Since we won't be paying Pokey $800k and the Marlins are underbudget (I wish I could find the article where I read that in the last couple of days, for some reason I think it might have been by Carpozzi, but it was a reasonably reliable source, not some blog or internet guru type) the roughly $1.2 million net wouldn't be a piggy bank breaker and it could be less if a prospect were included.

Because there will be good (and bad) players on the waiver wire that will catch their eye. A player they see value in, a former teammate or student of a coach, a failed prospect who they see something, etc. Many of them to be had for a waiver claim and the major league minimum.

 

And that they will have taken a look at all their players, leaving them in a position to sort out where they are as a team, what they need they need to attain their short-term and long-term goals and where these players fit. This isn't like other Spring Trainings where they're trimming down the list for 5th starter, bullpen and bench. They're trying to build something special. You don't do that in December and January. It's a much longer process with many periods for transactions and constant reassessment of your goals and resources.

damn, this sucks.

Because there will be good (and bad) players on the waiver wire that will catch their eye. A player they see value in, a former teammate or student of a coach, a failed prospect who they see something, etc. Many of them to be had for a waiver claim and the major league minimum.

 

 

Like Brandon Phillips. Of course, he's hitting pretty well so far, so he may make the Indians and ruin it anyway.

I'm glad that we'll be seeing more of Uggla now.

 

He's definitely getting his chances. Uggla has the most plate appearances by any Marlin yet in spring training. Man do I hope he sticks at 2B.

I'm glad that we'll be seeing more of Uggla now.

 

 

As a rule V guy he was going to get a real shot anyhow.

"Pokey is fine," Nicotera said. "He's with family. When personal feelings are involved, it's very difficult to put a timetable on the resolution of those."

 

I understand that but I'll be very interested to hear what kept him from calling. It's very strange considering he was doing well and seemed OK health-wise. How do you go from being excited about playing baseball again to not only disappearing but shutting the door behind you?!

Thats sad that we have to let a player go like this, especially with Reese's talent. He could of helped us a lot, but Personal problems go first.

I wish we could have just put him on IR while he dealt with his problems.

 

Oh well.

03/05/2006 12:15 PM ET

Marlins terminate Reese's contract

Status of veteran infielder unknown after unexcused absence

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

JUPITER, Fla. -- Unable to reach Pokey Reese for three days, the Marlins terminated the contract of the 32-year-old infielder on Sunday morning.

Marlins general manager Admin Beinfest said the team notified Major League Baseball, the players union, agent Mike Nicotera as well as Reese that he no longer is with the club.

 

No one in the Marlins' organization has spoken directly with Reese since Wednesday. Nicotera, Reese's agent, had telephone contact with Marlins assistant general manager Mike Hill saying the player is dealing with personal issues.

 

Reese was in camp on Wednesday, but he didn't play in the exhibition against the University of Miami. He left that afternoon and hasn't communicated directly with anyone in the organization since.

 

For two days the Marlins were unaware of Reese's whereabouts or whether he was all right. On early Friday night, Nicotera notified the Marlins that his client was "safe," but offered no other details as to why Reese left camp.

 

"We're moving on," Beinfest said. "We think that the 72 hours that have passed was more than a reasonable amount of time for him to offer some sort of explanation for his unexcused absence. We still do not have that explanation and we're moving on. He will not be with the Marlins in '06."

 

Though there are few details as to why Reese left camp, it appears that he had no intention of returning to the Marlins when he departed Jupiter. A source told MLB.com that Reese's apartment was neatly cleaned before he left town, and there is speculation that he is dealing with a custody issue.

 

Reese signed an $800,000 contract with the Marlins in early January. The nine-year veteran missed last season because of shoulder surgery. He came up with the Reds in 1997 and he was on the 2004 Red Sox World Series team.

 

On a retooled roster, the two-time Gold Glove-winning Reese was in the mix to compete for the starting second base position. The Marlins actually are grooming Rule 5 pickup Dan Uggla to be the regular at the position. But Reese's presence provided a fallback option should Uggla struggle.

 

On Sunday morning, Nicotera said: "He's got personal issues he has to resolve before making any decisions regarding baseball."

 

Reese was signed as a veteran who could start at either second base or shortstop should the younger players struggle. The Marlins second base options now are Uggla, Alfredo Amezaga, Mickey Lopez, Scott Seabol and Lenny Harris. Amezaga is currently away from the team, playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

 

"We have some middle infielders, and we'll see," Beinfest said of the second base spot. "We're in Spring Training, once you get the first weeks of games in, there starts to be communications with other teams about wants and needs and teams that may have a surplus in other areas."

 

Reese's departure came as a shock to the club because he was enjoying a good first two weeks of camp.

 

"It's disappointing, we reached out to Pokey and we wanted to get him back into camp," said Marlins manager Joe Girardi, who left a voice message to Reese on Saturday that went unanswered. "There was just no communication on his part. He fit that role that we needed very well. We didn't get any calls back. We have to move on.

 

"You never want to see any player ever retire too early because of issues, family issues that take you away from the game. It's hard to retire. So, I hope if that is the choice that he's made, he is happy with that decision."

 

 

 

Apparently he never planned on coming back. Loser. :mad

Not a loser if he's trying to keep his kid. Family comes before anything else in life. He's no loser in my book.

Not a loser if he's trying to keep his kid. Family comes before anything else in life. He's no loser in my book.

 

 

You can't keep your job and fight a custody battle? People do it everyday.

Not a loser if he's trying to keep his kid. Family comes before anything else in life. He's no loser in my book.

 

 

You can't keep your job and fight a custody battle? People do it everyday.

 

people who make much less than pokey

Well, it's not a question of money. You think a court will look approvingly upon a man that travels around the country constantly for his job and therefore can't be around for his kid? He's got enough money right now probably not to worry about financial issues. He probably wants to make sure he gets custody of his kid.

 

You know, it is quite possible Pokey's got enough money not to care about working now. If the man just wants to concentrate on his family after all that tragedy, I say good for him.

You know, it was said tounge and cheek earlier, but you really have to wonder how much money was an underlying factor in all of this.

 

As Juanky said, there could have been worse things than just sticking him on the IR while this gets sorted out. FYI, that 800K just cut payroll by 6.25%...wow, that's a wakeup call.

I say this sucks, i think he could have really helped us at 2b and SS. I think we will pick up a waiver wire addition or something later on.

Whatever his problem is, he had time to clean out his apartment but couldn't pick up a phone

and let the Fish know he wasn't coming back.

No credibility in my eyes. You give notice when you quit your job. Common courtesy.

Personally I'm taking it hard. I was really looking forward to seeing how Pokey panned out.

Not a loser if he's trying to keep his kid. Family comes before anything else in life. He's no loser in my book.

 

He couldn't take less than half a second to pick up the phone inform the Marlins of his situation? Hell, HE didn't even have to do anything, his agent could have told the Marlins for him and not even that happened.

If I left my job without telling anyone and then didn't show up for 3 days, I'd be fired.

 

So would all of you and so was Pokey Reese.

 

I see no reason in lamenting him losing a job he clearly didn't want anyway. If he had some issues going on, fine, walk into Girardi's office, tell him the situation and then go take care of it. He was brought in here for defense and professionalism and then completely and totally failed to act like a professional. There is no reason the team should have kept him and welcoming him back in after he disappeared with no explanation would be setting a bad example for a young locker room.

Well who's out there now that we need a veteran middle infielder?

 

Sun-Sentinel article mentioned something about Tomas Perez being available.... bleah.

 

Didn't the Rockies pick up Jamey Caroll recently? He would've fit nicely.

Here's Juan Rodriguez's take from the Sun-Sentinel...

 

Boston's Tony Graffanino is available, but the Marlins probably wouldn't want to assume the corresponding $2.05 million salary. A more realistic option might be Tomas Perez.

 

After acquiring Alex S. Gonzalez and Abraham Nunez, the Phillies no longer need Perez and have been shopping him. He can play every infield position and is in the Marlins' price range.

 

Entering the final season of a two-year extension, Perez is owed $700,000 in 2006. The Phillies have an $800,000 club option for 2007 that can be bought out for $75,000.

 

A 10-year veteran, the switch-hitting Perez also could serve as a mentor to fellow Venezuelan Miguel Cabrera. Among the drawbacks: Perez owns a .300 on-base percentage and has never totaled 300 big-league at-bats in a season.

 

Other non-roster invitees who could pique the Marlins' interest if available: Luis Rivas, Ramon Santiago, Frank Menechino, Manny Alexander and Joe McEwing.

 

 

:mischief2

what a shocker.

 

 

now the vast majority are saying that what pokey did was classless.

 

 

good riddance.

In regards to Tony Graffanino who is also mentioned in the article, the Red Sox are trying to find him a home where he can get significant playing time. He would seem to be a better fit than Reese, and considering we won't be paying Pokey $800k, Graffanino's $2.05 million is more like $1.25 million (additional).

 

Graffanino can play 2B-SS-3B which could be invaluable and provide Girardi with a myriad of options, and he certainly hit well last season. Earlier in the off-season, when it wasn't yet apparent how deep the sell-off would become I had suggested with Gozalez going into free agency and Castillo due a big chunk of dough in both salary and bonus, that replacing the two with Graffanino and Grudzielanek might make for a less expensive but still talented tandem in the middle of the infield.

 

I still like Tony and if the Marlins do acquire him, I believe he'd be a valuable asset. He's going somewhere, might as well be here.

In regards to Tony Graffanino who is also mentioned in the article, the Red Sox are trying to find him a home where he can get significant playing time. He would seem to be a better fit than Reese, and considering we won't be paying Pokey $800k, Graffanino's $2.05 million is more like $1.25 million (additional).

 

Graffanino can play 2B-SS-3B which could be invaluable and provide Girardi with a myriad of options, and he certainly hit well last season. Earlier in the off-season, when it wasn't yet apparent how deep the sell-off would become I had suggested with Gozalez going into free agency and Castillo due a big chunk of dough in both salary and bonus, that replacing the two with Graffanino and Grudzielanek might make for a less expensive but still talented tandem in the middle of the infield.

 

I still like Tony and if the Marlins do acquire him, I believe he'd be a valuable asset. He's going somewhere, might as well be here.

 

 

I agree with you 100%. He'd be a great addition.