Philadelphia Phillies Clinch 5th Straight NL East Title

Philadelphia Phillies Clinch 5th Straight NL East Title

By ROB MAADDI, AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Hunter Pence clutched a bottle of champagne and jumped around like an excited child opening Christmas presents.

The Philadelphia Phillies won another division crown, and Pence is along for his first postseason ride.

Roy Oswalt threw seven dominant innings, Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam and the Phillies clinched their fifth straight NL East title with a 9-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.

“I’ve waited for this moment a long time,” said Pence, the All-Star outfielder who joined Philadelphia in a trade from last-place Houston on July 29.

“It’s incredible, and I’m enjoying the moment. We’ve got a lot of work to do still. The expectation is to win the World Series, but this is one of the steps you gotta make, and to me it’s my first time, so this is great.”

In a season where nothing less than a World Series championship would be considered a success, there wasn’t much of a party on the field. The Phillies had a been-there, done-that attitude toward winning the division last year, and this time was no different.

Players ran onto the diamond a bit faster than usual, but they simply exchanged handshakes, hugs and high-fives as if this was an ordinary game in April. They did at least put on shirts and hats proclaiming themselves division champs.

The fans didn’t even scream all that loud, even when the Phillie Phanatic ran on the field with a big flag that said 2011.

Once they reached the clubhouse, however, the Phillies popped open the bubbly and celebrated their achievement.

“I’m excited for a guy like Hunter who has never been here before,” Chase Utley said. “It’s a long season and you never know what’s going to happen.”

With the Four Aces leading the way, the Phillies are seeking their third NL pennant in four years and second World Series title.

They’ve taken care of the first step. Now they’ll use the 12 remaining games to get ready for the postseason. It’s still uncertain who the Phillies will face in the best-of-five first round when the NL playoffs begin Oct. 1.

“This is the first step,” slugger Ryan Howard told the crowd that remained after the game. “We’re gonna try to go all the way and we’ll need you guys.”

The major league-leading Phillies (98-52) are four wins away from setting a single-season club record.

None of those accomplishments will matter if they don’t finish the season with a championship parade on Broad Street.

“It’s an extraordinary effort,” team president David Montgomery said. “Clearly, it’s a team that has its priorities in order.”

My First Time – Andruw Jones – August 15, 1996

My First Time – Andruw Jones – August 15, 1996

The Setting – Veteran’s Stadium. Philadelphia, PA.

From Jones – ‘I had to get right in there that first day and face Curt Schilling.  He threw me nothing but fastballs, with so much gas on them.  It was unbelievable.  I struck out twice and popped out.  I know I got a hit, but first came the strikeouts.’

The Box Score – Braves 8, Phillies 5.  Jones went 1-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

Did You See What New Marlins’ Manager Jack McKeon Said About ’30-Year Old Cardboard’???

Did You See What New Marlins’ Manager Jack McKeon Said About ’30-Year Old Cardboard’???

Florida Marlins To Hire Jack McKeon To Manage The Team For The Remainder Of The 2011 Season

Florida Marlins To Hire Jack McKeon To Manage The Team For The Remainder Of The 2011 Season

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

MIAMI — Change turned out for the better when the Marlins made an in-season managerial move in 2003. The end result was the second World Series title in franchise history after Jack McKeon took over as manager.

On Monday, the Marlins are expected to reintroduce McKeon as manager, eight years after winning a championship and six years removed from his last season in the dugout.

According to a source, McKeon will be named Florida’s interim manager a day after Edwin Rodriguez unexpectedly resigned on Father’s Day. He will close out the 2011 season, and the team is expected to make a full-scale managerial search before it moves into its new ballpark in ’12.

15/16 Is Outstanding, Except When It Represents How Many Games You’ve Lost…

15/16 Is Outstanding, Except When It Represents How Many Games You’ve Lost…

It is really hard to be a Marlins’ fan right now.

UGGHHHH – The Florida Marlins Have Lost 7 Straight Games, By A Combined 11 Runs….

UGGHHHH – The Florida Marlins Have Lost 7 Straight Games, By A Combined 11 Runs….

It has not been easy being a Florida Marlins fan over the last week.  The week has been chock full of losses and I’m watching several of the guys that were hitting and throwing well enter dangerous territory.

When I say dangerous territory, I specifically mean that you can see the team is lacking confidence – and it is coming from both the hitters and pitchers.

For the pitchera: Josh Johnson is in the DL.  Javier Vasquez cannot get past the 6th inning.  Chris Volstad allows base runners in virtually every inning.  And the once solid bullpen is not getting the critical outs that they had been recording earlier in the year – From Dunn to Sanches to Mujica to Webb to Choate, they’re all in a funk.

For the hitters:  Hanley is out.  Coghlan is in a rough spot.  Stanton looks absolutely uncomfortable at the plate.  LoMo is slumping badly.  And while Infante, Buck, and Dobbs are performing at their usual level, that doesn’t work when the team’s run-producers are not producing.

If it wasn’t for Gaby Sanchez, Anibal Sanchez, Leo Nunez, and Ricky Nolasco, who knows what this team would be going through…

Here is a breakdown of the last week:
6/01, lost 6-5
6/03, lost 6-5
6/04, lost 3-2
6/05, lost 6-5
6/06, lost 7-2
6/07, lost 1-0
6/08, lost 3-2

Please, please, please turn it around tonight – it is getting very hard to watch!!!

GO FISH!!!

Sweeping The San Francisco Giants Feels Oh, So Good!!!

Sweeping The San Francisco Giants Feels Oh, So Good!!!

After an amazing outing by Anibal Sanchez that completes a sweep of the defending World Series champions, the Florida Marlins’ confidence has to be at a season high.

And we still don’t have a healthy Hanley Ramirez or Josh Johnson…

GO FISH!!!

Bring On The Phillies!!!

Bring On The Phillies!!!

OK, maybe this is not the best approach, but why not go into Philadelphia with a team that is full of confidence in their ability to win?

The Marlins are coming off of a series in which they won 2 out of 3 games from the Braves, and the team’s offense is clicking.  In fact, they’re winning games and scoring runs without the aid of Hanley Ramirez and Mike Stanton.  If those two guys can turn it on, maybe, just maybe ‘The Fish’ can continue their winning ways…

My fingers are crossed, but the opposition is real tough.  And while we’re not facing Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee during this road trip, the challenge of Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels is not a cake-walk either…

My fingers are crossed.  GO FISH!!!

30-YOC’s Florida Marlins 2011 Baseball Season Preview

30-YOC’s Florida Marlins 2011 Baseball Season Preview

As we prepare for the start of the 2011 baseball season, I have a lot of open questions about how the Florida Marlins will do during the course of 162 games.

A very competitive team, regardless of their payroll, I am left wondering if one of the youngest teams in baseball can compete in a veteran-dominated division.  And while I think that it is safe to say that the Philadelphia Phillies are heads-and-shoulders above the remainder of the teams in the NL East, the battle for 2nd place, and a possible Wild Card playoff spot remains a race to the end.

Can the Marlins compete in that race?  Can they win it?

Well, they certainly did attack their weakest part during the offseason – their bullpen.  Adding veteran help through trades and free agency, the team has a bullpen full of experienced players – now their roles just need to be established.  Leo Nunez has been tabbed as the closer, but the team has more options this year than they did a year ago if he struggles.  And with the additions of Randy Choate, Mike Dunn, and Ryan Webb, we finally have players that have proven to be valuable in late innings.  Hopefully that translates to fewer late-inning losses – a true step in the right direction.

As for the starters, Josh Johnson leads the way as the team’s ace and I expect another solid season from him.  If he can maintain his health throughout the year and get 32+ starts, I see a 16-18 game winning season, and another campaign as one of the best pitchers in the game from an ERA standpoint.  Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez will fill 2 more spots, leaving a spot for newly-acquired Javier Vasquez who I am expecting big things from.  If Vasquez can throw 180+ innings and compile 30+ starts, I think he can rack up a 14+ win season and solidify his spot in the rotation as the team’s veteran leader.  That leaves the 5th spot – a very troublesome one for me…  The spot will go to Chris Volstad, though he has hardly done anything to earn it.  While physically imposing, his stuff is not.  For a starting pitcher, he allows way too many base runners for my liking – his WHIP at 1.40 is just not exciting to look forward to.  My preference would be to see Alex Sanabia or Sean West get a crack at making the rotation – from what I have seen prior, their upside potential is higher than that of Volstad’s.

Offensively the team is solid – young, but solid.  Gone is Dan Uggla, but everyone feels that 21-year old slugger Mike Stanton can deliver 30/100 in his place.  And with the young and hungry talent of Chris Coghlan, Gaby Sanchez, and Logan Morisson in the line-up, the Marlins have a lot of good contact hitters, each with a knack for hitting line-drives.  While still not official, it does sound like Donnie Murphy won the starting third base job with Omar Infante at second.  If that works out, anything we get from these two guys is icing on the cake as neither offers an offensive specialty.  John Buck, an All-Star with the Blue Jays, will be the team’s primary catcher.  And while I am eager to see how he works with the pitching staff, I am more excited to finally see the team have a catcher that is an offensive threat – it has been a long time since Pudge was here…

And then we have Hanley.  Oh, Hanley.  I love to watch you play – and when you want to play you are one of the best in the sport!!  Your skills are the best on the team – and your desire to finally stand up and lead the team is an absolute step in the right direction.  You can give us a .320/35/100 season – please do that.  Lead by example, please.  It all lies on your shoulders – your ability to ignite the team’s offense as the #3 hitter will be what makes or breaks this team and its chances of winning.

So, how will they do?  Hmm….

I would love to say that I see a World Series title in the Florida Marlins’ future.  I do actually, just not in 2011.  The team is built for 2012-2013.  But that doesn’t mean that they cannot win, and win more than lose.

So, here is my prediction:

The Florida Marlins will finish in 3rd place in the NL East, behind the Phillies and Braves.  I am predicting 88-96 wins this season, and the race between 2nd and 3rd place will come down to the final weeks of the season.  No team in the East will be able to match Philly and their immense pitching staff.  And while I don’t think that the Braves are that much better than the Marlins, I do think that their older, more veteran line-up will squeeze out a few more wins.

There you have it.

I am so ready to see the action.

GO FISH!!!!

As A Florida Marlins Fan, I Somehow Remain Optimistic…

As A Florida Marlins Fan, I Somehow Remain Optimistic…

I don’t believe that any other team in baseball emphasises and displays the fact that ‘Baseball is a Business’ quite like the Florida Marlins.

In fact, when the Marlins were accused of improperly spending money that was given to them for the sole purpose of player personel, I cringed….

When the Marlins let the San Francisco Giants steal Cody Ross away from the team and got nothing in return, I dropped a tear…

When the team dumped Cameron Maybin to the Padres, my heart broke…

And when the Marlins traded Dan Uggla to a division rival, my stomach turned…

But isn’t that what being a fan is all about.  You know, taking the good with the bad.  And even when the bad seems to outweigh the good ten-fold, you still stick firmly by your team and look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

And so as a fan, that is what I do.

This Marlins’ team is so loaded with young talent that they have no clue how to position their players so they can all get time on the field.  We’ve got first basemen playing left field, second basemen playing center, and who knows who will be at third base.

But what I, and many other Marlins’ fans, know is that these guys – from Chris Coghlan to Mike Stanton to Gaby Sanchez to Logan Morrison, these guys can all hit the ball at the big league level.  And when they all settle into their offensive roles, this team will score a lot of runs.

And with the recent additions to the team’s pitching staff as a result of the Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller trades, as well as adding Javier Vasquez through free-agency, this team also appears to be on a better track from the pitching mound.

So, I will end this post as  I do with all of my Marlins-related posts.  I am a big fan and supporter of the team, and I am eager for the start of Spring Training.

GO FISH!!!