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I'll miss Miggy, and I would have liked to see Reed hit his potential on our club (though it's all "potential" thus far). I've known Seattle wasn't going to give Freddie away. The Mariners have gotten great lasting value out of this, whereas we've made a move to win now. I'm typically down on those moves as shortsighted, but winning now's been an overdue reward for fans of the Chicago White Sox. I call it a wash. If we don't re-sign Garcia, we've paid extremely high rent for a dozen starts, and I don't like that so much. But Freddie solves the rotation problem for us. Now, it would seem we need a catcher. Alomar's not going to hold up for everyday use, and Ben Davis... ugh. I've not heard of the Atlanta rumor. But if we've got money to spend on either of Atlanta's Joneses, I hope we gave Maggs a look at that cash first.

We brought him up to take Billy Koch's spot in our pen. In Charlotte he was 3-3, 2.64 ERA. And he's about the only arm we've brought up this season that hasn't served batting practice in his debut. Should be serviceable.

"Shingo has NO arm at all!" That quote courtesy of your very own marlinsabaseball.com moderator KJC after seeing Shingo pitch early this season. :lol He had a 4 era in japan. he has a 1 era here. I'm stumped. That all depends on how you define "arm." He's an unusual pitcher... an offspeed pitch in the 65-mph range that makes his mid-80s fastball look 110 by comparison. His variable motion and release points seem to fool hitters as well. He reminds me that not all relief pitchers have to be fireballers to be effective. I've also got to believe the language barrier helps him somehow. He understands next to no English, which probably actually helps his mental focus. No psych-outs for Shingo if he doesn't understand he's "supposed" to be intimidated by who's at the plate. Conventional wisdom is that after a few trips through the AL, batters will figure him out. Same thing that's usually said about every pitcher enjoying unexpected success after a change in scene. It will probably happen to Shingo too, but I think it will take a while. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the ride!

Jake Wesbrook also did it earlier this season. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2814 Thanks for the linkage. That was interesting. Not quite a rarity, but 87 of these over the past 32 years (or 2.8 per season, on average) still equals an uncommon achievement, maybe on par with hitting for the cycle. Still a cool thing. And he's propping up my roto team as well! :cool

I consider bandwagoners to be people who live in an area and yet support teams they've never seen or don't even live near. This includes all the guys with Yankee's jerseys, Lakers jerseys and (in most cases) Michigan jerseys in Columbus. You know, the guys who live in C-Bus, have never LEFT the town in their life and yet, somehow root for these teams who win all the time and claim to have beena fan since day one (riiiight). While I think I know what you're getting at here, I think you have to account for transplants. I haven't lived in Chicago for 20 years, but still pledge prime allegiance to the team I grew up with. I live in Massachusetts. I'd think less of me if I'd sold out and jumped on the Red Sox bandwagon, even though I follow them closely and see most of my baseball in Fenway Park these days. And who did everybody in South Florida root for before the Marlins were born? I'm guessing Atlanta? In Charlotte, another place I've lived, the expansion Panthers carved a chunk out of a longstanding Falcons and Redskins fan base, but those other clubs still have a strong following in NC. I personally don't mind bandwagoners if they take the time to actually follow the team, rather than just don the colors. And people who change their minds every year or so do tend to be annoying.

BTW, Schilling hurt? 7 IP 1 ER The MRI said the ankle was "stable," but you're right... I guess we can consider Curt healthy again.

I don't see him getting too many save opportunities in Boston. With Wakefield sketchy and Schilling hurt, the Red Sox need some middle inning help in the pen, and that's apparently where Curtis comes in. I don't know if this is a great help, but he's gotta be better than Anastacio Martinez and Mark Melaska.

I could care less too, but it's easy to see why someone WOULD be offended. It's a computer. No one can hear his tone or anything to tell if he was joking. And even if he IS joking, what the hell is wrong with being white? I think the implication is white= conformist and uptight, but I'm certainly not that way. Down with stereotypes! (By the way, my stereo type is Aiwa. Surround sound, Dolby 5.1, puts you right in the game :thumbup ) I do happen to agree that a "uniform," a word carrying the echo of the word "uniformity," should be indeed worn as specified. The idea is you're part of a team, right? Expressions of individuality should be made elsewhere. So center up those Chief Wahoo caricatures and put those hats on straight!

Before Ronnie Belliard singled off Shingo Takatsu in the 10th last night, "Mr. Zero" had retired 29 consecutive batters over a 10-game span. The Rangers got the last hit off him on May 27. With the pressure off, he went on to walk Ben Broussard, but still managed to end it and pick up the win over Cleveland. I know a multi-game perfecto isn't a "valid" stat, but I doubt it's all that common. Maybe Ozzie Guillen's finally found his closer?

I just heard he bit one of the bouncers? Is that for real? Pads would seem to have a Mike Tyson on their hands. Oh yeah, that's apparently felonious assault, biting is. I think GM Towers' reaction was appropriate, as Miami15 quoted him off the AP. That said, do you really think they're going to cut him or anything? Tranquilize him, perhaps...

Who would the White Sox trade for Garcia? J/C I'd hope a Frisbee and a game-worn pair of cleats, of course... Garcia's name first came up for us last winter when the Mariners were interested in Jose Valentin, and that's been part of the continuing assumption. Rumors have it we may be dangling Joe Borchard, who's arguably our top prospect, and other deal-sweetners. I don't like depleting the farm for walk-year contracts, and think the chances of Sox management re-upping Freddie are virtually nil. With the Yanks and everybody else in the Beltran bidding, I'm kind of hoping Freddie's "price" stays low. Is that realistic? Probably not. So Gammons' idea merits consideration. I don't see enough of the Rockies to know if these guys are worth a shot, but with a Coors-adjustment to their numbers they seem like a good tire patch.

I don't know whether the Jennings/Chacon for Reed/Rauch deal is on the Sox' radar. But we've had that "automatic loss" 5th starter vacancy for the whole season, so this must be addressed somehow. I'm worried about how far we'll go in the rent-a-Garcia sweepstakes... at least Gammons seems more down-to-earth.

For almost the entire time he was with the White Sox, Billy Koch took a toll on my stomach lining. I had a hard time recognizing him as the same guy who pitched for the A's and Jays. Maybe that's evidence enough he was never meant to be a good fit with us. I do know Billy was given every opportunity by the Sox staff (if not the Sox fans). The chemistry was never right. I've always admired Billy's attitude and I'll miss it with the Sox. For one thing, he was one of our better-spoken players in terms of the press. He never, ever shifted blame for his own shortcomings. If he had it coming, he stood there and took it. A veteran-laden team like the White Sox can get prima-donnaish at times, and Koch stood out as someone who didn't make excuses. If only he could have translated that into getting batters out... I truly hope Billy catches on with you guys. Seems a good fit. The Marlins have done a good job with other rehab "projects," and the NL's a little kinder to pitchers in general. For all the Sox fans saying they'd gladly taken a bag of baseballs in trade for him... that may not be shortsighted (again, we *did* try), but it is rude. I'd personally like to see them eat those baseballs. So good luck.

Oh, boy... I go away for eight hours and look what happened! It took me a while to read through all that, both at WSI and here, to figure out what happened. And it seems to have gone down exactly as crector reported. There is an unfortunate degree of "my sandbox" mentality over there, and it seems to have gotten worse over time. Because I've been a White Sox fan my entire life, but have lived away from Chicago for more than half of it, WSI is a useful site for me because it keeps me in touch with the fanbase. And... that's about it. There are a few very smart, knowledgable writers over there and I enjoy reading them. The rest of it, well... I think the reception some of you got over there gives you the picture. I'm disappointed. I really like the Marlins and their fans and I don't appreciate their getting rough handling in the name of "totally biased" Sox fandom. A little ego-inflation seems to have given WSI's proprietors the idea that they speak for all of us. Bad idea.

sorry im a bit late on this but, does any1 know why a K is used cuz i dont 'cuz it's the unique letter in strike, and there's too many other scoring notations using the letter s. sounds like good guess, anyway. btw, you guys my only pbp link to this game... I'll be nice...

Been a Marlins fan since the SeaDogs showed up in Portland. I am really ticked with the people around here -- even with the SeaDogs here, they were never really Marlins supporters. And, this year, when the SeaDogs became the Red Sox AA team, you NEVER heard of anyone rooting for the Marlins -- people couldn't forget about the Fish fast enough, even though several of our beloved SeaDogs were now Marlins! But NOW, that the Yankees beat Boston, everyone here is "Go Marlins!" Makes me sick :angry As for support, I often wear my 1997 WS shirt as well as a great shirt of CJ with the slogan "Thou Shalt Not Steal". Of course, I also wear my Yankee shirt on occasion :whistle Hey, New England representin'. Nice. Can't talk much about my fervent Florida support, since I only recently pledged it, along with most of the other pale-hosers loitering around here. But at least I can say I was a week ahead of most of the rest of Massachusetts. It's been making me sick, too... today I even heard Mike Barnicle on the radio braying "Go MAAH-lins." Grapes never tasted so sour. On the plus side, I can actually catch game one "on the town" tricked out in still-smellin'-new Marlin gear and be just another hardcore Yankee hater, which, of course, I've always been. Different story had the Red Sox been in it. Kinda funny story re: Sea Dogs. I was in attendance for Fenway's "Maine Day" last month b/c their opponent was the Right Sox (we cleaned Boston's clock). Slugger, the Sea Dog mascot, was in attendance and was outperforming the shag-rug Muppety something called Wally the Green Monster. By the end of the game, most of the fans in my section wanted to keep the dog, and I was right with 'em on that. I'm also reminded here that I lived in Charlotte for a while back when the Knights were the Marlins' AAA affiliate. These days, they're ours. Another cool Sox/Fish connection.

Haven't had a chance to drop in and give my mad props to the Marlins for smokin' dem baby bears. I'd have been more "useful" to you guys had the Red Sox won tonight, since I live up in Mass., but at least now I can cheer you guys on with accompaniment (since Boston's always been good at Yankee-hating... they chant "Yankees suck" even when the White Sox, Devil Rays, and Angels are here to play em, and they'll all be for you now that they BLEW IT). Kinda fickle, when you think about it, but I think our Sox/Marlin bond is of stronger stuff. You did this thing we asked. You're made now. Haven't been down to Miami in a few years, but I might want to put something together and make our series next June. I've got a lot of hands to shake! Congrats, '03 NL Champions!

Oh, absolutely. I've said it before, all of this is just icing on the cake. My goal for this team at the beginning of the year was to finish .500, and I would've been happy. But while we're here....we might as well go as far as we can. Mmmm... icing. My goal for my team at the beginning of this year fell a little short of the mark. There were a lot of unmet expectations, and it's humbling to have to suck it up for yet. another. season. On the other hand, the Marlins weren't on anyone's radar, fought their way into a highly contested wildcard berth, and have made a pretty impressive stand. I think it's a lot more fun to watch your team play above expectations. After watching today's game, though, I have to say you're not over your head. You've earned your spot. Only other team still standing in your league is the North Side Unmentionables. I'm sure the Gi-aint's and their fans think they "deserve" to be where you are. But they were hyped up, the same way the Cubs are hyped up, by the same media juggernaut whose profits go up when the top-market teams go deep in the playoffs. Florida Marlins seem to play good, fundamental baseball. That may not be in a network's marketing plan, but it's what makes me keep coming back to this game, after strikes and white flag trades and such. And there's still some cake left, guys. Don't buy into failure as a foregone conclusion. Take it to the Trib-Urinal (aka Wrigley) and finish this.

Cub fans screw up just about everything that is good and decent about baseball. Remember, these are the same fans who think it's cute to lose. So even when you accommodate that "cuteness" for them (starting today!), they won't shut up. They're in love with the sound of their own beer-soaked voices. Most of 'em can't throw a punch either. All mouth, no huevos. Take that inside info for whatever it might be worth to you. My more civilized suggestion is to put that NFL seating capacity to work for you, and drown 'em out.