dolfinfan305

I sense some bad vibes coming from people. Relax guys. I was just wished we had more depth during ST to push these guys harder and i thought it would've bee nice to have more quality arms in the competition. Never have i said that i wouldnt have pulled off the trades from last year. Im just frustrated with the pen problems we've had this year so far.

I thought his deserved a thread of its own. Check out this Bio of him: Ben Howard -- RHP -- Middle of the Rotation Starter: After four consecutive seasons in which he failed to live up to lofty expectations, Howard put it all together in 2001. In his second year at the high Class A level, the 6-2, 190-pound righthander was phenomenal for Lake Elsinore (8-2, 2.83 ERA) and finished the season with Class AA Mobile. Before he left Class A ball, however, Howard fanned a franchise-record 16 batters in one start -- he did not walk a single batter -- and was promoted to Mobile after losing just one of his final 10 starts in Class A. Howard, who went 2-0 in seven outings -- five starts -- for Mobile, finished a combined 10-2 on the year and ranked fourth in the system with a 2.73 ERA. After walking roughly a batter per inning over his first four seasons, Howard issued just 3.2 walks per nine innings last season. The 1997 second-round draft pick ironed out his mechanics in spring training and learned to control his off-speed stuff, which was essential to his success last season. Howard's fastball is among the best in the organization, topping out between 96-98 miles per hour. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/padres/prospect.htm

Ok Now i REALLY LIKE this guy Ben Howard -- RHP -- Middle of the Rotation Starter: After four consecutive seasons in which he failed to live up to lofty expectations, Howard put it all together in 2001. In his second year at the high Class A level, the 6-2, 190-pound righthander was phenomenal for Lake Elsinore (8-2, 2.83 ERA) and finished the season with Class AA Mobile. Before he left Class A ball, however, Howard fanned a franchise-record 16 batters in one start -- he did not walk a single batter -- and was promoted to Mobile after losing just one of his final 10 starts in Class A. Howard, who went 2-0 in seven outings -- five starts -- for Mobile, finished a combined 10-2 on the year and ranked fourth in the system with a 2.73 ERA. After walking roughly a batter per inning over his first four seasons, Howard issued just 3.2 walks per nine innings last season. The 1997 second-round draft pick ironed out his mechanics in spring training and learned to control his off-speed stuff, which was essential to his success last season. Howard's fastball is among the best in the organization, topping out between 96-98 miles per hour. That is really fast!!!! http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/padres/prospect.htm

He was out of options Another possibility is San Diego's Ben Howard, a hard-throwing right-hander who is out of options. Howard, 25, posted a 3.63 ERA in six big-league starts last year. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins

Found this The Padres hope Ben Howard, who will start tonight for Portland, soon will become a mainstay in their rotation. Howard throws hard but has struggled with his control. He is 3-3 with a 4.22 ERA and 26 walks in 53 1/3 innings. "Ben was in the car with (former Las Vegas Stars outfielder) Mike Darr when he was killed, and (Howard) had to have some psychological scars from that," Towers said. "But he's still a young guy, and he throws the ball well. He's a guy we like to think might be able to come up by the end of the year and be a candidate to be in our rotation next year." http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/200...s/21385534.html So we know that he throws hard

How is Ryan Snare going to make the team if they gave him only one inning to prove himself? He's pitched well in the minor leagues but the Rangers didnt think he was ready so they didnt give him a chance from the get go.

His spring stats for this year dont look too good though 6.2 IP 13 ER 16.20 ERA I still think its a good trade b/c he proved he can pitch at the big league level recently last year and as every picther needs to work out his kinks for the season. What i really like is that he gives us flexibility since he has been used as a starter.

Looks like a good trade...Anyone know how fast this guys throws...BTW, i wonder why didnt SD just claim Blaine of waivers yesterday and they would've paid nothing.

Snare pitched in Double A last year and many teams would not promote a player until they reach Triple A no matter how grave their needs are. Its called developing the picther my friend.

Sorry guys...the Mets game today frustrated me to the point to start his thread

BTW, just b/c Snare didnt make the Rangers staff doesnt mean that he didnt make it since he pitched well but didnt get too much oppurtunities so the Rangers never had him in their short term plans.

Like i said im not complaining since we won the WS last year but it would've been nice to have more competition. Competition makes everybody better. I agree that Bautista and Levinski are not ready but the other three couldve contended for a pen role.

Ryan Snare - was pitching ok w/ Rangers before being sent down Gary Knotts - has 3.54 ERA w/ Tigers as starter in ST Nate Robertson - in contention for Tigers 5th Starting Pitcher Denny Bautista Don Levinski Im not complaining since we did win the WS but i was just thinking "What if" we still has these pitchers, 1 or 2 could've made it out of ST.

Former Marlin Jason Grilli was optioned to Triple A by the White Sox. Wasnt he chosen in the Rule 5 Draft from the Marlins? Doesnt that mean he would have to be offered back to us if he didnt make the team? White Sox | Grilli Sent to Triple-A - from www.KFFL.com Thu, 1 Apr 2004 10:46:22 -0800 The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports the Chicago White Sox optioned P Jason Grilli to Triple-A Charlotte.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6356 Erik Hiljus Career 4.79 ERA

Please feel free to post pitchers that have been released that could potentially help the Marlins in the pen.

Sturtze late entry in bullpen race BY JUAN C. RODRIGUEZ South Florida Sun-Sentinel JUPITER, Fla. - (KRT) - As agent Eric Goldschmidt was leaving a message for Marlins General Manager Admin Beinfest on Monday night, his other line rang. It was assistant General Manager Michael Hill. The two calls had the same purpose: to get Tanyon Sturtze in a Marlins uniform. Sturtze, most recently of the Dodgers organization, was told late Monday night to be in Jupiter for a physical Tuesday morning. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound right-hander is the newest candidate for the Marlins' bullpen after signing a minor league contract. His bid to make the club got off to a successful start. Sturtze retired the three Expos he faced in Tuesday's game at Roger Dean Stadium before driving back to Vero Beach to collect his belongings. Sturtze opened spring training with the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee. He approached General Manager Paul DePodesta about getting his release once it became apparent he wouldn't make the big-league club. "I really was trying to make the Dodger team, and I thought I was throwing the ball really well with the Dodgers," said Sturtze, who was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and .367 opponents' batting average in four games (11 innings). "It just happened there were no spots." Bullpen opportunities abound with the Marlins. With less than a week before Opening Day, the only sure members of the bullpen are closer Armando Benitez and setup man Chad Fox. Including Sturtze, the Marlins have seven candidates for four jobs. A native of Worcester, Mass., Sturtze spent last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, going 7-6 with a 5.94 ERA in 40 appearances (eight starts). He pitched 89 1/3 innings after throwing 224 the previous season with Tampa Bay, where he was 4-18. "That's still coming up?" Sturtze said. "2002 was a difficult year. It seemed like every time something would happen it would happen where I would end up taking the loss. I didn't throw the ball that bad the whole season. Things just kept piling up a little bit. Once they get into those higher numbers, people start talking about them." It didn't help that as the Devil Rays' top starter, Sturtze regularly was facing opponents' No. 1 pitcher. He ascended to the top of Tampa Bay's rotation after going a combined 15-12 with a 4.03 ERA (248 innings) in 2000-01. --- STILL WAITING Jeff Allison's jersey hung in his locker at the Marlins' minor league complex, but there was no sign of the former first-round draft pick. A source close to Allison said the pitcher is in South Florida and could arrive as soon as today after missing the first three weeks of minor league camp. According to industry sources, Allison has agreed to random drug testing for the next two years and accepted a restructured payout of his $1.85 million signing bonus. "Jeff is fine," said the source close to Allison. "That's all I can tell you. Jeff is fine. I can't say anything more." --- EYE IN THE SKY After being ejected in the third inning of Tuesday's game, manager Jack McKeon watched the remaining innings from the second-floor patio of Marlins offices beyond the left-field wall. "It was great," McKeon said. "I smoked three cigars. ... It's tough watching it from up there. I didn't have my binoculars." ... With his team trailing 3-2 in the 10th, infielder Mike Mordecai hit a solo homer to salvage a tie. Last season, Moredcai hit two game-winning homers. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...rts/8315904.htm

I went over to the ESPN boards and i dont like the way they are set up. I found another board which has a small crowd but nevertheless has life and has some good topics. Here the link http://heat.theinsiders.com

I'll be in Sec 126.

Wasnt there a veteran pitcher the Marlins signed last year in his 30's who had been a starter with a pretty high ERA (around 6.00 i believe), his name was Rick Helling and he did a good job for us when we called on him so dont start badmouthing this move until we see the results.

Im looking for one. If anyone knows of a good one, please post the link. Thanks.

VERO BEACH - There is little doubt that the Marlins' opening day crowd will be the largest in franchise history. More than 46,000 tickets have been sold for next Tuesday's opener and team officials expect the final count to exceed 50,000 -- easily surpassing the previous record of 42,334 for the franchise's inaugural game in 1993. Attendance for last season's opener was 37,137. PROSPECTS GET THEIR CHANCE The Marlins gave a few of the regulars a day off Monday, allowing several of their minor-league prospects a chance to get into a spring training game. One of those was outfielder Jeremy Hermida, the Marlins' first-round draft pick in the 2002 June draft. Hermida hit .284 at Single A Greensboro last season and will start this season at Single A Jupiter. ''Maybe I'll get to Double A about halfway through the season,'' said Hermida, 20. Hermida said he hopes it won't be long before it makes it to the majors. ''Hopefully I'd get a call-up at the end of next year,'' he said. ``Maybe by 2006 I'll get a chance to earn a spot [in the big leagues].'' Hermida is a natural right-hander who was taught to bat left-handed by his father when he was four years old. WILLIS WITNESS ACCIDENT Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis witnessed a car accident on the Florida Turnpike on Monday and stopped to offer assistance. Willis, who was on his way to Vero Beach to start against the Dodgers, said there were no injuries, but that one of the cars in the two-car wreck was severely damaged. ''It happened right in front of me,'' Willis said. ``Everyone was all right, though.'' http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8304936.htm

Yeah. The braves got Juan Cruz. But whats not good is that in past years we would scour the waiver wire and pickup players. But now since we are the Ws winners we get last dibs on anyone getting released so trading for an arm is the way to go. If not, our pen will look something like this. I would like at least one more "dependable" guy in the pen. Armando Benitez Chad Fox Justin Wayne Mike Tejera Matt Perisho Blaine Neal

Yeah, We should've gotten something more than Neu who was drafted as a Rule 5 pick by the A's. Redman wasnt breaking the bank either with what he was making. I think we couldve had Redman start till AJ got better which looks like its going to be half a season and then trade him when we can fetch the most for him - at the MLB trading deadline.

Thats what someone said in todays game thread. Do you have to buy the DirecTV sports package to get the game or the MLB Extra Innings? I thought that they allowed the telecasting of preseason games without thinking of blackouts.