Division-Watching (2009)

[NatsAddict]

Uggla and Andrew Miller in a package deal.  Now all the Fish need to do is find a GM that thinks adding Andrew Miller is sweetening the deal rather than throwing another turd in the punchbowl.

For Marlins and Uggla, is it bye-bye Birdies?

  With news that the Orioles have reached agreement with Garrett Atkins on a one-year deal, the Marlins have almost certainly lost a potential trading partner for Dan Uggla. Atkins satisfies Baltimore's desire for the third baseman and right-handed power bat that made Uggla mildly appealing to them, though discussions with the Marlins never advanced beyond a preliminary level. It's possible that the Orioles could stick Atkins at first and take a stab at Uggla. But that seems highly doubtful at this point.

  The San Francisco Giants continue to loom as a possible landing spot for Uggla, and our own Barry Jackson reported yesterday that the clubs exchanged names (right-hander Jonathan Sanchez, minor-league lefty Clayton Tanner and another mid-level minor-league pitcher) at the winter meetings last week. But the Indy meetings ended without a deal and it has been quiet ever since.

  Since other teams aren't exactly pounding down the door for Uggla, I'm starting to think that if the Marlins hope to move him, they'll either have to lower their demands or sweeten their end of the deal. Might they throw in, say, someone like an Andrew Miller in order to grease the trade skids, especially if they are getting a major league pitcher (Sanchez, for example) in return?

   Yet another factor to consider: until the Marlins are certain they won't be on the hook for the approximate $7 million they would have to budget by keeping Uggla, I don't expect them to open their wallets in the free agent market -- at least not to any significant degree -- to plug holes in their bullpen and bench. In other words, forget about Matt Capps -- or any other potential targets in that salary range. Remember, the Marlins have not spent more than $2 million on any free agent since the Carlos Delgado signing in 2005.

Fish Bytes

[NatsAddict]

In other news, the Marlins for the third time in four years have finished with the lowest final payroll among the 30 teams, according to figures obtained by the Associated Press. The AP bases the figures on 40-man rosters (not just 25-man) plus adds prorated shares of signing bonuses, earned incentive bonuses, non-cash compensation, buyouts of unexercised options and cash transactions, such as money included in trades.

The Marlins came in at  $37,532,482, about $10.5 million more than their 2008 final number. Yet they still trailed 29th place Padres by more than $5 million. The difference between the top spending Yankees and Marlins: $182,492,435.

Sun-Sentinel

[NatsAddict]

In preparation for the name change to Miami Marlins in 2012, the "F-logo" has been removed from the sleeve and the word "Florida" replaced with "Marlins" on the Fish road unis.

[Dunnkey]

Now all they need to do is change their logo to a gator and lose the WS to the cubs in 2015.

[JMadIV]

why can't they just change the name to Miami now?

[HalfSmokes]

Now all they need to do is change their logo to a gator and lose the WS to the cubs in 2015.

The need to petition mlb to swap leagues with the Rays

[PatsNats09]

The need to petition mlb to swap leagues with the Rays

they wanna go to the AL?

[NatsAddict]

Just heard - not one other team is interested in Uggla at any price.  Cantu and another $3M+ player are being shopped.


When Beinfest freaks up, which he does with every transaction, he does so royally.

[NatsAddict]

Found a link alluding to the Uggla situation:

On another front, one baseball man who recently spoke with the Marlins said it's looking more and more like Dan Uggla will start the season in Florida. The arbitration-eligible Uggla would take a huge bite out of what is expected to be a $40 million payroll. Uggla staying could mean the Marlins start taking calls on Jorge Cantu, who as a fifth-year, arbitration-eligible player also is due a huge raise.

Sun-Sentinel

[JMadIV]

cantu plays 3B and OF right?

[PatsNats09]

2b and 1b too i think

[HalfSmokes]

2b and 1b too i think

2b and 3b not so well

[NatsAddict]

Cantu plays 1b, 2b, and 3b.

He made great strides at 1b last year.  His biggest problem last year was that he was put on some cholesterol drug that made him lethargic in May - July.  Also, he played most of last year (5 months) with a sprained wrist, which also cost him 13 games, and still put up 100 RBI.  He was very efficient at hitting with runners on.  He drove in 28 out of 35 men on 3rd with less than 2 out.  Of the 35, 4 didn't score due to BB, so really 28 out of 31 chances.  In fact, out the the 31 chances, he put the ball in play 28 times, and all 28 times it was done so well enough for the runner to score.  He had 27 hits that gave the Fish the lead (5 more than Hanley).  He was great at moving runners, with even his outs being productive. If the wrist is better, which it should be, and since he got his meds straightened out, he should return to his approx 30 HR form.  Not an All Star, but definitely an asset even when injured and messed up by meds.

[JMadIV]

how is his defense at 2b?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

how is his defense at 2b?

Reminds one of Michael Jackson - wears a glove on one hand for no apparent purpose.  he more or less played his way out of that position over the years.  Career UZR/150 of - 14 over 1851 innings. Has not played there regularly since 2006.

[NatsAddict]

how is his defense at 2b?

I can't say from observation since he hasn't played there in either of his seasons with the Fish.  But, when he did play 2b, his FPCT would indicate that he was 3-4 errors/season worse than the norm.  The first time I ever saw him play was the spring training opener in 2008 (versus the Nats).  He came in mid-game, and his first warm-up throw was a one-hopper into the seats.  Laughed my ass off.  His fielding issues are more with the throws than with the glove.

[NatsAddict]

The Marlins are back to playing in Dolphin Stadium again.  The Landshark Stadium name expired yesterday.  Without ever moving, they've played in 6 home stadiums since 1992.

Joe Robbie Stadium
Pro Player Stadium
Dolphins Stadium
Dolphin Stadium
Landshark Stadium
Dolphin Stadium

Technically, it could be 7 home stadiums with one move since Selig made them play some home games at Cellular Field in 2004.  Those are the only home games they've ever played in an actual baseball park.  Selig it still trying to force them to play their home series vs the Mets in Puerto Rico this year.



[EDIT:]  Confirmed tonight a compromise, one home series vs the Mets in Puerto Rico this year (June 28-30) and another next year.

[PatsNats09]

How long was it Landshark? Barely a year.

PS I noticed when we played the Fins, the diamond wasn't there. Do they get rid of it after baseball season or something?

[PANatsFan]

[EDIT:]  Confirmed tonight a compromise, one home series vs the Mets in Puerto Rico this year (June 28-30) and another next year.

Good. Ownership and fans not named NatsAddict don't deserve them.

[NatsAddict]

How long was it Landshark? Barely a year.

PS I noticed when we played the Fins, the diamond wasn't there. Do they get rid of it after baseball season or something?

It didn't even make it a year as Landshark.


Also, I left out a 7th name.  It was Pro Player Park before becoming Pro Player Stadium.

It is slated to have the name changed again before January 31 (Superbowl) and then again before February 7 (Pro Bowl).  However, it will supposedly go back to Dolphin Stadium before the MLB season.

Name Du Jour Stadium is now undergoing further renovations, apparently to permit helicopters and small planes to land on the roof.  The cost of getting this roof to pass the hurricane building codes has to be astronomical.

[NatsAddict]

Good. Ownership and fans not named NatsAddict don't deserve them.

Thanks for the exemption. 

[Minty Fresh]

Also, I left out a 7th name.  It was Pro Player Park before becoming Pro Player Stadium.

It is slated to have the name changed again before January 31 (Superbowl) and then again before February 7 (Pro Bowl).  However, it will supposedly go back to Dolphin Stadium before the MLB season.

Essentially the building and its management are nothing but a bunch of marketing whores.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Not sure of whether this should be in the division thread or the MLB thread, but it is an article on the apparent contest between Omar Minaya and Dayton Moore.  The siging of Scott Podsednik is Moore's latest attempt to take the prize from Omar.

[houston-nat]

AWESOME article!

[ASSCLOWN]

freak the mets and freak beltran

NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran had surgery on his troublesome right knee Wednesday and the New York Mets' center fielder will miss the start of the season.

It's more bad news for the Mets, ravaged by serious injuries to several stars last year while sliding to 70-92 and fourth place in the NL East.

Hoping for a fast start to the upcoming season, New York will be without one of its best players for at least the first few weeks.

In a statement released Wednesday night, the Mets said Beltran's osteoarthritis worsened during the offseason and he decided to have arthroscopic surgery to clean out the arthritic area of his knee.

The procedure was performed in Colorado by his personal physician, Dr. Richard Steadman.

The team said Beltran is expected to resume baseball activities in 12 weeks, a timetable that likely would keep him out for most of April -- maybe longer.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4824101