There you guys go again. I agree in theory that it makes the best sense to lock up good young players. But circumstances similar to and yet different to Oakland and Tampa present themselves that would suggest it's not a good idea for the Marlins. Until you can provide a credible argument for why the Marlins can that goes beyond owner bashing (which doesn't even begin to answer the question), then I think we'll let the Marlins' success on the field and in the marketplace be the measure of its philosophy, however inconsistent it may be what makes the most sense in the perfect model. Because as the post-firesale years have shown and the Delgado signings have shown, your model does not hold. After 1995, attendance pretty much hasn't changed except for Octobers. Suggesting little loss due to the 5 years developing and gone fire sales, and everything to do with the talent on the field, however it may have been acquired and when and how it may be let go. If any one thing, why attendance has suffered, it's that the Marlins lack a certain future and adequate home (for both fans and its owners). And that's the argument against stability, because we lack a time frame that stability can build toward something and it adds little to the club's unfortunate yet necessary plans for liquidation. So I ask again. Why change their relatively successful practice for a theory based on a model that doesn't apply to them, when it would potentially harm the franchise rather than help it. As I've said previously, without knowing whether we can keep Cabrera, it's not even worth discussing a contract that would he would relunctant to sign over our instability and inability to offer a no-trade clause. You say that signing Cabrera and Willis will bring support from fans and the stadium, but there's nothing to suggest that. Just ask Carlos Delgado and Mike Lowell.

Why can't Loria pretty please sell to Mark Cuban?

1) Where did I owner bash? If anything, I RFerry-logic bashed, and I've yet to see a "credible" response.

 

2) I'd say Oakland's had exponentially greater "success" than we have in the past 8 years. They make the playoffs consistently, that means more revenue, consistently. One championship and two severely underachieving seasons aren't successful in terms of the owner's wallet compared to making the playoffs consistently.

 

3) Why do I need to make a "credible" argument, Tampa and Oakland have already made it for me that it can be a financial godsend for a small market team, demonstrated by Tampa having the lowest payroll in the league without having to run a roster full of first year players out there, and as Oakland has shown, it can also result in sustained winning if executed properly.

 

4) Carlos Delgado and Pudge Rodriguez are not relevant examples. The Marlins have never had a "home grown" superstar like Willis and Cabrera. Even at Lowell's height, he didn't get half of the national exposure that Willis and Cabrera get. Additionally, opening day 1999-2003 AKA the "Lowell" years you'd see more Sheffield and Floyd jerseys in the stands, not true with Willis and Cabrera. Keeping them here makes the casual fan happy. Make the casual fan happy and they come back.

 

5) Your attendance argument that it hasn't changed much since 1995 confuses me. Are you saying we haven't had an annual decline? If that's true it's still pathetic given the unprecedented attendance growth in the rest of the league. Baseball sets annual attendance records and here are the Marlins holding steady with their 12 year average. That's not something to hang your hat on, but keep on spinning.

Owner bashing is what you've done in the past to explain why the Marlins refuse to follow the lead of the A's and Tampa Bay despite evidence that they can or should not. We have yet to hear a credible argument from you or MarlinsLou why the Marlins should, that goes beyond theoretical models that do not apply to the franchise. If you want the Marlins to change their practice, give them reason to. Don't blame them for not doing so.

You should have been here in 1998 - wow did DD get back basically nothing in those trades. I always said he shoulda done better.

 

Beinfest is a genius with what he's done.

Kevin Brown for Derrek Lee

Al Leiter for AJ Burnett

Bonilla, Sheff for Piazza for Preston

(and I realize this next one is 1999)

Ed Yarnall for Mike Lowell

 

I think DD did ok for himself

im pretty sure it was Eisenreich and Johnson also to LA, we got Todd Zeile in that deal too. So he basically gave Johnson, Sheffield Eisenriech and CJ for Preston Wilson.... :|