Posted on Fri, Feb. 06, 2004

 

MARLINS

Loria 'hopeful' about stadium -- and team, too

The Marlins owner expresses confidence in the team and its chances for a roofed ballpark, which club president David Samson says is a must to keep the team in South Florida.

By BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@herald.com

 

 

AL DIAZ / HERALD STAFF

 

JEFFREY LORIA: 'We better not start this season 10 games under .500 [like last year].'

 

 

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria on Thursday said he remains ''hopeful'' about getting a new stadium, insisted his team is playoff-caliber, and disputed Ivan Rodriguez's claim the Marlins made him an unfair offer.

 

Also Thursday, club president David Samson said the Marlins will not stay in South Florida in a stadium without a roof.

 

''It's not even a negotiable point,'' Samson told Channel 10.

 

Making his first public comments in more than two months, Loria said he thought a stadium still was a possibility.

 

''If all parties -- the city, the county, the state and team -- are sincere about getting it done, it will get done,'' Loria said during a meeting with Herald reporters and editors. ``This is a spectacular market. It needs a Major League Baseball stadium, not a football one.''

 

Loria said he never considered keeping the World Series team together because of economics, but said the core of the team remains intact. He said the Marlins lost $18 million last season.

 

''I lose enough money as it is,'' he said. ``There are limits. I'm still willing to lose more money this year, because I kept the core of this team together.''

 

Asked if his tolerance for losing money is waning, Loria said, ``It doesn't go on forever, and that's why we need a stadium. We've set a date of [March 15] to get a [determination] about it.''

 

Loria said he hasn't considered what he might do if there's no new stadium. City officials have said they can't afford a stadium with a retractable roof. Negotiations are ongoing.

 

On the field, Loria is optimistic about the team's chances.

 

''We don't feel like we've lost very much,'' he said. ``We're still extremely talented. Our pitching is the envy of baseball. We signed Darren Oliver, and we'll have A.J. Burnett back. We have Jeff Conine and Miguel Cabrera for a whole season.''

 

But, he said, ``We better not start this season 10 games under .500 [like last year]. We're good enough to be beyond that.''

 

PUDGE GOT `FAIR OFFER'

 

Loria said there wasn't one player who was particularly difficult to give up.

 

''You probably want me to say Pudge,'' he said, ``. . . but I can't say that. We made an extremely fair offer. He decided to go elsewhere with his boat.''

 

Rodriguez signed a four-year, $40 million deal with Detroit, but the last two years can be voided if he misses substantial time with a lumbar spine injury. Loria declined to discuss the Marlins' offer but said, ``When you look at the differences between what's guaranteed [in Detroit] and what we were prepared to do, and add in the [Michigan] state tax, and the fact he's not going to be living at home, it's practically equivalent offers.

 

``I thought he would have liked to have a lot of fun playing for a championship-caliber team.''

 

Loria said he has not spoken to Rodriguez this offseason but told agent Scott Boras: ``For one time in your life, do something that's good for the player instead of sending him to a last-place team like he did with Alex Rodriguez and Ivan.''

 

Boras has claimed most of the Marlins' offer was deferred money. Responded Loria: ``He needs the money over those four years to spend it all in those four years? Then he's in big trouble.''

 

COVERING THE BASES

 

Loria addressed other issues:

 

? He said he expects attendance to rise ''a couple of hundred thousand.'' The Marlins drew 1.3 million fans last season.

 

? Loria said contrary to a published report, the team did not make an offer to Vladimir Guerrero, who signed with Anaheim, and would not bid for Greg Maddux, the top remaining free agent.

 

? On signing closer Armando Benitez and allowing Braden Looper and Ugueth Urbina to leave: ``I'm as thrilled with Chad Fox and Benitez as I was with Urbina.''

 

i love that comment about pudge's boat and what he told Boras.

 

theres also that thing dolphinfan posted about samson on wplg

Loria said he has not spoken to Rodriguez this offseason but told agent Scott Boras: ``For one time in your life, do something that's good for the player instead of sending him to a last-place team like he did with Alex Rodriguez and Ivan.''

 

Boras has claimed most of the Marlins' offer was deferred money. Responded Loria: ``He needs the money over those four years to spend it all in those four years? Then he's in big trouble.''

awesome

Loria said he has not spoken to Rodriguez this offseason but told agent Scott Boras: ``For one time in your life, do something that's good for the player instead of sending him to a last-place team like he did with Alex Rodriguez and Ivan.''

 

Nice. I actually read this article in the newspaper this morning while I was sitting by the teacher's desk at Goleman (where I am volunteering). It was "silent" reading day. Loria has made some good points. I just hope he can help us keep the Marlins...OUR team here right where they belong!!!

I love how Loria fights his battles. He is quiet, something Henry and Wayne aren't and he wins. The ballpark is either meant to be or not, but why did we win two championships if this team was not meant to be?

 

The Marlins are now doing the right thing and starting to publicly demand that the county, city, and state be acting in goodwill, because the team is.

 

The Marlins will be here for at least another 5 years, don't worry.

bottom line is this.....

 

 

 

if the politicians are going to be too cheap to help the marlins out with a stadium then the miami area doesnt deserve this team.

 

 

i mean hell....

 

 

the marlins are hte most successful team in south florida in the last 20 years. and they are the ones most in need of a home and cant get one.

 

what exactly gives?

Loria said he has not spoken to Rodriguez this offseason but told agent Scott Boras: ``For one time in your life, do something that's good for the player instead of sending him to a last-place team like he did with Alex Rodriguez and Ivan.''

 

 

 

so true it hurts

March 15 is 37 days away.

Loria said he has not spoken to Rodriguez this offseason but told agent Scott Boras: ``For one time in your life, do something that's good for the player instead of sending him to a last-place team like he did with Alex Rodriguez and Ivan.''

 

 

quote of the decade.

You know what? I think us Marlins fans have to do something. Protest at the Miami City Hall....Miami Dade County Headquarters.....whatever. We need to take action because we can't lose OUR team because of some stupid politicians.

Not all Marlin fans care where they play.

 

 

As long as they play somewhere where they get the support they deserve, I will be thrilled.

 

If its closer to me, then fine.

 

 

I like Florida so its all cool. But frankly, if the Marlins move, it wouldnt matter to me one bit.

I hope you all understand that what you're reading are the parts of the sitdown/interview that the Herald wants you to read, no more no less.

 

Propaganda at it best, the Miami Herald.

I am looking forward to the Marlins leaving that S*** hole in Miami and Possibly playing in a place like Portland where they have some of the most loyal fans you can find. Looking at the attendance at some of the Heat games and the non sellout Dolphin playoff games, sicken me. Put yourself in Loria shoes. He has lost 18 million this past year and he won the damn WORLD SERIES for crying out loud. Miami is a joke!

I am looking forward to the Marlins leaving that S*** hole in Miami and Possibly playing in a place like Portland where they have some of the most loyal fans you can find. Looking at the attendance at some of the Heat games and the non sellout Dolphin playoff games, sicken me. Put yourself in Loria shoes. He has lost 18 million this past year and he won the damn WORLD SERIES for crying out loud. Miami is a joke!

Is Portland building a stadium for the 'Spos? They had their chance, but they didn't get of their buttocks.

um....it would be stupid for portland to even build a stadium till there was a guarantee a franchise would be coming.

The Portland Beavers AAA team has poor attendance compared to their Pacific Coast League rivals. The stadium isn't what is holding Portland back.

the best market after DC is las vegas.

 

 

 

can we apply the same arguement then to the marlins....its not the stadium holding us back in terms of attendance?

DC is a great sports town but I am sure Angelos will do everything he can to stop the Fish from locating there.

Frankly, all these attacks on Miami by some of these board trolls and the press will be proven wrong. I don't like Miami, but it is a baseball town. When Atlanta drew badly and had no ballpark they didn't move. Ted Turner obviously had the money, a hometown, and different economics, but he survived. Atlanta fans have always been called fickle and spoiled, but the Braves won and things got done. It took more than just some on-field success for the new ballpark, it took an entire Olympic bid.

 

I am tired of the attack on this team and it's fans. We are not as big as some other fan groups, but we know more about baseball, love baseball more, and enjoy it more than any other team's fans. I don't see many cities ever supporting an new team in town who has lost most of it's existance other than the Cubs and Red Sox, but they are special. Look at the history of other teams before you start wailing bad things on this team. If you aren't happy about the situation go cheer for the Cubs, Giants, or Red Sox.

the braves drew well in the launching pad from what i can recall when they started winning.

 

 

if this franchise and the attendance does not rise significantly, then thats just sad.

 

 

but still you say portland would not be a good market due to attendance...but that doesnt apply to miami?

 

why?

Das let me get this to you ok,

 

Portland's AAA team was moved there from Albuquerque not that long ago, and they have terrible attendance. Portland would mean a loss in TV money for a team like the Marlins who currently enjoy the entire state of Florida as tv territory in a treaty with the D-Rays.

Frankly, all these attacks on Miami by some of these board trolls and the press will be proven wrong. I don't like Miami, but it is a baseball town. When Atlanta drew badly and had no ballpark they didn't move. Ted Turner obviously had the money, a hometown, and different economics, but he survived. Atlanta fans have always been called fickle and spoiled, but the Braves won and things got done. It took more than just some on-field success for the new ballpark, it took an entire Olympic bid.

 

I am tired of the attack on this team and it's fans. We are not as big as some other fan groups, but we know more about baseball, love baseball more, and enjoy it more than any other team's fans. I don't see many cities ever supporting an new team in town who has lost most of it's existance other than the Cubs and Red Sox, but they are special. Look at the history of other teams before you start wailing bad things on this team. If you aren't happy about the situation go cheer for the Cubs, Giants, or Red Sox.

I second that :thumbup

List of MLB teams seriously rumored to be in considerable financial trouble, moving or folding in last 25 years.

 

1. Atlanta Braves

2. Arizona Diamondbacks

3. Chicago White Sox

4. Montreal Expos

5. Toronto Blue Jays

6. Oakland A's

7. Anaheim Angels

8. Seattle Mariners

9. Minnesota Twins

10. Tampa Bay Devil Rays

11. Florida Marlins

12. Houston Astros

13. Texas Rangers

14. Milwaukee Brewers

15. Pittsburgh Pirates

16. San Francisco Giants

17. San Diego Padres

18. Cincinatti Reds

19. Cleveland Indians

20. Kansas City Royals

 

That's 2/3 of MLB if all the threats, rumors, political battles, and negative pundits got their way. As of now, none of these teams have folded or relocated.

 

and according to an MLB audit by Forbes in 2000: Montreal, Detroit, Arizona, and Tampa Bay would fold before the Marlins based on finances and liquidity.

Loria said he never considered keeping the World Series team together because of economics, but said the core of the team remains intact. He said the Marlins lost $18 million last season.

 

''I lose enough money as it is,'' he said. ``There are limits. I'm still willing to lose more money this year, because I kept the core of this team together.''

 

Until an owner agrees to open up his books and prove it these claims are based in about as much fact as me randomly picking a number out of a hat.

 

Good show by Loria on lighting Boras' arse up, though. The agents are the root of the problem, not the players. Blaming the players while ignoring the agents is kinda like blaming the pus-filled chancre without blaming the VD.

The Herald has an anti-stadium editorial bias. I would be suspicious of the fact that there is no actual Samson quote in these articles.

List of MLB teams seriously rumored to be in considerable financial trouble, moving or folding in last 25 years.

 

That's 2/3 of MLB if all the threats, rumors, political battles, and negative pundits got their way. As of now, none of these teams have folded or relocated.

21. New York Yankees. For the past decade have threatened to move to New Jersey.

22. Baltimore Orioles. A move to DC has been proposed more than once by team officials, sportswriters, politicians and businessmen over the past 25 years.

23. Boston Red Sox. Recent owners have talked about building a new Fenway to 'remain competitive'

24. Chicago Cubs. Ditto.

25. Los Angeles Dodgers. With the new poor owner they might be.

 

 

Most got stadiums and pissed off fans. Don't know if the Marlins could succeed with a worse public reputation than now, new stadium or not.