Marlins Bet Blog Roster & Info

2006-10-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

A year ago, the Florida Marlins chose Joe Girardi over Fredi Gonzalez as manager.

Now they're going the other way.

Florida fired Girardi after only one season Tuesday and hired Gonzalez, the third-base coach for the Atlanta Braves the past four years.

Gonzalez said he expects no problems with his new bosses, even though owner Jeffrey Loria is on his fourth manager since buying the Marlins in 2002.

"I left a pretty good place in Atlanta," Gonzalez said. "If I had any hesitation, I wouldn't have come here. The more I spoke to Mr. Loria, the more comfortable I got. I think our relationship will be fine."

Gonzalez was runner-up to Girardi for the job in October 2005. A year later, the Marlins were so eager to reverse their decision that they began negotiations with Gonzalez a week before the season ended, hoping to head off other teams in the market for a manager.

By the middle of last week, the Marlins and Gonzalez had reached an agreement.

"We knew Fredi was our guy, and we wanted to beat our competition to him," general manager Larry Beinfest said. "Interviewing while you have a sitting manager probably isn't the greatest thing, but we went through proper channels with the commissioner's office and the Atlanta Braves."

The Marlins are coming off a surprising 78-win season with baseball's youngest roster, including four rookies who won 10 games or more. San Francisco, Washington and the Chicago Cubs also decided to change managers, but Gonzalez found the vacancy in Miami especially appealing.

"This one might have been the most coveted one in baseball," he said. "With a good young pitching staff, you've got to like that."

Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Gonzalez became the first manager in the Marlins' organization when they hired him to run their first minor league team in Erie, Pa., in 1992. Beginning in 1999, he coached third base for 2 1/2 years under Marlins manager John Boles.

"It's a long way from Erie, man," a smiling Gonzalez said at a news conference. "I hope I'm here for a lot of years."

Girardi's departure after only one season had been expected after a rift with Loria boiled over two months ago in an on-field confrontation over the owner's heckling of an umpire. Beinfest said the Marlins decided to fire Girardi not because of the umpire incident, but because he failed to mesh with others in the organization.

"Joe is not returning because it was not a good fit," Beinfest said. "I will take some of that blame. I'm in charge, and it's my job to make sure everything runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible."

The cost-conscious Marlins wanted Girardi out so badly they were willing to let him go with two years left on a guaranteed three-year contract, which may cost them as much as $1.5 million. Florida also made the move even though Girardi's considered a strong candidate for NL manager of the year.

Girardi said he was fired during a short, unemotional meeting in his office with Beinfest, assistant general manager Mike Hill and team president David Samson. Loria did not attend the meeting but later spoke to Girardi by phone, a spokesman for the owner said.

Girardi, an Illinois native, Northwestern graduate and former Cubs catcher, becomes a potential candidate to replace Dusty Baker, whose four-year tenure with the Cubs ended Monday.

Girardi said he has no idea what he'll do next season, and plans to discuss options with his wife. His voice broke when he began discussing his dismissal with reporters in his office, but he was soon smiling and cracking jokes.

"I'll land on my feet," he said. "I talked to one of my mentors last night and I said, 'I've never been fired before.' And he said, 'Welcome to the club.'"

New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, who served as a mentor to Girardi, said he talked to his former catcher Sunday.

"There was no anger," Torre said. "He understood that managing is not always based on how well you do. There are certain things you need to do, and people you need to please."

Marlins pound Peavy

2006-06-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO -- Intentionally walking Miguel Cabrera isn't necessary the best strategy for Marlins' opponents.
After the slugger was put on intentionally in the fifth inning Sunday, Cody Ross delivered a crucial three-run homer that helped propel the Marlins to a 7-3 win over the Padres on Sunday afternoon at PETCO Park.
"We take pride in that, if they are going to walk our best guy, we're going to try to make them pay for it," Ross said. "That's our intention. Everybody knows what a great hitter [Cabrera] is. We've got to follow up and do something about it."
Brian Moehler (4-5) overcame a rough first inning, settled and tossed seven quality innings, giving up two runs on eight hits. The victory was the veteran's fourth in five starts, and it enabled the Marlins to take two of three in San Diego, while completing a 6-3 road trip.
"It was a very good road trip for us," said manager Joe Girardi, who's club has now won 12 of its last 18. "There was really one game we didn't have a chance to win. It was a very, very good road trip for us. Our starting pitching did a great job. Our hitters did a great job against some tough pitchers."
In the fifth inning, Dan Uggla doubled and with two outs, Jake Peavy intentionally walked Cabrera. Ross, who was 2-for-17 since being obtained from the Reds on May 26, uncorked his first home run as a Marlin.
Cabrera has been intentionally walked 10 times this season. On those occasions, the Marlins following Cabrera are 5-for-7 with two walks and a sacrifice hit, with two home runs, one double and 12 RBIs.
"It gives our guys an opportunity," Girardi said. "I'm sure teams aren't going to think too hard in those situations. When you've got Miguel Cabrera and an open base, there are not too many hitters in the National League that are better than him. It just makes sense [to walk him]. Our guys get a great opportunity."
Putting an exclamation point on the game was Uggla, who crushed a solo home run to the third deck of the Western Metal Supply Co., down the left-field line, in the ninth inning. The estimated 428-foot shot was the seventh to reach the that level in stadium history, and third by a visiting player. Last May 13, Cabrera also reached the third deck. Rich Aurilia is the other non-Padre to do it.
Uggla's monster drive came on reliever Scott Cassidy's first pitch of the inning.
"I knew it was gone when I hit it," said Uggla, who now has 10 homers in his rookie season. "I just put my head down and started running."
He wasn't aware it was in the third deck until teammates in the dugout pointed to the spot.
"You don't square many balls up like that," Uggla said. "At least I don't. I may have peaked where it went."
Actually, Uggla was miffed at the 428-foot estimate. He felt that spot is at least 450-475, but distances down the line tend to be measured shorter than those to the gaps. The left-field wall in that spot is 334 feet.
The Marlins completed a strong road trip because they were able to wear down Peavy (4-6), who gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings. The right-hander did strike out 10.
The Marlins took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning on Alfredo Amezaga's RBI single, scoring Jeremy Hermida, who doubled, from second.
After falling behind by a couple of runs in the first inning, they tied it on Miguel Olivo's two-run single in the second inning. Cabrera opened the inning with a single, and the Marlins had a chance to add more but a suicide-squeeze bunt attempt backfired. With runners on first and third and one out, Amezaga broke home from third. But Moehler pulled back his bunt attempt, and Amezaga was out easily.
Moehler said he misread a sign.
"It was a squeeze, I just missed the second half of [the sign]," Moehler said. "It was a suicide [squeeze], but I thought it was something else."
RBI singles from Brian Giles and Adrian Gonzalez gave the Padres a 2-0 first-inning edge. Mike Cameron started the rally with a one-out double, and he scored, barreling over catcher Olivo, on Giles' single to center. Gonzalez, who had a 17-game hitting streak snapped Saturday, slapped his run-scoring single to center.
As for the collision with Cameron, Girardi said he felt the Padres' outfielder may have gotten the worst of it because Olivo is so compactly built.
"Olivo is like running into a brick wall," Girardi said. "I've said he would have made a great fullback."
After absorbing the hit at the plate, Olivo went 4-for-4, tying his career high for hits in a game, done previously in 2003 while he was with the White Sox.
In the eighth inning, doubles by Gonzalez and pinch-hitter Rob Bowen produced the third Padres' run. But rookie left-hander Taylor Tankersley worked 1 1/3 innings for his first big-league save.

Marlins meet needs, stockpile pitchers

2006-06-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

MIAMI -- A basic Marlins draft philosophy is to select the best player available, regardless of organizational needs.
As things filtered out in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, which wrapped up Wednesday, the Marlins were able to accomplish several objectives. They were able to pluck their highest rated players available, which happened to coincide with some needs.
As always, Florida kept an eye on pitching, and for the fourth straight season, the club selected a pitcher with its top overall pick -- right-hander Brett Sinkbeil from Missouri State University.
Once Sinkbeil, who likely will sign a bonus of about $1.5 million in the upcoming weeks, was secured, the Marlins also were able to meet some needs by picking left-handed-hitting position players, plus adding some shortstop depth.
On Wednesday's second day, the Marlins went heavily with pitchers to fill out their Gulf Coast League and short-season Class A Jamestown squads.
"I think it worked out where we did a terrific job of filling some needs," said Jim Fleming, the team's vice president of player development and scouting. "That was not the objective of this draft. It just worked out that way."
Some much-needed catching also was selected. Based on past drafts and several offseason trades when the Marlins dealt high-priced players for prospects, the organization is pretty well stacked with pitching at all its levels.
Heading into the draft, the Minor Leagues were a bit thin on positional players. That area was addressed on Tuesday with the selections of 20-year-old third baseman Chris Coghlan (sandwich pick) from the University of Mississippi, outfielder Thomas Hickman (second round) of Pepperell High School in Georgia and outfielder Scott Cousins (third round) from the University of San Francisco. Those three are quality left-handed hitters.
Coghlan is an interesting prospect. He's batting .349 for the Rebels with four home runs and 48 RBIs. Mississippi is preparing to face the University of Miami in the NCAA Super Regionals.
Coghlan lacks the power traditionally reserved for a third baseman, and there is a chance he could wind up at second base.
Fleming believes Coghlan can improve his power numbers, but he points out the organization never asks young hitters to be what they aren't.
"I don't think he will be a big power hitter," Fleming said. "But I think there is a little more in his bat."
But Fleming pointed out that young hitters who traditionally make contact and hit for average can boost their power naturally as they mature. Jeremy Hermida, the Marlins' first-round choice in 2002 and the team's current starting right fielder, is a prime example.

An adjustment these young hitters will have to make is switching from aluminum bats to wood. Coghlan used a wooden bat in the Cape Cod League last summer, and ended up leading that league in batting average.
"We tried to see every hitter we liked hit with a wood bat," Fleming said.
The team has high expectations for middle infielders, Justin Jacobs (sixth round) from Chino H.S. (Calif.), Daniel Garcia (eighth round) from Nogales H.S. (Calif.) and Osvaldo Martinez (11th round) from Porterville College Junior College (Calif.).
"Jacobs is a guy we're not sure he will stay at short," Fleming said. "He's an athlete we're going to move around. Garcia is a shortstop and Martinez is a shortstop."
Catching, arguably the toughest position to fill, was obtained in the third and fifth rounds. Torre Langley, a high school product out of Georgia, was the first of two third-round picks taken on Tuesday. And David Hatcher out of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington was picked in the fifth round.
Over the two-day draft, the Marlins had 52 total picks. They selected 26 pitchers, three catchers, 13 infielders and 10 outfielders.
The draft picked up with round No. 19 on Wednesday, and the Marlins used nine of their first 11 picks of the day on pitchers: right-hander Thomas Davis of the University of Alabama (19th round); right-hander Corey Madden from St. Mary's (Calif.) College (21st round), left-hander Kevan Kelley of Cal. State-San Bernardino (22nd round), left-hander Rylan Hanks of Cal. State-San Bernardino (23rd round), right-hander Joel Fountain of St. Mary's College (25th round), left-hander Andy Jackson of the University of Central Arkansas (26th round), right-hander Jeremy Hall of East Tennessee State (27th round), left-hander Kedrick Martin from Meridian C.C. (28th round) and left-hander Jonathan Van Looy of John Swett (Calif.) H.S. (29th round).
"What we did today was we needed pitching for our Jamestown and Gulf Coast League teams, so we took a lot of that," Fleming said.
While a majority of Wednesday's picks will be "draft-and-follow" players, the Marlins are hopeful of signing a good number of those picks from Nos. 19-29.

ON DECK FOR GIANTS: FLORIDA MARLINS

2006-06-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

Florida Marlins vs. San Francisco Giants

2006-06-01T07:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, June 02nd, 2006 10:15 PM ET

Right fielder Jeremy Hermida insists he doesn't think about the many pre-season projections that had him as the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year award according to many Sportsbook odds.
That's good because Hermida essentially has been starting his season over again after missing most of April and May with a sore right hip flexor.
He returned May 22 and hit his first home run on Sunday, a three-run shot off Orlando Hernandez of the Mets in a 7-4 Marlins loss.
"I'm going to work back to getting my timing back and my rhythm back," he said. "It's hard to say how long it's going to take. I'm pretty close to full speed."
One day after Barry Bonds hit his 715th home run, he said he definitely wants to stick around in 2007. He'll be 43 when the '07 season ends.
He said he's motivated to play another year after being encouraged by his son, Nikolai the first to congratulate him at the plate after homer No. 715 Sunday against the Rockies.
"I'm going to give it a shot," said Bonds, whose feeling improved health after undergoing three surgeries to his right knee last year. "There will be a good chance."
Although manager Felipe Alou suggested Bonds might rest in the series opener, he was in the lineup and went 1-for-4 with a single in a 5-1 loss. Alou now says Bonds will rest Wednesday, a day game. Then come three games in New York.
Bonds is not expected to come close to Hank Aaron's record of 755 this year, but next year it might be possible, particularly if he plays in the American League as a designated hitter.
Before the game, Bonds said Alex Rodriguez has a chance to catch Babe Ruth and Aaron. The game drew just 7,683 fans, the smallest crowd to see Bonds play this season.

A Rookie Helps the Marlins Take Down a Mets Goliath

2006-05-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

For all their pluck and spunk, the Florida Marlins, the majors' youngest team, entered Friday night's game at a monumental disadvantage. Their lineup boasted a combined 10 plate appearances against the Mets' ace, Pedro Martínez, and had recorded only one hit.
For all their talent and payroll, the Mets have proven unsuccessful in solving young pitchers. Their lineup boasted a combined zero plate appearances against the Marlins' impressive rookie starter, Josh Johnson.
Martínez and Johnson matched each other nearly pitch for pitch through six innings. Johnson retired the Mets in an uneventful seventh. Martínez served up more hits to begin the seventh (three) than he had until that point (two), and the Marlins capitalized, scoring the go-ahead run in a 5-1 victory at Dolphin Stadium. After Martínez left, the Marlins in the eighth pounced on reliever Duaner Sánchez, who allowed three runs, one unearned, and did not record an out until the inning's sixth batter.
The Marlins, coming off a sweep of the Chicago Cubs, defeated a likely Hall of Fame pitcher for the second consecutive game. They defeated Greg Maddux on Wednesday, and they will get another chance Saturday, against Tom Glavine.
It was Martínez's fifth consecutive start without notching a victory, and his first loss of the season after winning his first five. Martínez struck out 10 Marlins, including every Marlins starter and Dan Uggla twice, and walked none, and he retired 12 consecutive hitters between Miguel Olivo's leadoff homer in the third and Mike Jacobs's leadoff single in the seventh.
Martínez entered the seventh having thrown 70 pitches, and was showing no signs of tiring. But Jacobs slapped a line single into right field, and Miguel Cabrera followed with a sharp liner to left field, advancing Jacobs to left. The next hitter, Josh Willingham, squared to bunt, which seemed the prudent decision.
Considering how well Martínez was pitching, the Marlins were praying to get a run any way they could. Willingham could not move the runners over, however, and after taking a pitch to even the count at 2-2, he decided to hit away. His next swing connected with a low-and-outside slider, sending the ball hurtling past Martínez's outstretched glove and into center field.
The announced crowd of 15,338 (approximately 15,000 were rooting for the Mets), finally had more than just Johnson's effort to cheer. Johnson was masterly in his fifth career start, allowing two hits: Carlos Beltrán's run-scoring single in the first and Paul Lo Duca's single in the fourth. When he departed after the seventh inning, he had recorded eight strikeouts and walked two.
The Marlins' bullpen, which had blown four ninth-inning leads in the last week, had no problems shutting down a Mets lineup missing one of its stars, David Wright. Logan Kensing pitched a perfect eighth and Joe Borowski dampened Carlos Delgado's first game back here since his November trade by striking him out with José Reyes on second to end the game.
Wright was removed about a half-hour before the game because of back spasms. He was replaced by José Valentín, who became the 132nd player in franchise history to start at third base and was certainly not the first one to go 0 for 3.
If possible, Martínez was even better than the 22-year-old Johnson until the seventh inning. Fans around the stadium waved Dominican Republic flags in honor of Martínez, and the chants of "Let's Go Mets" began after Reyes walked to lead off the game. Martínez steamrolled through first-time victims and, before the seventh, befuddled Cabrera and Jacobs.
In the first, Jacobs, the former Met, struck out on an unhittable 1-2 changeup, but he did not so much swing at the pitch as throw his bat at it. The bat flew out of Jacobs's hands and up the third-base line. Then, in the fourth, Martínez struck out Cabrera on a pitch that, according to the Marlins' scoreboard pitch tracker, registered 43 miles an hour. While Martínez no longer overpowers hitters the way he once did, that figure seemed ridiculous.

Quarterly Report on Major League Divisional Races (NL WEST

2006-05-24T14:39:00.001-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Now that most teams have played around forty games, let’s look on in the Divisional Races:

NL WEST

Here’s a division where all the teams are in the hunt for the title. Not much has been determined in the first quarter of the season except that the division is not nearly as bad as many thought it would be. All four teams currently have winning records and they are only separated by 2.5 games.

Arizona has been led by Brandon Webb (7-0), who is probably the early leader in the NL CY Young race. Unfortunately, the rest of their pitching staff has about a 6.00 ERA. Jose Valverde (13 saves), Luis Vizcaino (3.38 ERA) and Brandon Lyon have led a bullpen that is improved over last year’s version. After a miserable start, Shawn Green has been on a torrid pace and Chad Tracy was recently rewarded with a $13 million plus contract extension for his fine work. The offense has been a moneyball fan’s dream: Craig Counsell (.387 OBP), Conor Jackson (.372) and Luis Gonzalez (.387) have certainly managed to get on base. Most analysts of the minor leagues rank Arizona near the top of the list and they are going to need to dip into their system to get some rotation help if they are to win the division or compete for the wildcard.

Colorado has been one of this year’s early surprises. One of the best bets in recent years was against the Rockies on the road, but they have dramatically improved this year. The skepticism usually associated with their gaudy numbers are not valid this year as guys like Brad Hawpe who is hitting .340 overall is hitting .383 on the road. Matt Holliday has added 11 dingers and Garrett Atkins has filled out what has been a very productive, albeit no name, middle of the order. In Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook, the Rockies have developed two nice young starters. Brian Fuentes (10 saves, 1.45 ERA) is having his second straight good year. The Rockies appear to finally have a sound plan in place. In a division that will beat up on each other, you can’t count the Rockies out.

The Dodgers have gone the high risk/high reward strategy the last couple of years. Nomar Garciaparra is the perfect example. He has hit .369, but injuries have limited him. J.D. Drew has 8 homers and 33 RBI so far, but don’t you wish wagerweb.com let you bet on whether or not he would make it through the season? Kenny Lofton (.350 OBP) keeps chugging along, but the Dodgers are waiting for Furcal (.244) to get going. Brad Penny has been pitching well (4-1, 2.53), but also has a dicey injury history. Will Eric Gagne be healthy and effective for the second half of the year? Like Arizona, the Dodgers have a strong farm system. Unlike Arizona, they may be willing to trade a few to fill holes.

Most of the attention surrounding the Giants has been around Barry Bonds. The fact that Bonds is hitting close to .250 and still has an OBP close to .500 speaks volumes about the Giants offense, especially without Moises Alou. The starting rotation led by a resurgent Jason Schmidt (3.07 ERA), the recently returned to action Noah Lowry (3.38 ERA) and Jamey Wright (3.38 ERA) have pitched well enough to keep them in contention, but it would seem another bat is needed for them to stay in the race.

The San Diego Padres recently won 15 out of 18, but still appear to be the weakest team in the division. Mike Piazza has hit 6 homers and has hit better of late, but 15 RBI for a cleanup hitter is just not going to cut it. The challenges of Petco aside, this team has a definite power outage. Only Khali Green has joined Piazza in hitting over 5 homeruns to this point. As usual, Brian Giles continues to get on base with an OBP over .400 and Trevor Hoffman (7 saves, 1.20 ERA) and Scott Linebrink (3.27 ERA) lead a strong bullpen.

So it will come down to Arizona’s farm system, Colorado’s youngsters, The Dodger’s health, The Giants pitching and San Diego’s ability to keep doing it with mirrors. Stay tuned.

Quarterly Report on Divisional Races --- NL CENTRAL

2006-05-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

After a few weeks and with some surprises, the NL Central has begun to look a lot more as expected, particularly at the very top.

With a lineup containing the best player on the planet, the Cardinals have recently started to pull away and
seem well on their way to their third straight division title. Pujols’ numbers are mind-boggling (22 homers and 54 RBI). Barring an injury or a stunning slump, he’s practically locked up the MVP Award in May. Underrated David Eckstein has an OBP of .390 and provides the kind of spark few leadoff hitters can match. While injuries and age have slowed Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen to some degree, they are both still dangerous hitters. Juan Encarcion and Yadier Molina have been disappointments, but the rest of the lineup has picked them up so far. Chris Carpenter has continued to pitch like an ace and starters Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan, and Jason Marquis form a solid rotation that always keeps the Cardinals in the game. After a slow start, closer Jason Isringhausen has rounded into form. Only injuries will keep the Cards from playing in October.

Losers of 10 of their last 15, the “Big Red Mirage” are starting to play like their talent level indicates they should. Bronson Arroyo has been an outstanding acquisition and is obviously thrilled not to have to face those tough NL lineups, but you simply can’t send out such a mediocre starting rotation and expect to stay in the race. I told you a few weeks back to bet against them and those who listened are a bit richer today.

The Astros got off to a hot start before their starting pitching went through a horrid stretch. Roy Oswalt remains one of the league’s top pitchers and Wayne Rodriguez has been a nice surprise, but Andy Pettitte has struggled, Brandon Backe is out for the year, and the rest of the rotation has been inconsistent. Brad Lidge has struggled (mostly with his control), but expect him to turn things around. Morgan Ensberg hit home runs in six straight games early in the year and Lance Berkman would be an MVP candidate in a league without Pujols. Also, very quietly, Brad Ausmus has put together a very good year (.418 OBP). The Astros could stay in the wildcard race and may soon get the kind of help that could rocket them to the finish line.

The Brewers are fun to watch. They lead the majors in home runs, and youngsters Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, and Bill Hall mix nicely with veterans Geoff Jenkins, Carlos Lee, and Corey Koskie. The only thing is they may be too dependent on getting home runs and they strike out too much. A bit of small ball might help them at times. Getting Ben Sheets healthy would help a rotation that has one underrated star (Chris Capuano) and mostly back-of-the-rotation types. Derrick Turnbow is showing he’s no fluke, but the bullpen lacks depth. This year’s trendy sleeper pick will stay around a while, but ultimately doesn’t have enough for the playoffs.

First the Red Sox, then the White Sox, now the Cu … stop right there. Derrek Lee’s injury has revealed just how impotent the rest of the Cubs lineup is. Juan Pierre has an OBP of .271. Aramis Ramirez is hitting only .231. It’s ugly on the North Side. Greg Maddux’s May has been very different than his April and still no sign of Mark Prior. Dusty Baker must be on edge. No playoffs here, folks.

The Pirates were expected to be an improved team this year, but their starting pitching has failed them. Zach Duke has hit a bit of a tougher time facing teams the second time around, and whatever happened to Oliver Perez, who was thought to be a fast rising star? Not much hope in the Steel City either.

So early on, it looks like it’s the Cards division to lose and the Astros waiting for Roger Clemens to make them serious wildcard contenders.

Quarterly Report on Major League Divisional Races (NL EAST)

2006-05-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Now that most teams have played around forty games, let’s look at the Divisional Races:

NL EAST

The Mets, Phillies, and Braves have gone through hot streaks (seemingly, coinciding with the times when they had games against the division’s weak sisters, the Marlins and the Nationals).

The Mets got off to a hot start, but have slowed down a little bit as the injury bug has hit the back of their rotation. Look for them to make a trade or rush phenom Mike Pelfrey, as they have finally given up on Jose Lima, with Jeremi Gonzalez soon to follow. If the Mets can fix the back of the rotation behind Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine, they will be the team to beat as their bullpen trio of Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, and Billy Wagner has been sensational, and their balanced lineup led by Carlos Delgado, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran is solid.

The Braves got off to a tough start, as Tim Hudson and Jeff Francoeur struggled early, but both have turned things around. The Braves always seem to come up with bullpen finds (check out Kenny Ray’s stats so far this year), but they still need to find a solid closer at some point in order to win this division. The lineup has been solid, as the Jones Boys keep putting up big numbers, Edgar Renteria is playing like one of the league’s top shortstops again, and Brian McCann has been a revelation on offense. The Braves should hang around and push the Mets for the Division title or at least compete for a wildcard berth.

The Phillies recently had a nine game winning streak, and ended play on Saturday with a four game losing streak, so this is a streaky team. Their pitching killed them early as Jon Lieber, Cory Lidle, Gavin Floyd, and Ryan Madsen all struggled. Lieber has pitched better, of late, and the Phillies hope recent call up Cole Hamels can join Lieber and ace Brett Myers as a strong top three in the rotation. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Bobby Abreu are the core of a powerful lineup. The bullpen could use some reinforcements, despite Tom Gordon’s surprising early season success.

The Phillies should stick around in both the division and wildcard race, but, ultimately, they may fall short due to their pitching. The Marlins and the Nationals? The season is already over for them. The Marlins can take some consolation from the fact that they are developing some good talent like Hanley Ramirez and Josh Willingham. They face a big decision as to whether they want to trade off their remaining superstars, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. If Willis is traded, the balance of power in baseball may shift.

The Nationals can look to acquire some of their own prospects for the likes of Jose Vidro, Livan Hernandez, and Alfonso Soriano. After a solid season last year, injuries to John Patterson and Luis Ayala have killed a Nationals pitching staff with very little depth. One thing we have learned is that there is a wide gap between the top three teams and the bottom two. Knowing the division may come down to how well they feast on the weaker teams, consider betting on the Mets, Braves, and Phillies when they face their weaker opponents.

“Ain’t no sucker like Jim Duquette”

2006-05-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

A baseball trade is basically a wager by two general managers that the player each acquires will be better than the one he gives up. It may or may not work out well. That’s gambling.
Now that Scott Kazmir is off to a great start at 5-2 with a 2.94 ERA and Victor Zambrano has just undergone season-ending surgery, it might be a good time to review how Jim Duquette, the Mets GM at the time, broke every single rule of gambling.

NEVER BET MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD When the Mets traded Scott Kazmir, their farm system was almost completely bare. The only true blue-chip pitching prospects at the time were Phil Humber, who has since undergone Tommy John surgery, and Alay Soler, a Cuban defector who just made it to the U.S. this season and is currently pitching at AA. This year the Mets are throwing out such retreads as Jose Lima and Jeremi Gonzalez as they wait for Mike Pelfrey and the next wave of prospects to be ready. Do you think they would rather have sent out Jose Lima – or Scott Kazmir, to try and sweep their arch-rival Braves last week?

NEVER BET WHILE INTOXICATED Right around the time of the trade in 2004, the Mets had just swept their cross-town rivals, the New York Yankees, in an exciting three-game series. The Mets, who had been dead in this town since 2000, finally had some juice. They were close to first place and back on the back page. Of course, they still had a .500 record and not much talent. But Duquette, drunk on the city’s enthusiasm, wanted to “win now” no matter what the future cost.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK You wouldn’t bet on a Falcons game without checking if Michael Vick was hurt, would you? Yet Mr. Duquette failed to adequately check into Victor Zambrano’s injury before the trade. Zambrano admitted he has been hurt the entire time he has been a member of the New York Mets. The week the trade was made, Zambrano skipped a start because of arm stiffness. Shouldn’t some alarms have gone off? Duquette blamed Tampa doctors for downplaying the injury, but you don’t need to be able to read medical charts to know something might be amiss.

LOOK FOR VALUE Barbaro, who was such a good bet on Derby Day, might not be such a great bet for the Preakness. You won’t get enough in return. A lefty who throws 97 MPH has more value than a barely over .500 pitcher with control problems. Had Mr. Duquette waited until the off-season, he might have received Tim Hudson or Mark Mulder in return.

KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY This is the one Mr. Duquette clearly missed. Tampa officials were said to be laughing to themselves when they realized what they were getting. Mr. Duquette should clearly have just walked away. Next time you’re in Baltimore and you’re looking for someone to round out your poker game, look up Mr. Jim Duquette because there ain’t no sucker like the one who doesn’t know the rules.

Daulton’s Story is Sad, Not Funny

2006-05-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

By Michael RothmanWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

I recently touched on the topic of gambling by ex-athletes and came to the conclusion that, if controlled, gambling is not necessarily a problem. I truly believe the gambling that Charles Barkley and others do is pure entertainment and a way for ex-athletes to come back down to earth after retirement. I even went as far as to say that I would rather see Barkley gambling with a sportsbook than recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction. This article is not nearly as positive, and I am going to examine the other end of the spectrum. I am going to touch on the topic of when ex-athletes can’t find a constructive medium, like sports betting, to shed their demons. Actually, I am going to look at one subject in particular. I am going to take a look at Darren Daulton.

I recently went through a rather rough time in my life. In March, I got out of a two-year relationship, which was almost immediately followed by a close relative’s diagnosis with cancer. At that time I was also finishing my master’s degree at the University of Florida. This might seem like a positive, except that all the friends that I had once relied on to be my support were getting ready to leave and had little time for a dramatic like myself. OK, you are starting to wonder why you should care about this—if at all. I am not here to complain, but to try to relate to Mr. Daulton. This time in my life was extremely painful for me, and there were times where fantasy seemed like reality. Most publications have tried to bash Daulton and poke fun of him. This is not what I am here to do. I actually saw Daulton out at a local bar here in Gainesville recently and the first emotion that came to me was not to poke fun of him, but to feel sorry for him. This man is one of the greatest examples of how athletes can fall so far from grace. It was only back in 1997 that Daulton was celebrating a World Series victory with the Florida Marlins and now here he was, hanging out with a bunch of college students, half of whom had no idea who he was. I knew, and I felt terrible about it.

If you don’t know who Daulton is or his story, let’s get you up to speed. Daulton made his Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1983 and stayed there until he was traded to the Marlins in 1997. The Marlins would win the series that year and Daulton would retire a champion. Daulton was a three-time all-star and the glue that held the close-knit Phillies ball club together. Upon his retirement, Daulton was passed up for a managing position, divorced his playmate wife, and did a two-month stretch in the Pinellas County Jail. From that point, things really started to unwind. Daulton started to consider himself a member of the Fifth Dimension. This dimension is a world that involves telepathy, energy transfers, astral planes, and other parallel universes. He explains this dimension as being ‘just is,’ where yesterday, today, and tomorrow all happen at the same time.

"I've been thrown in jail five or six times," Daulton says from his home in Tampa. "Nicole thinks I'm crazy. She blames everything on drugs and drinking. But I don't take drugs and I'm not a drunk. Nicole just doesn't understand metaphysics."

It is exactly these types of responses that have everyone baffled. Daulton has even gone as far as to say that his friends can’t understand him because they are limited to five senses, hinting that he is not. Daulton says he is tuned into higher powers. With his friends baffled and his wife gone, Daulton’s support group has surely dwindled.

Daulton now mainly spends his time at home in Tampa, alone, writing and preaching his magical stories. It’s amazing how truly deafening silence can be when you are alone. Some of his writings read like riddles.

"Reality is created and guarded by numeric patterns that overlap and awaken human consciousness, like a giant matrix or hologram," writes Daulton.

He is especially prone and familiar with the number 11. He says he sees this number everywhere: in license plates, houses, and always on the clock. This, to me, is a blatant sign that this man needs help, but other columnists only want to pick on this man and vilify him in print. Why not try to get another human being some help?

“It’s Not Rocket Science”

2006-05-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Wagerweb.com has posted odds offering bettors the chance to predict which Major League Baseball team Roger Clemens will return to.

Clemens is clearly enjoying the attention he is garnering from his four suitors. Let’s take a look at how Clemens has played this situation thus far, and how it will play out at the end.

THE EASY MARK:
Roger Clemens enjoyed opening day in Arlington Stadium, sitting next to owner Tom Hicks. When Clemens was introduced and shown on the scoreboard, the fans went crazy. Do the Rangers, who have gone all these years searching for pitching, really have a shot at Roger Clemens? Well, the Rangers are an improved team, with Kevin Millwood leading some young up-and-coming pitchers. And it would do wonders for Clemens’ legend to ride into Arlington on his horse and lead them to their first World Series Championship. Is it going to happen? No. Why would Clemens pitch in a hitter’s park for a team which, despite their improvements, is not a serious World Series contender? More likely, Roger was paying attention when Tom Hicks bid against himself to sign Alex Rodriguez to his franchise-crippling $250 million dollar contract. This is exactly the type of guy you want to draw into the bidding. Wagerweb.com has the odds on Clemens going to the Rangers at 6-1. Trust me, it’s far longer than that.

AN OFFER HE CAN’T REFUSE:
Roger Clemens still keeps in touch with buddies Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, and there were reports that Jeter had his ear during the World Baseball Classic. And if Clemens is looking for a sure bet to get to the playoffs, it’s been a while since the Yanks sat out October. Can Clemens return to the Yankees? Probably not. Roger Clemens already got a Hummer as a retirement gift, and you have to figure, after feasting on weaker National League number eight hitters, and pitchers’ feeble attempts to catch up to his fastball, he might not be dying to face more formidable American League lineups. If Randy Johnson keeps looking his age, can George Steinbrenner make Roger Clemens an offer he can’t refuse? Could happen, but George will never let Clemens skip road trips in fear that all of his stable of superstars will demand the same special treatment. At 1:2, this is not a good bet.

FINISH WHERE HE STARTED
Imagine the nostalgic feeling of coming back where you began your career, and leading that team to a World Series. What a perfect symmetry to a career. Almost like a movie script. Only the impact of leading the Red Sox to a World Series is not nearly what it was two years ago. The Red Sox already have had a hero who started in their organization come back and lead them to the Promised Land. And that hero wore a bloody Red Sock. How can Clemens possibly top that? Besides, if the Red Sox really get close, Mr. Steinbrenner may very well make him an offer he can’t refuse. At 1:1, I just can’t see this as a good bet.

FINISH WHAT HE STARTED
The first year, Clemens led the Astros to the playoffs. His second year, he helped them to their first World Series. Why not finish what he started? The Astros are off to a great start. Besides, the Mets, Cardinals and, possibly the Phillies, who can you remotely predict can stop them from at least getting there? His best friend Andy Pettitte has mentioned the possibility of retirement after this year (Don’t bet on that, though). Houston offers him a chance to stay close to home and it lets him skip those pesky road trips. They have already made him a generous contract offer. The odds are 2:1. After all that analysis, it must come down to this: If you could work closer to home, travel less, and not have to work as hard, for similar money, what would you do? Come on, this may be Roger Clemens, but it is not rocket science. Bet the 2:1 on him returning to the Astros. It may be the best bet available on the entire website.

Florida Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves

2006-05-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 15th 2006 7:05 PM ET
Turner Field

The Braves didn’t want to get swept by the Mets in a three game series that was held in New York. In order to do that they needed a strong pitching performance that was delivered by John Smoltz. He showed no signs of being bothered by pitching after three days' rest, giving up just three hits in six strong innings to help the Braves beat the Mets 13-3.

"We had to win this game and I had to be at the top of my game," Smoltz said, he also drove two runs and scored after leading the seventh with a double.

The Braves really needed this win to avoid a swept that would’ve brought the teams morale down, affecting the next games they have to face. The Braves now with a 13-18 record need to get back on track if they want to have a chance of going to the playoffs this year. It’s still early in the season and the Braves have a team capable of getting back from any circumstance, hopefully they’ll find a rhythm that we’ll allow us to see them in the postseason.

Lineup
1. Marcus Giles 2nd B, 2. Edgar Renteria SS. 3, Chipper Jones, 3rd B, 4. Adam LaRoche 1stB, 5. Jeff Francoeur RF, 6. Brian McCann C, 7. Brian Jordan LF, 8. Ryan Langerhans CF, 9. John Smoltz, P.

For the first time in eight year the Cardinals swept the Florida Marlins in Miami in last weeks series between these two teams. The Marlins, who have the youngest team and lowest payroll in the majors, were swept for the third consecutive home series. They've lost 10 consecutive home games, one shy of the club record set in 1999.

"We're young," Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. "We almost have to be perfect to win games. When you're not, this is what happens."

Scott Olsen (1-2) allowed six hits, four walks and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings. Only one Florida starter in the past six games has gotten through five innings. "Today was probably the best I've felt all year," Olsen said. "I don't think I beat myself. I think they beat me. That's a little more comforting."

The Marlins are still a work in progress that’s not ready for great things this year or even the next. But there will come a time when all this young talent acquire some experience and starts playing like a really good Major League team. For the series against the Braves in Atlanta most of the sports books will have the Braves as favorites in most games but Florida might give a surprise trying to get out of the hole they’re in right now.

Lineup
1. Hanley Ramirez SS, 2.Daniel Uggla 2nd B, 3. Miguel Cabrera 3rd B, 4. Josh Willingham LF, 5. Joe Borchard RF, 6.Mike Jacobs 1st B, 7. Reginald Abercrombie CF, 8.Matt Treanor C, 9.Scott Olsen, P.

MLB - Tough times for Marlins - and their fans

2006-05-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

The vendor climbed the steps in the stands behind home plate, searching for customers amid the empty seats during the Florida Marlins' latest loss.
"Buy some peanuts - you'll feel better," he shouted.
Marlins fans, that scarcest of breeds, are hurting because their team is beyond bad. Not only are the Marlins last in the major leagues in attendance, but they have the fewest wins in the NL, their batters have the most strikeouts, their pitchers have the most walks and their fielding percentage is the worst.
They're even last in the majors in sacrifice flies.
On the bright side: Florida has grounded in the fewest double plays of any team. That's because double plays require base runners.
It seems $15 million - the size of the Florida payroll - doesn't buy as much as it used to.
"Bad baseball," said Dontrelle Willis, a 22-game winner last season. He was talking about his most recent performance, which dropped his record to 1-3 and hiked his ERA to 5.15. But "bad baseball" sums up the whole situation.
"Early in the season we couldn't hit," Willis said. "Now we're hitting and we can't pitch."
The Marlins are 8-21 with 10 consecutive home losses, one shy of the franchise record. They have a good chance to tie it Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves, given that starting pitcher Brian Moehler is 0-3 with an ERA of 9.27.

Baseball’s First-Month Awards

2006-05-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The calendar has turned on the first month of the 2006 baseball season. While there is plenty of season left, it’s a good time to evaluate who has the early lead on baseball’s top awards.

American League MVP:

1) Jim Thome – While he has slowed somewhat since his sizzling start, Jim Thome has been the best acquisition any American League team has made. Many questioned what he had left, but he put any doubts to rest immediately by homering in his first 2 games and 6 times in his first 10 games. His 10 homeruns and 24 RBIs are tops on the American League’s most talented team.
2) Jason Giambi – His .542 OBP is fantastic as Giambi continues to expand on last year’s comeback- player-of-the-year performance. While he leads the AL in walks with 27, Giambi is not just being passive, as he also leads the AL in RBIs with 27. Only his statuesque defense and stubbornness about embracing the DH role make him second choice.
3) Vernon Wells – The Blue Jays went on baseball’s biggest shopping spree, this off-season, but one of their incumbent players has turned in his best effort so far. With 9 homers, 25 RBIs and a .374 batting average, Wells is carrying a heavy load as Toronto tries to prove that they can keep pace with the Red Sox and The Yankees.

National League MVP:

1) Albert Pujols – Provided he stays healthy, it appears as though this award will be his to lose for many years to come. His record-breaking 14 homeruns in April and 32 RBIs have led the Cardinals to another great start.
2) Lance Berkman – The reason for the Astros’ slow start, last April, was likely because they missed Berkman’s bat. Berkman has had a fast start, this year (10 homeruns, 31 RBIs and .240 BA), and so have the Astros.
3) Carlos Delgado – The best acquisition any National League team made, this off-season, Delgado has really carried the load (10 homeruns and 21 RBIs) while Beltran was injured and Cliff Floyd slumped.

American League Cy Young:

1) Jose Contreras – His 4-0 record and league-leading 1.45 ERA still leads a pitching staff that makes the White Sox the best bet to win the AL Pennant at the sports book.
2) Curt Schilling – Baseball’s biggest loudmouth is once again able to “walk the walk.” His 4-1 record, 2.88 ERA and durability (40.2 IP) have led the Red Sox to an early tenuous hold on first place in the AL East.
3) Kenny Rogers – The ace on a staff of promising young guns, veteran Rogers has done everything you can ask for the Tigers (4-2, 2.59 ERA and a great 0.98 WHIP).

National League Cy Young:

1) Greg Maddux – Talk about giving a club a lift. Once again frustrated by injuries to Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, the cursed Cubbies are thrilled by Maddux’s early renaissance (5-0, 1.35 ERA).
2) Pedro Martinez – The daily updates by a panicked New York press corps on Pedro’s toe during spring training are long forgotten as Pedro has been fantastic (5-0, 0.89 WHIP). He already has beaten the hated Braves twice.
3) Bronson Arroyo – Wow, after the AL East, this is sure easy. Arroyo (5-0, 2.06 ERA) has led the way for baseball’s biggest early season surprise.

Rookies of the Year:

American League:

Jonathan Papelbon – Thrown into the Boston pressure-cooker, Papelbon leads the AL in saves (10) and has yet to allow a run in over 15 innings.

National League:

Prince Fielder – Unlike his father, Cecil, Prince didn’t need to serve some time in the Japanese League to find his stroke. Fielder’s .343 average leads all rookies.

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Florida Marlins (6-18) At Washington Nationals (9-18)

2006-05-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

The Florida Marlins will try to snap a five-game losing streak tonight when they open a brief two-game series with the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium.
Florida was swept in three games by Colorado before losing two in a row to Philadelphia, including Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Phillies at Dolphin Stadium. Dan Uggla finished 3-for-5 and Reggie Abercrombie drove in two runs for Florida, which has lost eight of its last nine games.
Marlins starter Scott Olsen lasted just three innings, giving up three runs on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Veteran right-hander Brian Moehler will take the hill for his fifth start of the season tonight. Moehler is winless on the campaign and dropped his first three starts before receiving a no decision in his last outing on April 28.
Against the Colorado Rockies, Moehler allowed two runs on five hits in six innings of work.
In seven career games (six starts) versus the Montreal/Washington franchise, Moehler owns a lowly 1-4 mark with a 6.75 earned run average.
The Nationals ended a three-game losing streak with Tuesday's 6-2 win over the New York Mets in the finale of a two-game series.
Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer and Michael O'Connor, making just his second major league start, pitched seven strong innings at Shea Stadium. O'Connor earned his first big league win as he allowed just one run on two hits while striking out six and walking two.
Damian Jackson also hit a two-run homer and Marlon Byrd went 3-for-4 with three runs scored for the Nationals, who took two of three games versus the Marlins this season from April 14-16.
Washington and Florida tied the 2005 season series at 9-9.
The Nationals will go with Tony Armas in the opener of the series on Wednesday. Armas has won two of his last three starts, including an April 28 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in his last outing.
Armas, who will make his sixth start of 2006, will take the mound for the 14th time in his career versus Florida. Armas is 3-9 lifetime with a 5.16 ERA in 13 games against the Marlins.

Bonds’ alleged cheating scandal hurting baseball history

2006-05-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

By Bill KugelbergWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Having just finished reading Game of Shadows – the alleged tell-all book in which the authors claim to have records detailing Barry Bonds’, as well as other athletes’, use of performance-enhancing drugs – it has become crystal clear that Bonds cheated, continues to cheat, and could not care less about it.Bonds just about says this when he claims in his grand jury testimony that he hasn’t played in a baseball game since college when he attended Arizona State University. Basically, what he’s saying, and what he continues to say, is that he is an entertainer and not a competitor.

He conveniently forgets how his alleged cheating has impacted the other players in the game, both past and present. And how, every night, in every stadium he plays in, he is the only person who is in on this little secret.When I go to a game, I’m not there to be entertained. I’m there to see the team I support try to win. And when I make a wager on a team, I’m not doing it for the entertainment; I’m doing it to win. If I go to Vegas and play blackjack or craps, I consider that to be entertainment. While I would like to win, and I don’t believe the outcome has been predetermined, I still understand the odds are against me coming away a winner.But Bonds apparently doesn’t see playing baseball as a competition. It sounds as though he views it as our opportunity to watch an “entertainer” stand up there and be walked two or three times a game and, maybe, just maybe, see him grace our presence with a home run.

Get over yourself, Barry. Not only are you coming off like a pompous ass, you are also making an impact on the game that the record books will reflect forever.For example, since 1999, when his steroid use is alleged to have begun, the San Francisco Giants have won or finished second in the NL West every year, except for last year when he spent just about all of the season on the disabled list, and they finished third. Take away Bonds’ production, or fill in the production that most players would contribute, and the Giants find themselves in a different position. Also, as he approached 40 years old, his numbers would naturally decline, not go up. With that factored in, the Giants truly would be hurting for production from Bonds.Just ask Albert Pujols, who has finished second to Bonds in National League MVP voting twice, how Bonds’ steroid use has impacted his post-season award possibilities.

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Unfortunately, the players who have truly been impacted by Bonds’ steroid use are the players who finished playing the game years ago. Bonds, along with Mark McGwire, has succeeded at setting the bar so high that no one will be able to approach their records. In doing so, they have made the average fan believe that 40 home runs a season is nice, but not Hall of Fame-worthy. One player who has been affected by this is Andrew Dawson. Dawson hit 438 home runs and drove in 1,591 RBIs. He also played baseball for 21 years and has 2,774 hits with 8 Gold Gloves and 314 stolen bases. With close to 10 knee surgeries, Dawson should have been the one allowed to take performance-enhancing drugs, not Bonds.

One thing I love about Bonds is that he refuses to even admit that Game of Shadows exists. The book has been out for about three months now and I have yet to hear of a lawsuit filed on Bonds’ behalf that contests the contents of the book. And yet everyone just casually goes about their sports day, without a care that Bonds continues to cheat because, as an entertainer, he feels he can.As the book explains, Bonds has never had to stand before anyone and explain his actions – not even when he was a kid. He was always the best player on the team, received the benefits that comes with that title, and he continues to expect that to be the case. Regardless of how it impacts his body, the other players in the game, the kids growing up who are learning the game, or the record books – Bonds is concerned with one thing – reaping the financial advantages that being an “entertainer” in baseball provides.And regardless of who has to pay to make that happen, Bonds is only too happy to stand there and take the paychecks and accolades that come with it.

I’ve often wondered how he sleeps at night, knowing that he has an advantage that many other players don’t have – that he has cheated to get to where he is. And the only answer I can come up with is that when you are on the stage and being an entertainer, it’s just acting. It’s not who you really are – so you can get away with more. The question I have for Bonds is, when the show is over and you walk off the stage – who are you then?

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The Next World Series Champion

2006-05-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

By Brad Halfond
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Just like clockwork, every spring brings the same hopes to major league baseball teams all over the country. Some fans of teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers are just hoping to stay in the pennant race after the first few weeks of the season, while other fans have higher aspirations.

Take the rabid fans of Boston Red Sox nation or the equally intense fanatics who root for the New York Yankees. Not only do these fans demand that their teams be in the playoffs or World Series every season, they also demand that the two clubs beat each other.

Boston and New York are separated by about four hours in a car, but their baseball fans and ideas are separated by much more space than almost anyone can imagine.

The best word, although not too politically correct, is “hate.” It is not a stretch of any imagination to say that the fans of these clubs hate each other. Every year, fights break out in the stands or in sports bars across America, and they are all involving Yankee or Red Sox fans. Ever seen or heard about a Cardinals and Braves fan fight?

Both Boston and New York have fans who are living in various cities away from their hometown, and this has spread the rivalry across many time zones. Trust me from first-hand experience, you can find New Englanders and New Yorkers almost anywhere in the USA.

The rivalry and bad blood runs fairly deep for me, and I would not be able to write with such certainty on the topic had I not been so directly involved through many years.

Being born and raised in New York, you have a choice between teams. Once you select the Yankees (in my case, passed down by dear ol’ Dad), the next step is to immediately work up a hatred for Red Sox fans, Red Sox management, New England Clam Chowder and even anybody foolish enough to be wearing actual red socks.

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If you’re a Yankees fan, that is your first given in life – hate thy Red Sox fan. With their annoying accents, general lack of knowledge toward the game, their laughable track record of winning over the years and barrelful of excuses for losing, it is fairly easy to work up a good lather against them.

Another year is upon us, and 2006 will see these two teams meeting 19 times. The first pair of these games takes place on May 1-2 in Beantown. If you’re a baseball fan and you’re not watching these games, you either better be getting married or mourning a death in the family. If you’re a Yankee or Red Sox fan, there is no excuse not to be watching—just keep the volume low on your mini TV and nobody at the funeral should get too upset.

But emotions and people getting upset are actually the hallmark of this rivalry. It’s easy to go back and cite all the times on the field that these two teams have mixed it up, which in turn usually carries over to the stands or the bars.

More recently, we had Alex Rodriquez taking on Jason Veritek, and Don Zimmer battling it out with Pedro Martinez. Granted, the names and faces change, but the intensity between the two teams and their fans is legendary.

I can personally attest to one infamous episode during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship series. It was the game where New York recovered from a 5-3 deficit to defeat Boston with a home-run from Aaron Boone that sent the Yankees to the World Series.

Drinking a beer amidst hoards of Red Sox fans at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, I was resigned to watching the Sox advance to the World Series. Soon, the Yankees mounted their comeback, and my bravado had started taking the best of me. Although very conservative in my early remarks, I saved the best for last: When Boone’s shot landed in upper reaches of Yankee Stadium, my outburst lasted for several minutes—which most likely felt like hours for Red Sox fans.

Now this incident took place before Boston finally won a World Series title, so Red Sox fans were more surly than usual.

With my yelling ringing in their ears and their sorrow turning to desperation, two New England tourists started hurling insults my way, and we exchanged profane remarks for several minutes before your classic dimwitted Red Sox fan charged at me, telling me to keep quiet.Now, telling a Yankee fan to keep quiet is like telling Pam Anderson not to show any cleavage, so it quickly turned ugly. In the end, Red Sox fan lost the fight but had some red blood to show for it on his nose, and his wife was also the recipient of some collateral damage.If you’re curious, all charges were dropped.

would expect nothing else from the loyal, overzealous fans of either team. In the end, being a Yankee or Red Sox fan is like defending your country. If attacked and provoked—or just not a fan of a particular nation—let them know you’re serious and that they best not challenge you again.Winning a World Series title hasn’t made Red Sox fans any smarter or relevant, it just gave them a one-year sense that everything was fine—but pinstripes will always be the real color of choice.

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Next week on TV (5-1/5-7)

2006-05-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Both the NBA and the NHL close out the first round of their playoffs. In baseball, you’ve got the Orioles and the Blue Jays, matching up in what has to be one of the biggest questions of the baseball season. One of these teams might hang on to challenge the Yankees and Red Sox, but probably not both, making this early season tilt a little more interesting.

*All times Eastern.

Monday, May 1
NFL Europe, Berlin at Rhein (3 p.m., NFL Network)
Stop arguing about who your team drafted and check in on the sport’s minor league with this mid-afternoon match-up. Though NFL Europe might not get the attention of its big brother, the league offers a good chance to figure out which back-up players might break through come the fall.

Tuesday, May 2
Yankees at Red Sox (7:05 p.m., DirecTV, regional)
Every Yankees versus Red Sox match-up gets covered like a playoff game in Boston and New York, so expect tempers to flare in this tilt. The Sox have had the early season advantage, but that’s nothing new, as the Sox always have a division lead in the Summer – the question is whether they can hold it in the Fall.

Wednesday, May 3
Boxing (9 p.m. ESPN2)
Sharmba Mitchell takes on Jose Luis Cruz in a 10-round welterweight tilt. Cruz plays the role of the fighter on the way up, taking on former two-time champion Mitchell, who wants one more shot at the gold. Mitchell was knocked out in the sixth round in his last fight, but that was against Floyd Mayweather – one of the best in the division – so he’s aiming to prove that was a fluke and knock Cruz off the ladder of contention.

Thursday, May 4
Wachovia Open (4 p.m., USA)
A Tiger-less field should leave this one pretty wide open. Vijay Singh attempts to repeat as champion, a title he took last year in a three-way playoff with Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk.

Friday, May 5
College Volleyball (Midnight, ESPN2)
Catch the men’s semifinal of the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament. This might be your last chance to see some of your favorite players before they turn pro and head out on the lucrative men’s volleyball tour.

Saturday, May 6
Kentucky Derby (6 p.m., NBC)
Horse racing only matters three times a year to the average fan, but the Kentucky captures the best of the sport. Because it’s the first Triple Crown race, every Derby winner stands the chance of being the first horse to bring home racing’s most elusive prize since Affirmed in 1978.

Sunday, May 7
Premier League Soccer (5 p.m., FOXESP)
Two of the big powers in the Premiership face off as Newcastle battles Chelsea in an attempt to cut into Chelsea’s overall lead in the standings. Chelsea did just fall in the FA Cup semifinal, but their big lead in the regular season standings makes clinching the title almost inevitable.

Daniel Kline’s book “50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do” is available in bookstores nationwide. He can be reached at dan@notastep.com.

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Fantasy Baseball Breakdown

2006-04-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

By Mike Brody
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
The Six-Month Grind
We’re three weeks into the 2006 baseball season, and if your fantasy team looks anything like mine, you’re ready to unload half of your roster. I know it’s hard, but be patient. The worse thing you could do right now is panic and make a bad trade or drop a good player.
Baseball, more than any other sport, is driven by statistics. It’s a long season with a lot of ups and downs for most players. In the end, the numbers usually even out. If you stick with your guys long enough, they should come around and start producing like you expected them to.
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Off to a Hot Start
While it’s very difficult to watch your team stumble out of the gate (as I’m writing this, my offense is a collective 0-15 today and I’m about ready to have a fire sale), there was a reason why you drafted these guys. If you were lucky enough – or smart enough, depending on how you look at it – to draft Chris Shelton, Jonny Gomes or Nick Swisher, you’re probably at the top of your league, right now. But are these guys really going to lead the league in home runs?
Manny Ramirez hit his first two home runs of the season, last weekend. Mark Teixeira and Richie Sexson have three and two homers, respectively, through the first three weeks. These guys are all perennial 40-home-run-hitters, and barring injury, you can be sure that they will get their numbers by the season’s end.

Waiting for the Right Time
Everyone’s heard the cliché “buy low, sell high.” It’s sound advice. Knowing the right time to deal that guy who’s off to a hot start is the key to making this happen. There’s no way Shelton, Gomes and Swisher are going to keep up the pace they’ve set so far – Shelton’s already started to slow down – but how can you not ride their hot streaks a little longer? Just don’t wait too long if you’re planning on dealing them.
Knowing players’ trends is another key in making the right deal at the right time. Some players are traditionally slow starters, like Ramirez and Jim Edmonds, and trading for them at the end of their slow start could mean big stats for you the rest of the way. A lot of hitters heat up when the weather does too, so they could be busting out of these slumps any day now.
On the Rise
Targeting players who are showing signs of breaking out is another key to making the right roster adjustments. Here are a few players who might be available and could definitely help some teams:
Josh Barfield – The rookie second baseman has excelled since being moved to the No. 2 spot in the Padres lineup. He’s got his average over .300 and has 2 HRs and 6 steals. Grab him if he’s still available.
Ty Wigginton – Playing for his third team in four years, the journeyman third baseman seems to have found a home in Tampa Bay. He’s taken advantage of Aubrey Huff’s knee injury and already has 8 home runs and 20 RBI. Playing in hitter-friendly Tropicana Field should help, too. Ride him while he’s hot. Brad Hawpe – The Colorado Rockies outfielder has established himself as the everyday right fielder and is firmly entrenched in the heart of the Rockies lineup. He’s batting over .340 and already has slugged 5 HRs. The 2000 College World Series MVP is well on his way to a .300-30-100 season. You never can go wrong having a Rockie in your lineup.
The Pitching Hole
While there is plenty of time to make up ground on offense, falling behind in the pitching categories – especially ERA and WHIP – can be a killer. Avoiding those complete disasters in the early season is a key to remaining competitive on the mound.
With pitchers, it’s all about the matchups. Don’t be afraid to bench one of your better pitchers for a riskier play if the matchup is right. Throwing a marginal starter against Kansas City or Pittsburgh is always better than having just about any starter face the Yankees or pitch at Colorado.
Whether you find yourself at the top of your league or at the bottom of the pack after these first three weeks, don’t stop looking to make your team better. Stocking your bench with productive players who could be used as trade bait is always a good idea. The inevitable injuries will come, and having players to step in during those times will help you avoid having to make a desperate deal. Bet MLB Baseball Player and Game Propositions @ WagerWeb.com Sportsbook

Michael Brody
Writer/EditorWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
Mike has been writing and reporting on sports for 14 years.
He started his career as a sports writer and radio broadcaster at Cal State Northridge. Mike has written for the Los Angeles Daily News and has been a writer/editor for KNBC in Los Angeles, where he worked on the nightly sportscast with Fred Roggin. He also wrote and edited material for NBC network specials and has more than 10 years of online journalism experience. Although he lives in Southern California, Mike was born and raised in the Boston area and is a diehard fan of all the Boston professional teams.

Waiting for Take-Off

2006-04-21T10:52:00.001-07:00

By J.D. Jackson
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

You would not know it by their 10-4 record through the first two-and-a-half weeks of play, but the Houston Astros need Roger Clemens pitching for them.

It’s not too often that you read about a team needing a 43-year-old pitcher to have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, but Clemens is not a pitcher who comes along that often. At 42, he put together one of his more stunning seasons in his illustrious 22-year career by going 13-8 with a 1.87 ERA, striking out 185 batters and walking just 62 in 211.3 innings. While Chris Carpenter won the Cy Young for the National League, last season (Clemens finished third behind Carpenter and Dontrelle Willis), his 2005 was one of his three or four best seasons over the course of his career (better than his 2004, in which he did win the Cy Young Award). His 1.008 WHIP was the second-best in his career (bested only in 1986), his 1.87 ERA was the best in his career, and his 44 earned runs allowed was also the best in his career with a minimum of 100 innings pitched. And he was 42.

Clemens tired down the stretch. He labored his way through the playoffs, going 4-3 while helping guide the Astros to the World Series. It was clear that Clemens had worn down, and an injured Clemens posted a 13.50 ERA in his lone outing as the Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox. Had Clemens not been injured and tired, the history books might remember the 2005 season a little differently.

Without Clemens, this season, Houston is winning games by mashing the ball, which is not something that the ’Stros are accustomed to. They are second in the National League in team average, fourth in home runs, tied for second in runs scored, and second in OPS. This is largely the same team that finished near the bottom in all of those categories in 2005. Though Roy Oswalt continues to prove that he is an ace pitcher, and Brandon Backe has surprised early on, Andy Pettitte has struggled to a 1-2, 6.35 ERA start. Wandy Rodriguez has started off well, but he is a guy who would come out of the bullpen, ideally. Ezequiel Astacio, the Astros’ emergency starter in the 2005 playoffs, has been downright pathetic in his two appearances, this season. The presence of Clemens allows everyone to shift down a spot in the rotation: Oswalt becomes the #2, Pettitte becomes the #3, Backe becomes a #4, and then the Astros can choose between Rodriguez, Astacio, or Taylor Buchholz for the fifth spot. The rotation goes from being second-best in its own division (behind the Cardinals’ deep rotation) to becoming the best rotation in the game, simply by adding Clemens. Assuming that the Cardinals turn it on like they are able to do, assuming the Mets continue to play spectacular baseball while the Braves play their normal brand of solid ball…the Astros without Clemens will have a hard time winning even the Wild Card. The offense just is not good enough, and the pitching just is not deep enough.

The possibility still exists, of course, that Clemens will rejoin the Astros in May. That period exists because the Astros did not offer Clemens arbitration. There are other teams, though less realistic, in the mix. The Red Sox have spoken to Clemens, but here’s to doubting that you will ever see Clemens back in a Red Sox uniform. It is awfully hard to cross a river when you have burned just about every single bridge that leads back to the other side. The Texas Rangers are also interested and seem more than willing to pay any amount of money required to get Clemens to pitch in Arlington. It is just not evident that Clemens reciprocates those feelings, though pitching for the Rangers would satisfy his requirement of staying close to home. The Yankees have called, as well, but Clemens left the Yankees to return home; it is unlikely that Clemens would leave home to return to the Yankees.

Besides that, Clemens’ leaving the Astros for any of those teams would leave a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. Clemens went to Houston to pitch specifically for the Astros. He wanted to be close to his home, close to his family, and able to spend more time away from the game while still competing. In other words, while he was getting paid the highest salary of his career ($18 million in 2005), Clemens was not doing it for the money. The man has made $121 million over the course of his career in salary alone. If he became the latest Yankee hired gun, it would be a disgusting act to many, many people.

No, the only place where Clemens truly fits is in Houston. And though there was some tension about the Astros’ not waiting on Clemens’ decision about retirement and not offering him arbitration, it is apparent that Clemens would return to Houston in May after taking the first month of the season off. It would allow Clemens to continue resting, the entire month of April, essentially adding a month onto his stamina and effectiveness in 2006, assuming that he is healed completely (and after a 1-1, 2.08 ERA, 0.81 WHIP in two starts during March’s World Baseball Classic, it is safe to assume that he is the same old Rocket). For Houston, the equation is simple: Clemens equals another trip deep into the playoffs, while no Clemens might mean no playoffs at all for 2005’s National League Champions.

Even at 43, Clemens still makes all the difference in the world.

Waiting for Take-Off

2006-04-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

By J.D. Jackson
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

Even at 43, Clemens still makes all the difference in the world.

MLB early season observations

2006-04-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

By Brad Halfond
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

Is there a more dominant threat to opposing pitchers in the National League than Albert Pujols?

The monster slugger has lit up scoreboards early in the season and sent several managers home wondering why they ever challenged the 26-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Pujols’ nine dingers lead the league and this guy must be now considered, along with Alex Rodriquez, one of the best players in baseball. Pujols clearly leads the list of standout individual performances as the 2006 baseball season gets underway.

Other players making an early impact in the senior circuit include David Wright, the steady third baseman on the resurgent New York Mets, and Ryan Langerhans of the Atlanta Braves. Both of those teams should stay in the hunt for the NL East title as the Mets will try to break the stranglehold on the division that Bobby Cox and Atlanta have maintained for more than eleven years.

But back to Pujols. We kind of had a hint that this would be his year from the way he ended the 2005 season with that massive blast that gave the Redbirds a victory over Houston in game five of last year’s NLCS.

Now Pujols has a new stadium to play in, fans who love and adore him, and the serious potential to reach 60 home runs this season. The only thing that Pujols needs is for his Cardinals to reach the heights that the White Sox did last year and win their first World Series title since 1982.

A few hundred miles to the north is the sleeping giant known as the Milwaukee Brewers. This is a team that has already surprised some with its ability to come back; if they can get their bats heated up with the weather, they could challenge for a wild card berth.

Overall, the early theme of the 2006 season might be parity. The Cardinals lost pitching and won’t be as dominant this year, while the NL West should continue to be mired in mediocrity. Unless the New York Mets can keep up their hot start and add an arm or two in mid-season, this league is definitely up for grabs.

It’s still too early to tell what will happen in the American League, but the usual contenders are starting to emerge. The Red Sox have their energetic new pitcher, Josh Beckett, and Curt Schilling appears to be at full strength, while the Yankees are going to rely on the older arms of Mussina and Johnson. Boston has more speed in 2006, while New York’s bullpen is practically brand new.

If you’re looking for early season surprises in the American League, that honor goes to Chris Shelton of the Detroit Tigers. This kid might revitalize the entire city of Detroit and bring baseball back to a somewhat competitive level. It is very uncommon for an unknown player like Shelton to be hitting with such power. Shelton had hit only 19 home runs in his previous 434 at-bats and now he is leading the league in long balls. Shelton is doing all this from the sixth position, but expect him to move up to the cleanup spot eventually.

The team to watch in the AL is Oakland, with its fearsome trio of Chavez, Thomas, and Bradley. If those guys stay hot and the young arms produce, Oakland will have a great chance to top Anaheim and win the West. The White Sox also have a good chance of repeating, but for the sake of our sanity, I would rather listen to Metallica than Ozzie Guillen any day.

What would the early season be without a mention of Barry Bonds? The Giants slugger has been getting more publicity off the field lately and maybe that is why his hitting and home runs (none yet) are starting to suffer. The other explanation is that Barry is just getting old and all of his various injuries have added up to Bonds becoming not quite the player he used to be. In the end, I’m going to say Barry hits about 25–30 home runs and retires after the season but before he has a chance to pass Hank Aaron for the all-time lead. Would that make Commissioner Selig happy?

Here are some of my observations on the opening weeks of the season around baseball.

New Busch Stadium – I can see the Arch more clearly, but did they even try to make it look different than old Busch stadium?

Giants’ outfield – Pass the Geritol. If these guys last the entire season then McCovey Cove will freeze over.

Pedro – The guy has nerves of steel and will continue to be successful unless a manager steps up and throws a ball near his head. He takes way too many liberties with players, with fewer consequences than any other pitcher I've ever seen.

Soriano – Shhhh …. They don’t want you to play 2B because they have an all-star there already and somebody in management must have watched a film of you bobbling balls in the Bronx for two seasons.

Marlins – and this hasn’t moved yet because….

Upcoming Devil Rays’ name change suggestion – Flounders

Beckett – Okay, we get it, you’re excited and happy that you struck somebody out. Bring that act to the Bronx and see what kind of reaction you will get.

Jeter – How come this guy doesn’t have a bubble gum endorsement contract yet? Hubba Bubba, are you listening?

Olsen's effort not enough for first win

2006-04-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

MIAMI -- Walks aside, Marlins rookie Scott Olsen pitched superbly in his season debut. The young left-hander just happened to take the mound on a night John Patterson was remarkable.
Patterson yielded one run on three hits in eight innings and matched his career high with 13 strikeouts. The sterling performance helped the Nationals hold off the Marlins, 2-1, on Saturday night, snapping Washington's six-game losing streak.
Pitching dominated the evening, but the game was ultimately decided by a defensive gem by Nats second baseman Brendan Harris.
The Marlins threatened in the ninth off closer Chad Cordero, who walked Miguel Cabrera and Mike Jacobs with two outs. With pinch-runner Alfredo Amezaga on second base, Josh Willingham swatted a liner that appeared destined for center field. Shaded toward the middle, Harris made a sensational leaping catch for the final out.
"When you first see it hit, you first think, 'Tie ballgame,'" Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. "It's amazing how your emotions go up, and then they go right back down."
From his vantage point while running to second base, Jacobs thought Willingham had the game-tying hit.
"I knew [Harris] definitely had a shot at it," Jacobs said. "He obviously got up pretty high. From where I was at, I thought it was going to tip off the end of his glove. That's what I thought at first. That's a play where you have to tip your hat."
Patterson and Cordero, with defensive help from Harris, limited the Marlins to three hits, snapping their two-game winning streak.
"We can lose some tough games, can't we?" said Girardi as the rookie-loaded Marlins fell to 3-7. "The guys battled all night. Patterson was outstanding tonight. Our pitching was pretty good. We walked probably a few too many tonight. But our pitching was pretty good."
The walks indeed were crucial. In all, four Marlins pitchers combined to walk 10 batters.
Called up from Triple-A, Olsen is taking over the Marlins' fifth starter role. In his first start of 2006, the young left-hander was effective, allowing two runs -- one earned -- in 5 1/3 innings. He was hurt by six walks, including three in the sixth inning, when the Nationals pushed across their two runs.
Olsen also made a throwing error on Ryan Zimmerman's slow ground ball down the first-base line that enabled Nick Johnson, who walked, to score from first. Royce Clayton's RBI double gave Washington a 2-1 lead.
That was all the support Patterson needed.
"When it left my hand, I was thinking, 'That's not going to be good,' " Olsen said. "I was hoping [Jacobs at first] could knock it down."
Instead, the ball rolled in foul territory up the first-base line. Johnson was able to score the tying run.
Olsen was lifted after 94 pitches.
"You can learn a lot more from a 2-1 loss than you can from a 9-1 loss or 10-0," Olsen said. "That's definitely something you can build on, when you go against one of their best guys and you are in the game.
"I thought I went all right. My fastball location was on and off all night. It got away from me in the sixth inning. Control in general is going to be an issue with me. It's something I need to work on."
For most of the night, Patterson was in total command.
Brilliant from the start, Patterson struck out six of the first seven Marlins he faced, and was perfect through four innings. The right-hander fanned eight of the first 12 Marlins. His 13 strikeouts equaled a career-high, initially set on Aug. 4, 2005, against the Dodgers.
Patterson retired the first 13 Marlins before Willingham hit a double off the wall in left field on an 0-1 pitch. Five pitches later, Patterson's shutout bid ended when Chris Aguila laced an RBI double to right.
Patterson's flirtation with perfection may have been hampered by his own success at the plate. In the top of the fifth, he singled with one out and was on the basepaths the rest of the inning.
Overall, the Marlins were thoroughly impressed by Patterson's performance.
"When you can throw your fastball on both sides of the plate, and you throw 92 with a good slider and a Bugs Bunny curveball, you're going to do pretty good that day," Jacobs said.

Padres spoil Marlins' home opener

2006-04-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

MIAMI -- With six rookies in the starting lineup, the Marlins will experience their share of growing pains. The Padres added to Florida's frustrations, by pounding out a 9-3 victory Tuesday afternoon, foiling the home opener in front of 31,308.
Khalil Greene belted two home runs and drove in four, while Woody Williams was effective enough over five-plus innings to help hand the Marlins their fourth straight loss.
"Our guys are young and they are going to bounce back," first-year Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. "Young guys bounce back."
On a roster with 11 rookies, the Marlins at times are showing their inexperience. A case in point is the fifth and sixth innings.
Williams, a veteran pitcher, was able to retire the bottom three Marlins hitters on three pitches in the fifth inning. At the time, the Padres were leading, 2-1.
The final out came when Marlins starter Sergio Mitre grounded back to the mound.
The quick inning for the Padres immediately translated into a big top of the sixth inning for San Diego. Greene connected on a three-run homer in a 24-pitch inning for Mitre.
"You've got to learn how to play this game," Girardi said. "And a lot of our guys are being asked to learn this game at this level. That's what you have in young players. They are smart kids, they are going to learn."
There was a significance to Williams' three-pitch fifth inning. Through four innings, Williams had thrown 58 pitches. Mitre, meanwhile, had thrown 58 pitches through five innings, before the Padres' big sixth.
"I think what you do is you let the other pitcher off the hook, in a sense," Girardi said of Williams breezing through the fifth. "[Williams] and Serg were pitch count for pitch count. All of a sudden you look up and Serg has got 80 and he's got 60. Sometimes you get caught in trying to let them learn, and taking complete control."
Greene's second homer of the afternoon gave the Padres a 5-1 lead. A walk to Brian Giles and a single by Mike Piazza started the rally, and set up Greene's fifth career multi-homer game.
The Padres added on in the seventh inning with an unearned run when Brian Giles scored on Piazza's double to left. While running down the play, Josh Willingham booted the ball for an error, allowing Giles to score.
The Marlins used a pair of runs in the sixth to pull within two runs. Hanley Ramirez doubled and went to third on Jeremy Hermida's single to right. With runners on the corners, Miguel Cabrera laced an RBI double to left-center.
Williams was then lifted for reliever Alan Embree to face Mike Jacobs. In a lefty-lefty matchup, Jacobs hit a hard liner that Greene snagged with a leaping catch at shortstop. Greene was then able to double-up Cabrera at second base. Willingham delivered a run-scoring single to center.
Greene's defensive gem on Jacobs prevented a potential big inning for the Marlins.
"That happens. I like Miguel's aggressiveness," said Hermida, who scored in that inning. "If that ball sneaks over his head, [Cabrera] has got to score right there. He read it the way he should have, it just didn't turn out for us."
When the ball left his bat, Jacobs thought the ball would be over Greene's head.
"It was tough seeing off that lefty with the shadows and stuff," Jacobs said. "[Embree] obviously got it in on me, but I thought I had enough to get over his head. Greene made a good play.
"That's part of the game. We're going to have our good games and we're going to have our bad games. It's not something any of us haven't experienced before in the Minor Leagues or up here."
Some timely two-out hitting gave the Padres a 2-1 lead in the third inning. After Mitre, now 1-1, retired the first five batters he faced, Greene belted a solo home run to left-center. And in the third inning, Terrmel Sledge ripped an RBI single to center, scoring Josh Barfield from second.
"We've got to keep playing," said Mitre, who gave up five runs in six innings. "We've got to keep going hard and stay at it. Things will turn around. We can't hang our heads. We have to keep going at people."
The Marlins got off to a fast start. Ramirez opened the first inning with a triple. Williams almost worked out of it, but Willingham slapped a two-out RBI single to left.
"I had a lead early in the game. I have to stick with that and carry it all the way through until the end of the game," Mitre said.

Marlins meet with San Antonio

2006-04-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

HOUSTON -- A couple of rows behind the third base at Minute Maid Park on Monday, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria watched his team open the season against the Astros.
Joining Loria as invited guests were officials from San Antonio, who made the trip to explore relocation options.
San Antonio is aggressively pursuing the Marlins, who remain stalled in stadium talks in South Florida.
Attending Monday's opener were Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, District Attorney Susan Reed and San Antonio commissioners.
In their 14th season, the Marlins remain committed to staying in South Florida. But without a new stadium, that won't be possible beyond the 2010 season. That's when the current series of leases at Dolphins Stadium expires. The team is signed at its current home through 2007.
Loria summed up the Marlins' meetings with San Antonio in a couple of words.
"They're serious," Loria said. "We're talking seriously with San Antonio and we will also will look at other markets."
Since being granted permission to seek relocation, the Marlins have visited San Antonio and Portland, Ore., along with meeting with executives from Norfolk, Va.
No specific meetings are set with additional markets. But the fact San Antonio has shown the most outside interest makes them the front runner, among out of Florida markets.
Marlins president David Samson continues to have regular dialogue, about three times a week, with Miami-Dade County officials. Samson says he had a conversation locally with politicians on Sunday, and added that the "most progress" in South Florida has been with Hialeah.

Relocation is a difficult, and time consuming process, Samson said.
"Baseball looks at markets very carefully," Samson said. "They study them and they try to figure out the historical significance of relocation and what it would mean. They want to make sure that it doesn't fail.
"They are going to ensure that if baseball moves to San Antonio, it's going to stay and it's going to stay healthy."
San Antonio representatives will be meeting with the Marlins throughout the three-game series in Houston.
Samson says it is important to build personal relationships to move forward in consummating future deals. That is part of what Monday was all about.
"The obstacles are that you have to get a deal that makes sense, from baseball's standpoint, and from the Marlins' standpoint, and from the people's standpoint in San Antonio," Samson said. "And only when you have that collection can a deal happen with any particular team that is trying to relocate. Relocation has never been easy in baseball."
The state of Texas already has two big league clubs, the Astros and Rangers. Would the league approve a third franchise?
"That really hasn't come up," Samson said. "I think that Texas is doing well and so is Houston. From the state standpoint, Texas can certainly have three baseball teams. And they all can be healthy. But that is something that the owners and baseball would ultimately have to decide."
Meeting with San Antonio officials on Opening Day certainly is awkward in terms of timing. Samson said it was a coincidence that the Marlins happened to be in Houston for the first game.
"I assure you we would not be with the Mayor of San Antonio if we were opening in Los Angeles," Samson said.
Samson added the fans in South Florida should focus more on the local effort to retain the team rather than meetings with people from other markets.
"To focus their concern solely on San Antonio, I think, is a mistake," Samson said regarding South Florida fans. "Their focus should be Florida-centric, to figure out how to save their team. The decision has not been made to relocate this team. The decision has been made to find a place to play by 2011."

Notes: Martinez a big Willis supporter

2006-03-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A couple of weeks hanging around Dontrelle Willis made Buck Martinez even a bigger fan of the D-Train.
During the World Baseball Classic, Willis pitched for Team USA, which was managed by Martinez.
Martinez attended Monday's Spring Training game between the Marlins and Orioles. He says the baseball Classic experience should help Willis, who had a subpar tournament, going 0-2 with a 12.71 ERA.
"He's going to be fine. He's a special baseball player," Martinez said. "He's going to be fine. He's going to win a Cy Young [Award] before it's all said and done. He's going to be an All-Star many times over."
Despite two rough performances in the Classic, Martinez reminds people that Willis is just 24. He also was hoping USA baseball team would advance, and had they reached the baseball championship game, Willis was in line to pitch that night.
"I really admire him, he's a tremendous talent and he was a joy to be around," Martinez said. "I wanted to give him the ball so badly in that final game. I was just hoping we'd get one more chance.
"He was disappointed with the way he performed. I think we were all caught off guard by the competition. There was more intensity than anyone imagined there would be. The next time we've got to play a few more games. Even the pitchers, they weren't ready for that competition."
Martinez noted that a number of the Team USA players, particularly Roger Clemens, offered plenty of encouragement to Willis.
"He was in a different atmosphere that he wasn't used to," Martinez said. "He was being boosted by the other guys. I know Rocket talked to him after his first start. He said, 'Hey man, this is pretty good competition, we believe in you.' He was very supportive of him."

Overall, Team USA also fell short of expectations. Martinez said for the next Classic, in 2009, that the United States has to prepare a little earlier.
"We need to play more games, we need to have a minicamp and we need more at-bats," Martinez said.
Bump optioned: Reliever Nate Bump was optioned on Monday to Triple-A Albuquerque. The 29-year-old right-hander appeared in seven spring games and had a 2.57 ERA in seven innings.
In 2005, Bump appeared in 31 games for the Marlins, going 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA. He was in the mix for a setup relief job.

Bump underwent shoulder surgery in the middle of last season, but he was feeling healthy this spring.
The Marlins now have 31 players on their roster. One of those spots is filled by left-handed reliever Michael Megrew, who hasn't pitched since March 12 because of an irritated shoulder.
A Rule 5 Draft pick from the Dodgers, Megrew has to either be on the Opening Day roster or the disabled list in order to remain with the Marlins.
If Florida places Megrew on the DL, it will have to pay the left-hander a big-league salary, which would be the league-minimum of $327,000.

Should Megrew not be placed on the DL, he would be offered back to the Dodgers, assuming he cleared waivers.
Willingham's defense: The steady progress Josh Willingham has made behind the plate has been a pleasant surprise to the Marlins.
To keep Willingham fresh, his time will be split between catching and playing left field. But in terms of improving as a catcher, bench coach Gary Tuck couldn't be happier.
Tuck is a respected catching instructor, who has basically re-taught Willingham and the other catchers the position.
How far has Willingham come since the start of Spring Training? Tuck says, 360 degrees.
"He's done everything we've asked him to do," Tuck said. "He's adjusted, changed every technique. He's gone in a completely different direction. He's not scared to try something new. And he's stayed with it. And he's progressed daily."
This spring, Willingham has dropped one ball, and he's thrown out three of four runners trying to steal. He's also improved calling pitches.
"It's a credit to his tremendous dedication to it," Tuck said. "It's been unbelievable."
Tuck says he's worked Willingham -- and the rest of the catchers -- hard.
"He's never balked at it," Tuck said. "I've continued to whip and whip him. He's out there early and out there late. He's fought through a stiff back, and worked through that. I give the guy a lot of credit."
Willingham's hitting also continues to impress. He belted two home runs in Monday's 5-4 win over the Orioles.
All four of Willingham's homers this spring have been against the Orioles.
Vargas battles: Able to work out of some jams, left-hander Jason Vargas gave up two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in Monday's victory.
For the spring, Vargas is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA. If he remains on schedule, he will pitch on Saturday against the Rangers in Texas.
Based on how the rotation seems to be shaping up for the Opening Series against the Astros, April 3-5, the Marlins could be going with Willis in the opener, followed by Sergio Mitre on Tuesday, and Brian Moehler on Wednesday.
Vargas is in line to be the fourth starter, getting his start on April 7 at Shea Stadium against the Mets.
Girardi, however, has yet to set the rotation.
Vargas lacks overpowering stuff, but has a knack of battling and he his fearless on the mound.
"That's my whole goal to contribute, keep my team in the ball game, and win ball games," Vargas said. "We're out here to win."
Fish bites: Hanley Ramirez was given Monday off, and didn't make the trip to Fort Lauderdale. The shortstop did work out in the morning in Jupiter. Girardi will try to give the regulars a day off this final week of Spring Training. ... In the final week of spring games, the starters will throw between 90-100 pitches, but no more than 100. ... With Monday's win, the Marlins have won seven straight and are 17-6-3 in Grapefruit League play. The 17 wins is second highest ever by the franchise in Spring Training, topped only by the 26-5 record in 1997.
Coming up: The Marlins return to Roger Dean Stadium on Tuesday where they will face the Mets at 1:05 p.m. ET. Because the team is still lining up the regular-season rotation, to slot everyone where they want, Tuesday's starter will not be someone already in camp. Instead, right-hander Craig Molldrem is being called in from Minor League camp for a one-day spot start. The Mets are going with Aaron Heilman.

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