marlingirl

The cost for transfer isn't a big deal. Juanky and I will have Metro-Passes which give free bus fares.

Yeah, a direct route would be the sweetest thing. But it's not going to happen, especially with all the stadium talks.

LOL Cape... Juanky is the person I'm getting season tix with. What's the deal with transportation from Golden Glades Tri-Rail Station to the stadium? I know you're the transportation God, Cape.

Thanks for the info, Cape!

After finally convincing certain parents to let me go to the stadium every night and finally coming up with the cash, I'm getting ready to get season tickets with a friend. Since I'm leaving Miami mid-season, we're getting the 41-game flex plan (voucher tix). But, I have a question. Does anyone know if this plan comes with free or discounted parking?

Give me Steve Jobs and Woz any day over Gates and co. Apple-head for life!

BTW congrads to the only MIT member on the board :thumbup remember that thread where i predicted you would get in? :lol Of course I remember! :thumbup That was awesome

Yeah, how can we forget the infamous: "MORDY! MORDY! MORDY!"

Why, yes it is... big arbitration day. Juanky and I are hitting up Arby's for lunch, just for the hell of it

Nice to see the lefty dominator back in teal. I guess that fulfills our catcher needs... unless Castro gets screwed over.

I hope you're right; we lost our most consistent hitter with runners on (Pudge) Can I get one more dose of "Miguel Cabrera for an entire season"? Miguel Cabrera = clutch beyond belief

Yeah Juanky and I live by Tropical Park as he said. That's where they have Santa's Enchanted Forest, right off the Palmetto and either SW 40th or SW 56th streets, take your pick. 12-15 min. is very do-able. We got to games last year up to 3, 4, even 5 hours early which = no traffic. I won't say I wasn't speeding either.

Yeah guys, don't be so harsh on Choi. Even Cabrera struggled this season -- remember that huge slump? He certainly made up for it quickly, and now anyone that doubts him will promptly be ridiculed. Don't underestimate the Asians

One? How about that no hitter a couple of years ago? Kent Mercker's a solid guy. Furthermore, I encourage you to name someone better and at such a reasonable price. Keep in mind, Mercker is $550,000.

Some stats on Mercker: This was when he was traded to the Braves mid-season 2003: The move, however, is a bittersweet one for Mercker, who was 0-2 with a 2.35 ERA and had held opponents to a .225 batting average in 49 relief appearances for the Reds. What's not to like?

Here's a name that I discovered while making this list that could be ok: Kent Mercker Cheap, too.

Relief Pitchers Left on the Free Agent Market: Free Agents Still Available (as of 12/16/03) Relief Pitchers 2003 2003 2003 2003 Career Last Name First Name Age Throws Former Team Salary ERA IP K:BB K:BB ERA Alfonseca Antonio 31 R Cubs 2003 - $4.0 M 5.83 66.1 51:27 2.14 4.11 Benitez Armando 31 R Mariners 2003 - $6.8 M 2.96 73.0 75:41 1.83 3.03 Carrasco Hector 33 R Orioles 2001 - $400 K 4.93 38.1 27:20 1.35 4.22 DeJean Mike 33 R Cardinals 2003 - $1.7 M 4.68 82.2 71:39 1.82 4.26 Fassero Jeff 40 L Cardinals 2003 - $1.3 M 5.68 77.2 55:34 1.62 4.00 Franco John 43 L Mets 2003 - $3.8 M 2.62 34.1 16:13 1.23 2.74 Guthrie Mark 38 L Cubs 2003 - $1.6 M 2.74 42.2 24:22 1.09 4.05 Holmes Darren 37 R Braves 2003 - $700 K 4.29 42.0 46:11 4.18 4.25 Jones Todd 35 R Red Sox 2003 - $3.0 M 7.08 68.2 59:31 1.90 4.06 Levine Alan 35 R Royals 2002 - $1.3 M 2.79 71.0 30:29 1.03 3.75 Lloyd Graeme 36 L Royals 2003 - $650 K 5.29 47.2 25:14 1.79 4.04 Mercker Kent 35 L Braves 2003 - $550 K 1.95 55.1 48:32 1.50 4.27 Mesa Jose 37 R Phillies 2003 - $5.2 M 6.52 58.0 45:31 1.45 4.32 Myers Mike 34 L D-Backs 2003 - $1.8 M 5.70 26.1 21:21 1.00 4.37 Nelson Jeff 37 R Yankees 2003 - $4.0 M 3.74 55.1 68:24 2.83 3.32 Osuna Antonio 30 R Yankees 2003 - $2.4 M 3.73 50.2 47:20 2.35 3.58 Painter Lance 36 L Cardinals 2003 - $575 K 5.50 18.0 11:7 1.57 5.24 Rhodes Arthur 34 L Mariners 2003 - $3.5 M 4.17 54.0 48:18 2.67 4.33 Springer Russ 35 R Carindals 2003 - $450 K 8.31 17.1 11:6 1.83 5.18 Veres Dave 37 R Cubs 2003 - $2.0 M 4.68 32.3 26:5 5.20 3.44 Wendell Turk 36 R Phillies 2003 - $3.3 M 3.38 64.0 27:28 0.96 3.85 White Gabe 32 L Yankees 2003 - $3.2 M 4.05 46.2 29:8 3.63 4.26 White Rick 34 R Astros 2003 - $600 K 5.78 67.0 54:21 2.26 4.17 Williams Mike 35 R Phillies 2003 - $3.5 M 6.14 63.0 39:41 0.95 4.45

This just in: NEWS: December 16 SKINNY: Rhodes, who rumors had going to Oakland, has apparently signed a deal with Atlanta, pending a physical Tuesday, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

If we don't get Vlad, I'd like to see this club steer clear of the big name free agents and, as others have said, focus on not just improving the bullpen, but on getting a killer bullpen that will be considered as one of baseball's best. I'm half expecting the Marlins to see how Willingham does in spring training before signing a catcher. That is, unless they're addicted to J-Lo. Another priority is getting or calling up a young outfielder with good defense. I honestly think our offense is pretty decent. With exceptional pitching and defense, all we need are a couple of runs each game, and our offense can produce more than that. Someone mentioned getting Galarraga to help Choi at first, but I don't agree. Conine's been a first baseman for a while. He can provide Choi with all the help he needs.

Either way, you've never given your mathematics behind the $80 million payroll. But you know what? This is pointless. It doesn't look like we're getting Vlad anyway, so let's just drop it.

I thought Ramp did an excellent job on his spreadsheet but you have to keep in mind that some of these numbers have changed or will change (to the upside) after arbitration and some clear thinking. For example it's in the Marlins' interest to give certain otherwise ineligible players a raise, Dontrelle and Cabs to name two. The Fish simply cannot allow Dontrelle to be out there every afternoon doing signings and appearances in order to make a few bucks and exhaust himself like he did last year. They are much better offer saying to the guy "look here's $500k, no more than one signing a month" and look for them to lock up Cabs pretty quickly with a multi-year deal. Also Mordy for example will be making more than $400k, Lowell signed for $8 mil, Castillo will average $5.33 per not $4. If you don't accrue for these guys it only come back nd bites you in the butt later on. Banks will make more than $300k next year as a second year player. The list goes on and on... We'll see what happens as the off-season goes on and spring training approaches in reference to Dontrelle and Miguel. But, again, with the recent multi-year signings, it's not just an average of the total. I'll point you again to Tejada's deal to assert that. Also, if you look at Ramp's complete spreadsheet you can tell that he accounts for arbitration.

It ain't over until the fat Oriole sings.

This is taken from Ramp's posted payroll spreadsheet, with a few minor modifications: .style21 {color:#0000D4; font-size:10.0pt; font-weight:400; font-style:normal; text-decoration:underline; text-underline-style:single; font-family:Arial;} .style0 {text-align:general; vertical-align:bottom; white-space:nowrap; color:windowtext; font-size:10.0pt; font-weight:400; font-style:normal; text-decoration:none; font-family:Arial; border:none;} .xl24 {font-size:9.0pt; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;} .xl25 {font-size:9.0pt; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;} .xl26 {font-size:9.0pt; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif; border-top:.5pt solid windowtext; border-right:.5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom:none; border-left:none;} .xl27 {font-size:9.0pt; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif; border-top:none; border-right:.5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom:none; border-left:none;} .xl28 {font-size:9.0pt; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif; border-top:none; border-right:.5pt solid windowtext; border-bottom:.5pt solid windowtext; border-left:none;} .xl29 {font-size:9.0pt; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif; border:.5pt solid windowtext;} .xl30 {border-top:.5pt solid windowtext; border-right:none; border-bottom:none; border-left:none; background:#FFFF99;} .xl31 {background:#FFFF99;} .xl32 {border-top:none; border-right:none; border-bottom:.5pt solid windowtext; border-left:none; background:#FFFF99;} .xl33 {background:#CCFFCC;} .xl34 {border-top:none; border-right:none; border-bottom:.5pt solid windowtext; border-left:none; background:#CCFFFF;} .xl35 {border-top:.5pt solid windowtext; border-right:none; border-bottom:none; border-left:none; background:#99CCFF;} .xl36 {background:#99CCFF;} .xl37 {border-top:none; border-right:none; border-bottom:.5pt solid windowtext; border-left:none; background:#99CCFF;} .xl38 {background:#CCFFCC;} .xl39 {border-top:.5pt solid windowtext; border-right:none; border-bottom:none; border-left:none; background:#FFCC99;} .xl40 {background:#FFCC99;} .xl41 {border-top:none; border-right:none; border-bottom:.5pt solid windowtext; border-left:none; background:#FFCC99;} --> Pudge Rodriguez-deferral from original contract 3,000,000 Mike Hampton 8,000,000 Ramon Castro 400,000 Juan Pierre 2,300,000 Luis Castillo 4,000,000 Jeff Conine 3,000,000 Mike Lowell 7,000,000 Vladimir Guerrero 10,000,000 Alex Gonzalez 2,500,000 Miguel Cabrera 300,000 Hee Seop Choi 400,000 AJ Burnett 2,500,000 Mark Redman or Brad Penny 3,000,000 Josh Beckett 2,100,000 Carl Pavano 2,500,000 Dontrelle Willis 375,000 Braden Looper 2,500,000 Chad Fox 1,300,000 Tim Spooneybarger 300,000 Tommy Phelps 300,000 Nate Bump 300,000 Michael Tejera 300,000 Josh Willingham/Matt Treanor 400,000 Abraham Nunez 300,000 Mike Redmond, Other 1,400,000 Mike Mordecai 400,000 Brian Banks 300,000 Total 59,175,000

Yeah, this is a great time to whip out the "I LOVE OLD NEWS!" image.