West Coast baseball and two former Marlins having issues?

So the Marlins are on a nice little West Coast swing. 11 days 11 games through the West Coast including Denver, Arizona, and Los Angeles (which isnt exactly the West coast except for LA) but it means later start times and a lot less people watching and Rich and Tommy having their excuse to say dumb stuff because it is either "Late night with the fish" or "happy hour with the fish"

First stop is Coors Field home of the worst record in the NL West Colorado Rockies.

Its a run scoring game every time you go a mile high in baseball as there is less resistance on the ball and the ball will travel further as you can see in Giancarlo and Lee's home runs last night. Giancarlo Stanton has homered in 4 straight game at Coors Field as really really loves Rockies pitchers. He has homered 7 times against them in limited games and has homered in every game he has played at Coors Field (4). 

Who can't forget that amazing moment!!

Don't turn off the tube when he is up today. Also Wade LeBlanc, the Marlins best pitcher right now, takes his shot and turning the trip around 

-AJ Burnett and Hanley Ramirez had a cute spat yesterday, both former Marlins who people dont care too much for. Amazing how AJ Burnett has revived his career in Pittsburgh. 15 wins... wow. 

-Burnett, who called a players meeting before Wednesday's game, got angry after the Dodgers took their only lead in the fourth when Ramirez hit a two-run homer.

As Ramirez rounded second base during his home-run trot, he circled his eyes with his fingers as he turned in the direction of Burnett. The gesture is a trademark of Ramirez's.

"If you're going to hit a homer, act like you've hit one before," Burnett said. "The first batter, Loney, hit one, was very professional about it. Ran hard the whole way. I just thought he did a little something at second base. I could be wrong. It was heat of the moment."

When Ramirez struck out swinging to end the sixth, Burnett screamed at him as he walked off the mound. Ramirez was reprimanded by Campos for throwing his bat, and the two had a somewhat-heated discussion. (sit the f*** down) looks right

"I was just excited to get him out," Burnett said. "Every time someone clicks one off you, you want to get him out the next time up. He drove one that went pretty far, and then I was able to get him out so I was pretty fired up."

-Sigh the pennant race is hot and strong for everyone else but us... Next year Marlins fans next year!

30...

It took 30 innings to end the futility! Finally. I mean people were actually going to the game like this!!

I went yesterday to the game and that honestly was rock bottom for this team. They lost the game on the 2nd pitch of the game when Josh Johnson makes ONE mistake and Rollins takes him yard. That was it. I should of gotten up from my seat and gone home at that point but I wanted to see the major league debut of Rob Brantly.

He caught a pretty decent game but he is still waiting for that first hit. What I see in Brantly (could of been nerves) was desperation in his swing. Trying to do too much which really did build on the team during this 30 inning streak. The change ups were killing them. The Marlins were SO desperate to get that run that they were flailing all over the changeups that Capuano, Hamels, and Kendrick were feeding them. Finally it ended  when the Dobbers drove in Lee in the 4th inning today off of  Roy Halladay of course (because baseball is a funny game)

Then, even better, the Marlins actually score 6 runs in the 8th inning! I had to see it to believe it! At that point I went off to buy a Powerball ticket, because obviously I'm going to win the Powerball! The Marlins scored 6 in an inning so obviously I'm a quarter billionaire tomorrow!

http://miami.marlins.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_15_phimlb_miamlb_1&highlight_content_id=23920305&c_id=mia

There, see it so you can believe it yourself!

-For the record, the Miami Marlins beat the 1993 Florida Marlins and set a franchise record in not scoring in 30 innings. The previous record was 27, which is crazy given this team has a man named Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton who can end that kind of streak in a half swing...

-Yes I know Justin Ruggiano got hurt, but before this blog officially enters panic mode we will wait for the results and see if he is (dont say it, dont say it...) shelved.

-Marlins start a nice 11 game west coast swing tomorrow starting off in last place Colorado but if they can bring their 8th inning stroke to Denver then it will be fun, but if they revert back to the 30 it will be a LONG series, because we know how Denver is a hitter's paradise.

Now the fun side of the weekend.

As you are well aware the Marlins were doing there fantasy auction last night so they had there Tommy Bahama pre-party and then event tonight. But it all started at the park on Sunday when the girlfriend got to meet her idol Mr Jeff Conine and steal one of the 12 and under binders...damn women and their flirtatious powers.

They lose, whats new... and we go off to the player signing (hopefully) outside the ballpark and none other than the man the myth the legend JUSTIN RUGGIANO signs my ball! WTF amazingness!

One of those you try and keep your cool moments when you know its just so damn hard! but the fun didnt end there because we went to Tommy Bahama for the pre-party and ran into a lonely Scott Cousins... NO ONE wanted to talk to him so he came up to a little boy next to us to strike up a conversation. This proceeded with us talking to him for a solid 10 minutes. Honestly Scott Cousins would be someone I would hang out with in real life even if his profession wasn't major league baseball player.

Great guy. Then all the heavy hitters started coming in. Ruggiano and Cishek with his fear of EVERYTHING. He is scared of shellfish...whoops.

Now the bullshit here is that Tommy Bahama wanted us to spend 100 dollars at their store so we can have them sign something for us...Talk about a nice bait and switch. Honestly what the hell....

Our hitting coach who is a nice funny guy but will most likely be jobless by the end of this season. Poor guy. And then your voice on the TV that just becomes a fixture from April to September. Rich Waltz

He was doing a machoman pose there for me. Sadly he didnt want to switch careers with me and become a teacher and let me become the voice of Miami Marlins on FSFlorida...What gives.

Then finally on Monday LoMo did a Meet and Greet at a Jiffy Lube which my girlfriend could not contain her excitement in meeting him. 

Its made her season. Sadly maybe only 100 people showed up which is fine I guess for a 11 am in the middle of Miami Gardens on a Monday.

In two days, we have met and conversed with so many players that I didn't think was possible. It makes spring training pale in comparison to what I've seen here. It makes a huge difference when you actually get to personally know the guys on the team and what they go through. In my girlfriends case, its actually allowed her to grow and cherish the Miami Marlins and she actually enjoys the games she attends instead of being that girl you drag to the game. May be a strategy that you could use in the future to convince a spouse of yours!

Hanleywood came and left.

So we all know that our nemesis Hanley Ramirez came into town this weekend and went off...well duh of course he did. He was motivated...if you listen around the minute mark Ozzie candidly says we need a guy who works hard every day but unfortunately...oh no he is a good player.

The moment that defined us at the ballpark was what was going to be the fan reaction. If you were wondering my reaction... here it is.

Yeah let me just say that Jeff Conine was not the least bit amused.

The best part was the moment he comes up in the top of the 2nd...now batting Hanley Ramirez... BOOOO...yes my rally cry worked!! Thank you all for the support. The only cheerer was a lady three rows in front of me who told me a story how Hanley nearly ran over her kid...yet she is cheering him on... She doesn't count. Lets refer back to the video a second.... Hanley got booed...apparently he is in denial if you can even understand what he is trying to say.

Anyways by Sunday Hanley I guess identified with a new fan base....that or he is REALLY racist.

Duh ashuns see like dis?

The "I see you" was incorporated at Marlins park. I spoke to a Marlins player Sunday who really wanted to be hush about it but then went off about how he is happy Hanley is gone and really only plays when he wants to and not hard every day. Take care Hanley Ramirez and to the lady who cheered him on...really?!?!

Today is Boo Hanley day at Marlins park.

This is it ladies and gentlemen you have all seen the franchise and Hanley's too excited blackberry to go to Hanleywood and we all have been bombarded by this on our twitter.

Lo Viste is no more and has been replaced in "Hanleywood" by "I see you" An obvious derogation. Come on Hanley be clever. You didn't have to use English. It is L.A.  

My favorite thing was seeing this comment yesterday morning on twitter. Hanley Ramirez yesterday to #Dodgers reporters asking about his return Friday to #Marlins Park: "I don't got nothing about Miami.'' first I'm wondering HUH? What does he mean? He never cared. 

If you have read my thoughts on Hanley you know how I feel about him and now is the time to let him know how you feel. Don't applaud or cheer him tomorrow because you feel its the polite thing to do. Let him know how you really felt. Let him know he frustrated the shit out of you, that a prima donna doesn't bat .240. They also don't forget their own medications. 

So today we will be in section 27 row 3 doing what everyone else needs to be doing. BOOOOING Hanley Ramirez. Don't let him know that everything he did here was ok. Settling for less is not ok... Let him know that you are furious for what he did to us. Join us those that are going to Marlins park today in letting him know we are happy you are gone Hanley Ramirez and we never want you back.

Lets think Carlos Lee and 2013 a second...

So an article came out today that speculated that maybe, just maybe, the guy that we were dying to get rid of  just to get a cheap profit may stay. No he WANTS to stay in Miami. The first thought of this crossed my mind when I was watching the franchise last night when he was the man standing right next to Bonifacio as he was getting tended to. For a man who is a free agent and supposedly out the door, he sure cares a lot.

I've read over and over again how he is 36 how his power is non existent (and we have seen that) and he has turned into a singles hitter who is slow but here is something we get from him. We get a guy that will put the ball in play, not strike out and drive in runs. In 30 games here he has driven in 22 men and is on a 14 game hitting streak. He is batting OVER .400 with RISP. How many Marlins can say that? I figured he was a goner until I read this... http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/08/carlos-lee-has-spoken-to-marlins-about-2013-return.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The question Carlos Lee is do you understand that you are 36 and your power is gone. If you want to stay in Miami you got to come for 1 years/5 million. Understand that you are more likely a DH but if you want to stay here you go. That's as high as they will go guaranteed and that may be pushing it. Lomo is the plan for first and Christian Yelich is the future but we as Marlins fans NEED to be scared about 2013.

If the Marlins want to they can easily fill their needs with those photos above. Jacob Turner will be ready for the rotation in 2013 albeit young. Rob Brantly will fight John Buck next year and eventually take over in 2014. Jose Fernandez is a September 2013/2014 callup starter. Christian Yelich is also a sept 2013/2014 LF starter and Zach Cox could be fighting for 3B next year. The future pieces are there but how do you react in 2013? 

Do you waste 2013 and lose all your fan base who assumed you were all in now or try again? Your holes are obviously at 2B/CF/LF/3B even though some of that could be resolved with a short term Carlos Lee by buying one more year of Lomo in left, and my man Justin Ruggiano in CF. Where do you go? 

The plan is tough and the fans won't forgive the Marlins if they don't make one big splash in the offseason... They will cry fire sale. Lots of decisions to make and I'm happy I'm NOT making them. 

Oh David Wright...

David Wright is a great player and man when he was batting .400 earlier this year, I didn't want to mess with the man, but now that he is struggling going 9 for his last 51 (still better than John Buck which btw when Buck does a lo viste on you as he did last night... you know you are in trouble).

One thing we have to point out on David Wright, his throws...everyone of his throws look like this.

So after this I've decided to point out that David Wright is actually one of my compadres...an Australian, because he is an emu! 

What other reason is there to explain why David Wright does what he does? But honestly the way the Mets and David Wright are starting to play now...its time to do this. 

And let me not get started on this... 

Just too easy...

Don't get me wrong I love David Wright as a player and wish he would join Jose Reyes on the left side of the diamond next year (come on Front office I hope you read my posts!) but he is just an easy target some times.

The Marlins defeated the Mets 4-2 and in a Venezuelan conspiracy (obviously) Carlos Zambrano gets the win after Wade Leblanc starts pitches great and is taken out just before he can finish 5 innings, the minimum for a win. Tonight the Marlins go for the series win with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound and Jose Reyes goes for 26 straight!