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The Marlins
The Marlins have had an interesting decade since 1997. They have won the World Series twice ('97, '03), both times as the wild card. They have also finished last in their division twice, fourth in their division twice and third in their divsion three times. From the very high to the very low. It has been a roller coaster. So I decided to analyze them in the words of a famous manager who experienced both those highs and lows during his managerial career - Casey Stengel.
Me: "Mr. Stengel, thank you for allowing me to channel you today."
Casey: You're welcome, but I couldn't have done it without my players."
Me: Would you mind sharing some of your thoughts about the Florida Marlins?"
Casey: "Sure. Its nice to be talking with someone about baseball again. Most people my age are dead at the present time and you could look it up. I still watch baseball from up here and I've seen them play. About that place they play their home games , it holds the heat very well. But if you want me to talk about some of their players, they're constantly changing. Finding good players is tough, but they're putting together the Youth of America and a few other countries, too. Getting them to play together as a team is another story. The secret of successful managing is to keep the five guys who hate you away from the four guys who haven't made up their minds." There are so many new faces that I'd guess the players haven't been there long enough to figure out which they are."
Me: "What about their hitting/"
Casey: "I was such a dangerous hitter I even got intentional walks in batting practice. And I guess you could say that about that Cabrera feller. He plays third base and the outfield.
And that kid Jacobs they got from the Metsies reminds me of a young Johnny Mize. He hits baseballs over buildings.
I broke in with four hits and the writers promptly declared thay had seen the new Ty Cobb. It took me only a few days to correct that impression. You'd have to saythat about that reserve first baseman Wes Helms and that outfielder Joe Borchard. Their teams thought a lot of them when they first came up, but they couldn't keep it up, which is why they're playing here now.
See that feller over there? He's 20 years old. In 10 years he's got a chance to be a star. Now that feller over there, he's 20 years old, too. In 10 years, he's got a chance to be 30. That's what I'm saying about their keystone combo of Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla and their outfielders Cody Ross and Jeremy Hermida. Its still a little too early to tell, but it looks like they have a future."
Me: "Uggla certainly looks like the steal of the last RuleV Draft. They got him from Milwaukee, and he can really hit. Anybody else?"
Casey: "Jerry Lumpe looked like the best hitter in the world until you put him in the lineup. And right now that's what you'd have to say about Abercrombie, their centerfielder".
Me: "Thanks, Casey. Would you like to rest for a drink?"
Casey: No thanks. I do my drinking at the hotel bar after the game, with the reporters. I learned that if you don't get it by midnight, chances are you ain't gonna' get it, and if you do, it ain't worth it."
Me: "Then, how would you rate their other players?"
Casey: "You have to have a catcher because if you don't you're likely to have a lot of passed balls. And that guy Oliva looks like he can stop most of those passed balls, and hit a little, too. I don't know muchabout the other one - Treanor."
Me: "The catcher's name is Olivo."
Casey: Oh, you mean like that guy who pitched for the Pirates in the 60's? He was as old as I was. The trick is growing up without growing old."
Me: "What about pitching?"
Casey: "I might have been able to make it as a pitcher except for one thing - I had a rather awkward motion and every time I brought my left arm forward, I hit myself in the ear."
Oh, you mean their pitching. Left handers have more enthusiasm for life. They sleep on the wrong side of the bed and their head gets more stagnant on that side. And that lefty Willis sure shows enthusiasm for life, doesn't he? And he can pitch a little, can't he?
I've seen two of their pitchers a lot. As for starter Brian Moehler, I don't know if he throws a spit ball, but he sure spits on the ball. And maybe you can say that for that reliever Borowski. With their stuff, how else could they have stayed around so long? I don't know very much about the others, because they haven't been around too long."
Me: "They just brought up ex-Met Yusmeiro Petit. He started last night and was the winner even though he gave up five runs in six innings. We probably won't see him pitch in this series. Anything else?"
Casey: I'd always heard it couldn't be done, but sometimes it don't always work. And that's what I'd say about baseball in Miami. When their team isn't winning, the fans don't come out to see them. But baseball is very big at the present time. This makes me think baseball will live longer than Casey Stengel or anybody else, even in Miami. Then again, I've learned to never make predictions, especially about the future."
Me: "Thank you."
Pitching Matchups:
Friday 7/7 - 7:05PM
--Jose Lima [RHP] (0-3 8.79ERA) vs. Dantrelle Willis
[LHP] (5-7 3.96ERA)
Saturday 7/8
--Game 1
----John Maine (0-2 5.40 ERA) [RHP] vs. Ricky Nolasco
[RHP] (6-5 3.97ERA)
--Game 2
----Mike Pelfrey (ML DEBUT) [RHP] vs. Josh Johnson
[RHP] (7-4 2.34ERA)
Sunday 7/9
--Tom Glavine (11-2 3.43ERA) [LHP] vs. Scott Olsen
[LHP] (6-4 4.17ERA)
Later
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