Loria: Marlins are 'built to win'

 

BARRY JACKSON

 

[email protected]

 

 

Always eager to field a winner, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria authorized the franchise's largest-ever payroll ($66 million). He hasn't gotten his money's worth.

 

In the past few days, Loria expressed interest in tinkering with the roster and said he expects a lot more.

 

''There is immense talent on this team,'' he said. ''We can do a lot better than we've done. This team was built to win, and we will win. We will be right there at the end. I can't believe people are satisfied with where they are at the moment. . . . There is no reason why this team can't win the division, absolutely no reason.''

 

Loria addressed several issues:

 

? On his gut feeling about whether the Marlins will make a trade: ''I would like to try to do something, but we're . . . not going to make a move for the sake of making a move. . . . Because there are a lot of teams bunched up, there aren't a lot of things out there that can happen.''

 

Is he willing to add payroll? ''I don't know what we'll do about that. I've never been afraid in the past to do that.''

 

Asked if the lineup is good enough, Loria said, ''Absolutely. Absolutely.''

 

? Asked if he expects manager Jack McKeon to finish out this season, Loria answered, ''My focus at this moment is on the team as a whole and not on any one person. . . . If we play anywhere close to our potential and we combine the talent we have this year with the heart we played with the last two years, we should be a playoff team.''

 

? He was noncommittal about whether impending free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett will finish the season here. Is there interest in signing him long-term? ''We will evaluate that . . . at the end of the season. We haven't given it any thought. We're trying to win the division this year.''

 

? He hasn't given up on slumping third baseman Mike Lowell: ''Mike is working hard, and finally I think he may have found a solution.''

 

? First baseman Carlos Delgado has been what he expected -- ''a spectacular player and first-class guy.'' Loria pointed to pitcher Brian Moehler as the team's most pleasant surprise and praised catcher Paul Lo Duca's handling of the pitchers.

 

? Loria remains mum on the stadium issue. No acceptable solution has emerged.

 

CHATTER

 

One second-half question is whether Lo Duca, who has started 73 of 86 games and is hitting .286, will wear down in the heat.

 

In his career, he has hit .313 before the All-Star break, .254 after. ''They want to translate that into he wore out,'' said McKeon, who can't afford to rest Lo Duca more. ''Do you want to win? You put your best out there.''

 

 

Herald

 

Found it interesting that McKeon got a vote of no confidence.

? Asked if he expects manager Jack McKeon to finish out this season, Loria answered, ''My focus at this moment is on the team as a whole and not on any one person. . . . If we play anywhere close to our potential and we combine the talent we have this year with the heart we played with the last two years, we should be a playoff team.''

 

He dodged that question.

Loria: Marlins are 'built to win'

? Asked if he expects manager Jack McKeon to finish out this season, Loria answered, ''My focus at this moment is on the team as a whole and not on any one person. . . . If we play anywhere close to our potential and we combine the talent we have this year with the heart we played with the last two years, we should be a playoff team.''

 

 

Herald

 

Found it interesting that McKeon got a vote of no confidence.

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He dodged that question.

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yep. smart answer on his part.

Nothing on Robinson. :plain

I'm not sure you can draw any conclusions from the Loria quotes because you don't how the question were phrased by Jackson and in what context.

 

I doubt the question were asked in a vacuum, that is, exactly as presented, but rather were part of a dialogue, with Jackson paraphrasing his questions.

 

For example, regarding Mckeon, (supposition on my part) Barry might have had a lengthy conversation that included language like "if the Marlins continue to sputter or you're unhappy with the team's overall direction, is Jack safe this season?" That get's whittled down to "On Jack McKeon"... I'm not saying he's purposely misrepresenting what was said, but I do think the context may not be wholly accurate.

I'm not sure you can draw any conclusions from the Loria quotes because you don't how the question were phrased by Jackson and in what context.

 

I doubt the question were asked in a vacuum, that is, exactly as presented, but rather were part of a dialogue, with Jackson paraphrasing his questions.

 

For example, regarding Mckeon, (supposition on my part) Barry might have had a lengthy conversation that included language like "if the Marlins continue to sputter or you're unhappy with the team's overall direction, is Jack safe this season?" That get's whittled down to "On Jack McKeon"... I'm not saying he's purposely misrepresenting what was said, but I do think the context may not be wholly accurate.

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true, but let's face it. he could have diffused this very easily by saying one sentence: "Jack McKeon is our manager, we will not fire him." Anything short of that leaves the door wide open.

I'm not sure you can draw any conclusions from the Loria quotes because you don't how the question were phrased by Jackson and in what context.

 

I doubt the question were asked in a vacuum, that is, exactly as presented, but rather were part of a dialogue, with Jackson paraphrasing his questions.

 

For example, regarding Mckeon, (supposition on my part) Barry might have had a lengthy conversation that included language like "if the Marlins continue to sputter or you're unhappy with the team's overall direction, is Jack safe this season?" That get's whittled down to "On Jack McKeon"... I'm not saying he's purposely misrepresenting what was said, but I do think the context may not be wholly accurate.

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true, but let's face it. he could have diffused this very easily by saying one sentence: "Jack McKeon is our manager, we will not fire him." Anything short of that leaves the door wide open.

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Exactly. He dodged the question no matter how it was phrased.

He could certainly have said "absolutely he's going to finish the season." and then fired him a month later if he wanted. It's his prerogative, He's the boss.

 

But he definitely left some wiggle room there.

 

Yes he dodged the question, but unless (as Marlins2003 mentioned was thinking) there was some important parts of the conversation left out... it wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement of Jack though.

? He hasn't given up on slumping third baseman Mike Lowell: ''Mike is working hard, and finally I think he may have found a solution.''

 

 

Really? Let's hope so.

? He hasn't given up on slumping third baseman Mike Lowell: ''Mike is working hard, and finally I think he may have found a solution.''

 

 

Really? Let's hope so.

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*cough* 'roids and a pee-masker *cough*

? He hasn't given up on slumping third baseman Mike Lowell: ''Mike is working hard, and finally I think he may have found a solution.''

 

Really? Let's hope so.

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*cough* 'roids and a pee-masker *cough*

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I have to admit, the "S" word did cross my mind when I read it.

Do we have our own version of Steinbrenner? Without the huge wallet I mean? :mischief2

Loria clearly believes this team should make the playoffs this year. No endorsement for McKeon at all. It makes one think he could be gone next year, particularly if we don't make the playoffs. But it could just be that Loria didn't want to get into the name game to give his impression on every possible guy that could be traded.

Loria clearly believes this team should make the playoffs this year. No endorsement for McKeon at all. It makes one think he could be gone next year, particularly if we don't make the playoffs. But it could just be that Loria didn't want to get into the name game to give his impression on every possible guy that could be traded.

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I think that's a good point PB, that if he says McKeon is on rocky ground, the next questin is "well, who's his replacement going to be?", so Loria simply side-stepped the whole thing.

Asked if the lineup is good enough, Loria said, ''Absolutely. Absolutely.''

 

Hopefully this is one of those glossed over glad-handing 'yeah, yeah, no problem' responses.

 

 

I agree with Marlins2003. It would seem the damning general statement was said on a general topic of the team and attributed to Jack as he may have been prominently mentioned by Jackson or Loria or both in the midst of the conversation.

I seriously do not think McKeon will be back period, either on his own or by the team regardless of the situation. Because of this though, the lame-duck manager (ie, no control of team) theory comes in practice.