• Marlins Finalize 2009 Roster

  • The Marlins 2009 roster is now complete.

    Pitchers B/T Height Weight Birth Salary
    40 Kiko Calero R/R 6-1 210 01/09/75 $500,000
    55 Josh Johnson L/R 6-7 230 01/31/84 $1,400,000
    20 Logan Kensing R/R 6-1 185 07/03/82 $660,000
    22 Matt Lindstrom R/R 6-4 210 02/11/80 $410,000
    53 Dan Meyer R/L 6-3 220 07/03/81 $400,000
    23 Andrew Miller L/L 6-6 210 05/21/85 $1,575,000
    47 Ricky Nolasco R/R 6-2 220 12/13/82 $2,400,000
    46 Leo Nunez R/R 6-1 175 08/14/83 $414,500
    48 Hayden Penn R/R 6-3 200 10/13/84 $400,000
    37 Renyel Pinto L/L 6-4 215 07/08/82 $404,000
    43 Scott Proctor* R/R 6-1 195 01/02/77 $750,000
    19 Anibal Sanchez R/R 6-0 180 02/27/84 $400,000
    56 Rick VandenHurk* R/R 6-5 195 05/22/85 $400,000
    41 Chris Volstad R/R 6-8 225 09/23/86 $400,000
     
    Catchers B/T Height Weight Birth Salary
    21 John Baker L/R 6-1 210 01/20/81 $400,000
    29 Ronny Paulino R/R 6-2 245 04/21/81 $440,000
     
    Infielders B/T Height Weight Birth Salary
    4 Alfredo Amezaga* S/R 5-10 180 01/16/78 $1,300,000
    1 Emilio Bonifacio S/R 5-10 195 04/23/85 $400,000
    3 Jorge Cantu R/R 6-3 200 01/30/82 $3,500,000
    7 Ross Gload L/L 6-1 190 04/05/76 $1,900,000
    50 Andy Gonzalez R/R 6-3 205 12/15/81 $400,000
    18 Wes Helms R/R 6-4 220 05/12/76 $950,000
    2 Hanley Ramirez R/R 6-3 200 12/23/83 $5,500,000
    6 Dan Uggla R/R 5-11 200 03/11/80 $5,350,000
     
    Outfielders B/T Height Weight Birth Salary
    25 Brett Carroll R/R 6-0 190 10/03/82 $400,000
    27 Jeremy Hermida L/R 6-3 210 01/30/84 $2,250,000
    24 Cameron Maybin R/R 6-4 205 04/04/87 $400,000
    12 Cody Ross R/L 5-9 205 12/23/80 $2,225,000

    * Disabled List

  • News
  • Photo by Flickr user whiskeyjulietecho

  • Marlins Acquire Catcher Ronny Paulino

  • Apparently not satisfied with their catching depth, the Marlins have acquired Ronny Paulino from the giants for minor league right-handed pitcher Hector Correa.

    Paulino, 27, was traded to the Giants from Philadelphia for left-handed pitcher Jack Taschner Friday night prior to being traded to Florida. He was previously traded to the Phillies from Pittsburgh on December 10, 2008 in exchange for catcher Jason Jaramillo. He had spent his entire career with the Pirates, posting a career average of .278 (284×1021) with 49 doubles, 19 home runs and 128 RBI in 304 Major League games.

    The Santo Domingo, DR native appeared in just 40 games with Pittsburgh last season while battling a right ankle sprain. For his career Paulino has thrown out 51 of 165 (24%) of runners attempting to steal. A right-handed hitter, he owns a career .355 (92×259) average against left-handed pitchers. Paulino was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 29, 1997.

    I guess Mike Rabelo is still not good enough for the big leagues.

    Update: The Marlins didn’t wait long. Mike Rabelo and Brett Hayes were sent down to AAA.

  • News

  • County Approves Ballpark

  • Barring any more legal challenges, the Marlins are now on their way to breaking ground on the new ballpark after Miami-Dade County approved the ballpark agreements.

    Miami-Dade County commissioners on Monday put to rest more than a decade quest by voting in favor of a roofed ballpark for the Marlins on the Orange Bowl grounds. Commissioners cast two separate votes; the first came back 9-4, and the second was 10-3.

    …

    The first three hours of the meeting were set aside for a public hearing, where more than 90 people made their voices heard — pro and con. For several hours, the commissioners debated the facts of the project.

    …

    To pass, the Marlins needed nine of 13 commissioners to vote in favor. The commissioners addressed five separate agreements — non-relocation, assurance, parking, operating and construction.

    Update: I’ve been asked why I’m not showing more enthusiasm in this post. Honestly, until they break ground and heavy equipment shows up, I can’t celebrate. We’ve seen far too many curveballs the last couple of years that I’m wait and see until it happens.

  • Marlins Park

  • More Details on the Ballpark

  • A few more observations from reading the 5 agreements:

    • The ballpark capacity is about 37,000 and takes up 927,703 square feet.
    • Garages and parking lots will hold at least 5,713 cars with parking likely costing more than $10 per spot per game.
    • Construction formally begins on July 1, 2009 with first concrete pouring August 20, 2009. The ballpark will be completed on March 29, 2012.
    • The Marlins are locked for 35 years subject to terms of a Non-Relocation Agreement.
    • The City of Miami may develop an MLS soccer stadium on site (subject to many restrictions).
    • There are different seating sections: Batter’s Box Seats (behind home plate), Dugout Club Seats, Owner’s Box (12 seats within the Batter’s Box Seats), Home Plate Reserved (behind Batter’s Box Seats), Field Box Seats (behind dugouts), Club Level Seats, View Level Box Seats, and Standing Room Positions.
    • Suites will come in various sizes and features: Luxury Suites, Founder Suites, Super Suite, Party Suites, Owners Suite, Home GM Box,
    • Bleachers will be located in the Fiesta Deck in the outfield.
    • A 150 person Party Room will be located behind the outfield wall and will featured catered area with 2 tiers of seats.
    • The Field Box Seats and Dugout Club and both will have a pregame buffet, in-game food service and their own bar.
    • The main concourse near left field will feature a “Taste of Miami Food Court”.
    • The scoreboard will be HD (of course) and there will be several other ribbon boards througout the ballpark.
    • Interactive Kids’ Zone will be located in the outfield by Fiesta Seats
    • The swimming pool and “beach” will be located in the outfield.
    • Main retail store will be accessible from the outside on non-game days.
    • Player’s family can relax at a private lounge near the clubhouse.
    • A special room will be allocated, if and when needed, for female umpires.
    • The bullpens will have artificial turf.
  • Marlins Park

  • Features and Dimensions of the New Marlins Ballpark

  • We’ve been looking closely at the renderings and here are our observations:

    This is not a retro ballpark. It retains many of the swooping round design cues that can be found in both the American Airlines Arena and in the old renderings of the ballpark that included the Orange Bowl.

    Outfield Glass Wall

    Dimensions are somewhat similar to Dolphin Stadium: 335 down the right field line, 392 in the gap, 416 leading to 420 in a Bermuda Triangle like layout in center, 384 in the left-field gap and 340 down the left-field line. Speaking of the Bermuda Triangle, the outfield walls curve rather than bend and the Triangle looks more like a sea shell then a triangle. Also, the outfield has a pool/beach area and a large animatronic marlin that will jump when the Marlins hit a home run. All the currently available renderings obscure that part of the ballpark which may also include a new version of the Teal Monster.

    Right and center field have glass walls leading to green park areas and hopefully views of downtown Miami.

    Outfield Glass Wall

    The roof both slides (like in Seattle) and accordions (like Houston). That means that the area outside the ballpark along the first base line will be partially covered when the roof is open. One side of this area is bound by a stretched spiral walkway which appears to have a large video screen for people outside the ballpark.

    Outfield Glass Wall

    Conceptually, the ballpark has 3 seating tiers but even within tiers there are some breaks. The upper deck features several sections that are pushed back a bit to create standing room space. Also, the first group of rows along the first and third base lines seem to be separated from the rows above them. We’ve seen this in other ballparks where the premium seats are offset from the rest.

    Outfield Glass Wall

    Large HD like scoreboards are located in the right field and left field gaps.

    Outfield Glass Wall

    There are several green areas around the ballpark and every external walkway is lined with trees. Some of the flat green areas appear to be recreation areas for the community to use during the off season (one even has a diamond and dugouts that) that can be converted to parking during the season.

    Outfield Glass Wall

    The site features four 4-story parking decks and several smaller surface lots.

    Outfield Glass Wall

  • Marlins Park
    • Michael Gunner
    • RETWEETED
      17 years ago

    • Being a resident of South Florida for 8 wonderful years, I am glad to see this baby finally getting off the drawing board and onto the actual ground. Will be a huge asset to team…..but, am a LIFE-LONG, DIE-HARD ST LOUIS CARDINAL fan and too bad such a great thing has to be wasted on Baseball’s MOST BANDWAGON, fickle fans. (Same classification as useless Univ of Miami BANDWAGON fans)

      Hotty Toddy from Seattle….GO REBS GO….&, of course, Cardinals, too!

    • bruce hamby
    • RETWEETED
      17 years ago

    • Too easy on fly ball pitchers. Too tuff on homerun hitters. Same old, same old. What else is new?

    • EDWIN BURGOS
    • RETWEETED
      17 years ago

    • IS NICE I WISH I GO THERE ONE TIME…