fauowls44

Toby Borland has been designated for assignment and OF Chris Aguila has been recalled. I wonder why Dillion wasn't called up. I wonder if the move signals that Nunez is going to be moved for relief help? here is a link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/transactions/today.html

What is with all the negativity around here? It's June 21st. You all sound as if it was the last week of September. There is still a lot of baseball left and some of you sound like you are conceding the divison to the Phillies and planning for next year. The bottom line is that the team is tied for 1st place and has yet to play its best baseball. Burnett's last 2 starts were great and with him and the rest of the rotation healthy, they won't go through many long losing streaks. The bullpen is taking some form of shape for the 1st time all year. Yes, the offense has looked terrible lately, but it happens. Teams go through slumps, hopefully, this is getting our out of the way early. I'm not saying that this team is perfect right now(they need another bat, either someone from in-house like Conine to pick it up, or through a trade), but no team in the NL is without its flaws. Everyone just has to relax and remeber there is still 93 games left.

Good to see. Where do you think he starts his career? Greensboro or Jupiter? It is the 2nd story in the article: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins Other interesting note is that the Marlins do have an interest in Leskanic. I would love to take a chance on signing him.

Ted Ledbetter and Kevin Sewell were both named to Baseball America's Small College All-American team. Both had great numbers, albeit against weaker competition. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/colle...mallaateam.html

If the bullpen did their job in any way then we wouldn't be complaining about how Jack uses it, so it all starts with them, and we should really be criticizing the bullpen rather than Jack. I agree. This doesn't fall on McKeon. He can't help it if nobody he throws out there gets the job done. There is no need to make excuses for Bump or any other pitcher. I don't care who you are or when you come into the game, just get the hitters out.

from CNNSI's transaction page.... Florida Marlins - Placed pitcher Justin Wayne on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 4, with right shoulder tendinitis; purchased the contract of pitcher Mike Neu from Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League (AAA).

The bullpen after a tremendous start began to falter pretty much during that san francisco series and then after. however the marlins bullpen seems like it may actually be pretty solid and the pieces are falling into place. For example Benitez has been unotuchable, but after him Perisho seems to also be finding a niche not only against lefties but against all hitters. Phelps if he returns to the pen is solid in long relief situations. Oliver remains to be seen. Borland looks like he will perform well out of the pen with his funky arm angles. Chad Fox will soon return further solidifying the pen. I guess Bump who has been struggling this year is still a question mark, but with improved control this ground ball pitcher may be able to turn it around. This is just a brief analysis to get a post going, what does everyone think? I would still like to see them go out and get another arm. Fox returning will help, but think they need one more righthanded set up man.

When Mike Neu gets back to new he could be our 8th inning guy later this year, no doubt. I seriously doubt that. I do think we could see him up in the majors at some point though. I don't know if Neu will be the 8th inning pitcher, but I do think that if he puts together a string of good outings, he'll be up with the Marlins relatively quickly. He could end up being the 7th inning guy, with hopefully a healthy Chad Fox taking the 8th.

That would be our first 20 game winner in how many years? He'd be the first ever.

I agree with most everything that you say, except about Burnett being a huge boost to the pen. When he gets back, he takes his spot in the rotation. Oliver goes to the pen for long relief.

It's funny how people panic so early. Last year at this point they were what? 10 games under .500? No doubt they are in a slump right now, but better to get this out of the way early. The lineup isn't clicking right now, but they will turn it around. Some of what is happening is just bad luck, Lowell missing a grand slam to tie the game on saturday by a foot. Castillo hitting a line drive right at the shortstop last night that a few fett in either dirction would have scored 2 runs. Those things will even out. Conine and Castillo are guys with proven track records. The major concern for me is the bottom of the line up. Gonzalez and the catcher spot have to start to produce something. Castro is a better hitter than what he has shown so far. On the bright side, Choi looks to be coming out of his slump and getting AJ Burnett back in early June may provide the same type of jolt Dontrelle brought last year.

Link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8691038.htm MIAMI Sopher signs deal to buy arena The Florida Marlins are one step closer to getting a new stadium after parking magnate Hank Sopher signed a contract on Monday to buy the Miami Arena for $25 million. BY OSCAR CORRAL ocorral@herald.com Parking magnate Hank Sopher signed a contract Monday to buy the Miami Arena for $25 million, fulfilling an integral part of the complex deal to finance a new stadium for the Florida Marlins, said city officials and a Realtor involved in the deal. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said the signed contract was a good step forward. ''I'm very pleased,'' he said. ``I think this is something that is important for the city, the county. There is a lot of money tied up in that property and it makes no sense to keep putting good money after bad.'' The Sopher contract doesn't mean that it's a done deal, Diaz said. The executive director of the city's Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority must first sign off on the offer. After that, the authority has 85 days to seek a higher bid, Diaz said. High-powered Realtor Edie Laquer, who represented Sopher in the negotiations, said the city's sports authority had given him a Monday deadline to sign the contract. She said Sopher has no immediate plans for the arena. However, he reportedly has floated the idea of turning it into a high-end shopping mall. ''We were able to get through some minor modifications, and it's signed today in its final form,'' Laquer said. ``We have turned it into the city.'' Laquer said the arena would be Sopher's in the end. ''Hank can match any price set forth,'' Laquer said. ``In my opinion, he will be the last man standing.'' For years, Miami leaders have considered the idea of selling or demolishing the arena because they say it has become obsolete. Miami officials have found a better use for the $6 million in tourism bed-tax money that Miami-Dade County provides every year to pay off the bonds that built the arena -- helping finance a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins. Diaz last month brokered the offer from Sopher, a big downtown property owner. Diaz said then that proceeds of the sale would help pay down the $34 million still owed bondholders on the arena, with the balance to be paid by tax money already committed for upkeep. Without the sale of the arena, the deal recently announced to finance a new Marlins stadium near the Orange Bowl may crumble. Laquer said Sopher was well aware that a new Marlins stadium partially hinged on his purchase of the arena. ''Hank recognizes indirectly that this possession of this asset definitely plays into enhancing the possibility of the Marlins stadium becoming a reality,'' Laquer said. She said Sopher hopes to one day redevelop the site in a positive way. ''If anyone has the vision to turn what has been cast as a white elephant into a feasible redevelopment on that site, it's definitely Hank Sopher,'' she said. ``It's been very fulfilling today for all parties concerned.''

Here is another article from the CBS 4 website: http://cbs4.com/newslocal/topstoriesmia_story_127122702.html Another Step Towards A New Marlins Stadium Miami commissioners approve financing deal Plan calls for retractable-roof stadium next to Orange Bowl by 2007 May 6, 2004 12:04 pm US/Eastern Miami city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the financing deal that city administration struck with the Florida Marlins and Miami-Dade County for a new baseball stadium. Next week, team officials will lay out how they plan to guarantee the Marlins' share of the money to build a ballpark next to the Orange Bowl. The team's share could reach hundreds of millions of dollars. The plan is for a retractable-roof stadium, contingent on the sale of the city-owned Miami Arena. The Marlins want to be in the new stadium by the 2007 season, and are still hoping for $30 million from the state.

Miami commissioners approve Marlins stadium deal By OSCAR CORRAL ocorral@herald.com Miami city commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to approve the financing deal the city administration struck with the Florida Marlins and Miami-Dade County for a new baseball stadium next to the Orange Bowl. The commission's approval is yet another step toward making a new baseball stadium a reality. But some commissioners expressed skepticism that the stadium would get done in the time alloted with the money allocated. The plan is to build a 38,000 seat, retractable-roof stadium on the southwest corner of the Orange Bowl for $325 million. The Marlins want to be in the new stadium on opening day of the 2007 season. ''It's a mathematical formula that's missing some numbers,'' said Commissioner Joe Sanchez, who represents the district that contains the Orange Bowl. ``I give the stadium a 65 percent chance.'' The complicated financing package for the $367 million project has three major elements that obligate the Marlins. It requires the team to put in $20 million in equity; the team must agree to pay $127 million in rent that Miami-Dade County would finance into a lump sum for construction; and perhaps most important, the Marlins must agree to cover any overruns beyond the stated $325 million price tag. The team also still has a $30 million funding gap that the state Legislature refused to bridge during this year's session. And the deal is contingent on the sale of the city-owned Miami Arena, which has not yet taken place. Sanchez said that Thursday's resolution meant that the city, county and the team would go back to Tallahassee together next year to lobby the state for the needed funding. ''We are all very excited,'' Sanchez said. ``We are hoping that a stadium can bring revilatization to the area.'' Link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/86041...kkkkkktl|greg|Y

New Marlins Stadium Plan To Be Presented To Commission Miami City Manager To Present Deal Today NBC 6 News Team POSTED: 11:16 am EDT April 29, 2004 UPDATED: 12:25 pm EDT April 29, 2004 MIAMI -- NBC 6 has learned that the plan to finance a new ballpark for the Marlins is ready to be presented today. NBC 6 senior correspondent Ike Seamans, who broke the story about the plan on Wednesday, says that at today's Miami City Commission meeting, City Manager Joe Arriola will present the new proposal to pay for a new baseball-only stadium. Arriola, county manager George Burgess and team officials reportedly hammered out the deal on Monday. The meeting takes place at 3 p.m. According to Seamans, the terms of the deal are as follows: The Marlins must contribute more than $137 million originally pledged to build the $325 million stadium. Proceeds from the sale of the Miami Arena will help pay for the new stadium. The stadium would be located near the Orange Bowl. The deal would leave a $30 million funding gap, which the Marlins hope to get from state lawmakers. On Wednesday, Marlins president David Samson was in Tallahassee trying to get a commitment from legislators, who turned down a $60 million request last week. Samson reportedly returned to Miami last night after House Speaker Sohnny Byrd told him, "no deal." These and other details will be presented today at 3 p.m. to the Miami city commission, Seamans reports. Reported by NBC 6 Senior Correspondent Ike Seamans Link: http://www.nbc6.net/sports/3250311/detail.html

So what exactly did Arriola say. The deal is $30 million short. Does that mean that the deal won't go through without that final amount or will they proceed on the belief that they will be able to get that from the state next year if not this year? I know they said that Samson was going to the legislature today. If they fail to get the $60 million tax break, does that kill the deal? It wouldn't seem that a relatively small amount like $30 million wouldn't be a deal breaker. I believe they are only asking the legislature for $30 million, and according to Arriola, they will proceed without the $30 million if necessary, believing that if they will get it next year. Ok. That's what I figured. Did he say when they would make a formal announcement about this plan? Thanks!

So what exactly did Arriola say. The deal is $30 million short. Does that mean that the deal won't go through without that final amount or will they proceed on the belief that they will be able to get that from the state next year if not this year? I know they said that Samson was going to the legislature today. If they fail to get the $60 million tax break, does that kill the deal? It wouldn't seem that a relatively small amount like $30 million wouldn't be a deal breaker.

Marlins' bid for funds falters STADIUM SITE NEAR ORANGE BOWL CHOSEN, TEAM SAYS BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ AND CHARLES RABIN mrvasquez@herald.com TALLAHASSEE - Barring a miraculous turnaround, the Marlins' bid for state help in building a stadium is dead this legislative session. State House Speaker Johnnie Byrd announced Tuesday he will oppose a pending bill in the House that would give the Marlins a $60 million sales tax rebate to be used toward building a stadium. Despite the blow, an undaunted team president revealed late Tuesday that the team had settled on land adjacent to the Orange Bowl as the location of a future stadium. The goal, said Marlins President David Samson, will be to present lawmakers with a comprehensive plan before session ends -- a plan where the only missing financial piece is the sales tax break needed from the Legislature. Building near the Orange Bowl was an idea the team had all but abandoned a month ago, but resurfaced Tuesday night during a conference call with Samson and reporters. ''This is the first time a deal has been so close to being finished,'' Samson said, calling Monday a ''reasonable'' date by which the team might go public with its proposal. The call took place hours after Byrd said he could not support a $60 million tax rebate. Senate President Jim King has long been an outspoken opponent of the plan, while Gov. Jeb Bush has been solidly behind the Marlins' effort. Until now, the Marlins' hopes had hinged on both Byrd and Bush finding a way to sway King. With Byrd now also opposed, the team's hopes for state help have all but vanished: The House and Senate leaders have the power to keep a bill from being voted on by their respective chambers. ''I don't believe that's the appropriate way to invest taxpayer dollars,'' Byrd said Tuesday. When asked if he would allow a full House vote on the Marlins tax break despite his own objections, Byrd responded, ``I don't see that happening.'' WORKING ON DEAL The Marlins are working to piece together a deal to build a $325 million, 38,000-seat retractable-roof stadium. The team says it will contribute $137 million, and Miami-Dade County has offered $73 million, leaving the Marlins $115 million short. Marlins officials have set a self-imposed deadline of May 1 to have a stadium financing plan in place. Finalizing a deal by then will let the team begin playing in its new stadium by 2007. Samson remained upbeat Tuesday, saying a come-from-behind victory is still possible in the Capitol during the next week and a half, after which lawmakers will hang it up for the year. ''With 11 days left, it is by no means over,'' he said. Samson said the team is aiming to figure out every other piece of the stadium puzzle -- except for state funding -- during the next few days. Miami City Manager Joe Arriola confirmed Tuesday that the city and the Marlins are back in contact with each other over the Orange Bowl. `VERY MUCH IN PLAY' ''The Orange Bowl site for the Marlins is very much in play now,'' Arriola said. Arriola said it would be much easier to build a stadium at the Orange Bowl with the addition of state money, but that one can still be built there without the Legislature's help. The city's pending sale of the Miami Arena will free up at least $25 million it can put into Orange Bowl renovations, Arriola said. That sale would also allow the city to use about $6 million a year it gets from Miami-Dade County in bed tax money to go toward the Orange Bowl. Asked if a stadium deal was dependent on the arena sale, Arriola said: ``Unfortunately for the financing, selling the arena really helps.'' http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/84792...mmmmmmm|Trent|Y Well, this could get interesting. I have this sinking feeling that we're going to build a stadium, with no roof, and we're going to get fleeced by the city of Miami. Some of the most bizarre, disorganized negotiations I have ever witnessed... According to the article on the Marlins website, the stadium deal includes roof.

Here is a link to the article on Floridamarlins.com (sorry if it has already been posted): http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...s_fla&fext=.jsp 04/21/2004 12:41 AM ET President pushing for new park May 1 deadline for team to secure funding By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com Tickets Scoreboard Fantasy Marlins president David Samson said Tuesday the proposed new ballpark would be located in the Orange Bowl neighborhood. (Wilfredo Lee/AP) PHILADELPHIA -- Amid pessimism from state lawmakers regarding $60 million in funding for a new stadium, Marlins president David Samson maintains the quest for state funding is "far from over." The Marlins' pitch for a $60 million state subsidy was dealt a serious blow Tuesday by Florida lawmakers in Tallahassee. House Speaker Johnnie Byrd told The Associated Press he no longer supports putting into next year's budget a $2 million annual tax break over 30 years. "It wasn't a good idea," Tom Denham, Byrd's spokesman, told The Associated Press. But in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday night, Samson noted there are 11 days left until the May 1 deadline, which coincides with the conclusion of the Legislative session. "It is by no means over," Samson said. "It's not over till it's over." Samson used a baseball analogy to point out the Marlins were down 3-1 in games to the Cubs in the NLCS only to rally back to win the series. Samson's optimism is based on accelerated talks in recent days with Miami-Dade officials. Movement has been made to secure more local funding, and for the first time Samson announced the probable site. An announcement on the local part of the deal could come as early as Monday. Samson said the site would be in the Orange Bowl neighborhood and it calls for a retractable roof. "We're not just close, we're done," Samson said, referring to finalizing local funding. The "last piece," he says, is roughly $30 million of the $60 million sought from the state. That's where the deal has stalled, and it is uncertain if lawmakers will have a change of heart. From the state, the Marlins are seeking a similar subsidy enjoyed by other professional sports teams in Florida, including the Miami Dolphins, with whom they share Pro Player Stadium. The Marlins are facing the May 1 deadline to secure funding on a $325 million stadium. The team claims the deadline must be met in order to open a 38,000-seat facility for the 2007 season. That deadline, Samson said, remains firm. The Marlins are putting up $137 million and Miami-Dade County has voted to chip in $73 million in bed taxes. From the start, Senate President Jim King strongly opposed the $60 million state subsidy. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush supported the Marlins' bid for the state subsidy, but realized it faced an uphill battle. "I would hope the Marlins would get the same benefits as all the other professional sports teams in the state," Bush said. "But I understand that they started late in the game and not all of their proposal is finite." Added Samson: "We are hopeful it will happen by May 1." Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. What's interesting is the quote from Samson saying that the local financing is not just close, but done and that there is a $30 million dollar gap that the state funding would close. I just can't see a relatively small amount (in the grand scheme of things) like $30 million being a deal breaker. In addition, Joe Arriola is quoted in the Herald this morning as saying: ''The Orange Bowl site for the Marlins is very much in play now,'' Arriola said. Arriola said it would be much easier to build a stadium at the Orange Bowl with the addition of state money, but that one can still be built there without the Legislature's help. Link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8479211.htm So my question is if all the other plans are finalized by May 1, could they not begin construction and fill the final $30 million gap later on? It seems as though there is support for the state funding, but the hang up is time. It seems as though they would be able, if they cannot get it this year, to go back to the state next year and present their proposal on time and get the help that they need. Is there anyone here with more insight on this? Thanks.

Maybe I missed something, but where is that news coming from?

Wayne had an awsome spring. I don't really think it was a fluke either considering he changed alot of things about his approach and mechanics. his spring was "awesome" until he got lit up by the mets... which is why small sample sizes for relievers are totally meaningless. his overall spring training performance was mediocre (average ERA and low strikeouts), and it sucked if you average in the albuquerque game that luckily wasn't counted. theres a reason why he hasnt come out of the pen once all season... eh, hopefully we can run up the score against the spos so we can see that "stuff" he hasnt had since the minors 2 years ago. Exactly. I hope he proves me wrong if he must be used, but Wayne is not a Major League pitcher. He has an average fastball at best and an uneffective breaking ball. The coaching staff knows this, and that's why he hasn't been used. Howard pitching in relief in AAA is further evidence of this. Once he throws a few more good innings, Wayne will be on the bus back to the minors.

I just think a guy with Howard's type of stuff is better suited to pitch the 7th than Wayne(or Bump for that matter). Defend Wayne all you want, but they still need one more power arm in the pen. That arm doesn't have to be Howard, but they need to find someone. They can't run Fox out there every day and i'll take my chances with a guy that throws in the mid 90's(like Howard) to a pitcher like Wayne that's not going to miss any bats. You saw it today with Bump. He wouldn't challange the hitters out there with an 88-90 mph fastball and walked 2 straight batters.

I don't know if this was posted yet, but I just saw that Ben Howard threw 3 hitless innings, walking 2 and striking out 2 in AAA last night. If he has a few more good outings, I think we'll see him called up and Wayne sent down.

As for contraction...the players union will never go for it.? Think they fight hard against a salary cap?? Watch how tough they'd make it to cut 25 to 50 of their jobs. I'm surprised how often I read this. This is incorrect. The players union won't fight contraction because they've already agreed to it. It's in the current CBA. The owners have the right to contract 2 teams after the 2006 season. They have to notify the union that 2 teams are being contracted for the 2007 season, sometime between 4/1/2006 and 7/1/2006. It's in Article XV, Section H. I agree with you that if the owners can't find a place to move one team (the Expos), how are they going to find new places for two teams (the Expos and Marlins)? My fear is that the Expos will still not be moved by the end of 2005, at which point the owners will decide to just wait one more year and contract them, with the Marlins being a possible contraction partner. I don't think it will happen, because I think the Marlins will get a stadium here, but it is something that worries me. That's true that contraction is written into the CBA, but it also states that contraction of two teams is subject to bargaining. I find it hard to believe that an organization that will not allow it's players to be tested for drugs without a fight, let go of 50, multi-million dollar jobs so easily.