tacitus

Bell is still a problem -- no way he should be struggling to get outs every other game. Given the lack of offense, the Marlins shouldn't overlook how lucky they were the bats came alive just in time to bail Bell out. He got away with another subpar performance and he's still got his work cut out for him if he wants to remain the closer.

LOL. I had MLB Gameday and saw Bell give up two runs in the top of the 9th, so I switch away to another app. But Gameday has an annoying habit of playing the last currently available highlight soon after the game is over, and they played the Mets go-ahead hit off Bell, so I thought, yeah, that confirms the Marlins lost again thanks to Bell's struggles, so I didn't bother to check the score. Then, of course, comes the "Holy Crap!" moment when I finally switch over to find the Marlins scored six in the bottom of the ninth, and Staton's hit a grand slam to win! Talk about fake out!

I think it's pretty laughable that they get per diem money for food on top of their salaries, but that's the player's union for you. Actually, it's pretty standard practice for all businesses to pay expenses of employee while traveling. Sure, not too many corporate employees get paid as much as MLB players, but even directors and board members of major companies get to recoup their travel expenses, no matter how many millions they are earning. Plus, if you're a minor leaguer being called up, or even a minimum wage major leaguer, three months of expenses for traveling and staying in hotels is going to eat quite a large hole into your base salary by the time the season's over.

We called them up and Burhle and Zambrano pitched complete games, letting the other BP guys rest. Thus they were not needed. Yea, the only time they could have been used was last night to finish the game, but we got a 2-run lead in the 12th and Ozzie made the right decision in having Webb bat (only his second ever at-bat) and close out the game instead.

Are we really bitching about imperfect roster moves during an 8-1 stretch? This would not be a real fan board without someone bitching about something...

Phew

Or not...

Never mind -- just get Dobbs home.

2 stinkin' hits... At least it's not 2 runs from 8 hits.

2-2 going into the 8th -- seems familiar somehow...

Zambrano is awesome. Smiling during every pitch. Yeah, not every gamble the front office makes is a fail. I was just reading an NL preview earlier, and Zambrano's volatility was a big question mark. Clearly not an issue any more.

Hayes has had some really bad moments defensively....I'd hesitate to put him out there every day at least let him play a little more. buck is just the worst. 50 50 would be fine with me. also, going back in time and not signing buck would be ok with me as well. I believe Ozzie already said that might happen if Buck doesn't improve -- maybe not as much as 50/50 but more than is usual. The one thing we don't have a handle on is how much better Buck is than Hayes at managing the pitchers (if any). Okay -- and Buck gets a homer... sit down Hayes.

Rule No 1. when going to Marlins games -- don't try catching Stanton home run balls without a glove.

At this point it's obvious the Marlins are kinda forced to play Buck because of his contract but I much prefer Hayes as a hitter and fielder, just my opinion. Hayes has his moments, but I'm not sure he can play every day. He looked pretty awful recently when Ozzie put him for the second game in a row. Could have been just an off day for him, but it didn't look promising. Mind you if Buck continues to struggle this badly, Hayes will get his chance.

No such luck...

LOL -- Marlins have hit three Astros by the end of the first inning.

Ouch! x 2

i would have Zambrano hit 7th in the line up I'd rather he concentrate on his pitching -- any hits from him are a bonus.

Ouch!

If they don't get caught stealing.

One pitch, one hit.

Should be interesting to see whose recent winning record is the more legit one. Good test for the Marlins.

I've been willing to cut Bell some slack, in the sense that I'm not willing to hate him just because he's going through a (very) rough patch, but he's not making it easy with this type of thing: “I’ve got to keep believing in myself and keep going. God’s testing me right now, I know that. I just got to keep staying positive. “If I could get a lucky rabbit’s foot or something and start getting the job done, look how much better we’re going to be. “I’ve got the confidence I’ve got the ability. I don’t know why the lord is testing me right now. He’s breaking me right now. Maybe he’s molding me into a better man or a better person.� Now I know being a ball player doesn't necessarily mean you're a smart guy, but this type of logic is just idiotic. Is God (assuming he even exists for the moment) really making the ball stay up in the zone or connect with the fat part of the bat just to "test" Bell? How does he know that those hits in the 9th weren't a reward for something the Padres' batters have done? And does God want to punish the entire Marlins organization, and their fans, along with Bell, or did God arrange it so that in the last two games Bell suffered just enough to throw the game away, but allowed the Marlins to win anyway, meaning that when Ozzie didn't pull Bell in the 9th last night, he had to help Bell get out of the inning without allowing more runs? As for the "molding" to make him a "better person" -- this is baseball Heath, not the Book of Job. You've got a big fat $27 million coming your way, even if you don't throw another pitch in your life -- not exactly high in the suffering stakes. Try keeping some perspective will ya?

Hanley gave Cishek a huge hug after the game. Still not sure why Ozzie went to Bell in the 9th. 1-run lead man... Yes you want Heath Bell to get his groove back. No, you do not need to risk the game over it. Reading between the lines from the coverage for last night's game, having Bell close last night might not have been entirely Ozzie's decision. The front office needs Bell to work out, otherwise it's $27 million dead money (and they look foolish for signing him), so they're going to give him more opportunities than a lower paid pitcher would get. My guess is that Ozzie will use him to close unless it's a one run game (maye two). Otherwise, we'll see him again if the Marlins are losing, or winning big.

Cishek is god. Bell is gonna be demoted. I doubt it -- maybe he won't get one run leads to close, but he'll be out there.