FlPhillie

Congrats on your sweep. I believe you guys have the best starting rotation in the NL East. My Prediction.. Phillies Marlins (WC) Mets Braves Nats You guys have the starters to get you into the playoffs. I think if the bullpen could shape itself up, the Marlins could take the division with the phils or mets wild card. The offense is there. The rotation seems to be there, its the bullpen I'm worried about. Kensing hasn't looked too good. Lindstrom could get better with more work. That error of Uggla made his inning uglier. And Pinto didn't look too great the other night Either. If they can put it together like they did at the start of last season, I think they have what it takes to take the division. I like Lindstrom. I think your season depends on how well your defense plays. Uggla is never going to be a GGer, but if he can keep his mistakes in check it would greatly help.

Congrats on your sweep. I believe you guys have the best starting rotation in the NL East. My Prediction.. Phillies Marlins (WC) Mets Braves Nats You guys have the starters to get you into the playoffs.

The dude plays for the nationals. Not exactly a great baseball town either. Their president was on Philly sports radio the other day begging Phillies fans to come down 95 to Washington's opening day to help fill the stadium. Olsen will be playing in crowds the same size if not marginally bigger than in Miami, only the stadium is new.

Yeah, lot's of potential on this team with the pitching staff but considering that bullpen is so unproven I don't see them finishing that high. Better than the braves though. I honestly dont know why the braves keep getting so much love.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/powerRankings...P&GT1=39002 You can't like the Marlins over the Phils or Mets in the NL East, but this club is surely in the upper half of the NL. The young staff could be scary. I agree with this, The NL East is going to be a very competitive division again this season. What I dont agree with is the Braves being #8. I think the Marlins are a scarier team than the Braves. The Phillies are #3 The Mets #5 Braves #8 Marlins #12 Then the nats come in at #26.

Anyone know when these go on sale and what the schedule is? I'd love to return to my old stomping grounds for this!

Phillies winning = Best case

So sweet watching the Mets fans, and the Mets get excited with the Bases loaded. The know the Phillies got crushed only to have the Cubs haha. That was actually worth a Phillies loss I think.

Season Aint over. I am a huge Marlins fan for the next few days.

Not sure why you guys are so tough on Uggla. He is what he is. A power hitter. He is going to hit a lot of homers, drive in a lot of runs. As far at plate production he is one of the better 2b in the game. I never really saw him as a guy who would hit a lot for average. I can tell you that a lot of teams wouldn't mind him in their lineup, as all it takes is one mistake, and he knocks the cover off of the ball. I think the Marlins lineup has the same types of issues as the Phillies lineup, and that is why it seems to be feast or famine (much like the Phillies). A lot of guys that can hit a bunch of homers, and not enough guys who simply get hits, and get on base a lot. The fortunate thing for all 3 teams (Marlins, Phillies, and Mets) There are flaws on the teams, that will keep the division competitive to the last week of the season. The unfortunate thing for all 3 teams, I don't feel any are complete enough to do much in the playoffs. If you never saw him as a guy that can hit for average, you never saw him play in the minors. A much easier feat in the Minors, than the majors.

Not sure why you guys are so tough on Uggla. He is what he is. A power hitter. He is going to hit a lot of homers, drive in a lot of runs. As far at plate production he is one of the better 2b in the game. I never really saw him as a guy who would hit a lot for average. I can tell you that a lot of teams wouldn't mind him in their lineup, as all it takes is one mistake, and he knocks the cover off of the ball. I think the Marlins lineup has the same types of issues as the Phillies lineup, and that is why it seems to be feast or famine (much like the Phillies). A lot of guys that can hit a bunch of homers, and not enough guys who simply get hits, and get on base a lot. The fortunate thing for all 3 teams (Marlins, Phillies, and Mets) There are flaws on the teams, that will keep the division competitive to the last week of the season. The unfortunate thing for all 3 teams, I don't feel any are complete enough to do much in the playoffs. If you never saw him as a guy that can hit for average, you never saw him play in the minors. A much easier feat in the Minors, than the majors.

By Mike Berardino South Florida Sun-Sentinel When it comes to stretching a dollar, the Marlins are pretty much the kings of Major League Baseball. Yet their vaunted front office will have trouble making all (or even most) of the pieces fit this winter. Eighteen. That?s the potentially record number of arbitration cases they could face once this surprisingly successful season ends, and they embark on perhaps their most painful offseason in three years. Total cost of retaining all 18 players for 2009 could approach $33 million, a figure the Marlins haven?t reached for their 25-man roster since 2005. Bringing back the most vital contributors from this year?s team could cost $44 million. Topping the arbitration list are All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla (27 home runs), right-hander Ricky Nolasco (13 wins) and two-year closer Kevin Gregg (29 saves). That trio could see its 2009 haul hit a combined $12 million, with Uggla leading the way at a projected $5 million. Gregg figures to land in the $4.5 million range, which makes him a likely trade candidate as the Marlins make room for understudy Matt Lindstrom, who won?t be eligible for arbitration for at least another year. Nolasco, with a projected salary of $2.5 million, is one of three starting pitchers eligible for arbitration for the first time. Lefty Scott Olsen ($2.6 million projected) could wind up making a bit more than Nolasco based on his durability during the two-year period that will be evaluated. Josh Johnson, making a successful return from Tommy John surgery, should experience a more modest pay increase, but he still should reach seven figures for the first time. In all, the Marlins figure to have a dozen players enter the arbitration system for the first time. Others include first baseman Mike Jacobs (25 homers); relievers Doug Waechter, Logan Kensing and Joe Nelson; and their entire starting outfield of Jeremy Hermida, Josh Willingham and Cody Ross. Jacobs, whose salary could approach $2.5 million off an overall disappointing year, is a trade candidate as the Marlins seek to improve their defense while balancing their books. Corner infielder Jorge Cantu, a second-time arbitration qualifier, is a candidate to replace Jacobs at first, but only if his salary doesn?t rise too quickly off this comeback season. Others with four-plus years of service time this winter will be catcher Matt Treanor, super sub Alfredo Amezaga, reliever Justin Miller and injured starter Sergio Mitre. The latter two are among possible non-tenders, meaning the Marlins could choose not to offer them contracts by the December deadline. If Cantu moves off third, that could open the door for Triple-A third baseman Dallas McPherson, who leads the minors with 40 homers. Current Marlins under team control for next season include franchise shortstop Hanley Ramirez ($5.5 million); starters Andrew Miller ($1.575 million), Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad; and relievers Renyel Pinto, Lindstrom and Taylor Tankersley. Sanchez and Volstad should make close to $400,000, next year?s major league minimum, but Andrew Miller could be a lower-cost option to replace one of the three arbitration-eligible starters. Olsen would be a logical trade candidate in that scenario. Sanchez could regain an additional year of service time if he prevails in an ongoing dispute with the Marlins, but even then he wouldn?t be arbitration eligibility. Five Marlins can become free agents: reserve outfielder Luis Gonzalez, infielder Wes Helms, backup catcher Paul Lo Duca and lefties Arthur Rhodes and Mark Hendrickson. ?Three key questions Who?s on first? Do the Marlins pay the $2 million or more it will take to keep Mike Jacobs off a power-laden season, or do they seek to improve defensively by dealing him and installing Jorge Cantu at first? Rotate left: Four spots in the Marlins? 2009 rotation appear set. The riddle is which lefty to keep at the back end. Will it be Scott Olsen, whose arbitration haul could exceed $2.5 million, or the slow-developing Andrew Miller, who is under contract for $1.575 million next year? New outfield? All three starting outfielders ? Josh Willingham, Cody Ross and Jeremy Hermida ? are set to enter the arbitration system for the first time. Who will flank super-prospect Cameron Maybin, who should get the first crack in center field?

The Marlins have by far and way exceeded what most had expected from them coming into the season.

Not sure why you guys are so tough on Uggla. He is what he is. A power hitter. He is going to hit a lot of homers, drive in a lot of runs. As far at plate production he is one of the better 2b in the game. I never really saw him as a guy who would hit a lot for average. I can tell you that a lot of teams wouldn't mind him in their lineup, as all it takes is one mistake, and he knocks the cover off of the ball. I think the Marlins lineup has the same types of issues as the Phillies lineup, and that is why it seems to be feast or famine (much like the Phillies). A lot of guys that can hit a bunch of homers, and not enough guys who simply get hits, and get on base a lot. The fortunate thing for all 3 teams (Marlins, Phillies, and Mets) There are flaws on the teams, that will keep the division competitive to the last week of the season. The unfortunate thing for all 3 teams, I don't feel any are complete enough to do much in the playoffs.

Not sure why you guys are so tough on Uggla. He is what he is. A power hitter. He is going to hit a lot of homers, drive in a lot of runs. As far at plate production he is one of the better 2b in the game. I never really saw him as a guy who would hit a lot for average. I can tell you that a lot of teams wouldn't mind him in their lineup, as all it takes is one mistake, and he knocks the cover off of the ball. I think the Marlins lineup has the same types of issues as the Phillies lineup, and that is why it seems to be feast or famine (much like the Phillies). A lot of guys that can hit a bunch of homers, and not enough guys who simply get hits, and get on base a lot. The fortunate thing for all 3 teams (Marlins, Phillies, and Mets) There are flaws on the teams, that will keep the division competitive to the last week of the season. The unfortunate thing for all 3 teams, I don't feel any are complete enough to do much in the playoffs.

As terrible as Uggla played, the A-Hole Of The Game Award goes to *Billy Wagner for blowing the lead and letting the game go into extra innings. *Brad Lidge For blowing the game and making the NL lose. Either way. Brad Lidge was up 6 times and threw over 100 warmup pitches... Sucks he gave up the run, but the boner of the day goes to Wagner. Uggla in the end didn't really end up costing the NL the game I guess, but I wish he would have gotten a base hit.

I know the Braves are pretty beat up, but I wouldn't count them out either at 6.5 games out. On the Phillies/Mets boards, no one is even mentioning the Marlins, even though the Fish are right there. People are mentioning the Fish on our Phillies board. It's just hard to believe that the Fish are playing so well. Definately the darkhorse team no one saw coming.

Pretty cool that this year, there is a possibility of having 2 2b battling it out in the finals.

I want nothing to do with him. I'd rather see the Phillies get a few more arms for the Pen, than trade for Burnett and his inflated salary, and his injury prone arm. If they can shorten the game for the starters by addinging to Lidge, Romero, Durbin, etc.. It would help the starters.

It's not really Willie's fault. This is like the Yankees, last year. Blame Torre, when in reality, it's Cashman's fault. When does the blame get placed on Minaya a little more? He put the team together... Exactly. Look how old the Mets are and look how much money they are being paid. Randolf wasn't signing the checks and handing out contracts. Randolf didn't trade the farm for Santana, leaving their system baron.

I live in downtown st pete, so I just had to hop on my bike to the games. I also just missed the Helms HR, little kid directly two rows behind me got it. We got off the highway in St Pete to hit a store before we got there Sunday and was surprised to see all the vote no for the waterfront stadium on the front lawns. I asked about that at the game and was told the vote no people have been stealing all the vote yes signs. Their fans seemed pretty worried they are going to lose their team to Orlando or a different state. Were we getting the wrong impression or is there a very real possibilty of that? When is the vote and what are the chances of it passing? And why are they willing to leave a domed stadium for an open air facility? The pictures looked real nice, but they get worse thunder storms there than we do here. My girlfriend is from Spring Hill Florida. She is telling me that a mojaority of the people don't want to waste more of their tax dollars on a team no one goes to see. I am not sure that there is actually a vote. She told me that people were pissed that they were not able to vote on it. Granted, my girlfriend is wrong an aweful lot, so this could be wrong.

It's not "the series", but it sure would be nice to kill the phillies. Your Avatar kills me. I saved it in my photobucket, and I have used it in several threads on my Phillies board.

Pretty big series for both teams this week. The Phillies could gain a comfortable lead, or the Marlins could get right back into contention for first. The Marlins always give the Phillies a tough time down at Dolphin Stadium. Should be some great baseball.

Before the season I thought the Marlins would only win about 65 to 70 games. Up until Last week I was thinking about 81-85 games. Now I am guessing around 78-84 games.. I thought that the Marlins would have played better against the division, even though it has been a tough road trip. 89 Wins Clinches the Division

He played college ball, (was a catcher) at the University I attended. What's the story with him? He pitched pretty well at the begining of last season, and he hurt his shoulder (I think). Is he still hurt?