez, the city manager, came on Joe Rose today and basically said the city's priority is the Marlins stadium. That's more important than the where Hurricanes play. I think this is going to get done. I agree that it is very important that the city considers the building of the new Marlins Stadium to be a priority. However, if the county if strongly thinking of reviving the OB site, then where the Canes play becomes a mayor factor in the process. Everyone will then be forced to wait and see what UM decides, and that will take another month....while everything is placed on hold.

Best case scenario: 1st-- Canes move to Dolphin Stadium 2nd--Orange Bowl is demolished (or we let it collapse by itself) 3rd--New Marlins Stadium is built at OB site. With the OB gone there will be plenty of parking if they acquire the land that was originally planned 4th--Metro-rail line is expanded to serve the OB site or free shuttles from the station to the stadium can be provided 5th--Tri-rail is connected to the Metro-rail system to service the Broward and PBC fans. (this is already planned at the airport area) However, every change in plans bring delays and new problems to solve. Any new problem is a possible deal breaker. I am very concerned about any changes in the plans for this reason.

hey godfather, have you seen Sickel's CB on Hammer? He pretty much nailed 2006: http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2006/10/9/13942/3449 I can understand and accept a projection of a few years, but trying to predict 15 years into the future including the clubs to which he will be traded is absolutely ridiculous. It would be interesting to read the predidtions he may have made 15 years ago.

Prinmemito, it is all very simple. Did you know that Chavez is a very strong supporter of Castro and considers Castro his mentor? If you do, can you understand why Cubans, that have suffered the Castro regime, are not fond of Chavez? Can you then understand why some would not like their sports heroes to be supportive of Chavez? There is no first amendment problem here. It is only a human reaction based on past personal experiences. TSwift, it amazes me that you don't give a damn about what a player could say or do off the field, as long as he performs to your satisfaction on the field. Statement like those make me wonder about the criteria of the person who post them, and make me be less receptive to whatever you may post in the future. That's a shame.

EARTH calling Sickels......EARTH calling Sickels......Come in Sickels....... It seems you need to come in........ from the sun. Oh, and don't bring that crystal ball with you.... staring into it is making you lose you mind.

On weekend nights (say a Friday), when they have a play at the performing arts center, a concert/heat game at the AAA, AND a marlins game, the traffic is going to be REAL bad on 95. Not complaining here (I probably have less drive than many of you), but just saying. Exits 1 and 3 off 95 south are going to be TIGHT. Let's hope we get some group scheduling going... I said this is in a previous thread. AAA traffic + stadium traffic + performing arts center traffic is going to be hell on Earth. I'm getting just a little tired of hearing all this bitching about how the future stadium traffic is going to be unbearable, how some of you won't be able to go to weeknight games, how some of you will have to give up your season tickets....etc....etc....etc.. I've been a season ticket holder for many years, live in south Miami-Dade county and still managed the distance and the traffic to go to most of the games while having a full time job. A few times I've gotten to my seat in the 2nd or 3rd inning, but still enjoyed going to the games. We should all be grateful that the team will probably stay in South Florida, and more grateful still to the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County which are putting up the money. We need ALL Marlins fans to go to the games for this franchise to be successful. So please, get over the fact that you will have the inconvenience of driving for 30 to 40 more minutes and come down and enjoy the games. Look at it this way: Compared to the fans in south Miami-Dade, you had it good for the first 18 years (1993 to 2011). Now is someone else's turn.

this happens all the time in baseball opposing managers would tell each other when they thought a pitcher was tipping his pitches absolutely nothing wrong with what Joe did here I couldn't disagree with you more! If it happens all the time in baseball, it is wrong every time it happens! The job of the manager is to win games for his team and for the fans. It is not his job to act like the "nice guy" to the opposing player, specially to those player that his team will be facing that same year! It is up to the players own manager and coaching staff to help him out. There is NO excuse for this. NONE!

AROUND THE HORN Lieber found Girardi to be big tipper By Chris Jenkins UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER February 25, 2007 Apparently, the old rules about fraternization in baseball are about as much in play anymore as the Marquess of Queensberry rules at the Ultimate Fighting Championships. However nice the story of Jon Lieber's turnaround last year ? the Phillies right-hander went from 4-8 with a 6.09 ERA on July 31 to 5-3, 3.38 in his final 11 starts ? purists have to wonder about the source of his improvement. At his low point, Lieber gave up nine runs on 13 hits in only 4 2/3 innings against the Marlins, whereupon he got a phone call from Florida manager Joe Girardi. He just mentioned that the hitters said everything that was coming in was just very flat,? Lieber said, attributing his turnabout to that conversation. ?Basically I was underneath the ball. I wasn't on top of the ball like I should have been. And that's why the ball doesn't have that crispness when it gets to the strike zone or that sharp break on my breaking ball. It just kind of stays right there for the hitters to lick their lips at.? Such a talk would be questionable enough if the Marlins and Phillies were just in the same league, but they're both members of the NL East and still had 10 games to play against each other in September when Girardi helped Lieber correct his problem, including the final weekend of the season as both vied for a wild-card spot. [url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/baseball/20070225-9999-1s25bbhorn.html

PBFishfan: I like your enthusiasm. I can tell you are a true Marlins fan. You are an excellent example of precisely what the Marlins need. Kids that have grown up watching Marlins games and have been bitten by the "baseball bug". As the years roll by, more and more young fans like you will be shaping the fan base that we so desperately need here to make this franchise viable in the long run. I welcome you to our forum. But please allow me to offer a bit of advice. The relative anonymity we have when posting sometimes leads us to express ourselves in a way that may be considered rude or less sensitive to others. If you keep this in mind when posting, I guarantee you will enjoy your experience here much, much more.

This is great news! The Marlins were asking for 2 million per year (for 30 years) in tax breaks. Now they may get 4 million per year (120 million). My question is the following: Will the new Marlins Stadium qualify for the entire 4 million per year or will they only give them 2 million per year? Remember the State already is giving Dolphin Stadium 2 million a year for the refurbishing that was done to set it up for baseball. Hopefully since they are talking about "facilities" and the Marlins's stadium will be a brand new one, it may qualify for the entire 4 million/year. The best part of the proposal is that it would only apply to the stadiums ( not the teams) that are on government-owned land or are owned by the municipalities. This means that Wayne H. won't get any more than the 2 million per year he is already keeping.

I know Diaz and believe me he does not favor the Hialeah location. Hialeah is not his district. If you know Diaz personally and he has told you that he does not favor the Hialeah site, then I was wrong, and please accept my apology. However, district 12 does include Hialeah. (see below). So, we're even. Welcome to the District 12 Website District 12 encompasses an area of western Miami-Dade County between SW 8th Street and NW 202nd Street, west of Hialeah. It includes the City of Doral, Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, Medley, Sweetwater, and Virginia Gardens, as well as a large part of unincorporated Miami-Dade County. Voters in District 12 first elected Jos? "Pepe" Diaz to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners in September 2002. Commissioner Diaz was reelected without opposition in September 2006.

I can't believe that at this stage of the game there is still this kind of talk! Commissioner Diaz has always been a Hialeah site supporter (I believe that's his district). But I think he is probably accepting that MLB is insisting on a downtown site. All this debate is very politically motivated, and we should expect this to happen. But I'm soooo tired of it! When asked, the politicians say that all they want is for the Marlins to stay in South Florida. Please! Hopefully, in a few weeks, we should know what the final deal will be when they present the stadium plan to the legislature.

Cabrera knows that once he becomes a free agent he will be able to command a contract similar to A Rod's. I don't think he will be signing a long term contract with the Marlins without asking for more than the Marlins are willing to pay. I don't think the Marlins are willing to pay God himself that kind of money. It is my opinion that we will have Miguel through the 2008 season, which by the way, may be the season where the Marlins go deep into the playoffs and who knows what can happen. After the 2008 season, the best move the team can make is to trade Cabrera for 2 or 3 great prospects and take it from there. You can't wait until mid season of 2009 to trade him and expect to get a lot in return. This way the receiving team ( Yankees, Rex Sox, or whatever) will at least have him for one cheap (or relatively cheap) season with a chance to sign him to a long term ridiculously expensive contract. The same may apply for Dontrelle. By 2011 hopefully we will have our new stadium, our payroll will be in the average range, we will have a few stars of our own (Uggla, Ramirez, Johnson, Olsen, Sanchez, Nolasco, Hermida, Jacobs, Tank, etc ) and we will probably have added a few moderately priced free agents that could help us be competitive year after year. I can live with this scenario.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2765995 MIAMI -- Although he is still young, Miguel Cabrera understands that baseball is not only a sport but also a business. However, the Venezuelan wouldn't want the business part to influence the image that fans have of him. "Fans are really important to me, especially the ones from Miami, and I wouldn't like to ruin my relationship with them due to a misunderstanding," Cabrera told ESPNdeportes.com. Last weekend, the Marlins' main executives criticized Cabrera's absence to the Annual FanFest at Dolphin Stadium. President David Samson and general manager Admin Beinfest were "extremely disappointed" with Cabrera's no-show at the event. Cabrera said he had an inescapable commitment related to his father's health and that he tried to let the Marlins know through his agents. "I'd already separated that date for an appointment related to my father's health. The Marlins informed me just a week before the festival and I couldn?t cancel my meeting, and that's what I told my agents," said Cabrera. "In four years in the major leagues, I've only assisted once at that event and it was never such a big deal. I don't know what's so different now," he added. The difference could be that Cabrera, who made $472,000 in 2006, filed for salary arbitration for the first time in his career Friday. The player is asking for $7.2 millions and the team is offering $6.7 millions. "My absence had nothing to do with the pending arbitration, because neither the Marlins nor me believe in the process. It's purely a business issue and I understand it perfectly," he said. "I'm not mad with the administration, although I'm a little worried that Miami fans could now have a distorted image of myself. I'm committed to doing the best for the team," Cabrera said. "Moreover, to compensate for my absence, I promise to assist in every activity the Marlins may organize in the following days," he added. In four seasons, Cabrera has a .311 average with 104 home runs and 404 RBIs. Last year, he averaged .339 and he fought for the batting title until the last day of the season with Freddy Sanchez, who ended with an average of .344. Cabrera, who will turn 24 in April, could become a free agent before his 26th birthday. With the salaries being paid nowadays, Cabrera and lefty Johan Santana, will surely vie in 2008 to become the first Venezuelans to get $100 million contracts in Major League Baseball. Cabrera said he will travel from Miami to Arizona on Thursday for his salary arbitration hearing on Friday and then will return to Florida to start training with the Marlins in Palm Beach on Tuesday. "I'm in great shape for the start of spring training, because I've been playing winter ball in Venezuela," Cabrera said. Enrique Rojas is a reporter and columnist for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com.

Hey guys. How about stopping this argument? I've really read all I want to reed about Palm Beach vs Miami. Thanks.

The Marlins had every right to expect Cabrera to show up at Fanfest. His salary dispute with the team should have nothing to do with his obligations to the fans as a member of the team. But this does not surprise me at all. Miguel has had a history of immaturity after his rookie season. The team veterans advised him on this and his response was to be publicly defiant. And now that he is the veteran and a star, who's going to control him? During batting practice it is easy to spot Cabrera acting as if rules didn't to apply to him because he is the "big shot". For example, during batting practice he often talks to the other team's players while the rest of the Marlins are concentrating on stretching and warming their arms. Even during games, between pitches, I repeatedly see him talking extensively to someone in the opponents dugout or their third base coach. These are not major sins by any means, but they do give you a hint of how he thinks and conducts himself. His talents on the field have made him a superstar in a very short time. Based on this he should be much more popular with the fans than I perceive he is. There is a reason why Dontrelle, Juan Pierre, Mike Lowell, Charles Johnson, and Jeff Conine become fan favorites. It is not just based on their talent. It's the same reason why great players like Kevin Brown, Gary Sheffield, Pudge Rodriguez, Cliff Floyd, and other very talented players, while very much appreciated, were never really loved by the fans in South Florida. The fans can "feel" it. They can tell if the player really gives a damn about the team or the city where he plays. I suspect Miguel may soon be grouped with the second bunch. Having said that, Samson had no business making a big public deal of Cabrera's no-show. Our lives as Marlins fan would much easier if he would just take a long vacation without a cell phone. We need all the good press we can get. Did all of you notice how the local vultures ( the Sun Sentinel and the Herald) made this their top Fanfest news? We can speculate all we want about Cabrera's future with the Marlins, but I am sure of one thing. He is not going anywhere until 2009. He becomes a free agent after the 2009 season and the Marlins will have a bargain until then, even if they have to go to arbitration every year. They will probably trade him with one year left under club control to get a good return, but not before. As for Cabrera's performance on the field. Well, be may argue, moan and pout for a while, but he realizes that his future earnings will always be tied to his performance, so I am sure he will be his fantastic self on the field. And if the Marlins have a decent season along the way, he may even crack a smile every now and then.

The tactics and public statements the Marlins have issued over the years have changed. When Loria took over in 2002, I remember that both he and Samson spoke in very positive terms all the time. The gloves came off however, after the Orange Bowl stadium site plan came tumbling down. The very personal and public feud Samson and the Marlins had with the then city manager didn't help either. When they announced the fire sale of 2006, they also announced their relocation intentions and the nasty, in your face comments by Samson were on their way. Samson doesn't get fired because he says exactly what Loria wants him to say. He is Loria's outlet. Notice that Loria has never contradicted Samson in the media. However, they should both find more subtle ways of getting their points across without turning off the fans that are trying their best to stay loyal to the club. That could start by remaining silent through the rest of the stadium negotiations, please.

Tigers Add Another Power Arm By Matt Meyers E-mail this article February 7, 2007 Print this article The Deal Power arms are never easy to find, and the Tigers added another when they sent minor league outfielder Jeff Frazier to the Mariners in exchange for righthanded reliever Yorman Bazardo. The Big Leaguers If all you have to do to be considered a big leaguer is appear in the big leagues, then Bazardo is a big leaguer. The 22-year-old was originally signed by the Marlins in 2000 out of Venezuela and the Marlins called him up for an emergency start against the Mets in 2005. He did not make it out of the second inning in his only major league appearance to date. Seattle removed Bazardo from the 40-man roster and designated him for assignment when they recently signed Jeff Weaver, which gave them 10 days to trade him before having to put him through waivers in order to return him to the minors. Bazardo has been pitching for Venezuela in the recently concluded Caribbean Series, which provided the Mariners with an opportunity to showcase his talents. Bazardo looked strong, flashing a fastball in low 90s with some late life. He was showing a good late-breaking curve as well, but his changeup has traditionally been his second best pitch. In 25 starts for Double-A San Antonio in 2006, Bazardo went 6-5, 3.64 with a 80-45 strikeout-walk ratio, 138 innings. The knock on Bazardo in the past is that his strikeout numbers have always been low for someone who has been clocked as high as 98 mph in his career. His move to Detroit will be the second time he has been traded in his career as Florida sent him to Seattle for lefthander Ron Villone in the summer of 2005. The Prospects After a strong start to his 2006 campaign, Frazier fizzled for high Class A Lakeland and finished with a line of .228/.279/.346. The 24-year-old was a third-round pick of the Tigers in 2004 out of Rutgers and possesses a solid combination of tools. He does not hit for the kind of power you would like to see from someone with the kind of athletic frame he has, but there is hope it will come on as he advances. His solid arm and average range make him a good fit in right field. Frazier's younger brother Todd is currently a junior at Rutgers and a top prospect for the 2007 draft. Jeff will likely play at the Mariners' new Southern League affiliate at Double-A West Tenn. Quick Take Bazardo has never dominated as his power arm would suggest he should, but his skill set is harder to find than Frazier's.

FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ Expect Marlins' payroll to stay low BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@MiamiHerald.com T he Marlins and Miami-Dade County officials remain optimistic about completing a deal for a nearly $500 million stadium, though key steps remain -- including commission approval and the state allocating funds. (Neither is guaranteed.) But even if the stadium materializes, the payroll will remain low during construction years, president David Samson revealed Tuesday. ''It would not go up at all during construction,'' he said. ``Our contribution is so large, and we're responsible for overruns.'' If a stadium deal happens soon, the ballpark would open no earlier than 2011. ( Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis will be free agents after 2009.) When a new stadium opens, the Marlins would have an ''average major-league payroll'' if ''the demand for seats is what we hope it will be downtown,'' Samson said. Without a new stadium deal, payroll obviously would remain low. Florida's 2006 big-league payroll was $18.7 million -- by far MLB's lowest -- and will end up around $25 million this season. It's not unusual for teams to wait until a stadium opens before boosting payroll dramatically. ''We will only spend what our revenues are,'' Samson said. `` Jeffrey Loria will not lose another dollar operating this team. He won't take money out [either].'' The Marlins were stunned this winter when teams doled out obscene money to non-elite players. (Two examples: Reliever Danys Baez -- whom Florida pursued -- getting three years, $19 million from Baltimore, and Kansas City giving five years, $55 million to Gil Meche). ''It's the desperate ploy of certain teams to do what they believe they have to do to win, and at the end of the year, they'll all be proven wrong because only one team can win the World Series,'' Samson said, without specifying teams. ``The majority of teams waste their money on players who they dream will help them win.'' ? Samson said a stadium deal is not imminent but ''anticipated,'' noting there has been ''the type of progress that generally ends in completed deals.'' The most likely site is downtown Miami just north of Northwest Third Street because ''the county and city were able to control that site far easier than the'' others. Hialeah has not been eliminated, but the Miami Arena site was deemed ``not feasible.'' Samson said getting state money ($60 million from a sales tax rebate) remains ''critical.'' The Marlins, who have increased their contribution above $210 million, appear to have a decent chance after five failed attempts in Tallahassee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It looks like the Marlins have increased their contribution toward the new stadium. That's a good thing, but this means they will not be spending more money until they actually see the extra cash coming in when the new stadium opens. That makes good business sence... but that also means that we won't be going after any proven and expensive free agents anytime soon. That also means the Cabs and Wills will be gone by 2010 or sooner. They become free agents before the stadium will be completed. So... we have four years to see what these young Marlins can do. After that who knows who will be where!

OCTOBER????? I hope Samson is kidding. Hopefully, by saying he predicts a deal will be struck by October, he really means that it will get done sometime during the coming season and this way he is giving himself some room for error. I can't believe they are thinking that we will have to wait 8 more months!!!!