A transcript of Logan Morrison’s post-game comments with reporters follows below. But first, I might be able to clear up the “incident� LoMo refered to when he said he suspected his demotion was related to something off the field.

First, I was told by a person close to LoMo that the matter was not criminal related or even sordid.

 

Based on my conversations with people, there were some events leading up to the demotion that had to do with team-related promotional functions. To be clear, the Marlins said they optioned LoMo to New Orleans because he was batting .249.

Earlier in the day, he refused to participate in a photo session with season ticket holders at Sun Life Stadium. That might sound surprising, given Logan’s outgoing personality and popularity with fans, but apparently there were some hard feelings related to earlier promotional activities.

I know that this past Thursday — a Marlins off day — Logan canceled a charity bowling tournament in Miami because he said the Florida Marlins Community Foundation “dropped the ball� and didn’t sell enough lanes in advance.

Logan wasn’t happy about that. And there apparently were some other events in which players were supposed to participate. There was also an autograph signing earlier Saturday, which Logan participated in. But he put his foot down and did not participate in the photo session with season ticket holders.

Morrison is second on the team with 17 homers and third with 60 RBI. He has been playing for nearly a week with five stitches in his right knee.

It’s also no secret that Hanley Ramirez is not loved by his teammates. Jeff Conine has chimed in. So has LoMo and Wes Helms, who was released after the game.

LoMo, though, has been outspoken and candid with the media about almost any issue. He was candid tonight but he stopped short of saying exactly what was on his mind when reporters talked to him about being demoted.

Here’s what he said.

“I’m freaking heart broken and disappointed.�

(Did they give you an explanation?)

“Because I was hitting .240. Yeah. That’s what they said. So. I don’t know if that makes any sense to me or to you guys but all I know is I go out and I give everything for this team. I play hurt, I play through injury and this is how you get treated. It doesn’t seem very fair or right to me.�

(Did they talk about your 17 homers or 60 RBI?)

“No, they didn’t say anything about that. They didn’t say anything about maybe the reason I was hitting 240 is because of I was getting the guy in from third, rolling over ground balls, not worrying about averages, trying to get the run in.

“Am I gonna say I’ve had the best of years or the year I wanted have? Absolutely not. But I’m never satisfied. And uh… .man….�

(Did they say to work on your defense or…? )

“No. They didn’t I asked for an explanation and the one I got was I was hitting .240.�

(Did they give you an idea of when you might be recalled?)

“No. They didn’t say anything like that.�

(Sounds like this caught you completely off guard.)

“Absolutely. Yeah. I mean… I just don’t think this is the way its supposed to be at all.�

(Do you think there’s more to their decision other than what they told you?)

“I absolutely do.�

(Do you think you have been too candid?)

“No. I don’t think it’s that. I think it’s something else but I don’t know if I want to say it right now.�

(Related to on-the-field stuff?)

“No, no. It’s more off-the-field.�

(Do you want to play here?)

“Do I want to play in Florida? I want to play for a big-league team and yes, yes. That’s the big-league team I am with now, or the organization I am with since I am in Triple-A. Yeah. I do.�

(Do you thiink eventually this will turn into a motivator?)

“I don’t know. Right now I just feel resentment and anger. I guess anger can motivate. Sure.�

(When did they give you the news?)

“I was about to get treatment on my knee and my arm that I just left on the warning track but, uh, I got called into the office right there.�

He said baseball operations president Admin Beinfest delivered the news in a room with manager Jack McKeon, general manager Mike Hill and bench coach Brandon Hyde.

“I had no idea what is was, other than they said we’re going to exercise our right to option you to Triple-A. I was like… I walked out. I couldn’t even say anythign at that point, I was so mad.�

(Are you surprised Wes Helms was released?)

“Yeah. That’s surprising, too. I don’t understand it. But I have a feeling it has something to do with the same incident.’’

(Can you elaborate?)

“I don’t want to say much right now.�

(This your hardest day professionally?)

“Yeah. Stand up for whats right and this happens… It’s not right. I don’t knwo what else to say about that but it’s not right.�

 

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/2011/08/13/are-florida-marlins-sending-a-message-by-demoting-outspoken-left-fielder-logan-morrison/

John Baker sticking up for Wes : manbearwolf

Wes Helms is the man. He plays the game the way it's supposed to be played, like each game or at bat is your last. #Respect to mentor.

Echofon • 8/13/11 11:14 PM

 

Wes, on the other hand, did not stick up for himself or for Lomo.

 

It's worth noting Wes has been the consummate professional through all this, thanking the organization and all that.

 

"It was a little shocking on my behalf, but I can understand it," Helms said. "I'm hitting .190 and I didn't play a lot lately. It was tough to have timing out there, and when you're pinch-hitting you've got to have timing, and I just didn't have it."

 

Even after being released, Helms was grateful to the Marlins for giving him an opportunity when seemingly no one else wanted to a few years ago.

 

"I owe Florida a lot," Helms said. "They gave me an opportunity in '06, and we built a great relationship. I had some good years here and got to know these young guys well. I wish them the best. They were good to me.

 

"I'm not bitter at all. I can understand that I struggled. It happens. Every player struggles, and this is just my time to go. No hard feelings to them. Hopefully I'll land somewhere else, play one or two more years, and you never know: Maybe I'll manage these young guys someday."

It's actually kinda sad.

 

It really is.

Just kidding, go home.

I wasn't aware the charity bowling event got cancelled. That's very interesting.

 

However I was at the autograph signing he did at a South Dade Dunkin Donuts a week ago and he was great. Didn't seem upset about anything.

 

I'm guessing the combination of cancelling that event and then not doing the photo op with the season ticket holders was probably why at least part of this happened. Well, that and Samson has basically said he doesn't like what LoMo does on Twitter.

Read the post I just submitted up top, it states that LoMo refused to participate in a promotional photoshoot with season ticket holders.

I wasn't aware the charity bowling event got cancelled. That's very interesting.

 

However I was at the autograph signing he did at a South Dade Dunkin Donuts a week ago and he was great. Didn't seem upset about anything.

 

I'm guessing the combination of cancelling that event and then not doing the photo op with the season ticket holders was probably why at least part of this happened. Well, that and Samson has basically said he doesn't like what LoMo does on Twitter.

 

While I'm guessing that Samson probably doesn't like Lomo on Twitter, he more said that Lomo needs to watch out with what he says because people will use it against him. It was more of a warning than a complaint.

Right, but as we all know Samson's boss is a control freak when it comes to wanting everyone to tow the ownership line. When you don't, you tend to get fired (Girardi).

 

Also I hate Samson a lot and wish he could be replaced, but he won't since he's Loria's son in law or whatever.

Even with lomo's recent struggles, what is to be gained from sending him down? Who is there that is seriously being considered as an alternate to him in lf? It's not like his performance is going to cost us going to the playoffs this season. Let him play through it. They sight his batting average as the reason for his demotion eventhough there are a couple guys in the lineup hitting worse than that. Mike Stanton and his .259 ba had better watch out. Very thin. Obviously something else going on here.

Right, but as we all know Samson's boss is a control freak when it comes to wanting everyone to tow the ownership line. When you don't, you tend to get fired (Girardi).

 

Also I hate Samson a lot and wish he could be replaced, but he won't since he's Loria's son in law or whatever.

 

While I agree about Samson (except I don't really hate him anymore), there's a slight difference between not toeing the company line and screaming at your owner from the field.

I really don't think it's ultimately about performance here. Yes, it can be used as an excuse, but I really don't think that's the main reason this happened.

 

Has there been any word on corresponding moves to fill the two roster spots?

Even with lomo's recent struggles, what is to be gained from sending him down? Who is there that is seriously being considered as an alternate to him in lf? It's not like his performance is going to cost us going to the playoffs this season. Let him play through it. They sight his batting average as the reason for his demotion eventhough there are a couple guys in the lineup hitting worse than that. Mike Stanton and his .259 ba had better watch out. Very thin. Obviously something else going on here.

 

I agree. I can't believe that this is purely skill based. It sounds like it's at least partially work ethic based.

Strange thing is, earlier today LoMo tweeted this:

 

Want 2 apologize 2 our Season Ticket holders in advance 4 being unable to attend today's meet & greet before the game 2day

I really don't think it's ultimately about performance here. Yes, it can be used as an excuse, but I really don't think that's the main reason this happened.

 

Has there been any word on corresponding moves to fill the two roster spots?

 

 

Read what I posted.

I like LoMo but I will say he is very sketchy on his twitter site and often hits on younger girls, and sometimes is probably too sarcastic for his own good, and he makes it known.

 

Won't miss Helms, this move should have been done a while ago.

 

This team is a f***ing mess.

 

Edit: Interested knowing what led to the Helms release and LoMo demotion... I wonder what happened.

 

If it was in fact off the field stuff.

welp, i had to do it.. it's not very pretty but: http://freelomo.com

It's actually kinda sad.

 

It really is.

 

Just kidding, go home.

 

Can I get a multipost like?

I really don't think it's ultimately about performance here. Yes, it can be used as an excuse, but I really don't think that's the main reason this happened.

 

Has there been any word on corresponding moves to fill the two roster spots?

 

 

Read what I posted.

I did the first time you reminded me, it was in my first post.

This demotion has to be mainly for off field issues. Yeah so Logan is hitting .249 right now but if it was mainly for production then Gaby should be sent down aswell because he's been sh*t lately since he's hitting .145 over the past 2 weeks and .195 over the past month...

 

Things are going to get ugly and as much as I hate to say it i feel we should just tank the season and try to get the higher draft picks or trade for prospects.

If we were to demote Gaby, who would play 1st? Hayes?

 

Also, how many options does Gaby have anyway (out of curiosity)?

This demotion has to be mainly for off field issues. Yeah so Logan is hitting .249 right now but if it was mainly for production then Gaby should be sent down aswell because he's been sh*t lately since he's hitting .145 over the past 2 weeks and .195 over the past month...

 

Things are going to get ugly and as much as I hate to say it i feel we should just tank the season and try to get the higher draft picks or trade for prospects.

 

Well, the difference is that there is a feeling in the front office that Lomo doesn't focus on baseball enough. If you're playing sh*tty but they all think you work hard, you'll get away with it. If you're playing sh*tty but they think you need to "concentrate on the game and stop trying to be so funny", you won't.

 

Plus, Lomo has been bad this season for much longer than he's been good.

While LoMo was refusing to take pictures with season ticket holders, Amezaga fixed their roofs #TrueHardWorker #BorderlineRacistTweet

ESPN, MLBN, and Twitter are gonna bash the Marlins fir sending down their golden boy. He'll, SportsCenter said a game or two ago. "LoMo and the Marlins..."

 

 

You jerk face, Loria.

 

*Sees Helms is released* Oh snap...time 2 party like 1999.

LoMo seemed fine at the Tommy Bahama event last weekend too.

 

Also, I'm not going to scrutinize his comments too much. He obviously is going through a lot mentally right, and then is bombarded with questions moments after getting the news of being demoted. Only Helms could handle something with so much grace.

 

And for what its worth, LoMo didn't trash the organization or anything. Hell he still wants to be a Marlin in the future. He just called it as he saw it at the time being - that there was more to the demotion than a .249 batting average. Which is really not too far-fetched.

This team just got a lot less professional.