July 6, 200323 yr Credit: ESPN.com Marlins: Wild card within reach By Peter Gammons Special to ESPN.com July 6 When Mike Lowell this week found himself surrounded by Jeffrey Loria, David Samson, Admin Beinfest and Mike Hill -- in full view of the media -- and was promised that he would not be traded, cynics believed it to be not only a PR move but a maneuver to put Lowell into a position that if he were to decline a long-term contract offer, he would make himself the mercenary bad guy. That's a rook-to-queen's-three move known in Philadelphia as a 'Rolen.' But Loria insists that this isn't so. Yes, he did tell Felipe Alou that he would manage ad infinitum, then soon thereafter fired him. No, Loria says he never told Cliff Floyd he wouldn't be traded. As for Lowell, Loria says, "we are in this for the long haul and he is a major piece of our future." Look, should the Marlins fall out of the race between now and July 31 -- or even Aug. 31, given waivers -- there is a chance that they would trade Luis Castillo and fifth-year arbitration case Derrek Lee. "However," said Loria, "we fully believe we're in this thing. We believe we can get to the playoffs. We're not far back in the wild card." Lowell is a midseason MVP candidate, and what is falling in place with Jack McKeon is a number of confluences: the impact of Dontrelle Willis, the arrival of Monster Miguel Cabrera, the return to health of Mark Redman and Josh Beckettand the increasing electricity of Juan Pierre. Early on, the loss of A.J. Burnett, Redman and Beckett weakened what appeared to be Florida's strength, but Willis came out of Double-A and not only give the Marlins a hot starter, he give the franchise an identity. The local Fox TV ratings for Willis' start Wednesday night were 5.4, best since the clincher in '97. "We're starting to feel a surge in interest," said Loria. "We know there are problems here in terms of the ballpark and past history, but we're making progress. "Our attendance is up 30 percent. Our corporate participation numbers are growing [more] than anyone could [have] imagined. We had a long way to go to undo what was done before us, but we are working at it." Not only that, but Loria insists that he will get a new ballpark built. "We are getting there, and we're keeping it under the radar screen because we have to. But I am so encouraged. I really believe that in this market -- the gateway to South America -- that we not going to be a small-market team forever." When the Marlins went into Boston the last weekend of June, they began a 34-game stretch against teams over .500. If they make it through that stretch and get into August in sight of the wild card, then Loria will have a chance to do something precisely the opposite of a fire sale. "If we have a chance to make the playoffs," he said, "we'll try to go get what we need to win." Cubs scrambling a bitNo team was more disappointed to hear that Lowell would not be traded than the Cubs, but Jim Hendry had sensed for several weeks that the All-Star third baseman wasn't going to be traded. "We're looking for some help," said Hendry. "Do we need some offensive help in the infield? Yes. But we have to start playing better, as well." Prized phenom Angel Guzman is down with a shoulder injury -- albeit one Chicago doesn't believe is serious -- and 6-foot-7 left-hander Luke Hagerty is also out, thinning the Cubs pitching depth. And while they dismiss the notion that perhaps they might think about Armando Benitez, Ugueth Urbina or Mike Williams right now, they may change their mind with a couple more heart-stopping weeks from their bullpen. Pirates GM Dave Littlefield is working hard exploring rebuilding trades. He's talked to a number of teams about Kris Benson, the Braves and Red Sox (who inquired about Benson and Scott Sauerbeck but likely will not pay the price because of the concern that Benson has lost his curveball) included. He's had ongoing talks with the A's about Brian Giles, but to make the deal, Oakland would have to include shortstop Bobby Crosby, who is coming on strong in Sacramento, showing surprising power. Problem is, the A's need him when Miguel Tejada hits the free-agent trail at the end of the season. Oakland has three untouchables -- Crosby, Rich Harden and Nick Swisher. The ever-changing Red Sox bullpen got a new face when they signed Todd Jones for what essentially is a trial until Casey Fossum gets back. Anything to get to the point where Mike Timlin has a sixth-inning curfew. The Mets are holding out hope for a Benitez market, and one of the clubs they're watching is Seattle. But Bob Melvin insists Kaz Sasaki will be back for the stretch. "It's taking longer than we anticipated," said Melvin, "but he will be back and will be fine. His velocity was creeping up when he cracked his ribs, and we think he'll be fresh for the stretch run and, hopefully, the postseason." Speaking of the M's, one AL scout said, "they have the best outfield defense I've seen in years. What they do in their ballpark is take the doubles and triples out of the game. No one else can do that." Said Melvin: "What we have is a lot of players who like to make defensive plays. We go right around the field." One of the most surprising pickups has been Brewer center fielder Scott Podsednik. "I've always believed that players whose primary tool is speed come later, like Otis Nixon," said GM Doug Melvin. "Scott always could run and he always played very hard. He developed and learned and now is a pretty darned good player." Not bad for an October waiver claim of a former minor-league free agent. No one has been more frustrated trying to find pitching than Reds GM Jim Bowden. He thought he had a four-player deal done with Florida a month ago for Brad Penny and Castillo (Scott Williamson, Adam Dunn) only to have the Marlins decide they're in it, then when he accepted Baltimore's Jason Johnson-for-Brandon Larson proposal, the Orioles changed their minds. Future watch A few thoughts from the distant side:One of the early sensations of the Cape League is Andy LaRoche of Wareham, son of Dave and brother of Adam, the Braves' outstanding Triple-A first base prospect. LaRoche is leading the league in homers, and has shown hands, feet and a gun for an arm at short. He was drafted last month by the Dodgers and is signed to go to Rice this fall after two years at Grayson County CC. The Cardinals believe Rick Ankiel is on the way back, and friends say he is back in the best frame of mind since before the breakdown. In Ankiel's last three starts he has allowed nine hits, walked seven and struck out 23 in 20 innings. When and if and Royals do trade Carlos Beltran, they believe their center fielder of the future is leadoff man David DeJesus, who, in his first 25 games in Triple-A, had an on-base percentage of .426. There is another Johan Santana on the horizon. This one is 19, a right-hander from La Romana, Dominican Republic, and one scout says, "he's going to blow through the Angels system in no time. He's in the 90's, with a three-finger changeup from hell. He and Rafael Soriano of the Mariners are the best I've seen." Santana, 9-1, 2.33 in the Cal League, has allowed three hits, five walks and struck out 22 in 20 innings in his last three starts. Perhaps the best Double-A prospects team is Toronto's New Haven club, with outfielder Gabe Gross (.311), catcher Guillermo Quiroz, shortstop Russ Adams (.373, 25 times on base in his first 12 games in Double-A), center fielder Alexis Rios and outfielder John-Ford Griffin. But the Jays have lost a major force in their talent development, as former scouting director Tim Wilken has left. The line for Wilken's services is already a long one. Matt White, who received $10 million from the Devil Rays in 1996, is 0-4, 7.47 in the Southern League. The two players the White Sox said they would not trade in the Texas and Mets deals were left-hander Neal Cotts, 9-1 in Double-A, and outfielder Jeremy Reed, whom they recently promoted to the Southern League, where he started 25-for-54. OF Terrmel Sledge (.329 in Triple-A) is the player the Mets had earmarked (along with Seung Song) if Expos GM Omar Minaya could make the Roberto Alomar deal. More Diamond Notes There were eyebrows raised when the Yankees acquired Karim Garcia, who, according to Lee Sinins, is the greatest outmaker compared to the league average among outfielders with 1,000 at-bats since 1900 -- and Dan Miceli. Hey, there is no real player to be named later, so Brian Cashman didn't give up anything, and it satisfied The Boss for awhile. Garcia and Ruben Sierra have given the Yanks legitimate depth they lacked. Cashman has to call on everyone and anyone, whether it's Robby Alomar, Carlos Beltran or Ryan Klesko. Speaking of the Padres, they offered Kevin Jarvis to Boston for Ramiro Mendoza. Hockey players who had similar wrist injuries predicted it would take Nomar Garciaparra at least 15 months to recover from his 2001 surgery. So it is no surprise that it wasn't until May that he was his former star self. Yet, despite some frustrations last season and this April, Garciaparra never used the wrist as an excuse. "I don't believe in making excuses," said Garciaparra. "I don't like them, I don't like to hear them. If I had started to think about the wrist, it would have been giving in, and I couldn't do that. Do I feel much more comfortable now? Yes. But I never liked excuses and don't like to offer them." Gabe Kapler could have gotten more money and a guarantee of more playing time from the Brewers, but he chose the Red Sox because he wanted to experience a pennant race, particularly in a town like Boston. Royals GM Allard Baird on Jose Lima: "He's back throwing 89-90, so his changeup is now effective. If he were throwing 85, as he was last season, we wouldn't have taken the chance, but he's in great shape, his velocity is back and he can do a good job protecting our young pitchers." Ivan Rodriguez switched agents from Jeff Moorad to Scott Boras in hopes of getting a multiyear, eight-figure deal, which isn't likely. He'd like to get back to Texas, which again isn't likely. But he is playing very well for Florida. "I heard the knock on him about calling games, but he's been great with us," said Brad Penny. "Hey, you can not throw a pitch if you don't like it." Scouts are getting Pudge at 1.88 to second base, very good, but not great the way he once threw. "Before he broke his thumb on Mo Vaughn's bat," said Rodriguez's former manager Jerry Narron, "he shut down the game better than any player who ever played." The Cardinals have Chris Carpenter working as a starter and reliever in his rehab, in case they need him to start when he comes back. Ideally, they would like Carpenter to return out of the bullpen, as they did with Matt Morris, but necessity may alter those plans. One scouting report on Royce Ring: "Squat bodied, slightly above average fastball, good slider. Best comparison is to Mike Stanton. Not quite his stuff, but a comparable." There were only two teams interested in Robby Alomar as a second baseman -- the White Sox and Royals. Montreal wanted him as a first baseman, and Oakland had no interest.
July 6, 200323 yr i love this quote If they make it through that stretch and get into August in sight of the wild card, then Loria will have a chance to do something precisely the opposite of a fire sale. "If we have a chance to make the playoffs," he said, "we'll try to go get what we need to win."
July 6, 200323 yr screw gammons i could give a damn less what he thinks right now gammons jumpin on the bandwagon?
July 6, 200323 yr Anyone on the Marlins bandwagon is a good thing. I don't care who it is. Any POSITIVE NATIONAL attention is great for us. It makes everyone sit back and take notice. Just like what the Diamondbacks did.
July 6, 200323 yr nothing wrong with him jumping on the badwagon IT CANT HURT no it doesnt hurt if he does but its just funny how they can be bashing and now praising in a difference of a few weeks but thats cool, they did the same with the chi sox
July 6, 200323 yr Awesome article. I'd like to see Berardino's comments now...cant wait for his next foot eating piece.
July 6, 200323 yr nothing wrong with him jumping on the badwagon IT CANT HURT I hate bandwagon followers! Especially ones from ESPN who bash us most of the year then turn around and love us the next second. If Loria pulls the trigger for some help for this run at the WC I strongly believe that the fans will start coming and believe that this team is for real.
July 6, 200323 yr A bunch of people will be tuning in for the Cubs series and they will be entertained by the likes of Willis and Beckett. IM SO EXCITED!
July 6, 200323 yr Awesome article. I'd like to see Berardino's comments now...cant wait for his next foot eating piece. o0o0o0o no... I'm waiting for Le Batard. That damn ESPN brown-noser is going to do a piece identical to this to get recognition and try to build credibility by just being a yes man with everyone elses opinions...
July 6, 200323 yr Ramp, can't wait to see that Wild Card chart... I want to see how high up we are! I'm sooo excited!
July 6, 200323 yr Beckett vs Clement Willis vs Zambrano Pavano vs Wood ramp there is a 4th game dude No there isn't... :banghead
July 6, 200323 yr well yea i went on espn and it is a 3 game series there is a misprint here on my schedule. the schedule in the marlins season preview from the herald. they have a game against the cubs on thurs. at 2:20 my fault ramp i was just lookin at the schedule and it said a game for thurs.
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