evenflow58

Should i be worried? i dont really understand any of this stuff. I just want a stadium. I'm not a lawyer by any means, but from the sounds of things Braman really doesn't have a leg to stand on. While he's done a lot of good for the community with his philantropy work (Holocaust museum and cancer research) he has a history of filing lawsuits like this. Really the crux of the problem from his point of view has nothing to do with the stadium, but rather the fact that some money goes towards a mass transit system. Braman owns a car dealership, there's a bit of conflict of interest there. Also, it was already ruled that this did not need to go to a public vote by the Flordia court system. The best part of this whole lawsuit is that Braman tried to get land from Philly when he owned the Eagles. He said he wouldn't build a new stadium unless he got the land. That was in '93. (Note: most of this information I got from a Greg Cote article on July 10, but you need an archive account from the Miami Herald to read it.) The only thing I would be worried about is how long it takes the courts to make up their minds on this lawsuit. It would seem that it should all be thrown out, but when that happens, I don't know.

You would have thought Willie had learned to keep his mouth shut after his last apology, but I guess not.

Players have been requesting maple bats more and more since Bonds made them popular. The problem is that maple is a soft wood and breaks easier than white ash. I believe the MLB is going to take a look at the process after this season and decide whether or not to ban them or try and change the recipe.

AZ went deep into the playoffs last year and they have one of the best pitchers in the game in Webb. They've earned quite of bit of that respect. This Marlins team has done nothing before this year, so they'll have to do something to earn respect. If they keep playing like they currently are they'll get that respect. They probably won't be favored in any playoff series until they win some, but that's the way it goes. It doesn't matter anyways as respect buys you nothing, but results buy you everything.

they said Hanley Ramirez is short of a superstar. They went ahead on saying Hanley will be gone in 2 years, as well as the rest of the guys. Oops :thumbup

You have to wonder how much is the "big fish in a small pond" syndrome. In Detroit they have established players that took them to a World Series. In Florida he was the established player that won a World Series. He also had free reign of the clubhouse. Now you've got Fredi tightening down a bit more and Gonzo as the clubhouse leader. How would Miggi react?

Traditionally those numbers don't bode well. The pitching looks like it's coming around, which would do a lot to erase those kinds of feelings and make the Marlins a legit contender. Also, it's a young team and young teams have a tendency to flounder when they get ahead. Hopefully the make up of this team will prevent that. Personally, I don't think they can do it because I'm not sold on the starting pitching. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride though.

For many pitchers taking something off of your fast ball will increase accuracy (Beckett and Burnett come to mind). However, it becomes a problem with you take too much off and try to aim the ball. Like everything in pitching it becomes a balancing act. Improving his form is the best way to increase his accuracy. Bad and inconsistent pitching form will ruin more pitchers than a hanging curve (see Dontrelle Willis). Trying to teach all pitchers a change up is a very good idea and is done at all levels. It's not a particularly hard pitch to throw as you pretty much to everything the same as your fastball with a different grip on the ball and it can be the most devistating pitch a pitcher can learn. Players can't depend on what the pitches they used to get to the majors or minors as you have to continually grow. Also, does he have option to go back down? I'm blanking on the name of the rule right now, but some players hit a point in their tenure where they can go to other teams if they are sent down. Miller will get it. He's just going through the same thing most young pitchers do. Unfortunately he's got to go through it at the major league level rather than the minors.

It depends more on the pitcher. Some guys like to know their role so they can better prepare themselves mentally. They also know when they need to get up to start warming up (see Gardner warming up in the first only to come in and get the save later on in the game). Personally I like to have a Closer and Set-Up role defined very clearly as I think it gives a team, especially starters and middle relievers, a bit of a comfort zone. You get the game to the eighth and they'll finish it up for you. Conversely it also gives the opposing team the same thing to think about.

I guess it's because of the low payroll, but people just keep trying to bury this team and the team just keeps proving them wrong. I hope I don't jinx him, but Vanden Hurk is having a pretty good game. I think in today's game people underestimate the importance of a good minor league system (players, coaches, scouts, etc) because of teams like the Yankees and Red Sox buying up players as fast as they can. The more writers say we are going to loose the more I think we'll win.

Last year everybody struggled at the beginning. Uggla needs to stay in. He'll have a day where he'll get some excuse me singles and then he'll be ok. Balls just aren't falling for him right now.