BafflingBeerman

It is just part of their West Coast Bias, subliminally promoting USC! :thumbup

Is the right field foul pole rainbowed colored? That's an unusual choice.

How come I never see the Marlins wearing any cool jerseys? For example, old-school jerseys or special jerseys like the camouflage ones the Padres wear. Or even ones for holidays like the Nationals wore not too long ago. I just noticed that and was wondering, how come? You named some horrible jerseys. But yeah, I'd love to see a "throwback Friday" type of thing like many teams do. The question is, do we have enough time space in between our "throwbacks" (circa 1993) unis and our current ones to have a constant throwback game? Our uniforms have changed, but it isn't quite enough time I think, to make it truly feel like "the good old days." It's not like there has been a generation or two that has no knowledge of our old designs. I think that is best part of wearing the throwbacks, rememberance of a bygone era. That being said, the Marlins have done it before, and I wouldn't be opposed to having it again soon. However, I would like to see the "throwbacks," the teals, when the new park opens in 2012. It would be nearly 20 years since the Marlins came into existance and what better way to merge the past with the future?

To elaborate further, for me, 3 loses in a row wouldn't normally make me feel this bad. It is all about context. We were red hot (more on that in a moment), but we were stopped cold, in the cold. It is like the pendulum swung the other way, quickly and deadly. Transplant this series to the middle of the season, when expectations are more evened out and the idea of a full season 162-game is more apparent, I would probably feel down, but it would be more easily shrugged off. Perhaps my eyes were too big for my stomach. In the back of my mind, I keep on thinking that this road trip, we could have easily gone 3-6. We luckily had some last inning heroics against the Nationals. But what is worrying me now is for the past six games, we only had the lead 3 innings (if I recall Friday's game correctly). Granted, those three innings were the innings that counted the most, but it is a bit demoralizing for a fan and maybe even the team to constantly be playing catch up. However, I see some positives: Maybin and Hanley seems to be coming around, albeit slowly. Boni had some good ABs during the last 6 games. Gload and Helms seem to be adequate replacements for Cantu, for however long he will be out. And the starting pitching knows how to bounce back from rough starts. These loses still sting, but it is only 15 games into the season. They, and I, will recover.

My choice: How?

Frankly, all our starting pitchers seem to be struggling last time through the rotation. Especially in the first inning. It must be an emotional dagger to barely breath on the field and already be down a run or two. I am not too worried about Nolasco. I do think if he continues to pitch at or below average the rotation will be shaken up. By the time Miller comes off the DL, we should have a clearer picture of what is going on with our pitchers (heh). I tell myself they are still young and not one is a proven pitcher yet. Going through growing pains, hopefully this last cycle through will be the only time they all go through it together.

Penn has now been ruled out (thus ruling Meyer out too) The Marlins have few options for a spot starter, but manager Fredi Gonzalez said that whoever the pitcher is probably will make two or three starts until Miller returns. Gonzalez all but ruled out Hayden Penn because Penn ``hasn't gone more then four innings since spring training.' Interesting. I still doubt we call up anyone who hasn't pitched at the major league level before, especially if they are going to pitch more than one game. Though I could be wrong!

I wish only the best for D-Train. I honestly think that if we got a stadium deal in place earlier, he would have become the face of the franchise, maybe even in place of Hanley. He was experiencing a downturn, but maybe it was due in part to an uncertain future regarding the team and him trying to step up and putting more pressure on himself. He seemed like a guy who always wants to do his best, and when that doesn't happen he overtries and further deviates. Basically, an unstable system. Just my opinion. I would not be opposed to him returning and competing for a spot, or spending some time in the minors. He was always a joy to watch.

Considering I am no longer in the South Florida area, it is moot, but I will say it anyways: Marlins over Heat. For me personally. I am an admitted Heat bandwagoner, I follow them only peripherally. I root for them, but I'd rather watch a Marlins game, especially one against a divisional rival. But for an equal fan of both teams, I could not fault them for choosing the Heat.

Today's line-up could be: Emil Bonifacio = 13 letters! Jeremy Hermida = 13 letters! Hanley Ramirez = 13 letters! Ross Jack Gload = 13 letters! Dan Cooly Uggla = 13 letters! Ronnie Paulino = 13 letters! Cody James Ross = 13 letters! Cameron Maybin = 13 letters! Rickey Nolasco = 13 letters! Fredi Gonzalez = 13 letters! WE'RE DOOMED!!!! Wow...that one is kinda freaky Also, if we announce the lineup backwards, you can hear Fredi say "Hanley's bat is dead."

Don't forget, the first Pitt game was played on the 20th, one week from the 13th!

Did anybody with a name starting with B (either first or last) hurt us? B sorta looks like a 13. do you say this because you're the Baffling Beerman? :thumbup Well, I did start posting after the game on Sunday, so maybe there is something to that! The Marlins haven't won since the Beerman started posting! Unlucky? :mis2 Y'know, when I hit register, I thought to myself, "Great, they will probably go on a long losing streak now, all because I decided to delurk." I upset the natural balance of the universe!

I like the black uni, I think that looks cool and a little menacing. I also love the futuristic uniform, but then again, I love gimmicky stuff.

Gload is more than capable as a replacement. I just hope the injury doesn't nag.

You learn from wins and you learn from losses. Heck, we had a long winning streak, which is nice (didn't we not have one of more than a few games until late last year?). I had these wild dreams where we absolutely run away with the division early and people can't help but notice us. But tis only a dream. I still have confidence in the team. I'd rather lose early in the season than lose late. Of course, I'd rather win all the time.

Did anybody with a name starting with B (either first or last) hurt us? B sorta looks like a 13. do you say this because you're the Baffling Beerman? :thumbup Well, I did start posting after the game on Sunday, so maybe there is something to that!

let get last game in pitt and come home and get two of three vs phy and show we can beat good team not losing team We did sweep Atlanta and took 2 of 3 from Mets, so it hasn't been like we only have beaten the cellar dwellers. So far Pittsburgh looks like a .500 team. That's what is frustrating with these two loses. I would have liked to keep the pedal to the metal and at least have the lead during one of those games. Especially yesterday, where we were basically stopped cold. But it'll even out in the end (actually hopefully more than even).

hanley destroyed a ball that wouldve been out even at home and uggla continues to get robbed.....anibal pitched well and the garbage against pitt continues. now we have to face a guy with a .57 era tomorrow. Damn, so those ugly Pirates are gonna sweep us... :confused Maybe the Marlins will "play up" to Malholm.

Did anybody with a name starting with B (either first or last) hurt us? B sorta looks like a 13.

On the plus side: Maybin hit a HR, Hanley had an RBI, Sanchez pitched 7. On the negative side: Once again, playing from behind immediately. Either we need to have more productive first innings, or our SP need to settle down quicker. Well, tomorrow's another day. We shall see if Ricky can turn it around. I really don't want to go into the Philadelphia series stone cold and on a losing streak.

I've always liked Rosenthal since the magical 2003 season. I was a little disappointed that McKeon chose Wiley over Rosey, but that turned out okay :cool . I read that he is still in the Marlins organization, as a pitching coordinator. What does that mean exactly? Does he over see the entire Marlins minor league pitchers, or is just a pitching coach for one of the teams? How high in regard is he held?

I can see how they would be worried about locals (read: non-celebrities) adding their own sig, but if it was just legends, then it would be a nice touch. As much as I would like a ballpark to remain shiny and new, I also wouldn't want it to be sanitized to the point where it looks like nothing happens there.

I don't hate the Yankees. I don't pleasure in their loses. I love their history and their cultural impact. I hope one day, the Marlins are like them in that regard. I also like how they (and to a lesser degree, the Red Sox and the Cubs) serve as a cautionary tale about how throwing money around won't buy championships. You need to have the talent, and more importantly, the talent that you need, that is well-rounded. However, I won't root for them in the playoffs. The whole underdog thing, yes, and the selfish "Oh, they already won so much, let someone else get it." Also, I don't like dynasty teams, unless I am a fan of those teams. :shifty

I said The Hopper, just because he's been with the organization longer and they/we know what to expect from him out of the starter role. That seems slightly unfair to Penn, but he is doing a good job out of the Penn, so let's slide in the slightly better known variable.

What was the primary reason for changing his delivery? To produce more strikes? From what I have seen he has not been doing this although maybe the injury has played its part in this. The main point of my post here is that I do not think it is always beneficial to tamper with someone's method of doing things. Look at Dontrelle Willis for example, coaches were constantly trying to alter his delivery as it was uncommon yet when he made changes much worse results followed. In an example outwith the sport, the golfer Jim Furyk has a swing some people have likened to "trying to swing a golf club in a phone box" and yet he hasnt felt the need to change it because it works. Guys like Miller have been pitching in their own style for many years and if it was good enough to get them to the Major Leagues why change after half a season containing some poor but yet some fantastic peformances? It is a fine line to walk between fine tuning a pitcher and throwing them out of whack. But even with his old delivery, Miller was an average pitcher at best. He showed flashes of something more, but only flashes. So Wiley and company try to change him up a bit to reach that greatness he was advertised as. Turn him into a 1 or 2, instead of a 3 or 4 or 5. It may have backfired. But I don't know if that is the fault of the people who implemented the change or the person who couldn't adjust or tell the people in charge he was injurying himself. Or even if the change is to blame. Actually, they did the opposite. Before, he was a wildly inconsistent pitcher who had shown flashes of brilliance and #1 stuff. Of course he had not put it all together. Now, after trying to Olsen-fy him, they want him to be a guy who takes a few MPH off of his fastball and throw a lot more fastballs and change-ups. The guy's ceiling as a pitcher is without a doubt highest if he is allowed to throw all his pitches and to throw his fastest fastball. (I'm sure there are some counterexamples, but in general this is the case IMO) I don't think Olsenfying a pitcher means that they or the organization thinks they can't be a number one guy. If you are a power pitcher, but that power leads to inconsistency, then maybe you should back off and change it up a bit. Isn't that the case with power pitchers as they become older? They start to slow down and adapt. I am guessing a pitching coach could look at it one of two ways: his inconsistency is independent of his motion or technique and he just needs experience, repetition to improve (i.e. continue his development as is) or his mechanics are to blame and the raw talent is there (the flashes), so let's change his motion and direct that talent. Wiley, for whatever reason, thought his delivery was what was holding him back. I do believe that Miller should have spent more time in the minor leagues, specifically, our minor leagues. Yes, he is getting paid big bucks and him being in the minors mean(t)s that we would have to sign a veteran pitcher to fill that 5 slot as to not rush anyone else up, but it is better than having one of prized pickups in that trade continue to take his lumps at the big league level and possibly have his confidence shaken.