• Marlins Lock Up Hanley Ramirez for 6 Years

  • We had read some rumors that the Marlins were looking to lock up key players (namely Hanley Ramirez) but we didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

    So on to the big news:

    According to a high-ranking Major League Baseball source, the Marlins have reached a tentative agreement on a six-year, $70 million contract with their star shortstop. The deal is not expected to be formally announced for at least a few days.

    At an average of a little over $11 million, the current Marlins ownership did something they haven’t really done before:

    They normally don’t lock up players through their arbitration years, along with buying out a few years of free agency. But they did so with Ramirez, who has accepted the leadership role on a young franchise. More

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  • Photo by Flickr user Brian U
  • Braman Law Suit to go to Trial

  • Look’s like Norman Braman’s ballpark lawsuit is going to go in front of a jury:

    Judge Pedro Echarte dismissed one count of Braman’s lawsuit against Miami-Dade County but said the remaining issues would be decided at a trial in July. Attorneys for the county wanted all of Braman’s complaints thrown out.

    In all honesty, making it to this stage just means that there is some issues of contention worthy of a jury’s consideration so the situation isn’t worse then it was a few days ago, but it does allow a sideshow to go on while the city, county, and the Marlins continue with the design and development process.

    Braman’s battle focuses on the ballpark, but is likely bigger than just that:

    Braman’s attorney, Robert Martinez, claims the plan is in violation of Florida’s constitution and the money invested is not being used as it was intended.

    “What we have alleged here and what the facts show, as far as we know them, is that the Marlins are getting a business operation delivered to them on a silver platter for business purposes,” said Martinez.

    County attorneys said spending taxpayer money on a new stadium is perfectly legal.

    As we have previously discussed, Braman was a terrible NFL owner who has a history of challenging these kinds of efforts (maybe sore that he never got his stadium in Philadelphia). Additionally, any of the transportation projects including the the 3 billion dollar funding may have long term impact on his ability to sell cars through his dealerships.

    Let’s hope this circus ends soon.

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  • Marlins Beat Padres 10-3

  • Note to Andrew Miller: this is what happens when you do things right — first pitch strikes, staying focused, and throwing strikes (55 of 88 pitches were strikes). Also, looks like Dan Uggla seems to be enjoying hitting in the 6th spot as he hit another home run today.

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  • Fredi Shakes Up the Lineup

  • Following a sweep by the Dodgers, Fredi Gonzalez has decided to shake things up a bit with a new lineup:

    Amezaga, Hermida, Ramirez, Jacobs, Cantu, Uggla, Gonzalez, Rabelo.

    Finally we can see Hanley Ramirez bat in his ideal position. This lineup also places Dan Uggla 6th where his low batting average and high strikeouts are better suited.

    Absent from this lineup is Josh Willingham who was placed on the DL. Brett Carroll is back to take his spot.

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  • Marlins Pound Bucs 10-4

  • More home runs and good pitching. Anyway, here’s a great quote from the Sporting News:

    If there’s one team I enjoy watching, it’s the Marlins. Hanley Ramirez is climbing to the top of the best-player-most-fans-don’t-know list. Josh Willingham tops the best-player-even-Hanley-Ramirez-does-not-know list. And Alfredo Amezaga is so versatile, you could put him at any position—center field, third base, catcher, point guard, punt returner, Secretary of State—and he’d figure it out.

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  • Good Pitching Wins Games

  • Scott Olsen kept throwing strikes and makes it through 7 innings – Marlins beat the Braves 4-0. With that kind of performance, you will win most of the time. Now we need the other starters to break through that 5th inning wall.

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  • Marlins Set Club Record with 6 HR in Win

  • The Fish set a new club record hitting 6 home runs in a 10-6 win over the Houston Astros. Red-hot Jeremy Hermida hit two while the other home runs were hit by league leader Mike Jacobs, Mike Rabelo in his Marlins debut, Jorge Cantu who literally hit it out of the park and Hanley Ramirez. Ricky Nolasco looked shaky but managed to complete 5 innings and earn the win.

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