Prince of Saxe-Meiningen

Why can't people comprehend the fact that you don't need to make big trades and sign high-priced free agents to be better? I don't think you comprehend my question...as some others didn't. In a nutshell.....I believe that the Nats and Braves improved about 10-15 games each with their improvements. The Marlins basically are the same team they were last year. That means the Marlins will more than likely lose 3 or 4 more games to both the Nats and Braves (that means 6 to 8 less than we won last year). If the Marlins are just to maintain the same amount of wins they have to make them up from out-of-division games.... So my question is, where do you think those games will be made up from ?

......still sit on the sidelines. :banghead I get it, we don't have a lot of money, but c'mon everyone in the division has upgraded, especially the Nats. Isn't anyone else getting antsy about how they, the Braves, and the Phillies have all improved (at least on paper), yet the Marlins just act dead ? We all like to think we have at least as good a team as we did last year, but if the Nats improve 10 games or 15 games, and the Braves do the same, how many of those come at the expense of the Marlins ? We like to think we'll win at least 88 this year, but if the other teams in the division have improved, and we are basically the same team, common sense tells you we can't win the same amount of games, unless they come from out-of-division games. Where are those games to be made up come from ? Who is likely to not be better out of our division ? I think the Reds are improved, and so are the Pirates. Could the Cubs be back to their usual cellar dwelling selves ? SF seems to be improved too. The Mets might be good but they could also be just dreadful, that seems to be their history. Anyone with thoughts on this ?

Its hard to imagine Delgado coming back after the hard feelings between Loria and himself. But necessity sometimes dictates what we do in life, even if we hate doing it.

The Marlins on Monday announced their full list of non-roster invitees. In addition to 39 players on the 40-man roster, the Marlins have invited 22 players to big league camp. Here's the breakdown of players signed to minor league deals: Right-handed pitchers Clay Hensley, Seth McClung, Kasey Olenberger, Matt Peterson, Chris Schroder, Scott Strickland, Derrick Turnbow and Jose Veras; catcher Vinny Rottino; infielders Brian Barden, Hector Luna, Donnie Murphy and Danny Richar. The following are organizational players that will be in big league camp as well: Left-handed pitchers Dan Jennings and Jay Voss; catchers Brad Davis and Chris Hatcher; infielders Matt Dominguez, Ozzie Martinez and Logan Morrison; outfielders Bryan Petersen and Michael Stanton. Pitchers and catchers are on the field on Feb. 20 and the first full squad workout is set for Feb. 24 in Jupiter Courtesy of Juan Rodriguez and SunSentinel Not much to get too excited about on that list. I don't know....Petersen I remember as a pretty good college player, and would love to see him breakthrough to surprise folks.

http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/pages/video/?PID=rJov1nh6gs22Z4_clm22tb8_OKmoSaYD This guy is just awesome. The more I see of him the more I hope he has a great year and the Marlins get smart and lock him up like Hanley.

Mike Lowell probably used steroids. There, I said it. Pudge too! I don't doubt either one. But Mikey would be the exception. It may very possibly have been perscribed to him before it became illegal in MLB to help him overcome cancer. The "quicker healing effects" of the drugs. Steroids are not illegal, they are a "controlled substance". They can legally prescribed by a doctor for a legitimate medical reason. They are called Class 3 controlled substance I believe. So when folks say illegal, they are talking out of their arse. They are still legal to be used by any baseball player, as long as they have a legitimate medical reason. Lowell's cancer scare came after he was a Florida Marlin in 1999, and had nothing to do with using steroids, if he ever used them. There was virtually no change to his body from 1999 to 2005, so if he ever did use steroids, it was probably in low dosages. I personally doubt he ever used them.

if i just show up and cross my arms and look pissed off think i could get a coaching job? So that's how Freddi got this gig ? I knew it couldn't be because he knew how to manage, because we all know he can't do that.

I bet if Bonifacio goes in disguise he gets cut. :notworthy :lol :notworthy :lol :notworthy :lol

but not for him to start as our everyday first baseman, for that we could of kept Jacobs (30hr's) Except Russell Branyan is good at baseball Ouch ! Poor Mike did he make a pass at your wife or girlfriend, or perhaps boyfriend ? (These days you never know.....)

Did they change the original time for these games ? These may already be games that were going to be televised.

On a separate note, it appears that FOX will select three Marlins games to air on the Saturday Game of the Week. June 5: FLA @ NYM 4:10 PM July 3: FLA @ ATL TBD August 28: FLA @ ATL 4:10 PM FOX will air some Saturday games in primetime, but I don't think July 3rd was a date selected for primetime Saturday Games of the Week. That puts us up to 153 televised games in 2010. Notice none of them are home games......that empty stadium is not attractive on TV. I sure hope this town starts to get Marlinsmania and go to the games.

Fredi Gonzalez, Chris Coghlan and John Baker will appear from Iraq on “Hot Stove� on MLB Network tonight at 6 pm. Is there video of the interview on Hot Stove from yesterday ? http://mlbnetwork.ml...opic_id=7417714 Thanks Admin

I wish there was someway for me to watch all this, being out of state. There is....subscribe to DirecTV and then get the FOX Sports Package, with all 26 (or is it 27 ?) regional channels. These programs are not blacked out.

Fredi Gonzalez, Chris Coghlan and John Baker will appear from Iraq on “Hot Stove� on MLB Network tonight at 6 pm. Is there video of the interview on Hot Stove from yesterday ?

awesome deal for those guys and for the troops. anything to help them out is great.

This guy has tons of commercial potential. :thumbup He's good looking, comports himself as a very likeable and confident guy, without being an ego maniac. If he and the Marlins can have playoff experience, he can become one of "those guys" that the TV & radio shows, like 1st Take, Mike and Mike, Baseball tonight, etc. will eat up. He could be, along with Hanley the commercial face for the Marlins for years to come. If he has a great year this year, they should think about locking him up, and his agent should start to try to promote him as a commercial spokesperson.

The marlins did break the rules. Their payroll wasn't even as much as their cut from shared revenue. This money is given by the big spenders to the low revenue teams so that the disparity in spending won't be so great. The Yankees and company spend a $zillion on payroll. The small markets say we can't compete with a $zillion dollar payroll we need a salary cap. MLB and MLBPA say no salary cap, how about the big spenders give money to the little spenders so they can compete. But that money has to go into players because the Yankees and Co. don't want to pay for the Marlins and Co.'s rent. The point of the money is to give the little spenders a chance to keep their players and sign free agents. So it isn't like the Marlins could just spend that money on whatever they wanted. Now if the Marlins were under budget for a year or two they could say they were restructuring and it would be OK. But this is a team in position to win now, going into their fifth season of spending less than what they take in from revenue sharing and appearing like they planned on cutting players to doing the same thing next season. You notice only the Marlins got reprimanded. This is because they were the only ones spending less than they take in from RS. Now that they have been reprimanded they have signed their two most expensive players and seem ready to play fair. I love the marlins. I even like that they are penny-wise but any fan that believes that they weren't scamming the system is delusional. They got caught, they have mended their ways and hopefully we will see a playoff team this year or next. (this statement of the obvious is in response to all those commenting that the Marlins did nothing wrong and they can spend their money how they want.) p.s. And to those still believing that the marlins are some paupers working with a shoestring budget that can't afford 800k for a much needed reliever or to pay anything more than rookie contracts: MLB was in on this reprimand not just the MLBPA. Do you think that MLB would force the marlins to spend money they don't have? I don't think many are claiming that the Marlins did nothing wrong (just Eric as far as I can tell), because they clearly broke the rules set forth by the CBA. What many of us are saying is that we don't believe that the Marlins were "pocketing" anything, mainly because most of the "experts" don't believe that and because there is absolutely zero proof of that. I for one don't believe in making up faux-facts. Guys like Prince of Saxe-Meiningen are basically committing libel, which is pretty funny considering one of the things they are always doing is calling Loria and Samson liars. Yeah, we don't, though Stark guessed it was at about $40M. Then let the Marlins sue me in court, and then I can demand (or anyone else) who has called them thieves to open their books so I can make my defense. At that time they would be forced to open their books up, and God knows they would never want to do that. So you can name call me all you want, I will continue to call it as I see it, and call a spade a spade. Loria is a liar and a thief, and got caught by MLB and the MLBPA. They told him to straighten up or else. He complied rather quickly if you didn't notice. Facts are Loria had a team last year that was 5 games out of 1st place near the end of July and did virtually NOTHING to improve his team for a push to win the division. I believe that, more than anything caught the eye of the MLBPA & MLB. MLB has staked a part of their reputation, and put themselves on the line for Loria and his new ballpark more than almost any other stadium that has gone up in the last 15 years. Loria, in their eyes, didn't do what he could have to foster the promotion of baseball in So Fla by letting this opportunity go in 2009. I'm sure more than a few MLB exec's including DuPuy were ticked off by that. All the work they have been putting into baseball in So Fla, and now this cheap-azz guy won't do what he could do, and foster more goodwill for the Marlins and MLB by spending a few million on a rent-a-player for a playoff push. They had had it, and with the MLBPA who has no doubt been complaining about the Marlins and their spending what has been reported as the revenue sharing amount (last year about $ 34 million for the Marlins). That means that the Marlins paid out about $ 2.5 million before adding national TV & radio revenues, local TV & radio revenues, and ticket revenues. Even with a somewhat onerous lease at Sun-Life Stadium, the Marlins clearly made a profit, and if Forbes is to be believed, maybe the 2nd or 3rd highest profit of any team. They could afford to spend a few extra bucks to make baseball more attractive to the locals, and MLB stepped in and said enough is enough, spend a few bucks for the good of your future. Why is it some of you guys like to wear teal color glasses all the time and won't wake up to the fact we have an owner that is actually killing baseball in So Fla and not building it up ? More often than not, he cuts off his nose to spite his face when it comes to PR. Yes he has muzzled the midget, but he still lets him stay around. I don't have to guess too much to know that Samson is not a favorite of MLB exec's.

The Marlins should be ashamed of themselves by taking that money and putting it directly into Jeff Loria's pockets. There is no excuse not to sign Uggla and Johnson to long term deals with the team moving into a new stadium soon. The article didn't say the Marlins were doing this, did it? I thought it didn't specify as to where the money was going, I mean other than vague "promotions" and other stuff. Yeah, it didn't say that at all and most of the "experts" think that they weren't pocketing it but using it for other things. Like what ? Mermaids uniforms (they can't cost much because there isn't much to them) or Manatees training ? What is it that the Marlins pay for that costs so much more than other teams ? Their lease...oh please its onerous for sure, but its not millions and millions more than anyone else. The plain simple fact is that Loria was taking that money and using it on NON-BASEBALL related business, and the MLBPA and the ML owners finally had had enough of it, and took him to the woodshed privately, and he was told to pay-up or lose his revenue sharing. Because what would they have over him to make him comply ? Maybe there is a written agreement that states the owners have to use most if not all towards the team. Loria doesn't want his books opened, so rather instead he complies, albeit very reluctantly.

That's not bad.....

2003 you have basically been discredited. Perhaps in your twisted mind but that's nothing new. The rest of your drivel is so outlandishly false, as usual that it goes without comment except perhaps a suggestion you actually the read three party statement and the definition of revenue-sharing and its suggested use in the current CBA. I believe what you might want starts on Pg 104 and is only about twenty pages so it shouldn't take more than four or five days to read. Comprehension, I'm afraid may take longer, but that's on you. The truth hurts doesn't it 2003 ? Loria was called out and publically flogged. He was told "spend money or else", and coincidentally within 24 hours the Marlins have relented and signed JJ to a 4 year deal. Just by magic :shifty

Didn't know where else to post it but Mike Rabelo is back in the Tigers' organization. So Dombrowski is into torture aye ? Kinky........

i really have no problem if the money went towards the stadium and mlb would never force them to jepordize the stadium funds so its clear that this was done the right way. You might have no problem and neither would I, but the MLBPA would have a problem and it's against the rules of the CBA. I don't think it went that way. Maybe more towards player developement and scouting if anything. Phrases I keep reading from the powers-that-be are more along the lines of "continued support" and "a shot across the bow to other teams." Any comments saying $$ was being spent differently or not at all are coming from the media and sports boards geniuses. Most times those three lines of "info" get blurred and most just the start to assume the worst. Large market owners complained loudly and MLB had to do or say something. We had the lowest payroll the last two years, and are known for frugality, so we were singled out. The requirement is to put a competitive team on the field. Something we have done the last two years. It's hard to make a point that you aren't spending enough to compete when you are competing. But did they really compete ? A really concerned owner would have spent the extra $ 4 or $6 million needed at the end of the season to get us into the playoffs. Instead we got the injury prone Nick Johnson, who they let walk away at the end of the year after giving away two or three players.....we end up with nothing. Why make that trade ? We now don't have those trade-bait guys we used to get Johnson in the 1st place. It was only when forced by MLB did the Marlins finally do the right thing. Cheapazzness allowed them to let Gload go (to the Phillies no less :banghead) instead of keeping a good bench guy, who played big for us in some key situations last year. Its very frustrating being a fan of a team that is on the cusp of a special year, only to see the ownership think its better to pay for $ 20 million grants to already rich schools, upkeep on yachts & private French castles, and foo-foo artsy-fartsy paintings for the owner of the team. Bob I know you act as the ownerships personal apologist most of the time, but even you must see through their disgustingly cheapazzness and feeding at the trough of MLB revenue sharing for their own pleasure at the MLB teams expense on the field.

i really have no problem if the money went towards the stadium and mlb would never force them to jepordize the stadium funds so its clear that this was done the right way. You might have no problem and neither would I, but the MLBPA would have a problem and it's against the rules of the CBA. I don't think it went that way. Maybe more towards player developement and scouting if anything. Phrases I keep reading from the powers-that-be are more along the lines of "continued support" and "a shot across the bow to other teams." Any comments saying $$ was being spent differently or not at all are coming from the media and sports boards geniuses. Most times those three lines of "info" get blurred and most just the start to assume the worst. Large market owners complained loudly and MLB had to do or say something. We had the lowest payroll the last two years, and are known for frugality, so we were singled out. The requirement is to put a competitive team on the field. Something we have done the last two years. It's hard to make a point that you aren't spending enough to compete when you are competing. But did they really compete ? A really concerned owner would have spent the extra $ 4 or $6 million needed at the end of the season to get us into the playoffs. Instead we got the injury prone Nick Johnson, who they let walk away at the end of the year after giving away two or three players.....we end up with nothing. Why make that trade ? We now don't have those trade-bait guys we used to get Johnson in the 1st place. It was only when forced by MLB did the Marlins finally do the right thing. Cheapazzness allowed them to let Gload go (to the Phillies no less :banghead) instead of keeping a good bench guy, who played big for us in some key situations last year. Its very frustrating being a fan of a team that is on the cusp of a special year, only to see the ownership think its better to pay for $ 20 million grants to already rich schools, upkeep on yachts & private French castles, and foo-foo artsy-fartsy paintings for the owner of the team. Bob I know you act as the ownerships personal apologist most of the time, but even you must see through their disgustingly cheapazzness and feeding at the trough of MLB revenue sharing for their own pleasure at the MLB teams expense on the field.

Am I the only one who realizes this agreement they made with mlb players union is what they have been saying since the stadium has been finalized?? There is no change at all. No, you aren't. 2003 you have basically been discredited. Being Loria's apologist for the last 4 years this agreement, and the quick signing of JJ show that your assertion has been wrong all along. The Marlins and Loria were lining their pockets, giving $ 20 million donations to Yale so that Loria can have a building with his name on it, paying for the upkeep of castles in France, paying for multi million $ yachts, etc etc., all on the backs of the fellow owners. Even though they are not specified in this agreement, no doubt many fellow MLB owners are smiling with glee today, knowing that the Marlins management has finally been called on the carpet for basically stealing their money.

Landshark Stadium ???? Its not that anymore......that contract ran out the minute the last Miami Dolphins game was played.