BafflingBeerman

Happy for a fellow UVa alum.

Some Josh Johnson facts (with apologies to Chuck Norris): Josh Johnson was once employed as a bomber in the U.S. Military because of his proficiency in hitting the strike zone Josh Johnson insists on finishing a game of Monopoly when he has the most money, just so he can get a complete game win Josh Johnson calls the pitcher's mound his burial mound Josh Johnson often doubles as Billy the Marlin during his starts Josh Johnson is never caught speeding because he likes to emulate his fastball and remain untouchable

I'll believe that Sanchez can make 30 starts in a season when he finally does it. Until then counting on him is a big risk. Why not get something good for him while you can and let someone else take that risk? It's a good thing nobody else in the league has his medical records or like, access to wikipedia, or anything. Some guys are just brittle. Major league history is littered with guys like that. I trhink the point was why would someone else take that risk and not the Marlins? Especially when Ani is pitching like a #2 for us now and everyone past JJ is a question mark. Sure, he may get injured again, but if that is a high risk, most trading partners won't offer the Marlins much in a return for Ani. If it is a low risk, maybe other teams will offer better prospects or players, but right now, Ani is the second best pitcher on our staff behind JJ. Who is going to fill that void?

Right now, Ani is the only steady, reliable, above-average SP after JJ. Volstad has been sent down, Ricky is up an down, and Nate is a solid 5th starter, but that's about it, as far as he goes. You deal Ani, and suddenly there is a little bigger dropoff between our #1 and #2. Not that Nolasco is terrible, he is just wildly inconsistant this year.

I say have the FO call him and have sit-down meeting with D-Train where they discuss his future. Does he want to try to fix his pitching or try to be a converted OF like Ankiel? If the former, say you will assign him to the minor leagues and have Wiley as his personal mentor, along with the promise that he will get a good look in the next Spring Training. If the latter, again, assign him to Triple A, but leave the door open for a September call-up. Yes, this means he would be a minor leaguer, but I think he needs some reebuilding and he may feel more comfortable in the Marlins organization.

I was going to ask when we next need a 5th starter, but it seems like it would be after the All-Star Break? Just don't know who we will slide into his spot if he remains there for a while. West, as far as I know, has only pitched a few games since coming back from injury, so the FO may want to get him so more seasoning. Sanabia is a possibility, as is Badenhop, but I have a feeling it may be a combo of both, like the old days, where the 5th guy in the rotation was shaky and we just inserted whoever is the hot hand (or, at least, hadn't failed yet).

Just wondering: what is the typical trend for All-Star Game Starters in the second half of the season? We hear about how the homerun derby messes up players' swings, do pitchers feel any repercussions in going out to the mound with an unfamiliar team/manager/amount of rest? Or are they the same as other players who are in the ASG that year in terms of effect (that is, none)?

Liked that Ricky settled down after the first. Not too happy about him allowing another HR (20 in 17 games now), but it was a solo shot that did limited damage. Now, let's see if the team can get over the "one step forward, two (or more) steps back" syndrome they have this year.

Isn't this like days old (???) and he even expounded on the Mad Dog thing with a later, more tempered version of events. It seems like he is blaming the media more so than the FO now. Remember those ludicrous articles published about how Bo Porter was the frontrunner now or how just because the formal interview with Bobby Y was moved from Friday to some other time, it meant that the FO had soured on him? Is it possible that Bobby V read all that, called the FO and took himself out of the running? Not that the FO passed him over, just that Bobby V got tired of reading crap in the newspaper? Especially if the FO couldn't assure him that they can quickly hire him due to the rules a baseball team has to follow in interviewing minority candidates.

I would be hesistant to put Clay in as closer in the next game (assuming we are in a save situation) because he just returned from the DL and an injury. Let's see how he pitches in a few more appearance, especially since I believe he was the one quoted as saying he hid some discomfort from the injury previously and it affected his performance. If he is truly recovered and 100% and remains effective and Leo continues to struggle, go for the change. But I don't think I would rush to install Clay after one excellent performance after coming off the DL. As always, consistancy is the big thing our team needs.

Question: With first base open and the winning run already on second base (and the tying run on third), why don't you walk Infante and set up a force at any base? Worried that Leo would walk in the tying run after that? Hoping to get the K first then set up the double play?

Always a good sign when you decide to pitch hit for your pitcher in the 5th inning, with runners on the corners, and the guy you call on has an OPS 300 points lower than the league average (and the broadcast points that out)

Here's a quote from Coghlan that I think explains why the FO decided to "settle" on E-Rod: "I think it's huge," outfielder Chris Coghlan said. "It means we don't have to be in limbo. ... I think it gives everybody peace of mind." Once it became clear that Bobby V wasn't going to leap into the manager's seat, rather than have a long drawn out search (that I think is indicative of throwing in the towel for that season. See: The Orioles), the FO decided just to let Edwin remain and see what happens. The whole purpose of the firing in the first place was to shakeup the team and hopefully provide a spark. If the manager search continued indefinitely during the season, there was a danger of getting a mentality of "dragging one's feet" or playing it out until a manager is named and further sinking the team.

I am getting a good guffaw out of all the columnists slamming Loria for the whole thing. Not so much for what they are saying, but each writer must have gone through a bunch of pictures to choose the worse possible ones to highlight Loria.

Or at least it means Loria wasn't willing to promise to a Valentine-quality candidate that he wouldn't starting selling off. And we know that was the sticking point how? We've heard every reason as to why not: philosophical, money, staff. Selling off is just another on a list of maybes Because if Loria was determined to salvage the season he'd still be looking for a big name manager. Sure there may also have been other reasons that Valentine in particular didn't work out, but letting Rodriguez finish almost certainly means Loria couldn't promise any of the big name possibilities that he would stay the course past the trading deadline. As far as we heard, Bobby V was the only big name we considered, let alone interviewed. So we can't say what Loria may or may not have promised. So ever reason is possible. It was pretty much Bobby V or no one, so all those reasons are as valid as the rest. And you know what? For both sides they are not that scandalous: it makes sense that the front office wouldn't promise that the core would stay in tact if that core proved they could not win and Bobby V probably doesn't want to come in midseason and be worried about how to fill in the lineup card No side is the villain here, at least until we get concrete reason as to why Bobby V fell through I think that's pretty much what I said. (I did hear a couple of other names mentioned, by the way, though they escape me now.) In any case, I'm not looking for villains, just interested in what this all may mean. Then we are in agreement

Also I think announcing a "permanent" manager now rather than continuing the search signals the office wanting to end any distractions and concentrate on this season not throw I'm the towel. Can you imagine the stories if they took another few weeks?

Or at least it means Loria wasn't willing to promise to a Valentine-quality candidate that he wouldn't starting selling off. And we know that was the sticking point how? We've heard every reason as to why not: philosophical, money, staff. Selling off is just another on a list of maybes Because if Loria was determined to salvage the season he'd still be looking for a big name manager. Sure there may also have been other reasons that Valentine in particular didn't work out, but letting Rodriguez finish almost certainly means Loria couldn't promise any of the big name possibilities that he would stay the course past the trading deadline. As far as we heard, Bobby V was the only big name we considered, let alone interviewed. So we can't say what Loria may or may not have promised. So ever reason is possible. It was pretty much Bobby V or no one, so all those reasons are as valid as the rest. And you know what? For both sides they are not that scandalous: it makes sense that the front office wouldn't promise that the core would stay in tact if that core proved they could not win and Bobby V probably doesn't want to come in midseason and be worried about how to fill in the lineup card No side is the villain here, at least until we get concrete reason as to why Bobby V fell through

Or at least it means Loria wasn't willing to promise to a Valentine-quality candidate that he wouldn't starting selling off. And we know that was the sticking point how? We've heard every reason as to why not: philosophical, money, staff. Selling off is just another on a list of maybes

I don't think it means the FO has given up on the season, merely the manager search. If they couldn't find the man they wanted, why force a hire? And yes, find may be synomous with pay.

I will be pissed off if we hire Porter, not because of his (lack of) ability at 3rd base during his tenure here, but because we just fired him. It makes us seem incompetent. Why not keep Edwin, at least for the rest of the season, then not feel rushed to get a new guy?

According to Fisaro and Rodriquez Twitter Accounts, they received a text from Bobby V saying it was "news to me" that he was no longer in the running.

Not sure I'd say Loria is a "fan" of the Marlins in the same sense Steinbrenner is a fan of the Yankees. I'd say he's a fan of business, money, and art way before he is a fan of baseball and of the Marlins. Many people around baseball simply remember him as the reason the Nationals (Expos) aren't still in Montreal. I can see that, but I also remember (maybe distorted) his absolute euphoria in Yankee Stadium after the Marlins won the World Series in 2003 on the DVD. Plus the fact that he watches the home games near the dugout and apparently was so involved in the game that he was jabbing at the ump so much that Girardi (or whoever) yelled at him to shut up and lead to that fiasco... Maybe the Marlins aren't number one on his list of things he is passionate about, but he has proven, to me at least, not to be dispassionate.

I would only support Porter for manager if Pressley was the bench coach. Cause it'll be fun!

I just want our next manager to have previous managerial experience. I am tired of bringing him coaches who have to learn on the fly.

For better or for worse, I think Loria is a fan of baseball and passionate about the Marlins. This means from time to time he makes brash decisions that the FO has to talk him out of (apparently firing Fredi in the off-season, for one). I don't think he is a James Bond villain holding the team hostage, but rather somewhat torn between pushing his team into the playoffs (and getting "respect") and looking at the bottom dollar and trying to make it work. I can say he is a poor man's Steinbrenner, but I don't think he is widely riveled like him (and again, Steinbrenner, for better or for worse, eventually turned the Average Yankees of the 80s into the powerhouse of the 90s and today).