Without the numbers, but based solely on the reputations of Marlins employees, the number and reputation of our academies and some common sense, I think it's a big amount. You can't keep employees like that simply by being a good boss. You can't hold onto academies and camps without the money to construct and upkeep them. Just because you can't see the results on the field at Dolphins Stadium doesn't mean there's not a strong effort elsewhere.

RFerry, if you're referring to international academies, I don't the how many academies we have and I don't know about their reputations but I do know that no player signed as an international free agent under Loria has made it and from what I understand we have cut back on out international scouting. There was a note in the Herald's baseball Q&A a few weeks ago about discussing how we've cut back on Latin America spending. Not much is written about the international stuff but I remember after Chavez took over we closed our Venezuelan operations. I don't know if they were re-opened. I hope so.

 

Regarding your point that the owner can do whatever he wants, I agree the owner can do whatever he wants but I don't have to like everything he does and because Loria can do whatever he wants is the reason if taxpayers give him a stadium I would include a clause in there regarding minimum payroll requirements. Don't assume that just because there's a new stadium that payroll increases. There are too many examples where that didn't happen. I would also include a clause in which he has to cover the stadium's losses in case the stadium is a money loser. It's one thing to buy him a stadium but when the stadium is a money loser then taxpayers are on the hook for perpetuity and that's something else.

The Venezuela academy is open. The Nats are leasing part of it and seem to be impressed, but that may be Bowden doubletalk. I am not aware that funding had been cut. I recall hearing that Ferreira had all the resources he wanted available. That with that type of dedication, it was bad luck or poor management that halted the ranks of latin-signed Marlins to the bigs. I know a great number of teams have been scared off by balooning bonuses down there, influenced perhaps by the Moneyball sort.

 

I don't like it either. And believe it or not but there are certain things I don't like. But it's reality. And I don't think Loria has any intention to harm his own asset.

Pierremvp1, when it comes to these discussions, it's almost like debating politics or religion. No one really knows. Some may have some insights that the other hadn't considered. But that you can't get past we're all ignorant. And will always be so.

 

My point was that we can not be sure that the money isn't being spent elsewhere as some evidence suggests. That just because we don't see it on the field now doesn't mean some effort has been made elsewhere. That what we know is the simpliest of simplifications.

 

If that's doublespeak, so be it.

 

DelGot, obviously. That's why I appended that it's not in his interests to ruin the franchise. He stands to gain when they profit. He stands to lose when they don't. He stands to lose when he alienates a viable market. He stands to gain by opening up options in other markets. He stands to gain by winning a championship. He stands to lose by fielding a constant loser. He's not doing the things he does to spite us, he's doing the things he does to help himself. On some level, he must reconcile every decision he makes. Even if the answer is simply: it's the greater of two evils.

 

Rgerry. I read all your posts, because whether I agree or disagree with them, you are a good writer and you have a valid opinion. There are many who write here who's posts I disregard, for they have nothing to add. You do, agree, or disagree. But here, though you're a good writer, and I think I know reading comprehension, I don't follow you. Are you saying I'm ignorant, or that I'm saying everybody else is ignorant, or as I guess something else. Please phrase it a different way.

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And you still haven't answered Marlins_fanz points. Can you fashion an answer to those points that suits you?

Pierremvp1, when it comes to these discussions, it's almost like debating politics or religion. No one really knows. Some may have some insights that the other hadn't considered. But that you can't get past we're all ignorant. And will always be so.

 

My point was that we can not be sure that the money isn't being spent elsewhere as some evidence suggests. That just because we don't see it on the field now doesn't mean some effort has been made elsewhere. That what we know is the simpliest of simplifications.

 

If that's doublespeak, so be it.

 

DelGot, obviously. That's why I appended that it's not in his interests to ruin the franchise. He stands to gain when they profit. He stands to lose when they don't. He stands to lose when he alienates a viable market. He stands to gain by opening up options in other markets. He stands to gain by winning a championship. He stands to lose by fielding a constant loser. He's not doing the things he does to spite us, he's doing the things he does to help himself. On some level, he must reconcile every decision he makes. Even if the answer is simply: it's the greater of two evils.

 

Rgerry. I read all your posts, because whether I agree or disagree with them, you are a good writer and you have a valid opinion. There are many who write here who's posts I disregard, for they have nothing to add. You do, agree, or disagree. But here, though you're a good writer, and I think I know reading comprehension, I don't follow you. Are you saying I'm ignorant, or that I'm saying everybody else is ignorant, or as I guess something else. Please phrase it a different way.

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And you still haven't answered Marlins_fanz points. Can you fashion an answer to those points that suits you?

It's my excuse for such a vague response. We don't anything that goes on in the front office. We don't know its budgets. We don't know how much that scout in Oklahoma is making. Or what's going on in Loria's head. Or Beinfest's. Or Girardi's. We guess and guess. We apply meager information, common sense and more complex thought in some cases or not, one side or more or none. But we don't know. We won't ever. Yet still we debate.

 

I could go into more detail, but all that would be doing is to offer excuses. Answering in the general way I did answers his concern(s) and then some. However much you disagree with the Marlins decisions, they are making them for their own interests, to accomplish their own goals which correspond surprisingly consistent with with mine, your or ours' goals. They have to be. For, after all, Loria's investment is in the franchise and its value rises and falls with wins and losses and market viability and fan support. But, of course, that with what he shares with fans is only a small part of what the owner of the professional sports franchise has to consider.

Example: I like wins, you like wins, Loria likes wins. But you and I also like widely and cheaply available tickets and broadcasts. Loria and his assistants must consider if that's the best decision for his franchise.

Further example: Girardi's supposed firing. I like Girardi, I like how the team is performing, I attribute some of its success to Girardi, I don't believe an owner should be that involved. Therefore I don't like that Loria challenged the ump and Girardi. However, how can Loria trust a manager who is not willing to fight for what the owner of the franchise is willing to? How can Loria trust the baseball acumen of a manager who disagreed with his strategy or opinion of a call? How can Loria trust a manager who tells him to sit back and be quiet? And can Loria trust this person to run this team as an extension of HIS franchise when he thinks Girardi disrespected him? Now you and I might just say Loria's being petty. But place yourself in Loria's shoes and consider everything you have to run your franchise in your best interests. Not the easiest judgement to make, is it?

Id kill for Loria to put this team up for sale

 

Cant argue with that

 

kick em' now! The guy is all business.