Malman

Today, Thursday, Cab's at 3rd (with Perry Hill's approval). And Niner in left. (Delgado and LoDuca in.) Tomorrow, Cab's at 3rd, Aguila in right, Niner in left. (Delgado and LoDuca in.) Saturday, Lowell at 3rd, Cab's in left, Enc in right, Niner at 1st. (LoDuca in.) Sunday, same line-up but Enc in CF, Aguila in right, Delgado at first. (Treanor catches.) Monday, Opening Day line-up. 906255[/snapback] What do you win when the music stops playing??? :mischief2

We will not win tonight. 906237[/snapback] Way to go out on a limb! Where the hell is Palootkaville anyway??? :mischief2

Good news. His first week back, give him 4 consecutive starts at C, 3B, LF, and RF(one start at each position apiece). 906083[/snapback] :lol

I heard Jack on with Joe Rose this morning. He indicated that Conine would definately be in the starting lineup again tonight. Jack mentioned that he wanted to utilize Conine as a means to get other regulars an off day here or there in order to stay fresh for the stretch run...doesn't want Niner's hot bat out of the lineup. I would guess he would be in for Enc or Delgado as he mentioned some of the regulars as having been banged up recently. :hat

Great post...I've been thinking about this very topic for a while now. I'm very interested to see how the seamheads weigh in on this issue... :mischief2

Chris Aguila is a fine 4th OF. Now, he's being allowed to finish the 9th in LF. When he is allowed to hit, he shows a capacity for that fine art. Once again, Jack... I don't even want to finish that. Now is the time to give Cabs, JP and Enc a day off. Now is the time to give Aguila consecutive starts. Still a long run 'til October. Use Chris for Chris-Sakes. Don't wait for September call-ups when we are in the heat of the battle. 888534[/snapback] Chris Aguila...please. Your posts are always good for a laugh! :lol

What about Wilson Delgado? Isn't he still with the organization? At this time of year, I'd rather have Delgado as opposed to a rookie with no major league experience. :mischief2

What about Clemens? Didn't he imply the Rocket was on the juice as well? Why doesn't Clemens under go the same scrutiny as the rest??? :mischief2

You seem a bit distressed over our backup infielder situation. I believe the Marlins still have Wilson Delgado in the organization. He might be a September call-up. Perhaps he will alleviate your concerns. I'd rather have a vet in the heat of a pennant race as opposed to a rook that has never been above Triple A.

That we never get past the 11th guy anyway? 886828[/snapback] Ha! It's kind of like worrying who the Dolphins' backup holder on extra points will be... :blink:

Jesse isn't an old man. He is in his early to mid 20's and is one of Ramp's buddies. 885554[/snapback] One of Ramp's buddies? Wow, there goes his credibility... :thumbup

Quick hits The Marlins went without a home run in their last four games before Lowell homered in the second inning on Monday. ... When Albert Pujols homered in the first inning Monday, it marked the first time in 10 games the Marlins didn't score first. In the stretch of scoring first, the Marlins went 6-3. ... Harris' three-run, pinch-hit double in the sixth inning extends his Major League career pinch-hit record to 205. This season, Harris was 0-for-2 with the bases full before lacing a double down the right-field line. ... Lefty reliever Ron Villone, who is wearing No. 49, showed up Monday after the game began. Obtained from Seattle on Sunday for Minor League pitchers Yorman Bazardo and Michael Flannery, the 35-year-old lefty retired all four batters he faced in 1 1/3 innings. ... There is encouraging news regarding left-handed Minor League pitcher Scott Olsen, who was placed on the disabled list by Double-A Carolina with elbow inflammation. The problem seems minor in nature and Olsen, who spent time with the Marlins, will work out on Tuesday Good News 885536[/snapback] Thank God...we will need all the arms we can get come September... :notworthy

hey malman im sorry if i offended you but i wasnt calling you a band wagoner. i put the :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy symbols to give props to you and beinfest4prez's comments. the bandwagon comment was directed to positive hype who is never positive. i mean when the team is losing everyone is a problem but as soon as they start to win he comes running back praising the team. and marlin man2003 see what happens when people start talking about things they dont know everything about 885471[/snapback] No offense taken... Go Fish!

You reference the Marlins having a dismal record when failing to score 3 runs or more...this seems like a rather obvious stat...don't most teams have poor records when they fail to score 3 runs or more?? I was wondering if you might have some statistics to back up this "problem" the Marlins are having. Also, I you can correct me if I'm wrong...but I'm pretty sure the Marlins have not won a single game this year when they have scored less than one run! :whistle 885202[/snapback] Well, maybe I wasn't too clear about what I was trying to state about that part. I wasn't complaining that the Marlins should have a better record in those games. It's just me writing it to more-or-less give an idea how much of an impact that the problem has had on our teams position in the standings. To clarify, my complaint is that they have scored less than 3 runs in 32 of our 103 games. That's just too high a percentage of games for this to be happening in. However, I attempted to be positive in my post with the rest of what I wrote. I think that John Kruk said it best; The Marlins can be a dangerously dominant team if they make the postseason. 885258[/snapback] I did a quick review of the Cardinals schedule and it appears that the mighty cardinals have scored 3 or less runs 30 times so far this season...I might be off by a game or two...but whatever, I don't think the statistic you refer to is that meaningful. Every team is going to run into good pitching and sporatic batting slumps...it's part of the game.

The Islanders defense took another hard hit on Tuesday when Adrian Aucoin became the third of the team's top three defenseman to leave the franchise. Aucoin, 31, signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Islanders had offered the unrestricted free agent $13 million over four years. The loss of Aucoin, along with the departures of Kenny Jonsson (signed in Sweden) and Roman Hamrlik (expected to sign elsewhere), leaves the Islanders with just one experienced defenseman, Janne Niinimaa. There are still several quality defensemen left on the free agent open market, but they are going fast. Adam Foote signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. Scott Niedermayer, Brian Leetch, Brian Rafalski and Sergei Gonchar still remain. Leetch, the former Ranger, is a prime target of the Islanders, but he is not expected to sign right away. Leetch plans to follow the market and decide where he wants to go depending upon the makeup of a team and their chances to contend. Right now, the Islanders do not have the makeup of a contender.

You reference the Marlins having a dismal record when failing to score 3 runs or more...this seems like a rather obvious stat...don't most teams have poor records when they fail to score 3 runs or more? I was wondering if you might have some statistics to back up this "problem" the Marlins are having. Also, I you can correct me if I'm wrong...but I'm pretty sure the Marlins have not won a single game this year when they have scored less than one run! :whistle

Wow...Keenan is not messing around. I'm sure there will be more to follow. :notworthy Posted on Mon, Aug. 01, 2005 Leafs' Roberts, Nieuwendyk headed to Panthers BY GEORGE RICHARDS OTTAWA - The Florida Panthers made a gigantic leap into the waters of free agency Monday afternoon, securing unrestricted free agents Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk. The Herald learned Monday that the two, who were not offered qualifying offers from Toronto, had agreed to terms with the team and likely would be introduced by the Panthers later this afternoon. Roberts, a left winger who made $4.25 million in 2003-04 season, was an Eastern Conference All-Star that season and scored 28 goals with 20 assists. In the postseason, Roberts played in 13 games for the Leafs, scoring four goals and assisting on four others. He missed the first 57 games of the 2002-03 season because of shoulder surgery. Nieuwendyk, a center, missed parts of the last season with back problems, but was big in the Leafs' postseason, scoring six goals in nine games -- including two goals in the Game 7 of the Leafs' 4-1 win against Ottawa in the Eastern Conference opening round. Nieuwendyk, signed by Toronto away from New Jersey after the 2002-03 season, scored 22 goals with 28 assists in '03-04. Nieuwendyk started his career in Calgary in 1987, and spent nine years with the Flames before going to Dallas in 1995. He was traded to the Devils in 2002. Nieuwendyk scored three goals with six assists in New Jersey's run to the Stanley Cup in 2003.

Kyle Farnsworth for Roman Colon...

Incredible job by Bill Robinson... :thumbup

You submit a bid, obviously, but with Alfonseca back our 'pen has a surplus of one-inning relievers. I don't think Guardado is exactly the best fit. What we lack is a consistent long reliever to lock down the middle innings that McKeon won't hand over his better arms. 881586[/snapback] I agree...one could argue that Villone would be a better fit for our pen then Guardado..

I seem to recall he was given his release and was signed by the Red Sox...I don't think he was involved in any deal.

Markus Naslund? Followed by his good buddy Pete Forsberg. You can throw Chris Pronger in along the blue line as well. :thumbup

Trade winds: Ponson could head west By Jim Molony / MLB.com The Rangers' interest in Orioles right-hander Sidney Ponson has increased dramatically. Phil Nevin is staying in San Diego but Sidney Ponson could still be heading west. When Nevin nixed a deal Monday that would have sent him to Baltimore for Ponson, other teams reentered the picture and are continuing their attempts to land the Oriole right-hander. The Texas Rangers appear to be foremost in the current Ponson picture. The Rangers' interest in Ponson has increased dramatically, MLB.com's Gary Washburn reports, and a trade with the Orioles could be consummated by the July 31 deadline to make deals without going through the waiver process. The Rangers would like to add a starting pitcher, but club officials are not interested in paying the entire $10 million Ponson is owed next season, so the Orioles likely would have to be responsible for a chunk of his 2006 salary. The Rangers have two players they could move before the deadline: prospect outfielder Adrian Gonzalez and veteran right fielder Richard Hidalgo. Gonzalez would be more to the Orioles' liking, but that would mean they probably would have to pay more of Ponson's salary to get Gonzalez and he likely would not help the team in their playoff run this season. Hidalgo, 30, is hitting .225 with 16 homers and 42 RBIs with a .292 on-base percentage. The veteran right fielder signed a one-year, $5 million contract during the winter. Ponson allowed three runs in seven solid innings against Tampa Bay and is scheduled to pitch Thursday against Texas, a potential showcase for the pitching-starved Rangers. The Rangers are also at the center of another potential trade that would send second baseman Alfonso Soriano to the Mets for a package comprised of perhaps Jose Reyes and prospects, but the Mets are reportedly reluctant to include top prospect Lastings Milledge in the deal. Elsewhere on the trade front: Angels: According to multiple media outlets, the Angels have reportedly inquired about Toronto's Shea Hillenbrand. Astros: GM Tim Purpura doesn't believe the Astros will make any major trades before Sunday's deadline. "There's a lot of talking going on, I think some clubs are waiting until the end to try to jack up their prices, we'll see how that goes," Purpura said. "There's nothing out there right now that's really exciting to us. Certainly nothing imminent. That could change if people are a little more realistic, but I'm going to try to stick to my guns. If we do something, it's got to be for someone who can help us more than this year [rather than being] something that makes a lot of sense for this year, and you're not giving up too much as far as prospects." The Astros are interested in adding another bat in the outfield and/or a left-handed reliever. The outfielders currently available are either not attractive or are too expensive, as far as the Astros are concerned. When asked to gauge the club's chances of making a deal, Purpura characterized them as, "50-50. I have no way of gauging whether some of the discussions that we're having can bear fruit or not." If the Astros do make a move, it might be for a player to fill a certain role. One player the Astros have scouted recently is lefty reliever Scott Eyre of San Francisco. Purpura will not discuss possible targets, and in any case, is not feeling any pressure to make a move. "I really like our club, I liked it in April, I liked it May and I liked it in June, and I think as the younger players continue their progress we're going to continue to be a force," Purpura said. "We've got three dominant pitchers. And as you head into August and September, if you have three dominant pitchers you have a chance to win." Brewers: Contrary to several media reports, first baseman Lyle Overbay is not available -- so says GM Doug Melvin. "I've told clubs we're not moving him," Melvin said. Added Brewers owner Mark Attanasio: "I think a lot of people would like to have Overbay. But they're not going to get him." Melvin is banking that the market for Overbay will be better in winter, when teams are restructuring and are more likely to part with Major League players. With so many clubs currently in the hunt, GMs seeking a player like Overbay are usually only willing to part with prospects. That worked for the Brewers of the past, but with depth in their own farm system, not any more. "We're different than when we were a couple of years ago," Melvin said. Overbay, whose $466,000 salary makes him a bargain, is aware a decision is looming. "Prince [Fielder] is killing it at Triple-A," Overbay said. "It's either him or me. You're not going to have two first basemen, especially considering we both hit from the left side." Melvin said what other GMs have echoed: the trade market is extremely tight this year. Going into Tuesday's games, 22 of the league's 30 teams -- including the Brewers -- were either leading a division or within single digits of a playoff spot. When everybody's a contender, it's difficult to swing deals. "I've made calls, haven't received many," Melvin said. "It seems to be very quiet. I don't anticipate anything happening." The Brewers have only three players heading into free agency: reliever Ricky Bottalico and infielders Jeff Cirillo and Wes Helms. Bottalico's recent slump (9.00 ERA in July) likely has cooled teams' interest, Cirillo is on the disabled list with a fractured hand and Helms' $2.7 million salary makes him unattractive. Tomo Ohka, acquired in June for infielder Junior Spivey in a deal that opened second base for rookie Rickie Weeks, and veteran Rick Helling, who has nine wins for Triple-A Nashville, are not drawing interest. "No, which surprises me," Melvin said. "They're all looking to try to get the No. 1 or 2 guys. The trading deadline is a lot about perception. Everybody wants the 'name' guys." Marlins: The Palm Beach Post reported the Marlins have informed Boston they are not interested in trading pitcher A.J. Burnett for right-hander Bronson Arroyo and pitching prospect Anibal Sanchez, which could leave the White Sox as the only serious bidder for Burnett. The Marlins are also eyeing Pittsburgh lefty Mark Redman. Mets, Rangers, Reds: The New York Daily News and Newsday both reported a rumored three-way trade involving the Mets, Rangers and Reds was making the rounds that would land first baseman Sean Casey of Cincinnati and second baseman Alfonso Soriano of Texas for the Mets while sending prospects to the Rangers and Reds. Meanwhile, Cincinnati outfielder Adam Dunn's name continues to stay prominent on the rumor mill. The latest scuttlebutt has Dunn or outfielder Austin Kearns going to Oakland for a prospect and a Major League pitcher. While that scenario appears to be unlikely, the Reds might be able to find a trade partner for veteran shortstop Rich Aurilia before Sunday's deadline. Nationals: According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, a baseball source doesn't expect Barry Larkin to be coaxed out of retirement and that the former Reds All-Star shortstop does not want to play for another team. Larkin, who is the special assistant to Nationals GM Jim Bowden, is supposed to let the Nationals know soon if he will play. Red Sox: According to a report by Tom Verducci in the Aug. 1 issue of Sports Illustrated, outfielder Manny Ramirez asked Red Sox officials for the third time in four seasons to be traded. He said he is unhappy in Boston, primarily because he feels a lack of privacy off the field. Team officials said they were unaware of any issues with Ramirez. Manager Terry Francona said before Tuesday's game at Tampa Bay that he had not heard anything, whether it be from Ramirez or from management. Francona said Ramirez is "happy enough to drive in 90 runs," and would not worry about what was in the magazine. "Things like this have a way of sometimes happening in Boston; I just shrug my shoulders and move on," he said. "I've come to learn these things happen and you move on." According to the article, Ramirez asked to be traded during Spring Training of 2002, and again a year later. But when his name surfaced during a possible trade for Alex Rodriguez late in 2003, he asked to stay. Ramirez wasn't commenting Tuesday. Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon has not heard or seen any signs that his teammate is unhappy. "Manny seems very, very happy," he said. "Any time Manny comes up, it's something big. He seems happy with driving in his runs." Twins: Speculation concerning a trade that would sent Kyle Lohse or J.C. Romero to Boston for third baseman Bill Mueller have not panned out. The Twins have been looking for an infield bat and were in pursuit of Joe Randa until Cincinnati traded the veteran third baseman to San Diego. White Sox: There's nothing new with the White Sox as far as player movement. "[General manager Ken Williams] asked me what we need," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Right now, what we have is fine. ... I don't know what we'll need for the next level."

"So disappointing..." :confused

Lowell smiles every time he gets his paycheck. :confused