Kuzul

Another game, another loss.

At this point in the season, this seems to be a common theme for the Florida Marlins.  Shoddy pitching by a starter not named Josh Johnson (in last night’s case, Sean West), no offensive prowess and a bullpen with names like Jose Veras and Burke Badenhop not helping the cause. What makes it worse is that the Marlins lost 6-1 to a Philadelphia Phillies team missing All-Stars Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino.

One could look at this as just a bad stretch for the Fish. However, I believe that it’s an issue of ownership setting this team up for failure. 

With the other South Florida teams making big splashes that scream “We want to contend.” (I heard somewhere the Miami Heat got some guy named LeBron?), the Florida Marlins brought in franchise savior, Will Ohman, at the non-waiver trade deadline. Only in the distorted reality of Jeffrey Loria’s world does trading a capable starting pitcher (Rick van den Hurk) for a left-handed specialty reliever make competitive sense.

At the risk of turning this into a bashing of Loria and this penny-pinching ways (and let’s face it; had Major League Baseball and the players’ union not intervened and forced Loria to spend what the team was receiving in revenue sharing, Josh Johnson and Hanley Ramirez would have been traded for a handful of prospects by now), let’s just take a look at the differences between his ownership and those of the Miami Heat’s Micky Arison and Stephen Ross of the Miami Dolphins.

Investment in The Product

As anyone who has a television knows, the Miami Heat now have the trio of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James. Three near-maximum contracts. Add the contracts of Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem (along with the minimum contracts to fill out the roster) and Arison is writing a check to the NBA for the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax. I’m pretty sure he’ll be smiling when he writes out the check, since he realizes that all the money he’s invested in player contracts, as well as the American Airlines Arena, he’ll make back easily (with profit) in the sold-out crowds that will come in droves over the next five years.

Stephen Ross has taken a slightly different approach, taking on celebrities for stakes in the Miami Dolphins. While this is something I personally think makes sports too Hollywood, it doesn’t matter whose name is at the top of the check being handed to Brandon Marshall or Karlos Dansby. As fairweather as fans are in South Florida, the Dolphins have had no problem attracting fans and are one of the most profitable football teams in the NFL. Ross has been willing to spend, both on contracts and renovations to the stadium-formerly-known-as-Joe Robbie Stadium.

Jeffrey Loria, on the other hand, is almost the anti-Ross and Arison. He demands that the residents of Miami-Dade and Broward County pay the bill on the new stadium being built at the old Orange Bowl site. When he didn’t get his way the first few times around, like a jilted ex he flirted with moving the team to Las Vegas or San Antonio. In terms of investing in the team, he only does so when Major League Baseball says he has to. Until they complain, it’s bargain-bin shopping for middle relief and trading arbitration-eligible players for cheaper, less talented replacements. 

Front Office With A Brain

I’ll give you one reason “Miami Thrice” happened in South Beach. In fact, I’ll give you five; each one of team president Pat Riley’s championship rings. Arison is well-respected in the basketball world because he allows for the basketball minds to be in charge of player personnel and doesn’t meddle in decisions. Is there a better basketball mind in the game today than Riley? Even if he doesn’t come back to coach like most of the world thinks he’ll do, he has a coach in his image, Erik Spolestra, to sit in, who did tons more with Dwayne Wade and a veritable “who cares” of a supporting cast than anyone could have imagined.

Same goes for the Dolphins. Stephen Ross has given Bill Parcells carte blanche as long as it fields a winning team. In two years time, Parcells has gutted an aging roster and rebuilt it in his image, which has staying power and can be constantly competitive in a tough AFC East. He hand picked his head coach, Tony Sparano, who has done a terrific job keeping the team in the right direction through these past two rebuilding years (and don’t be fooled; even with the 11-5 first season, this team was in rebuilding mode).

Under Loria’s reign of terror, only one trade has truly panned out long-term; the dealing of Josh Beckett & Mike Lowell for Hanley Ramirez and other assorted prospects. Since then, Larry Beinfest has traded the current AL batting leader (Miguel Cabrera) for busts (Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin) and has signed no one that can be described as an upgrade or impact player at any position. 

To top that off, Loria has fired two managers, one of which won Manager of The Year, Joe Girardi, but was let go because he told Loria to shut up while arguing with an umpire a-la Mark Cuban. The other, Fredi Gonzalez, was toyed with since the offseason with rumors of Bobby Valentine and the declaration by the front office that this team is playoff-ready, despite the glaring holes in the roster (no relief, high strikeout numbers offensively, no defense). 

When Fredi was fired, it was believed that Valentine was the replacement. Instead, Valentine walked away from talks to trash the organization on ESPN about how they do business. The end result is a third base coach who has never managed at any level. I’ve never seen two managers do more with less and couldn’t be happier for them, with Girardi winning a World Series with the Yankees and Fredi Gonzalez being considered for some of the top jobs in the game (Cubs, Braves).

Until some changes are made (is it possible Bud Selig can relieve an owner from ownership?), this will be the second team Jeffrey Loria has run into the ground. You can’t expect fans to be faithful until you’re faithful to them. To this point, that hasn’t been the case and until then, it’s time to find another team to latch my fandom on to.

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A Chance for the Marlins to Improve

By Keith McGowan

A few weeks ago, amid all the Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross trade speculations, an idea randomly popped into my head. Hanley Ramirez is arguably the most explosive bat in the Marlins line up.  Unfortunately, his defense is…we’ll just go with “less than stellar.” 

I began thinking about Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees. 

Remember that silly little problem of having to fit A-Rod’s bat into a line-up that already had a pretty impressive shortstop that goes by the name of Derek Jeter? Have you heard of him? 

Anyway, Rodriguez ultimately made the move to third, and has since become the steroid-happy cheater that we all know and love. The point being, Ramirez’s offensive numbers are what the Marlins need in their lineup, but they can do without the errors.

The Fish do have a slightly different situation on their hands. Instead of Ramirez being an outstanding defensive shortstop coming to another team that already has an established defensive presence, he is and amazing offensive player but a defensive liability, and pretty much the national face of the organization.

So, given the recent trade of Jorge Cantu, why not make this same thing happen with Hanley Ramirez? 

In an effort to sure up that defensive infield, why not begin looking now for that great minor league prospect at short?

I will admit I have absolutely no clue what I’m talking about when it comes to the Marlins’ farm system, but that’s why I’m not the GM. There has to be some young shortstop they’ve been looking at, if not in their own farm system, than in another team’s.

At this point, Wes Helms is definitely capable of finishing up the remainder of this season at third, and has a very valuable bat of his own. During off days or after games, Ramirez can begin practicing getting comfortable at third, and put in heavy work this coming offseason.

The Fish could then have a 2011 opening day roster with Gaby Sanchez at first, Dan Uggla at second, whichever young juggernaut of a shortstop you please, Hanley Ramirez at third, and still have that swell bat of Wes Helms ready to back up or even start at either corner of the infield or left or right field, plus a number one pinch-hit option late in games. 

With Hanley’s range at third, the shortstop may even be able to shade more toward second for more double plays, perhaps looking like the great double play duo of old with Alex Gonzalez and Luis Castillo. 

Ah, the good ol’ days…

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In 2012, the Florida Marlins will move into a new ballpark in downtown Miami and will be renamed the Miami Marlins with an all new logo, color scheme, and young nucleus.

Most of their stars will be 30-years-old or younger, and I will highlight that here. Certainly, they have one of the most talented nucleus of players in the Major Leagues, and there is no telling what they can do once they move into a new environment, a true baseball stadium with the top players in the game.

Begin Slideshow

So the 2010 non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone.

Amid all of the speculation, Dan Uggla and Cody Ross still remain in the Florida Marlins lineup. The club remains on the fringe of both the divisional and Wild Card races heading into tonight’s tilt with the Padres out west. 

With Atlanta losing to Cincinnati earlier today, the Marlins sit in a third place tie with the New York Mets in the National League East, seven games back of the Braves.  This is pending the outcome of the Marlins-Padres game which is in progress during the writing of this article, and the Mets-Diamondbacks is also currently in action.

In the Wild Card race, they are also tied with the Mets, seven behind the front running San Francisco Giants.  In this race they are tied for sixth, but have seven hurdles to realistically climb over (you have to factor in both the Reds and Cardinals who are tied for the Central Division lead).

Now that we see where the Fish stand in the pennant races, lets look at their player moves at this year’s deadline.

On Thursday they were sellers. 

Starting third baseman Jorge Cantu was dealt to the Texas Rangers in return for two AA relievers (one of which is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will not be ready till Spring Training). Yes they were sellers, but not panic sellers! 

Before Monday’s game in San Francisco, team president Larry Beinfest said that the Marlins would not move players just to make moves.  I think he held to that.  Yes that’s what I said, even though they moved the starting third baseman!

Cantu is due to become a free agent after this year. The long term game plan for Florida is to have Chris Coghlan move back to his natural position at third.  Now that Logan Morrison is with the big club, that fills Coghlin’s outfield spot.

Chris’ freak shaving cream accident kind of put the game plan on hold, but the Marlins  plenty of players to fill in for now.

So, yes they were sellers, but they moved someone that didn’t figure in the team’s future plans and they got two young arms in return.

Today they became buyers!

Right at the 4 p.m. trade deadline they picked up much needed middle relief help.  They traded Rick VandenHurk to the Orioles in exchange for left handed reliever Will Ohman.

In VandenHurk, they traded a prospect that never really lived up to his billing.  He was highly touted when he was called up in 2007.  While splitting time with the big club and AAA, he leaves South Florida with a lifetime 8-9 record and a 5.96 ERA.

In return, the Marlins get Ohman, a 32 year-old lefty who debuted with the Cubs in 2000.  He had short stints in Atlanta and with the Dodgers before signing with the Orioles prior to this season.

So the message that was sent by Beinfest and company is—we’re not throwing in the towel on 2010!

As the late Bob Murphy used to say, “fasten your seat belts!”  Here comes the August and September stretch run and the Florida Marlins are poised to compete!

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According to latest reports filtering out from the 4PM Trade Deadline, the Florida Marlins have acquired left-handed reliever Will Ohman from the Baltimore Orioles for right-handed reliever Rick Vandenhurk. 

Will Ohman arrives as a much needed arm to very shaky bullpen which is at the top of most lists when it comes to blown saves. Ohman appeared in 51 games for the last-place Orioles, with 29 strikeouts in 30 innings and an ERA of 3.30. 

Ohman figures to be used against left-handed batters and in late inning situations with the bullpen imploding in recent games against the Braves and Giants.

Vandenhurk was up and down between the major leagues and minor leagues in his tenure with the Marlins. In four seasons, Vandenhurk was 8-9 in 35 games with a 5.96 ERA. He has appeared in one game this season, allowing four runs (one earned) in an inning and a third.

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Throughout the history of the game and the history of sports, there have been over a million trades done which have forever changed the direction of a sports franchise or landscape forever. You can call it the butterfly effect because thats what it is, a small trade here and there can cause big changes later on (managerial changes, free agent signings, new stadium, or even a World Series).

In the case of the Florida Marlins, a Major League Baseball franchise that has been around since 1993, they have won a couple of World Series (1997 and 2003). The little known story behind both of those titles have been the trades they made in order to win them. I’ll chronicle that here and run down over the trades that forever changed the Florida Marlins and made up what they are today.

Without these trades, this franchise, would not be here right now. In the spirit of the Trade Deadline and trades period here are those trades that have forever this MLB franchise, the Florida Marlins…

Begin Slideshow

No matter that the Florida Marlins have won eight out of their last 10 games, it looks like they are sellers.

No east division pennant or National League wild-card dreams.

The first Marlin gone before Saturday non-waiver trade deadline could be third baseman Jorge Cantu.

According to various published reports, the Dallas Morning News and the Arlington Star-Telegram, the Texas Rangers have had advanced talks with the Florida Marlins about trading minor league pitching for Cantu.

General Manager Jon Daniels had declined to comment on specific trade possibilities, but he had also said on the record that they would like to add a right-handed hitter capable of playing first base in relief of Chris Davis.

Cantu is the Marlins’ starting third baseman but he has played first base throughout his career. This season he had started 40 times as a first baseman.

The seven-season McAllen, Texas native also can serve as a designated hitter. This season he started as a DH in the Marlins lineup nine times during inter-league games.

He is hitting .260 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs.

According to published resources, the Rangers like Cantu but are not committed yet, as they are looking to other players.

The Rangers also have interest, among other few possibilities, in Cantu’s Marlins teammate Wes Helms.

The Rangers have also scouted former Marlin and current Red Sox Mike Lowell, for whom the team agreed to make a trade last December before Lowell failed a physical.

The Rangers were prepared to send catcher Max Ramirez and $3 million to Boston for the 35-year-old four-time All-Star, however a torn radial collateral ligament in his right thumb derailed the trade.

Lowell is currently on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket.

In Tampa Bay, word has spread that the Detroit Tigers could possibly be interested in Lowell as a replacement for injured Carlos Guillen.

On the other hand, the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies are said to be bidding for Cantu’s services.

Rumours fly. What are the Marlins, sellers or buyers? Everyone will know in the near future.

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Just when you thought you’ve seen it all. BAM!

The latest injury: a torn meniscus during the now common celebratory pie to the face.

That is the unfortunate fate suffered by the pie giver, Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan.

There is no question this ranks amongst the most bizarre/embarrassing injuries of all time, but how does it impact fantasy circles?

After a red hot .377 and 30-run June, Coghlan reverted back to his April form in July hitting .209 with one RBI.

He’ll miss six to eight weeks, but regardless, his deficient production and wild inconsistency made him a nearly unreliable fantasy option in thinner leagues.

The Marlins have promoted sterling prospect Logan Morrison to the big club to replace Coghlan on the active roster.

A first baseman by trade, Morrison’s 2010 call up had been thwarted to this point by the excellent play of Gaby Sanchez.

At one time trading Sanchez to clear the path for Morrison seemed like a viable option for the Marlins, but that seems far-fetched now with his .301, 11 HR, 45 RBI stat line.

Sanchez played some third base in the minors, and a return to the hot corner could be entertained—but not mid-season.

Morrison is expected to split time in left field with Emilio Bonifacio in the immediate future. If Jorge Cantu is dealt prior to the July 31 deadline, Bonifiacio could be moved to third base and open regular playing time in the outfield.

Morrison played seven games in the outfield for Triple-A New Orleans prior to Coghlan’s injury, so expect the Marlins to be wheelers and dealers this week.

Morrison is an excellent athlete for his size (6’3″, 235 pounds), but it’s unclear whether he can hold his own defensively in the outfield. One thing that is abundantly clear is his mastery in the batter’s box.

He was hitting .307 with six home runs and 45 RBI in the Pacific Coast League prior to getting the call. He injured his shoulder (collision) in May and has played in just 68 games.

He’s incredibly seasoned for a 22-year-old, drawing 48 walks against only 35 strikeouts. A left-handed stick, he hit .314 in 70 at-bats against left-handed pitching.

If the numbers are any indication, Morrison should make a swift adjustment to big league pitching.

Bottom Line:

1. Coghlan is not in danger of losing a starting job when healthy. Despite his on/off play in 2010, he possesses excellent bat control and provides versatility defensively. He can see time at second or third base and left field. However, none of these qualities help the fantasy owner.

2. If Morrison hits, he’s going to play. Bonifacio was wallowing in the minors for good reason. He provides a speed element, but his plate discipline, or lack thereof, will be exposed over the course of regular at-bats. He has yet to draw a walk in 2010. The Fish didn’t call up Morrison to sit and disrupt his maturation. 

3. Who bats leadoff when Bonifacio sits? Does Hanley occupy that spot? If so, this injury could have a confounding effect on his fantasy value and run production.

4. Roster assembly issues likely won’t come into play until 2011. The aftermath of the trade deadline could change matters, but it’s a good bet Sanchez will be taking grounders at third base come spring training.

Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com.  Adam is the epitome of awesome and anyone who doubts it can take it up with him personally on any street corner at any time.

Think Logan Morrison can make it in the BIGS?
Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on Twitter@TheFantasyFix

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The trade deadline (July 31) is closing in fast and still, the Marlins haven’t expressed their intentions. They are eight games back in the division trailing the Braves, Mets, and Phillies and six games back in the wild-card race trailing seven teams.

They embody mediocrity. As of Sunday afternoon, they stand with a 49-49 record and have major league rankings of 12th in ERA and 20th in batting average.

They have had a surge of late, winning seven of their last ten with a walk-off win against the Braves this afternoon. So that begs the question, will they look to buy, sell, or sit tight in the next week?

Why Buy?

If they are serious about making a strong push toward a playoff spot , and don’t want fans to have any more strokes, they absolutely must acquire relief pitching. Headlines along the line of “Bullpen Crumbles” have seen the front page too many times this season. The routine story has been a starting pitcher pitches great, followed by a reliever’s collapse, concluding with a fight to to the finish to crank out a win. Unloading a prospect to benefit the team in the short-term would be new ground for this franchise.

Why Sell?

They still have plenty of ground to make up and they likely don’t have the pieces to make a pennant run. It would be wise to unload players like outfielder Cody Ross or third-baseman Jorge Cantu, since they probably aren’t going to be a part of the big picture anyway.

Do Nothing?

Ride it out with what you have and hope for the playoffs without sacrificing any prospects and not getting anything in return for the veterans in their last year with the team.

The Move : Get the fans excited for a Marlins regime that is about to undergo a major transformation next season when they get a new park. Acquire a couple of strong relievers. It would be nice to see what this team is made of if they were a more balanced unit.

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Josh Johnson makes history each time he takes the mound.

Since he plays for the Florida Marlins, however, media outlets fail to mention him in the NL Cy Young race as often as Ubaldo Jimenez and Adam Wainwright.

Jimenez, whose 15-2 record comes thanks to a hot start in April and May, fares much better with his team’s run support.

Over his first 17 starts, the Colorado Rockies pitcher went 13-1 with a 1.15 ERA. In Jimenez’s last six starts, he is 2-1 with a 7.64 ERA.

Against the Marlins, he had his second-worst outing of the season; five 1/3 innings of a six run- (four-earned) ball game.

But he got a no-decision when Florida blew a lead.

Five times this season the Florida Marlins’ troubling bullpen has lost a lead during Johnson’s starts.

It has prevented him from a 15-3 record, which would put him alongside Jimenez.

Four times this season the righty has had a no-decision when allowing just one run. The 26-year-old pitcher even lost during Roy Halladay’s perfect game despite giving up only an unearned run. 

Unlike Jimenez, Johnson has been consistent all season long.

He leads all of baseball with a 1.61 ERA, and over his last 13 starts, he has gone at least six innings and given up one run or fewer.

That streak is the longest since Greg Maddux achieved it in 1995. 

Eighteen of Johnson’s 20 starts are quality ones, with the season opener against the New York Mets his worst: a five-inning, four-run affair.

He has fanned 141 batters, fourth-best in baseball, and has walked just 29 in 134 1/3 innings. 

Despite these statistics, Bleacher Report doesn’t even have a tag for him!

And in the NL Rookie of the Year battle, 26-year-old Gaby Sanchez continues at a consistent pace.

Instead of the first baseman, though, 20-year-old phenom Mike Stanton attracts all the attention since he’s one of the top prospects in baseball.

Stanton’s power is that of legend. Five-hundred-foot homers have been sighted.

Yet, Sanchez’s numbers speak for themselves: .304 average, 11 home runs, 44 RBI, 23 doubles, and 46 runs.

In comparison, Atlanta’s Jason Heyward, who was voted as an All-Star starter, brings a media circus with him.

After coming back from a thumb injury, he is batting .266 with 11 homers and 48 RBI.

San Francisco’s Buster Posey, who has been on a tear during the month of July, is batting .358 with eight home runs and 32 RBI in just 47 games.

Time will tell if the rookie catcher stays on such a torrid pace.

All this begs this question: Where would both Johnson and Sanchez be if they played for an organization with a larger fan base and more national attention?

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