Out of the Past

Just give the attendance time. I believe in the next few years the attendance will rise slightly (every year). Now these people know the Marlins ARE going to stay in Florida FOREVER. Just wait, it might take a while but we will be okay in the attendance area . I agree, Holly. I thnk eventually we'll settle in the middle of the pack in attendance and that's fine.

The Lineups -- Marlins/Phillies (June 10) Here are tonight's lineups: Marlins: SS Hanley Ramirez, RF Jeremy Hermida, 3B Jorge Cantu, 1B Mike Jacobs, 2B Dan Uggla, LF Luis Gonzalez, C Mike Rabelo, CF Jacque Jones, P Ricky Nolasco. Phillies: SS Jimmy Rollins, CF Shane Victorino, 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, LF Pat Burrell, RF Geoff Jenkins, 3B Gregg Dobbs, C Chris Coste, P Brett Myers.

There is nothing wrong with Hendrickson. Regression to the mean is a real bitch. Except that he's been pitching over his head and potential all year. That 5.76 ERA of his is awesome.

You just can't admit you made something up and passed it off as definitive. I don't care if you believe it or it's your opinion, you can say it 100 times a day, but don't just make stuff up and expect people not check the numbers. I was basing my statement on the range factors... Erick had stated that Jacobs "doesn't move" and equated him to a stationary bike... I lol'd because that was pretty funny... but if Jacobs's issue is the fact that he lacks range... and Cantu has less range... doesn't that make him weaker defensively than an already weak 1B... That's why I used the Range Factor stat If you want to go by that, Uggla has a 4.93 career RF at 2B where you have to cover a hell of a lot more ground than 3B and he's got a good arm that isn't being used. Trade Cantu for a B type arm, put him at third, start Amezaga, who was doing decent before Ross went off and call up Coghlan, a left handed bat who destroys lefties and would give opposing managers headaches to platoon him with. I wouldn't be completely against this because the team's production theoretically increases... however, Uggla goes from being an amazing 2B to an above average 3B. I mean, that's not a huge deal, but it's something... And FWIW, I'd start Coghlan at 2B over Amezaga (even though Coghlan has been playing his last few games at 3B) at least until he'd play himself into a platoon role. But that's also contingent on Coghlan being ready, which I don't think he is... Coghlan is destroying AA pitching right now. Too bad we can't see how he does against major league ready stuff in AAA. Damn PCL. What does "destroying" mean? His OPS (.766) ranks him 37th out of 70 hitters in the Southern League.

I think that praise is undeserved nonsense. Ok? And as a counter-point, I don't, I'm not motivated to look up the stats at the moment, but the team has done better with Treanor playing than with Rabelo IIRC, I'll pull a Marlins2003 here and say that neither of us are right or wrong in this case though... Record when Rabelo starts: 15-10 Record when Treanor starts: 19-16

You guys need to live with the fact that Cantu is here for, at most, a year...he doesn't deserve ALL THE CRITICISM he gets, when you consider the other "defensive guru's" are often, just as bad, and don't get criticized as much. Bottom line is, everything you see at 3B right now, is just a little mix that will be subtracted, as soon as Matt Dominguez is ready by 2011 or 2012. The same goes for the catcher's spot...with Skipworth. We have to live with it, but we don't have to like it and we sure as heck can discuss his shortcomings just as much as we can tout his successes... And, I've already conceded, Jacobs is in the same boat... however, Uggla and Ramirez more than pull their weight, and Treanor does his thing, without much praise, but with less criticism Edit: Erick, you're doing a good job of giving me excuses to look at my sig Actually Treanor gets more undeserved praise than any other Marlin. The only praise I see him get is that he does a good job handling the pitchers, and really, he has... and he's arguably been the best at it too I think that praise is undeserved nonsense.

I know this might be a little premature, but did he remind anyone else of Beckett? Beckett as a prospect had at least three and maybe four plus pitches. Tucker has one plus pitch. I see exactly where you're coming from. So whats the 4th Plus pitcher outside of FB, CB, change? I think his slider was considered a plus but I don't remember.

You guys need to live with the fact that Cantu is here for, at most, a year...he doesn't deserve ALL THE CRITICISM he gets, when you consider the other "defensive guru's" are often, just as bad, and don't get criticized as much. Bottom line is, everything you see at 3B right now, is just a little mix that will be subtracted, as soon as Matt Dominguez is ready by 2011 or 2012. The same goes for the catcher's spot...with Skipworth. We have to live with it, but we don't have to like it and we sure as heck can discuss his shortcomings just as much as we can tout his successes... And, I've already conceded, Jacobs is in the same boat... however, Uggla and Ramirez more than pull their weight, and Treanor does his thing, without much praise, but with less criticism Edit: Erick, you're doing a good job of giving me excuses to look at my sig Actually Treanor gets more undeserved praise than any other Marlin.

It was great to see a guy with a fastball as good and as fast as advertised.

I know this might be a little premature, but did he remind anyone else of Beckett? Beckett as a prospect had at least three and maybe four plus pitches. Tucker has one plus pitch. I see exactly where you're coming from.

whoa whoa whoa...slow down there Bill James. How has he been lucky in terms of his HRs? I don't get that one. His K/9 is at slightly below 1 per inning, which is fine for his ARtL, his H/9 iare outstanding as you mentioned and he doesn't walk that many. He has a plus fastball, a plus slider and from what I've heard from many his change up has become an out pitch this year too. I'd love to know why you have such negative expectations simply based on his outstanding numbers?? His HR/Fly is very low As far as his H/9 goes, a lot of his peripherals don't suggest he'd be able to keep it that low over the coarse of a season (not just things like his K/9 but also things like his LD%), and his ERA/WHIP are that low because of his H/9. Not that he'd be bad, I don't have "negative" expectations, I just don't have as high as others. And I haven't seen anything that says his slider is now a plus pitch. At best it's regarding as still "developing." But since I haven't seen him, I can't really say. This baseballamerica guy said (June 3rd) the slider has improved but he still has doubts about it. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prosp...008/266258.html Q: lantz from ca asks: do you think ryan tucker has the stuff to crack the marlins rotation or is he destined to be a bull pen guy? A: Ben Badler: I wouldn't send him out there this year. His fastball is a great pitch but he still needs to command it better. His slider seems to have made progress over the three or fours starts I've seen him pitch, although that could just be the time-series of the starts fooling me into think it was true improvement. I think his stuff would play up in the bullpen, but obviously you leave him as a starter now for his development. The real stud on that staff is Chris Volstad?one of the heaviest sinkers in the minors and two out pitches in his curveball and changeup.

Samson is on channel 4 talking about the stadium.

Could be Tucker, his start was skipped I think. Anyone know why? To be promoted.. maybe.

Tucker... last pitched the 1st.

Coghlan has being playign 3B this week.

I wonder what happened to Scotty's fastball...it has turned into a meatball. He lost it when he threw 120 pitches his 2nd start of the season after missing ST. That's my guess.

I've heard some outstanding stories about Griffey and hecklers. He's awesome. That said, save for 1997, he's never been the best player in the league, even though everyone wanted him to be. Who's been better who didn't use steroids? Did ARod and Manny use steroids? I think it's only fair to use this argument in healthy Griffey seasons, and in Healthy Griffey seasons, Griffey was better than Manny... so, A-Rod is the real competition here I think it's fair to use Manny's durability and Griffey's frailty when comparing them. If a guy can't stay healthy, he can't help you. That cannnot be ignored.

I've heard some outstanding stories about Griffey and hecklers. He's awesome. That said, save for 1997, he's never been the best player in the league, even though everyone wanted him to be. Who's been better who didn't use steroids? Did ARod and Manny use steroids?

It'd be like Miguel Olivo with no arm. Off on a tanget.. don't be shocked if Olivo makes the all-star team.

One good thing about the game is that Miller's fastball was consistently in the mid 90s for the first time in the games I've watched.

5. Uggla - 1B 8. Coghlan - 2B Why not keep Uggla at 2B and have Sanchez at 1B? Is Coghlan supposed to be better than Sanchez?

Maybe Hermida will end on the bench.

I guess we disagree, Pierre. I'm no economist but my undertandign of what economist say is that supply and demand impacts the long term price of oil. On the short term, the price will also move due to actions of speculators. I could be wrong but I think much of the run up the past few months is because of speculators. I wouldn't recommend buying oil right now.

Baseball America's report on Kyle and all the other first rounders http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft...008/266273.html 6. Florida Marlins Kyle Skipworth, c, Patriot HS, Rubidoux, Calif. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Age: 18. Scouting Report A veteran of two USA Baseball teams (junior and youth national teams), Skipworth is the best high school catcher in the nation, and may be the best prep prospect at that position since Joe Mauer was the first pick in the 2001 draft. Skipworth established himself as a top prospect last summer by blasting a mammoth home run in the Aflac Classic in August. His hitting and power both grade out in the 65-70 range on the 20-80 scouting scale. He set a California state record by getting 18 consecutive hits in an April stretch, and at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, he has enough strength to hit well with wood. Blessed with quick reflexes and superior hand-eye coordination, Skipworth's bat speed enables him to drive the ball hard to all fields, and his both his stance and swing are ideal. After struggling defensively in the summer and fall, he has improved immensely, particularly on receiving. His blocking and shifting skills also have improved and he projects as a solid-average receiver. His only below-average tool is his speed. However, Skipworth moves well for a catcher and showed his athleticism with a 31-inch vertical leap at one showcase.

I'm in favor of allowing more drilling, but I don't see that this necessarilly will lead to lower prices. Presently we use roughly 22 million barrels of oil per day. 9 million come from domestic sources, mainly Exxon-Mobil. 13 million we import, mainly from Opec. I don't see the domestic oil companies giving us a "hometown discount" on the oil they drill for here. They charge the market rate. It would lead to less dollars being exported to the OPEC countries, which would probably strengthen the dollar, but there's variables there. We don't know how OPEC would react. They could restrict their output, restrict their sales to us, or devalue the dollar by refusing to buy anymore T-Bonds, or pressure the Chinese to stop or they'll restrict exports to China. Overall, we'd likely be better off if we allowed more drilling and became oil independant, or even a net exporter. That would likely lead to lots of positive economic effects. But I don't know if a lower price of oil is one of them. . . As far as I'm concerned the price of oil is 100% controlled by OPEC and the major US and British oil companies, and has been for the last 50 years. It's not a hometown discount but and an increase in the oil supply along with an increase in refining capacity would lower cost of a barrel of oil and the cost of a gallon of gas but of course we can't drill and we can't refine and the ones who prevent us from drilling and refining lead the whining over the cost of gas.