Baseball Fever sweeps blog! Who should Marlins keep next? (with The Daily Poll)

     [Monday night update: We briefly interupt Baseball Fever to report Dolphin Jason Taylor did well again tonight on 'Dancing With the Stars', no doubt inspired by Zach Thomas showing up in the audience and a "pregame" taped message of support from Dan Marino. What, no taped message from Bill Parcells!? Not sure what Tuna would have told JT in a taped message, but I have a feeling a few of the words would have looked like this: @#$%&!]

     Now back to Baseball Fever. OK, yeah. Just when we start a blog swoon over the Marlins, they lose tonight. The Random Evidence Jinx. Still, seven wins in a row, first place in the NL East and national analysts (like the heads on ESPN last night) starting to talk about this team being "for real." This is heady stuff. Might not last. Or it might. It's OK to feel pretty damn good these days in either case.

     My question: Now that the big guy, Hanley Ramirez, is locked up contractually, who should the Marlins next be most concerned with not letting get away? I'm not talking here about prospects like Cameron Maybin or unproven young'uns like Andrew Miller. I mean among the established young fixtures. Vote in our poll and expound with a comment.

     (Timing is everything, so no surprise Dan Uggla is winning the poll. Tonight's home run was his eighth in the past 10 games. Egads! Does anybody still say "Egads," by the way? I feel like Maynard G. Krebs. Click here for a brief etymology).

Opinion Polls & Market Research

     Hey, you! Let's foment some diamond fever here, people! Marlins kicking ass. U-Miami No. 1 nationally in the college polls. We are the Official King of the Red-Stitched Spheroid! Heat dormant, Panthers dormant, Dolphins dormant. Take me out to the ballgame, dammit! Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack. Or is it Fiddle Faddle? Better yet buy me a $9 beer.

     [Countdown 7 Days: I take over the paper's columnist slot in our weekly Q&A Forum on May 19, an online chat every Monday live from 1-2 p.m. Inviting all of our blog community to tap in with some Q's, serious to inane and all shades in between. Look for daily blog updates all week].

Comments

[mike1]

Nice run by the Marlins, but it's still just boring baseball, with probably some 130 games left. Let me know if they're in the WS and then I'll watch like the last two times...heck, I'll even watch the NL champ series if they make it. Strange though they they sell off players after winning the WS twice; and now they finally want to keep some stars. Logic? Ok, let's get back to the Dolphins or the upcoming UEFA Champions Cup, Euro 2008, and the Olympics.

[Tri25]

with comments above and on some other websites I really have to say I hate South Florida "who call themselves" FANS. So they have to win a world series for you to show up or make it to the playoffs to just support them. This is why I don't blame Loria for doing what he does, if you don't show up if their winning why should you get anything less then what you pay for. Just support your team and stop with the IF's and enjoy the flipping moment.

[wabe001]

I agree with the previous comment. Whether it lasts all season or not, the quality play of the Marlins for the first quarter of the season is definitely a pleasant surprise. I'm really hoping the Ramirez signing is the first of a new trend.

[mike1]

well..it's baseball. Let's talk football where every game is important and half the games have some action and suspense. If baseball season had only 40 games, it might be more exciting. In fact, I enjoyed the first baseball World Cup because of its format. I did start off saying it's a nice streak.

[David Tucker]

I can't wait till the Fish come up here to play the Rays. I'll be at the Trop in full gear. May be time to buy a jersey! I love baseball...I just wish I could see more Marlins games here in Tampa 8(

[Sean]

Okay Greg, how about someone directly answering your question? Lots of people voting and not expounding. Not good.

I voted for Uggla. He's been hitting the snot out of the baseball. He's been a pretty darn good player for us, and is another power bat to secure in the lineup.

After Uggla, I'd say a pitcher. We need to lock down a leader in this rotation. So probably Olsen after Uggla.

[Michael AR]

As for Cote's question, I'd vote Jeremy Hermida. While Uggla is a nice story, at 27 yrs old he's not exactly someone I'd lock up for a long term deal because his production is bound to drop as the more expensive part of the deal takes effect. That is the main downside to long term deals (ask the Pirates and Matt Morris!). Hermida, though, is still young and is also hitting the ball well. An Hermida-Ramirez 1-2 punch in the 2-3 hole is something I'd like to see for years to come.

As for you mike1, why do you even bother to post here if you don't care about baseball? Just mark yourself "absent" and move on. However, when you want to get your "World Series Tickets" you better get to the back of the line so that those of us who have followed the team from the beginning can get our tickets first (then again, I have season tickets, so I've guaranteed my post-season tickets WHEN -- not IF -- we get there!).

[Paul]

Man, I wish I was down there for this. I've been watching every game on my MLB extra innings package, but I'd love to feel the excitement in person. I'll just have to wait until the fish come up here to play the Phillies in a few weeks.

As far as the next signing, I'd have to agree that Hermida should be next. I think he might just now be finding his identity as a big league hitter, especially with Hanley/Jacobs/Willingham hitting behind him. And Uggla being 27 isn't much of a barrier to a long term deal, a 5 year deal gets him until he's 32, not exactly passed his prime.

[fishfan]

mike1 exemplifies everything that is wrong with the average south florida fan. seriously, dude, move to atlanta.

moving on, i say sign olsen. uggla, while a good guy and a fan favorite, strikes out way too much to have a decent average. he is also 27. 24 yr old olsen is quickly becoming the staff ace and that is a far more important piece than a power hitting second baseman.

[raoul duke]

I'd like to see Marlins get Ted William's cryogenically frozen and cracked head in the lineup.

[raoul duke]

dean you're a baseball fan aren't you? What do you think of my idea? I think it would bring more fans to the games.

[Jimbo]

Uggla was my vote. Good hitting position player. Marlins are above high salary, high expectation Mets and Phils--for now. The road is long too. Marlins are a good, legit team this yr. Phils or Mets probably will win division,,but Marlins should end up with a winning record and have a decent shot at the wild card too.

I see Beckett dominating everyone and wonder why, after he won 2 games against Yanks in WS, the fish didn't find a way to keep him. Beckett is going to be one of the most dominate pitchers for 12 yrs. NEVER get rid of that rare of talent...

[Matt]

I voted for Olsen. We've got Coughlan coming up and he could play second (and hit for power) or put Andino there. I think that premium pitching is too important to pass up. If anybody wants to think back to 2003 or remember what the Marlins' philosophy has been since Loria and Co. came in, it's speed, pitching and defense. Hanley will mature as a defender and he's speed. We need the top-line pitcher that Olsen's becoming right now to head the staff for years to come. Hermida may be rounding the corner finally, but he's too injury prone to make the next big signing and the other guys are all older (not old, but probably starting to hit the peak). Olsen should keep getting better and he'll learn how to pitch more too so even if the skills decline hopefully he'll turn into a crafty lefty (like Glavine). I'm not saying Olsen's the next Glavine, but I like the idea of having him in a uniform with Hanley for another 7 years more than the others because it'll give us a top offensive talent and a top pitcher.

[naples jack,patsfan]

Raoul Duke- Agree with you 100%. Bringing back Ted Williams, ( my all time favorite bb player) in any form, might bring out more ten the 10-11,000, fans that show up.
Michael in AR.- If they do get to the world series, they still will only draw 20,000, a game unless they play the Red Sox, or yankees. Then they can open the whole stadium, like every other MAJOR LEAGUE, team does.

[j]

thesouthfloridafan.blogspot.com is a good place to discuss the Marlins

[the shadow knows]

David Tucker,

the (devil) rays are having an impressive season to this point, as many had predicted. their "florida showdown" with the marlins should make for some good baseball watching.

yes, mike1, the UEFA champoions' cup, euro 2008 and the olpmpics are to look forward to, but enjoying the success of florida's MLB teams is a novelty and deserves our attention. who do we like in euro 2008? (asked before) the eastern europeans are coming on quickly, spain and portugal play "the beautiful game", and the italians are always a load- but i will back the dutch, even though lately they haven't won a lot and to the est of my knowledhe are lacking a superstar of the quality of christian ronaldo or that little buzzsaw from france whose firts name is frank and whoselast name i can't remember.

[raoul duke]

naples jack, patsfan if they brought in Ted William's head I would fly down from NY to go to Marlins games and I don't even care for baseball.

[Jose Can-snitch-o]

Cote, your antispam filter blows donkey di@#$. It just filtered my last comment out.

[mike1]

Shadow, who I want to win? Whoever plays the most attacking soccer and does NOT take dives..like the Italians (Grosso), French (Henry). In the last WC, Germany played the best overall.

[Jimbo]

Sad truth is this:::until S. Florida starts coming to the games and spending $$$, no one is going to be kept that deserves a big contract.

[the shadow knows]

mike1,

the germans may have played the best overall, but they were totally stymied by the italians, who claim to have the krauts' number in big competitions, which i believe the record reflects

[raoul duke]

LOL krauts' good one shadow.

[the shadow knows]

raoul duke,

big fan of "stalag 17"- william holden, gil stratton (cookie, the narrator), harvey lembeck and robert strauss (animal), don taylor ( the escapee hiding in the water tower who went on to become a good director) and in a role made just for him-otto preminger!! one of my most favoritest movies; can watch stalag anytime it is on- AT EASE!!!!

[OC Dolphin]

shadow,

It's amazing how much the writers of Hogan's Heroes borrowed from that great film. Schultlz was the same guy, but for the addition of him being a pre-war toy manufacturing magnate.

The Great Escape also took its share of liberties, as with "Scrounger," the James Garner character who displayed the very same aquiring abilities as those of the William Holden character. Great stuff!

[raoul duke]

Yeah shadow Hogan's Heros was what immediately came to mind only Germans were a tad smarter and MEANER in real life...

[General Burkhalter]

Klink! I'm sending you to the Russian Front!!!

[mike1]

Shadow, in this particular WC 2006, Germans played the most attractive game (they don't always) and cheated the least while the Italians benefitted twice vs USA, Czechs and big time vs Australia. If the proper call had been made, Grosso gets red carded for the dive instead of getting a penalty and doesn't play vs Ukraine. Austr might beat Italy in penalties. Ukraine outplayed Italy, but it was one of those days when your shots don't go in and the other teams does(plus the benefit of scoring very early). Against Germany, Grosso scored in the 119th minute (very late OT) in a game that could've gone either way. France advanced thanks to dives by Henry vs Spain. Funny that Henry complained about diving in the UEFA Cup 6 weeks earlier. It was an offiiciating error plagued WC that affected half the results and leaves us to wonder who really should've won, let alone advanced from the 1st round. If US doesn't get cheated against vs Italy and Ghana, US advances. Instead, everyone just looks at the final score and thinks they stunk. I still look forward to Euro 2008..to bad I have to work during most of the games.

[the shadow knows]

mike1,

as usual, a spot-on description of what occurred in WC 2008, which i remember as having been played in germany. ballack and hamman were tremendous but the italians prevailed in the semifinal game. the germans fielded what seemed to be a youngish squad, and loom formidable in 2010. the african teams need a little more discipline to be serious, and my ancestral home of romania plays a nice game and could get into the round of eight with some luck. the western hemisphere's hopes will ride on argentina and the squad in red, white, and blue!!

[mike1]

Shadow, if youre referring to 2010, Romania's qualifying group includes France, Serbia, Austria, Lithuania, Faroe Islands. Only one team qualifies. The 2nd place team plays-off vs another 2nd place team.

For Euro2008, Romania is in the group of death, Italy, France, Netherlands. All it takes is a few good dives!

[the shadow knows]

mike1,

if romania wins a game in that group, a national holiday will ensue!! i am still living off the romainians showing in the 1994 World cupheld in the goood old USA, where they got to the last eight only to be eliminated when the swedes went "into the bunker" after scoring a goal. those tall swedish trees proved to be impregnable versus the gypsies led by hagi. they got rooked in the following EURO 1996 but put on a good show while hagi roamed the midfield- we could have done without them all dyeing their hair blond for the european championships!! they looked major league ugly in 1996!!