|
Wrapping up 2009
 Posted 10/13/2009 11:30:00 AM
In wrapping up the Marlins season, I probably should start
with what most thought would be their strength, but in the end was a downfall:
the starting rotation. The workhorse of the group, Josh Johnson was the only
one in the rotation who had a consistent and tremendous season. JJ made the
All-Star team for the first time in his career, finished up the season with a
15-5 record and an ERA of 3.08. Not to mention he achieved his goals of staying
healthy and pitching at least 200 innings for the first time since returning
from Tommy John Surgery last season.
Though even with the star players, there’s always room for
improvement. JJ said he wants to build on the 2009 season; he realizes they
“babied” him a bit, but that was expected and understood. JJ recognizes this
was the most number of innings he’s ever pitched, but ...
Play a game, Win a prize!
Posted 10/6/2009 11:30:00 AM
How about a little game to distract you while you try to
accept that the Marlins are not in the post season this year? I’m going to list
a few players and number them; below I’ll list songs and artists with letters
next to them. It’s basically a matching game: connect the player with their
at-bat/pitching song. This will favor those who have attended games this
season, but take a stab at it regardless.
The one with the most correct answers will get a prize. I’ll
give you all until Friday; only one guess per person, and please EMAIL your
answers to: Dana@790theticket.com.
Have fun, and good luck! DStro
1.
Chris Coghlan
2.
Nick Johnson
3.
Hanley Ramirez
4.
Jorge Cantu
5.
Dan Uggla
6.
Cody Ross
7.
Jeremy Hermida
8.
John Baker
9.
Cameron Maybin
10....
David Samson speaks
Posted 10/4/2009 2:30:00 PM
Rumors were floating this morning about the Marlins
organization contacting Bobby Valentine who’s considering returning as a
manager in Major League Baseball. The Marlins coaching staff doesn’t know their
situation for next year, and David Samson spoke to us about it today in the
press box in Philadelphia.
“The only reason the coaching staff doesn’t know yet is
because we haven’t had a chance to meet with them about issues and talk. We do
that every year. We go through every employee every year, whether they have a
six month or six year contract.”
The contracts are up at the end of this month.
Samson was specifically asked a few times about the future
of Fredi Gonzalez, who signed a two-year contract extension through 2011 season
in spring training. He never really did answer the question.
“With any job, everyone but the owner should be concerned
...
Rookie Hazing
Posted 10/3/2009 8:00:00 PM
The Fish decided that today in Philly would be rookie-hazing
day, and boy did they go to town. When we walked into the clubhouse post game,
there were Halloween-like outfits in bags hanging in selective lockers.
A few began to try on their costumes for the evening while
we were still in there. Dan Uggla warned them “either they wear what was given
to them or they leave this clubhouse naked.” Dan Myer was inquiring if he could
swap outfits with someone because he’s a veteran rookie and has had this done to
him four times.
We could not stop laughing at what they chose for Sean West
– I heard Cody Ross was behind the outfit. He looked like a dominatrix with all
black leather to wear, including a skimpy vest, a cabbie hat, and pants with a
hole in the butt – under which he wore ...
Fever Pitch
Posted 9/28/2009 8:55:00 PM
At least this go-around of the flu in the Marlins clubhouse
isn’t as bad as the last time; Josh Johnson’s already back with the team, and
set to pitch tomorrow (Tuesday). Yes he missed his start yesterday, but you
know because of the workhorse he is, he had to be feeling awful.
He said that if yesterday’s game had been a night game
rather than a 1:10 start, he would have tried to pitch, but his whole body just
ached yesterday morning. He spent the day in a bed in a hotel room of all
places, because he had already moved out of his apartment in Hallandale.
The game wasn’t on TV there for some reason, so he followed
it on the Internet, drugged up on TamiFlu; he was not tested for Swine Flu, but
was told the TamiFlu would take care of either that or the regular ...
The Sickness is rising
Posted 9/27/2009 2:50:00 PM
Josh Johnson came to the ballpark today around 9 am after
feeling under the weather yesterday and this morning. He told Fredi he was
fine, he’d be able to pitch, but by 10:30 am, he was sent home because things
took a turn for the worse.
Just like Nick Johnson’s been battling the last few days, JJ
has the flu it seems. Chris Volstad was given the ball to pitch in today’s
final regular season home game instead of JJ. Both Johnson’s are at home today,
and will not travel with the team to Atlanta after the game. They’re supposed
to meet with doctors tomorrow and will hopefully join the team there by
Tuesday.
Fredi said he hopes JJ will be healthy and ready to pitch
two more times this regular season, possibly Tuesday in Atlanta and then Sunday
in Philly. JJ is at 199 1/3 innings at ...
Fantasy Football update
Posted 9/22/2009 5:55:00 PM
Yes, we’re thick in the playoff hunt, as only 12 games
remain for the Marlins in the regular season, six of which are against the team
they’re chasing in the NL East, the Phillies. But to free their minds away from
the pressure that lies upon them to win, they have their fantasy football
league to check up on.
The two first place teams as of week two are the ones I
predicted after hearing some of their draft picks – Burke Badenhop and Brian
Sanches are both 4-0, but Hopper leads by points. They play against a teammate
each week, as well as the league average which helps level the playing field.
Sanches has the likes of Brian Westbrook on his team and
Chris Johnson (who had a monster week); he picked up T.O in a later round.
Hopper had the second pick in the draft, and ...
Push for the Playoffs
Posted 9/16/2009 3:36:00 PM
Not counting today’s game, the Marlins have 16 games left in
the 2009 regular season schedule. Right now they sit 4.5 games back of the
Rockies who are clinging onto the Wild Card; in the division though, they’re
seven games back of the NL-East leading Phillies.
The Giants are right there in the Wild Card chase, 2.5 games
back, so the Fish would have to jump both teams in order to get into the
playoffs that way. Though seven sounds like a large number, only the Phillies
are ahead of them in the NL East, and they still have six games remaining
against the defending World Champs.
Anything can happen – that’s the best part of September
baseball, the unknown, and the excitement that leads into October baseball.
Since September 1st, the Marlins have expanded their
roster to 34 members and have played around with the ...
Football Fever
Posted 9/13/2009 3:50:00 PM
Are you ready for some Football??? Week one is underway, and
besides Fantasy Football, the Marlins players also have allegiances to certain
teams. Being an Eagles fan, I already knew who the Eagles supporters in the clubhouse were: Brendan
Donnelly and Dan Meyer. On the flip side, there are way too many Cowboy fans in
there – Cody Ross, Bo Porter, and Brian Sanches. At least Burke Badenhop told
me he strongly dislikes the Cowboys, though he doesn’t really have a favorite
NFL team; I enjoyed hearing that.
Locally we only have two Dolphins fans in Gaby Sanchez and
Jeff Urgelles. Ross Gload was caught wearing his Jets shirt today, and that
won’t make the locals too happy I’m sure. But across the state, Chris Coghlan
supports the Bucs – his favorite player was Derrick Brooks.
I did confirm today that Jeremy Hermida is indeed a Gator
fan, ...
College Pride
Posted 9/12/2009 8:55:00 PM
College Football season is underway, and before today’s
Nationals-Marlins game, the players had football on all the TVs in both
clubhouses. In the Nats clubhouse, former Marlin Josh Willingham was kind of
watching, but his team wasn’t going to play till the evening, and they are
almost guaranteed a “W” – his Alabama Crimson Tide are hosting the FIU Golden
Panthers.
Meanwhile, in the Marlins clubhouse, cheering in front of
one TV was Brett Carroll for his Tennessee Vols, along with good buddy Chris
Coghlan who was supporting him. Don’t ask me why, because Cogs is an Ole Miss
alum, but also a Gator fan – strange combo. I asked him whom he’d root for if
they faced off and he said Ole Miss, but he thinks Tim Tebow’s the better QB.
Anyway, talking some smack to them was third-string catcher
Brett Hayes, who’s a UCLA fan. BC’s ...
|