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There Were Aberrations

September 2, 2012 By
gabysanchez_0

Baseball teams have “bad” season’s because of many reasons. The team has terrible pitching. Their hitting, or fielding sucks. The managers a total jerk, and in the Boston Red Sox case this season, players just refuse to perform for a manager they don’t care for.
Miami Marlin owner Jeffrey Loria, on Friday when the team took their “official” team photo, told reporters he plans to “rectify” and “fix” his underachieving team. Loria said he will meet with his front office staff following the season to “see” what action to take. He added, “maybe this season there were “ABERRATIONS.” Loria “selecting” that word to describe his teams last place standing got me thinking. When was the last time I heard an owner, front office executive, team manager, players, or fans say, “yes, we had a bad year, a bad season, “but” I have to blame it on “ABERRATIONS!” Six decades of covering sports and I’ve “never” heard anyone use the word “ABERRATIONS” to describe a losing season.

Webster defines the word “ABERRATION” as, “a wandering” – “mental disorder” – “forgetfulness” – “mental instability or peculiarity” – “moral lapse.” I suppose Loria could apply these definitions to a team (his) that occupies last place in a five team division with a won/loss record of 59-73 (.447) and who trails division leader Washington by twenty one and a half games.

Loria’s chat with reporters offered little in the way of specifics on just how he’ll “fix” the Marlins by next season.

You have to hand it to Jeffrey Loria. He knows how to “spin” stories. He’s done it for 19 years of the franchise’s history. He’s had two winning teams. The Marlins won two World Series when no one believed they would even be in a World Series. Sure, they got in as “wild card” teams but once in they performed and won the World Series flag. So we’ll give them credit for that. Beyond that Marlin baseball history has been less than stellar. They sold off, or traded away every “good” player that put on a Marlins uniform. They have never built a fan base, and even now with a new stadium in Miami, built on the tax-payers dime, they haven’t broken any attendance records. They opened their wallets during last off-season and spent close to $200 million on “stars” and yet, by this season’s All-Star break, and with owner Loria telling everyone in earshot his team were “contenders,” by August he was selling and trading off his team’s “stars.”

When reporters asked if President of baseball operations, Larry Beinfest’s job is safe, Loria said, “that’s not a fair question. That’s not a fair question about anybody’s job.” Beinfest and GM Michael Hill have three years remaining on their original eight-year contracts. Asked what, in his mind is “most” to blame for the Marlins under-performance, Loria said, “I have not assessed blame, or looking at it that way. I think there’s been a lot of things that went into whatever didn’t work.” (“ABERRATIONS?”)

Closing his chat with reporters the Marlin’s art dealer said, We need to meet, talk, put it all on the table..we’ll come to some “intelligent” conclusions, (really). We “always” do. But we will fix it. How Loria intends to do that remains a mystery.
If as he says, THERE WERE “ABERRATIONS” – who takes the “blame?” The players, manager Ozzie Guillen, or owner Jeffrey Loria?………..(It’s not a “trick” question)……………..

Larry Upton
“Upton on Sports”-source:miamiherald/

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What we did was right, but it was wrong?

August 8, 2012 By
hanleyramirez_4

The Miami Marlins have been a huge disappointment in two major areas during this baseball season. They spent almost $200 million dollars on new talent off-season, and today they sit in 5th place of their Division, sixteen and a half games behind league leading Washington. Plus, attendance at their new tax-payer funded stadium has fallen far short of expectations. Now team President David Samson is telling reporters “every mistake – and there were plenty – will be examined when team executives convene with owner Jeffrey Loria following the season in October.” Samson added, Loria was “angry” – claiming the team’s biggest mistake, “overestimating the team’s talent level and believing it to be a playoff contender.”

If your a Marlin fan you were hard pressed to see a familiar face when the Marlins took the field this weekend against the Nationals. Only two position players from the team’s opening night lineup – shortstop Jose Reyes and catcher John Buck – were on the field for the Marlins during the weekend series in Washington.

Samson gave a number of reasons why this year’s team has not performed. He said, “I think the most responsibility falls on me ” before pointing the finger at the head of their baseball operation Larry Beinest and GM Michael Hill. Asked if owner Jeffrey Loria should also be blamed, Samson declined comment.. Best he shouldn’t comment about his “boss.” Samson’s in that position as team President because Loria married Samson’s Mom. Do you really believe Loria could fire his wimpy step-son and still have a happy wife?

Samson said, he hopes the fan base will look at the season as a “fluke.” That’s sort of the message to the fans, “that this year has to be an anomaly, because it can’t be more than one year in a row, everything can go wrong.” Has Samson wiped from his memory the 1998 – 1999 seasons when they finished 5th…or 2007 – 2011 and now 2012 when they’ll finish 5th or 6th in a six team division? Has Samson wiped from his memory Marlin attendance for the last 12 years? Since 2001 the franchise has been consistent. Of 30 MLB teams the Marlins have ranked 28th – 29th – and 30th in attendance. They were 28th three times – 29th four times – and 30th three times. Has a new stadium improved attendance? As of today Miami ranks 18th in attendance but that’s not expected to hold up since in the past weeks they jettisoned most of their major players.

For the Miami Marlins, 2013 can’t come soon enough. Will the Marlin front office blame manager Ozzie Guillen? His colorful personality has shaped him as a person but it’s unlikely Loria would keep him around for his personality if he doesn’t win games. It’ll be interesting to see how the “blame” game shakes out this off-season. Samson closed out his reporter chat with, I have no regrets about this season – I wouldn’t change one thing – “WHAT WE DID WAS EXACTLY RIGHT, BUT IT WAS WRONG.”
That’s exactly what David Samson said, “you can’t make this stuff up!.”………

Larry Upton
“Upton on Sports”-source: miamiherald/bleacherreport/wikipedia/

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Trade Deadline Winners and Losers – Philadelphia Phillies not Among Winners

August 2, 2012 By
anibalsanchez_0

The idea of ranking winners and losers at the end of a trade deadline or offseason is not exactly a new one. You won’t be surprised that at my previous writing gigs, this is how I did things. I know that this is Phillies101, but this column is going to review the deals that were made today by talking about the winners (there were three of them) and the losers (there were three of them.)

Unfortunately for the Philadelphia Phillies, they did not end up in the win column today…or very much this season at all. We’ll get more in-depth about this later. As for right now, you’re winners…

Detroit Tigers: If you looked at the Detroit Tigers, you’d say that they were missing two key pieces that would set them apart from the rest of the “could win a World Series” crowd. An upgrade at second base and one more veteran pitcher who could come out every fifth day and give you a fighting chance. The Tigers only made one deal, and sent starting pitcher Jacob Turner to Miami for starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez and second baseman Omar Infante. Infante is a definite upgrade over anything the Tigers could have hoped to get from Ramon Santiago or Ryan Raburn.

Los Angeles Angels: You might have heard of the guy that got the Angels on this list. His name is Zack Greinke. Oh, you have heard of him! Great. There’s a few reasons why I loved this move for the Angels. Greinke was struggling this year on a pretty bad team and they got him for a decent price. Greinke doesn’t have to be the star because he can share the spotlight with Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson – two guys who know how to pitch big baseball games. As several analysts have noted, this deal could turn out ugly if Zack doesn’t sign long term. Does anyone actually think that will happen? Have you seen the young talent on this Angels team? Unbelievable.

Los Angeles Dodgers: If you can think of a single medium-to-big name player on the trade block that wasn’t associated with the Dodgers at one point in time, please e-mail me at andrew@phillies101.com. I look forward to hearing from you. If you thought that Magic Johnson and company would sit back and wait for the offseason to make a move, you were being naïve. The Dodgers are one game out of the National League West and four game (and two teams) out of the second Wild Card spot in the NL. What did they do? Added Hanley Ramirez – an upgrade at 3B and/or SS. Add Shane Victorino – probably their new left fielder…sorry Bobby Abreu. Added Randy Choate and Brandon League to fix their huge hole – the bullpen. If the Dodgers don’t win the West, I’ll be stunned.

Now, we can talk about the losers. As I mentioned above, there were three teams that stand out when we talk about losing. The Phillies, obviously, will be included on that list. I’ll talk about the other two teams first.

Chicago Cubs: There just isn’t a whole lot that goes right for the Cubs. That didn’t change this year. Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, and a few other guys were on the chopping block, and people were interested. You might have heard, that didn’t go well. Matt Garza got hurt and was untradeable. In my opinion, it’s probably for the best because at least fans will buy tickets to every fifth game. Alfonso Soriano isn’t exactly a pretty trade piece…unless you’re looking for an old left fielder who can’t run or hit anymore. Dempster, for some reason, turned down a trade to the Atlanta Braves and they were forced to deal him to the Texas Rangers for less “stuff.” We could keep talking, but it wouldn’t help.

Miami Marlins: As a fan of the Phillies, I spent a lot of time this offseason worrying that the Marlins were forming the next great baseball franchise. They had all the pieces. A pitching ace in Josh Johnson, a reliable veteran in Mark Buerhle, a deep-ish rotation including Sanchez and Carlos Zambrano. Brilliant middle infielders in Ramirez, Infante, and Jose Reyes, a young stud, Giancarlo Stanton….everything. I don’t know how this team, along with Ozzie Guillen at the helm, didn’t prosper and win a lot more games. It should have, but it didn’t. They were forced to sell off a lot of the pieces I talked about above because the interest in baseball isn’t high in Miami and it was time to make some moves. It’s too bad that it didn’t work because it could have been fun to watch…I’m depressed.

Philadelphia Phillies: As I go back and review my Twitter feed, I can’t help but wander two things. 1 – what was I thinking? 2 – what were the Phillies thinking?

In a nutshell, the day started and everyone knew the Phillies would be selling. The consensus seemed to be that the Phillies would sell and get returns that would make them competitive in 2013 and beyond. We’ll be lucky if we’re competitive in 2015.

Let’s review what the Phillies needed when the day started: bullpen help, young third baseman, outfield return depending on trades.

Let’s review what was on the table: Cliff Lee, Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence, Juan Pierre, Joe Blanton, and probably anyone else wearing cleats.

Let’s review what happened….

Hunter Pence to San Francisco Giants for outfield Nate Schierholtz, Double-A catcher Tommy Joseph, and Class A pitcher Seth Rosin – Hunter Pence takes with him the best bat the Phillies had, as he was leading the team in a ton of offensive categories and I’m not sure the trade makes sense. Schierholtz will be a free agent at the end of 2012, Joseph was ranked as San Francisco’s number two prospect, but he’s only hitting .280 with eight homers and 38 RBIs in 80 games this season. Rosin is still at the Class A level and doesn’t seem to have a defined role as a starter or closer at this point.

Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers for reliever Josh Lindblom and minor league pitcher Ethan Martin – The Dodgers could afford to deal Lindblom because of the additions we talked about in the winners’ section of this column. He was 2-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 48 appearances this season. If those numbers don’t knock your socks off, you’re probably sane. Martin was a first-round pitck in 2008, but he’s still at Double-A and he’s sporting a 3.58 ERA and an 8-6 record. He’s Joe Blanton of the minor leagues.

Let’s review what didn’t happen:

Joe Blanton did not get traded to the Baltimore Orioles – There was a lot of sources that claimed money was the sticking point for the trade. It looks like it really stuck because Joe is still wearing a Phillies uniform today.

Cliff Lee did not get traded to the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Dodgers, or any other team – There were rumors that Lee was on the trade block, but general manager Ruben Amaro seems to think no one knows. He told Lee that they were just rumors, and if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

Let’s recap this…

The Phillies needed outfielders to fill the holes made by trades, a young third baseman to take over for the aging Placido Polanco, and bullpen help. No one would have been offended if they got some starting pitching back for Lee or Blanton. Instead, the Phillies got a soon-to-be free agent outfield, shipped Victorino and Pence away, kept a soon-to-be free agent outfielder (Pierre), and didn’t trade it’s two worst contracts (Lee and Blanton).

That leaves the Phillies with bullpen issues, three empty outfield spots, and starting pitching depth to take care of this offseason. Amaro might have created some wiggle room, but he didn’t wow me with the returns in these trades (or any other columnist), and it doesn’t look like the aging Phillies got much better.

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Same Old Marlins

July 27, 2012 By
hanleyramirez_3

When baseball season opened in Miami on April 4th, fans were promised many things.
They had a new stadium tax payers foot the bill for, adopted a new name, the Miami Marlins, new brightly colored uniforms, suddenly found millions of dollars to pursue and sign “A” list players. They even convinced many fans they wanted to win baseball games. They hired one of baseball’s most controversial loose cannons in the speech department, the Chicago White Sox Ozzie Guillen. Miami Marlins Jeffrey Loria and team President David Samson made the biggest promise’s of all, “They promised success”…and “BIKINI BABES” – At baseball’s half-way season they delivered on the “Bikini Babes” but have fallen far short of “success.”

As of today they sit in 4th place of the National League 5 team East Division with a won/lost record of 45-53 (.459) The Philadelphia Phillies are in last place. This past week the “Miami” Marlins began to imitate the old Florida Marlins. They began trading off their players. Players they once said were the future of the franchise. We know old habits are hard to break but in the Marlins case it’s not so much a “bad habit” as it’s”doing business as usual.” Getting rid of their top talent is standard with the Marlins – their history.”

We still have several more days before the July 31st trading deadline ends and fans of the Fish are wondering “who’s next?” It was just several weeks ago when baseball stooge Jeffrey Loria announced his team still had plenty of time to win a post season play-off spot. With yesterday’s trade of Hanley Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers is this Loria’s way of essentially sending up the white flag on the season? Hanley’s a three-time All Star and the Marlins received from the Dodger’s a rookie pitcher and a minor-league pitcher. Was this a “fair-exchange” of talent or did it come down to money? Ramirez had a very large multi-million dollar deal with Miami that will now be picked up by the Dodgers. That’s about $38 million in financial commitment. Ramirez is talented but he’s also “temperamental.” The last time the Dodgers made a trade of this magnitude was in 2008 when they acquired another Ramirez (Manny) from the Boston Red Sox at the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

The photo shows Ramirez bear-hugging Marlins President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest after the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year was told he was moving west. Ramirez should save this picture. Proof-positive he’s heading west to join a solid major league team the Dodgers. The Marlin organization led by Bud Selig stooge Jeffrey Loria and his step-son David Samson, going back to their Montreal Expos days have “NEVER” behaved like major league team owners. They have always been “carpet-baggers.” Minor-league team owners – low level minors at best.
They have lied and conned their way in a variety of cities with the help and blessing of another con-man Commissioner Bud Selig. Team owners don’t seem to mind these con-artist. Bud Selig has made baseball owners tons of money. After all, baseball’s a business. Making money is what it’s all about. It’s the fans that have things wrong. Fan’s seem to believe it’s a “Sport.”

It doesn’t matter what semantics we use explaining the trades of this past week. “Fire Sale” – “restructuring” – it’s all the same. Expensive players are gone. For the “new” Miami Marlins, baseball and Bud Selig its about the money. They got their new stadium (thanks suckers – “oopps”I mean tax-payers) The Marlins need not carry on this masquerade of wanting to win anymore by having expensive players. It’s an old marketing trick called, “Bait and Switch” – hucksters like Selig and Loria have brought the art to new heights. Controversial Ozzie Guillen was part of the flim-flam game played on fans. More smoke, diversion to dazzle fans into believing they wanted a winning team. Ozzie says so many outrageous things to upset people did anyone really believe he would last long in a city as “sensitive” as Miami? When he’s “fired” Loria will announce how “bad” he feels that Ozzie just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Case closed. They can bring back 81 year-old Jack McKeon to finish the season and calm things down. Meanwhile baseball and Miami Marlins have a “free” stadium, and goes back to a low-payroll.

Win or lose the franchise will generate millions in profits as the Marlins did playing to a fan base of pigeons and sea gulls at the old Dolphin Sun Life Stadium in Ft.Lauderdale. In fact while Loria, and baseball, cried the Marlins were broke, needed a new stadium to keep major league baseball in South Florida, in truth according to Forbes Magazine report of 2011, the Marlins for years had been one of the games most profitable franchises. That truth hid from the public until politicians agreed to build a new ball-park with tax-payer money.

We have a tendency to forget the past. Bud Selig can’t mess around with old establish franchises like the Yankees, Red Sox, but I believe baseball’s given Selig a free hand to do whatever he feels is necessary to keep secondary markets operating, that include trades. While Bud Selig has such power – They remain the “SAME OLD MARLINS”……………..

By: Larry Upton

Larry Upton
“Upton on Sports” – source:bostonherald/washingtonpost/bleacherreport/

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MLB: NL Roundup – Giants ease by Dodgers 2-0

June 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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Ryan Vogelsong #32 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at AT&T Park on June 26, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (June 25, 2012 – Source: Jason O. Watson/Getty Images North America) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ryan Vogelsong pitched seven innings to outduel San Francisco nemesis Clayton [...]

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MLB: NL Roundup – Rockies hold on against Padres 5-3

April 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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Starting pitcher Jamie Moyer #50 of the Colorado Rockies delivers against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on April 17, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (April 16, 2012 – Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America) DENVER (AP) — Jamie Moyer turned in a vintage performance in becoming the oldest pitcher to ever win a [...]

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Bobby V & Ozzie G: Masters of Media Disasters

April 17, 2012 By
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When the Cardinals hired Mike Matheny to take over the managerial helm in the wake of the Tony LaRussa retirement, many baseball analysts criticized the move, citing Matheny’s “lack of experie…

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Florida Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen suspended for Fidel Castro remarks

April 11, 2012 By
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Florida Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen is probably regretting recent statements he made to Time magazine as he’s been suspended for five games by the MLB club for singing the praises of former …

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Florida Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen suspended for Fidel Castro remarks

April 11, 2012 By
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Florida Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen is probably regretting recent statements he made to Time magazine as he’s been suspended for five games by the MLB club for singing the praises of former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Quotes attributed to Guillen were published on the popular magazine’s website on Apr 6 in which he praised Castro for his longevity.

The comments were highly criticized by Miami’s large Cuban community since many residents fled the small Caribbean island during Castro’s reign to seek freedom and a better standard of life in the U.S. Several Cuban-American organizations in Miami have even asked the organization to fire Guillen, who is quoted in the article as saying he loves Fidel Castro.

Guillen, who hails from Venezuela, added that he respected Castro for being able to hang onto power for so long even though he had made several enemies around the world. However, the Marlins obviously don’t share their manager’s views and said in a statement that the club acknowledges the seriousness of Guillen’s remarks and the pain and suffering which Castro caused over the years can’t be taken lightly, especially in the local community, which is filled with thousands of victims of Castro’s dictatorship.

Guillen was suspended on Apr. 10 after speaking with the media and club officials. Guillen told the press that he’s saddened by the suspension and situation, but respects the team’s decision and will do whatever they ask of him. He said he’s sorry about the problem he’s caused and will do everything he can to make the situation better.

This is Guillen’s first season with the Marlins, but previously worked as a coach for the team before leaving for the Chicago White Sox where managed the Windy City team for eight years. Guillen added that he’s embarrassed about the situation because he’s lived in the Miami area for several years. He said he realizes his remarks have hurt and angered a lot of people and wants to apologize because he said the wrong things about Castro.

When asked to clarify his comments regarding Castro, Guillen said he doesn’t admire him, but was surprised that he was in power for so long especially since he hurt so many people over the years. He said the article didn’t come out as he had hoped since he was thinking in Spanish while being interviewed, but was speaking in English.

Ozzie Guillen held a press conference on Apr. 10 to apologize again for his comments. He said it’s important that people can see his eyes while he apologizes so he can let them know exactly how he truly feels and what he’s thinking. The press conference was broadcast outside the Marlins stadium on a giant screen.

Some fans feel the Marlins have overreacted by suspending Guillen and have pointed out that he was simply speaking his mind and taking advantage of his right to freedom of speech. They said it’s ironic that he’s been punished considering freedom of speech is something Castro himself often shot down.
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Breaking News: Ozzie Guillen suspended, explains Fidel Castro comments

April 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — Ozzie Guillen was suspended five games by the Miami Marlins in advance of a news conference this morning where he explained his explosive comments about Fidel Castro, words that have set off protests in the middle of the community where the Miami Marlins have built their new stadium and among [...]

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