Malman

As for me, I can't wait to get to the stadium to see my 10 games a year. Willy behind the dish calling the shots. D-Train whirlin and twirlin. Cabrera bombing the hell outta the ball, fielding like a Gold Glover, and firing absolute lasers to our new promising slugger manning 1B, The Jake. Still holding out hope for a certain Barbarian to be patrolling LF. Then you have Jeremy Hermida, owner of one of the game's sweetest lefty strokes with god-like plate discipline to boot. And on top of all this we have an entire legion of young, talented prospects in the minors, many of whom could make the leap to majors in spring training, as mid-season callup, or in their cups of coffee in September. Call me what you will and say what you please, but I'm a huge baseball fan and always will be. The team currently residing Miami is my favorite group of players to follow in a sport that I love deeply. /end Is it all really that bad? In a way, yes, it's awful to lose players, seemingly for little gain, that you've lived and died with for several years. Players that performed sometimes spectacular athletic feats on game's highest stage. I'm not denying those losses as I had much sentimental value tied in those guys as well...Castillo, Beckett, Lowell, A-Gon. Damn, it sucks. But to come away from the "firesale" in as great a position as we did, with the future looking damned bright, my eyes at least, has to give some tempted to jump ship some pause for thought. This isn't a rah-rah, go team mentality, but an honest re-evaluation of the realities we Marlins fans, and, ostensibly baseball fans are facing. Great post...just find us a couple more young studs at 2B, CF & C. I can't wait to watch these guys develop. I love having extra room in the stands, no lines at the concession stands and no traffic in the parking lots. Go Fish!!! :thumbup

I agree...just wished we had a couple more prospects for 2b, CF & C. Hopefully Beinfest has some sort of plan... :mischief2

so many options. our rotation is going to be simply sick in a couple of years. that makes me 'giddy' Tell us how they look as you'll probably be the only one to see them "in-person" :whistle

Wow...that's a bit off a shocker. This can only help the Marlins. Who will play short for the Braves???

As for adding two free agent starters...I think your nuts. I'm not thinking of the high grade FA starters... I mean more like Moehler and perhaps another similar FA. Gotcha... :thumbup

I'm expecting Hanley Ramirez to be our starting shortstop. Also, I highly doubt the Yankees will trade Cano - although I would love to see him in South Florida. As for adding two free agent starters...I think your nuts.

This board is sinking to new depths... :blink:

I want Casey Daigle...that way we can look at Jenny Finch all season long... Finch & Misty May - nice.

I'm hearing D'Angelo Jiminez might be the guy... :whistle

With Castillo now gone, JP and Lo Duca remain as players who are likely to be traded. Juan Pierre at this point is probably considered to be gone, especially considering that almost everyone thought he was going to be traded even when a firesale was not expected. But back to the topic.. I believe Paul LoDuca won't be traded. Sure, he is due about 6 Million per season, but the Marlins need to look at LoDuca as an investment. How does an older, veteran catcher be looked at as an investment?? When he has a TON of young pitchers on the same team who need some guidance. With all the trades being made this offseason, it is very obvious the Marlins are again trying to build up a stockpile of young pitching. Only Jacobs and Ramirez can be looked at as decent hitting opions recieved from trades this year. With young pitchers you need a catcher who can calm pitchers down is tough times, and lead young pitchers to victory. Yes 6 Million seems like alot to the Marlins these days, but the Fish need to look at that money as an investment into the young pitchers to help make these pitchers get off to a better start in their career and down the road. If LoDuca does stay he probably won't be the happiest guy in the world, and has gotten a lot of attention from other teams, but it is important for a team to have at least 1 good veteran on the team for players to look up to. The last thing you want is a young pitcher and an inexperienced catcher out there together, and there aren't any veteran catchers on the market who blow me away and make me believe they would help our young rotation as much as LoDuca. Call me crazy, but LoDuca i think will stay. If I'm the Marlins, I keep Loduca with the thought that he will make our young pitchers better in games and better in tough situations. Florida - lets spend SOME money next year and keep 1 veteran who can improve every young player on the team. If their was 1 veteran on the Marlins from last year I would want my young players to look up to, it would proabably be LoDuca. Dude...you're crazy...

Disagreed. From all accounts, Bowyer is a stud who throws it about 100 MPH. He was pretty effective in his first stint in the majors, save that last outting. I'd be surprised if he wasn't our closer next year. Everything I've read had him pegged as a very important part of Minnesota's pen next year. I agree Iowa...good post. Now that we have a closer...we need to some how flip JP, LoDuca and Villone for CF, 2B & C. I think the Cubs, Dodgers, Rangers & Mariners are our best bets for trading partners. F* the Yankees. :thumbup

People need to stay focused on the issue at hand...no need to clutter this thread with extra posts... Back on topic... What is the definitive website that's being used for the Save the Marlins' effort??? Thanks. Is there a link on the homepage yet?

I'd still like to see us get Gathright, but Reed in LF wouldn't upset me either. Need more power in left...much rather have Josh Willingham.

I'd settle for 72 wins and a couple of key wins against the Mets which keeps them out of the playoffs. :whistle

What a soap opera...every day something new. Interesting note about the Huizenga land deal. Hey, Marlins2003 - what does your gut tell you? Is there any way Wayne and the Marlins can let byegones be byegones and work things out??? :mischief2

what if they are getting white in the second round? Remember bush is all of 5'8" wet. While White is a big bruising back perfect for the snow with good hands. He could easily step right in and start. I think he is much like Cadillac and Brown. Do you think White would last to the second? I think that would be a steal...

No way GB passes on Bush ..and I don't think Pope will be the 1st TE taken. Giants should do a happy dance if Greenway falls to them. I agree...there is no way Bush falls to #3. Nice effort overall! :thumbup

I had used this offer for free tickets to the Ottawa game that was canceled due to Wilma. I went to the box office yesterday to exchange the tix for the Dec 22 game vs. Buffalo. At first the guy gave me a hard time...but then said don't worry about it. He gave me a pair of tickets FAR better than those I had gotten from ticketmaster. :thumbup Thanks to Accord for posting these... :notworthy

Yes, I saw the segment as well. I too was pleasantly surprised at how LeBatard handled himself. I thought he made a lot of very sound points. Wouldn't it be nice if someone in the media made it their goal to keep the Marlins in South Florida? I've had it with Fat Hank, Mandich, etc.

Being out of Ny will do wonders for his psyche...I say bring back Loop...albeit at an affordable rate. :thumbup

:banghead Care to elaborate? Am I missing something here about Gathright??? :confused

Taylor Teagarden, who helped lead the University of Texas to the national championship before accepting a $700,000 signing bonus from the Rangers this summer, may not catch at all next year. Teagarden, the Rangers' third-round pick in the June draft, underwent Tommy John ligament transplant surgery on his right (throwing) elbow last week, general manager Jon Daniels said Sunday. Daniels said Teagarden should be able to hit early next season, and it is hoped he will catch before the end of the year. Daniels said Teagarden injured the elbow during the Arizona Instructional League but did not provide further details. Teagarden hit .281 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in 31 games for rookie-level Spokane after signing, then went to the Arizona league, which ended in October. A graduate of Carrollton Creekview, Teagarden, who turns 22 on Dec. 21, was considered a possible first-round pick going into the Longhorns' season. He slid to the third round partly because he was represented by Scott Boras. The Rangers, seeking to add depth at catcher, agreed to pay the bonus. Along with Mike Nickeas, taken in the fifth round of the 2004 draft, and Gerald Laird, Teagarden gave the Rangers' organization a cache of young catchers. Teagarden, like Nickeas last year, was expected to go to major league spring training as a non-roster invitee. He will instead spend that time rehabilitating his elbow. http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spt/baseba...f.1c71ffe3.html Tough break...glad we didn't waste a draft pick on him. Curse of Scott Boras.

Can Gathright really play the outfield? Does he get good jumps, does he track balls well, does he set himself in a good position for a throw? Interesting take on Gathright from the TBD-Ray blog... Joey Gathright: His speed is world-class and his Minor League stats say that he could be an OBP machine at the top of the line-up. Has improved his defensive greatly and is at least average there now. Would thrive if ever given a full shot at being a starting CF for another team, he'd end up being the Rays 4th or 5th OF(due to the organization's glut of OFers) if they decided to keep him. His only drawback is his Low Slg Pct. and knack for being a "glorified singles hitter" with little or no bunting skills. Imagine a combination of Gathright, Louie, Willy and/or Hermida at the top of the order...Cabrera & Jacobs would have ample AB's with runners on base. :notworthy

What is the big deal about Joey Gathright and Toby Hall anyway?? Gathright can flat out fly and Toby is a pretty cool name. :thumbup

Rays lay groundwork for trade talk By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer Published November 28, 2005 The Devil Rays executive vice president of baseball operations said he believes the foundation was laid for more talks during the winter meetings Dec.5-8 in Dallas. "We'll be working the phones going into Dallas to lay that foundation further," Friedman said Sunday. "Some of the conversations will be more pointed." The most advanced talks apparently concern centerfielder Joey Gathright, who it is believed has drawn interest from 10 teams, including the Dodgers, Marlins, White Sox, Cubs, Angels and Giants; and catcher Toby Hall, with inquires from the Dodgers, Mets, Marlins, Rockies and Diamondbacks. Friedman would not specify what he wants in return. Speculation is he asked the Mets about pitcher Aaron Heilman, the Dodgers about catching prospect Russ Martin and the Marlins about minor-league pitchers Josh Johnson, Yusmeiro Petit and Anibal Sanchez. Friedman said he wants prospects for any position who will be big-league ready some time in 2006. "We do not see them as mutually exclusive," Friedman said of obtaining youth and immediate help. Helping the trade value of closer Danys Baez was the signing of B.J. Ryan by the Blue Jays for $47-million over five years. With Billy Wagner expected to get at least that much, Baez, at $4-million next season, is a bargain. "Until the free-agent market starts to take form, it's tough to get a feel how the market will develop for need-based trades," Friedman said :mischief2