just after being swept by the Giants, the Marlins designate Mike Lamb for assignment and called up Bryan Petersen from AAA. Lamb went 4-18 in 18 games.
Petersen gives the Marlins another outfielder to plug in the lineup while Coghlan and Maybin are struggling. The move could also setup an opening for newly signed Doug Mientkiewicz, who will join AAA in the next few days.
Oh… and Mike Stanton hit a 500-foot homerun.
I hopped in my car last night just in time to catch the segment about the Florida Marlins marketing tactics on NPR’s All Things Considered.
They call the Marlins marketing team the best in the game and spend quite a bit of time with the Marlins Manatees (accurately described as “fat guys with no dance experience”). Marlins VP of Marketing Sean Flynn also makes an appearance, highlighting all the marketing initiatives the team undertakes including the player autographs, the Marlins Mermaids, Super Saturdays and more. Flynn describes it best by saying (and I paraphrase): We’re not selling baseball… We are an entertainment property with core property of baseball.
Listen to the segment and enjoy the brief attention. They seem to downplay the two world championships and describes our trades resulting in “lesser and cheaper players” making it sound like Hanley and Cameron are nothing more than scrubs. It concludes with the question of whether a dozen fat men can change the team’s fortunes. But, as Marlins fans know, 25 athletic and talented men haven’t been able to change it either.
Looks like we’ll have to wait to see Cameron Maybin. The Marlins just optioned him to AA meaning Alejandro De Aza is our starting CF. I hope this was a tough choice because Maybin looks like he’s almost ready for the bigs. Either the team feels he would be harmed by playing in the majors right now or they really have aggressive goals for the season and think that De Aza and Cody Ross will allow us to compete for this elusive goal. Don’t feel bad for Maybin, he doesn’t turn 21 until April 4th.
Update: Cody Ross will actually start on opening day because we will be facing a lefty (Johan Santana).
If you thought Spring Training would help answer many of the questions about the Marlins, think again. Here are some of what we believe are the lingering issues: More
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Marlins have lured Luis Gonzalez with a one-year $2 million deal (including an additional $1 million in incentives).
Gonzalez, 40, is expected to fill a combination of roles, including left field and first base, and serve as a mentor for the Marlins’ younger players.
Interesting that he is saying left field, meaning the Marlins are serious about giving Maybin the starting CF job.
Gonzo has slowed down significantly over the last couple of years but the team is hoping he provides depth and most importantly veteran leadership.