I think it's pretty cool they did that for LoMo. As others said, Barger should be remembered, but not by retiring a number he never wore. Cool move by Loria.

 

So, it's cool the Marlins are letting LoMo wear 5 in honor of his father, a number he didn't wear, but they shouldn't have honored Mr. Barger by retiring a number he didn't wear? This is poor logic, please try again.

 

As Qban Castillo pointed out, without Carl, there are no Miami Marlins and no World Series title flags hanging in a beautiful new stadium. Mr. Barger's efforts to make baseball in South Florida a reality cannot be overstated. This is just another middle finger to the history of this franchise and those who have supported it through it all of these years.

 

Why couldn't he have just paid JJ to switch to 55?

I don't agree with this logic. The two scenarios really aren't comparable, because now a player will actually be wearing the number. The "meaning" behind the number doesn't really matter. Remember there was also the rumor that the Marlins would have unretired #5 for Albert Pujols and that would have had nothing to do with Brett or DiMaggio.

 

I think basically Loria & co. didn't necessarily agree with the retirement to begin with and thought that there were more appropriate ways of honoring Barger. I think the rather drastic franchise reboot/rebranding/relocation of the club makes the decision a bit more understandable.

I don't mind this move. I think retired numbers should be reserved for distinguished players of the particular team; Barger and Jackie Robinson should be honored, but should be honored in other ways not involving retired numbers.

 

Yes, plus in all fairness the number they retired for Barger was just his favorite player's number (Joe DiMaggio). It's a bit different than taking down someone who played for the team and had an actual jersey number.

Siliness...when he's raking with the Marlins for a long time, are we really gonna care about a jersey number?

Can't post the link for some reason, but Clark Spencer has a new article online about the number switch. Evidentally the Barger family was never contacted and a daughter of Barger is mad.

I thought he pulled off lifeguard bush quite well.

Can't post the link for some reason, but Clark Spencer has a new article online about the number switch. Evidentally the Barger family was never contacted and a daughter of Barger is mad.

 

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2012/02/why-cant-the-miami-marlins-reach-the-carl-barger-family.html

 

P.J. Loyello, the team’s senior vice president of communications and broadcasting, said he left messages for “three or four� different members of the Barger family, going back to September. The Marlins wanted to invite Barger’s immediate family to the closing ceremonies for the franchise’s 19-year run at Sun Life Stadium, but those messages — which were also left by another longtime member of the organization — apparently went unanswered.

 

The Marlins are still hoping to have representatives of the Barger family on hand for Opening Day in April, when they plan to unveil a permanent plaque in Carl Barger’s honor. However, after Betzi Barger’s published comments, that feel-good moment might not be happening.

 

“We’ll work through it,� Loyello said. “His memory will be honored.�

 

Here’s what Marlins President David Samson said about the decision to make No. 5 available: “Carl is critical to this franchise’s history. We’d been talking about it for awhile and the fact it’s a number that’s not associated with someone on the field. And we wanted to find a way in the new ballpark to properly honor him, and then it just came together with Logan, who had the [personal] tragedy, and that number was so meaningful to him.

 

“We just thought this was the perfect time, maybe the only time, that it would make sense to make that change.�

Assholes, all of them!

Can't post the link for some reason, but Clark Spencer has a new article online about the number switch. Evidentally the Barger family was never contacted and a daughter of Barger is mad.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2012/02/why-cant-the-miami-marlins-reach-the-carl-barger-family.html P.J. Loyello, the team’s senior vice president of communications and broadcasting, said he left messages for “three or four� different members of the Barger family, going back to September. The Marlins wanted to invite Barger’s immediate family to the closing ceremonies for the franchise’s 19-year run at Sun Life Stadium, but those messages — which were also left by another longtime member of the organization — apparently went unanswered. The Marlins are still hoping to have representatives of the Barger family on hand for Opening Day in April, when they plan to unveil a permanent plaque in Carl Barger’s honor. However, after Betzi Barger’s published comments, that feel-good moment might not be happening. “We’ll work through it,� Loyello said. “His memory will be honored.� Here’s what Marlins President David Samson said about the decision to make No. 5 available: “Carl is critical to this franchise’s history. We’d been talking about it for awhile and the fact it’s a number that’s not associated with someone on the field. And we wanted to find a way in the new ballpark to properly honor him, and then it just came together with Logan, who had the [personal] tragedy, and that number was so meaningful to him. “We just thought this was the perfect time, maybe the only time, that it would make sense to make that change.�

 

There's an article in Tuesday's PBP that says the team never tried contacting them. Also, quite the opposite from what he is hinting at here, Samson saying he understood they had signed off on the idea. Right now I would have to think you know when he is telling a lie because his lips are moving. I'm believing the Barger family on this one.

In this article, Samson says nothing about the Barger family, contacting them or otherwise. It's Loyello who talks about leaving the messages.

Yep and leaving messages isn't necessarily gaining an understanding

 

In the end this move makes sense..... The team finally has a home and he will be honored in it in a way that will provide explanation to future generations and newer fans about his importance