• Fredi Gets an Extension

  • Just before the first team workout, the Marlins have announced that they’ve extended Fredi Gonzalez’s deal through the 2011 seasons. The next 3 seasons, hopefully leading to the first season in the new ballpark, will require stability and growth as payroll will probably remain low. Despite some criticism, Fredi has done a good job with a young team and, most importantly, does not yell at the owner in the middle of games.

  • Opinion
  • Fredi Named TSN’s NL Manager of the Year

  • Congrats to Fredi Gonzalez for being named the National League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News. This award, not to be confused with the more official BWAA’s award, has been around for over 70 years and has previously been awarded to Joe Girardi. Fredi joins an all Florida sweep as the Tampa Bay “Devil” Rays’ Joe Maddon won the AL award.

  • News
  • UM May Decide Soon; County Thinks Orange Bowl is “Urban”

  • If you’re familiar with our frustration over UM’s impact on the ballpark situation, you can imagine our dismay as we read the latest updates.

    First, we are reminded that the ballpark is on hold while the world waits for the University of Miami to make up its mind on whether to renovate the Orange Bowl or move to Dolphin Stadium.

    [T]he University of Miami’s indecision over whether to stay in the Orange Bowl is stalling arrangements to move the Marlins into a Miami home, says Ian Yorty, who handles baseball negotiations for Miami-Dade County

    And of course, the County wants the Marlins to play at the OB site:

    Major League Baseball is “willing,” Mr. Hernandez said, to bring the Marlins to the Orange Bowl should the university choose to leave … Orange Bowl still fits the Marlins’ desired bill of “an urban ballpark setting.”

    Really? More

  • Marlins Park
    • Go Canes
    • RETWEETED
      17 years ago
    • To answer your question….because baseball sucks. I can’t wait for the Marlins to become the Las Vegas Slot Machines. i’m sure they’ll be able to get their stadium right on The Strip – next to the Mandarin.

      Go CANES!!

  • Olsen Provides Some Interesting Insight

  • locker roomWhile we’re at it, the Palm Beach Post also provides us with a couple of interesting gems courtesy of Scott Olsen:

    Commenting about the Joe Girardi / Jeffery Loria fued:

    “We haven’t had to deal with that this year, which is a plus,”

    I don’t seem to remember players really commenting about that before. Clearly it was a huge clubhouse issue. It’s amazing to believe that so many rookies did so well with something like that hanging over their heads.

    Also,

    “He was more genuinely concerned about my health and my well-being than I thought he would be,” Olsen said. “That was a big relief … Some coaches would probably ream you out for that. He knows that I know I messed up.

    “I get suspended, arrested, and he sat me down and said, ‘This is how it is, this is what you need, this is what we need.’ Everything is straightforward with him.”

    Interesting to hear Scott Olsen talk openly about his screw-ups. My reading is that Fredi‘s reaction is helping Scott recognize, accept, and hopefully address his problems.

    Photo by Flickr user flattop341
  • News
  • The Essence of the 2007 Marlins

  • The somewhat irreverent baseball blog Bugs & Cranks slapped its keyboard on the Marlins today for their latest and season-long performance. They take shots at Fredi and the team for inconsistent play and sometimes illogical actions. For example, Josh Willingham‘s game winning hit in the 10th inning was a no brainer — yes, on paper you bunt in that situation — but Josh was 4-4 in the game and is the team’s best run producer. Willingham’s post game comments suggested that he assumed Fredi would call a bunt but since he didn’t get a sign he went ahead and swung at the pitch.

    Regardless, the article does have a few “high points” including this money quote:

    The game that Gonzalez is seemingly surprised to have won displayed the essence of the 2007 Marlins: talented, but bumbling; competitive, yet indifferent; heroic while squandering.

    That could summarize our season so far. It’s no coincidence that you could also say that about Miguel Cabrera.

    Link:  Bugs & Cranks: Andy Warhol: “The Florida Marlins Are Weird”

  • News
    • Passengers
    • RETWEETED
      17 years ago
    • The Marlins have been befuddling this season. Just when you think they’ve got it figured out, they slip again. The good news, as it were, is that they aren’t regularly beaten, but rather they give away games through errors and weird decisions. Hopefully they’ll manage to get something going in the next few games and then get a running start after the break. They need to get past that .500 hurdle…