October 5, 200322 yr DIVISION SERIES BUZZ More wild-card teams? BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@herald.com Major League Baseball is seriously considering adding another wild-card playoff team in each league by 2005, a high-ranking league official said. Under the scenario being discussed, the two wild-card teams in each league would play a best-of-3 series, with the winner advancing to the division playoffs. This season, such an arrangement would have meant a best-of-3 first-round series between the Marlins and Houston in the National League and Boston and Seattle in the American League. Expanding the division series to best-of-7 is also under consideration. ``I'd like to see best-of-7,''Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. ``It's much more fair.'' BONDS SILENT Barry Bonds and J.T. Snow had nothing to say after Saturday's loss, but other Giants were talking about the Marlins: ? Shortstop Rich Aurilia: ``If you told me before the series Jeff Conine would kill us with his defense, I would have told you that you were nuts.'' ? Outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds: ``I played for McKeon, and he's a great manager. His teams play loose. Miguel Cabrera is a 20-year-old kid playing with that kind of confidence because of Jack.'' ? General manager Brian Sabean: ``The Marlins are pretty damn good. They're pretty damn consistent, and sometimes young talent isn't. They do everything well.'' ? Pitching coach Dave Righetti: 'Somebody in the Marlins' system has done a good job [with the young pitching]. They are going to be really tough to beat. The way Pudge Rodriguez blocked the plate [was] beautiful. He showed the way. It's a super club.'' ? Giants owner Peter Magowan: ``Their success may save baseball in South Florida.'' ? Right fielder Jose Cruz Jr. tipped his cap to Marlins fans who heckled him Saturday for dropping Conine's fly ball in Friday's game. His favorite banner? ''Cruz for MVP.'' Cruz didn't blast the hecklers: ``You have to give the opposing team some grief. I'm over it.'' LORIA DROPS IN You're sitting and watching the Marlins game and who sits down next to you? Jeffrey Loria, of all people. Several fans behind home plate received unexpected visits from the Marlins owner during the games this weekend. ''I just want to connect with people,'' he said. ``They do a double-take.'' ? Tennis star Venus Williams, eager to see Dontrelle Willis pitch, attended the game and sat behind home plate. ? Conine, who played for the 1997 World Series champion Marlins, on comparisons between this team and that one: ''If you look at the numbers and on paper, you say this won't stack up to 1997. But if you look at heart and stick-to-it-tiveness, you won't find a team'' like this one. Conine on whether he would prefer to face the Cubs or Braves: 'I'd rather face the Braves' pitching staff but the Cubs' lineup.'' And one Conine prediction: ``Cabrera is going to be a superstar.'' ? Among the congratulatory letters McKeon received last week was one from Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda. ''He said he's proud of one of his 1989 All-Star Game coaches,'' McKeon said. STADIUM CHATTER ? Although there's a Dec. 1 deadline for whether money from a Miami-Dade County Convention development tax can be used toward a new stadium, one city official doubts a deal for a new ballpark will be done by then. How much money could the city contribute? ''Not much,'' Miami city manager Joe Arriola said. The Giants' $330 million Pacific Bell Park, which opened in 2000, was privately financed. But Magowan said it's not realistic to expect the Marlins to pay for their own stadium. ? The Marlins are leaning toward moving start times of Sunday games from 1:35 to 3 p.m. next season, president David Samson said.
October 5, 200322 yr Wow they're pretty damn nice,ask rich aurilia if he wants to play for us,j/k,lol.
October 5, 200322 yr Since bonds and snow had nothing to say then i have a new nickname for them two;"THE FARTKNOCKERS"! :fart
October 5, 200322 yr I hate the idea of another wild card team. If they're going to have more games by doing a best-of-3 between the Wild Card teams, then just expand the first round to a best of 7. I had heard that the Wild Card round would be just a 1-game play-in. If they're going to dilute the post-season by adding another 2nd place team (or maybe even a 3rd place team), then I wouldn't mind seeing them go back to 2 divisions in each league. The two division winners advance and then the two teams with the next best record go. It would prevent things like the Twins going and the Mariners sitting home.
October 5, 200322 yr ? Although there's a Dec. 1 deadline for whether money from a Miami-Dade County Convention development tax can be used toward a new stadium, one city official doubts a deal for a new ballpark will be done by then. How much money could the city contribute? ''Not much,'' Miami city manager Joe Arriola said. The Giants' $330 million Pacific Bell Park, which opened in 2000, was privately financed. But Magowan said it's not realistic to expect the Marlins to pay for their own stadium. ? The Marlins are leaning toward moving start times of Sunday games from 1:35 to 3 p.m. next season, president David Samson said. doesnt sound very good :banghead :angry
October 5, 200322 yr Author All the city would need to contribute is the land basically. That would be the $50 million they would have in the Henry deal.
October 5, 200322 yr ? Right fielder Jose Cruz Jr. tipped his cap to Marlins fans who heckled him Saturday for dropping Conine's fly ball in Friday's game. His favorite banner? ''Cruz for MVP.'' Cruz didn't blast the hecklers: ``You have to give the opposing team some grief. I'm over it.'' :lol
October 5, 200322 yr ? Although there's a Dec. 1 deadline for whether money from a Miami-Dade County Convention development tax can be used toward a new stadium, one city official doubts a deal for a new ballpark will be done by then. How much money could the city contribute? ''Not much,'' Miami city manager Joe Arriola said. The Giants' $330 million Pacific Bell Park, which opened in 2000, was privately financed. But Magowan said it's not realistic to expect the Marlins to pay for their own stadium. ? The Marlins are leaning toward moving start times of Sunday games from 1:35 to 3 p.m. next season, president David Samson said. doesnt sound very good :banghead :angry I don't know why... but I have the feeling that Miami-Dade will never commit into building a stadium for the fish.
October 5, 200322 yr Author Maybe Loria and a combination of local private companies in SoFla could pull it off like the Giants. After all the Giants were left for dead in 1992 when they changed ownership.
October 5, 200322 yr ? Right fielder Jose Cruz Jr. tipped his cap to Marlins fans who heckled him Saturday for dropping Conine's fly ball in Friday's game. His favorite banner? ''Cruz for MVP.'' Cruz didn't blast the hecklers: ``You have to give the opposing team some grief. I'm over it.'' I was sitting in RF yesterday. We started chanting "Jo-se" and he tipped his cap. We lost it in applause. We were bugging him for 2 innings and then he came up with that throw in the bottom of the 8th. Our whole section and some others started chanting "Let's Go Jose"
October 5, 200322 yr I don't like the idea of another wild card team. Stupid idea. I do think that the DS should be expanded to a best of 7 though.
October 5, 200322 yr 2 Wild Card Teams is stupid. Expanding the first round to seven games is an interesting idea but isn't exactly necessary. I have no problem with the system now.
October 5, 200322 yr i like the system thats in place. part of what of makes the baseball postseason so special is the difficulty of getting in. adding more teams will take some of that away. they just want to cash in i think
October 5, 200322 yr Maybe Loria and a combination of local private companies in SoFla could pull it off like the Giants. After all the Giants were left for dead in 1992 when they changed ownership. How many local private companies are in SoFla that are willing to invest money on a franchise that until a month ago had little attendance?
October 5, 200322 yr How many local private companies are in SoFla that are willing to invest money on a franchise that until a month ago had little attendance? If they keep the team togther, they may invest, because they show up when we win.
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