mstrReyes blogs : CBSSports.com Blogs

Hanley Ramirez versus South Florida

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:03:41 EDT

Hanley Ramirez was called out by [insert name here] and the result was.

Dan Uggla scolded ... then traded.

Fredi Gonzalez ... fired.

Wes Helms ... released [ same as fired although Helms should have retired last year].

Edwin Rodriguez and the Los[T] Marlins

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:17:56 EDT

The resignation of Edwin Rodriguez coming this weekend is not suprising considering recent play in the past two weeks, losing 20 of the last 23 games. The Marlins were once a 1/2 game behind the Phillies, but now sit at 13 games back and right next to the Washington Nationals in last place.

What went wrong for Edwin Rodriguez?

Was trading Dan Uggla a bad move that hurt the offense?

Answer: NO. Dan Uggla has a batting average well below .200. He is having a worse season than Hanley Ramirez.

Getting Drilled

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:49:13 EDT

Some of Mike Lowell's comments he said on 790 The Ticket on the Dan LeBatard Show on June 3, 2011. Comments are in regards to the incident involving Buster Posey and Scott Cousins, and the comments by San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean.

“If Posey knocks out Buck, Sabean is telling everyone how good of a player Posey is.”

“I’m kind of sick of that. That’s ridiculous. I thought Posey said right after the next day 'I don’t want to vilify Cousins.' All this stuff. I mean, did he have a lane? Maybe. What people fail to understand is that the ball beat him. You’re taught that in baseball if the ball beats you and the catcher is going to get in there, you crush him. And you know what, he crushed him. And he didn’t crush him down low, and he didn’t crush him dirty. He hit him at the top. He didn’t even hit his leg. His leg got caught underneath, that’s baseball man.”

Marlins No-hitting the West

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:46:49 EDT

After yesterday's performance by Anibal Sanchez coming 1 inning away from tossing a no hitter against the Colorado Rockies, I came to notice that all of the Marlins no hitters have come against NL West teams. Marlins have no hit 4 of the 5 NL West teams. Only the Dodgers have yet to get no hit by a Marlins pitcher.

Al Leiter threw the first Marlins no hitter on May 11, 1996 against the Colorado Rockies.

The second no hitter was by Kevin Brown on June 10, 1997 against the San Francisco Giants.

Third was by A.J. Burnett on May 12, 2001 against the San Diego Padres.

Re: Miguel Cabrera

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 8:19:46 EST

There is one thing I find unacceptable regarding Miguel Cabrera's current problems and that is the fact that he is driving while intoxicated. He is a rich man who can afford a taxi. He is a rich man who can afford a limousine. He is a rich man who could call me up and pay me $50 to drive his drunk #$% home.

He was charged with 2 misdemeanors, DUI-Misdemeanor and Resisting an Officer w/o violence. It is quite clear he is one of many people around this nation that act like a complete inconsiderate retard while drunk. But does he have a serious personal problem? Perhaps. Keep in mind he is not from this country, and his culture is a lot different from ours .

Should he go to jail for 364 days? Heck no.

Should he be rahibiltated and educated on the seriousness of driving drunk? Certainly yes.

Improving Baseball (A Letter to Selig)

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:20:35 EST

Dear Mr. Bud Selig.

I have many ideas on how to improve baseball. My suggestions will make baseball more fun for the fans who watch and attend baseball games, more competitive for teams, and provide better opportunities for many players around the league! You may not receive this in good faith though if you consider hiring Joe Torre for President of Baseball Operations, which in my opinion is a horrible choice.

Here I give you 9 issues to take to the plate.

Issue #1: Eliminate the East Coast Bias.

Not Just Fantasy, but Reality

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:52:37 EST

2011 Rankings

1. Felix Hernandez

2. Adam Wainwright

3. Roy Halladay

What $15 Million Buys You?

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:39:23 EST

The Florida Marlins refused to give Dan Uggla a 5yr/$70 million dollar deal. They had good reason to. Chris Coghlan is most likely the second basemen of the future. Until then Omar Infante will be making a pit stop here for 2011.

So what does the Marlins do with the $15 million that Uggla was asking for?

Javier Vazquez - 1yr at $7 million.

John Buck - 3yrs at $18 million.

Get Your Money's 'Werth' For Pete Sake!

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:03:05 EST

Fantasy Analysis

The website suggests that Jayson Werth is a top 5 round pick. In this coming year I have to disagree. This year Werth will take on the role that Chone Figgins held last year. He will make himself into the most overpaid player in baseball next to Ch-ch-ch-choke Figgins and of course Rockies first basemen Todd Helton.

Why you ask?

1. Philadelphia is a hitters park. Washington's park is more balanced. The dimensions are similar, however, Washington's park is bigger in terms of dimension and wall.There should be a significant drop his power numbers and not just for this reason.

Dan Uggla Trade Analysis

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 10:11:40 EST

This is my analysis of the Dan Uggla Trade.

Dan Uggla, I project to hit about 30-35 homers next season. It will be his career high in homeruns and runs batted in, however, he will commit more errors than last season.

Hanley Ramirez will no longer have to worry about having to field his position and Dan's now that he has an upgrade at 2B with either Infante or Coghlan. Hanley might not be as lazy this year. This deal also makes Hanley more happy now that there is no longer anyone around to call him out for being lazy.

Fredi Gonzalez is happy to have Dan the Man out there ... for now, until all those pitchers start getting frustrated with the grounders Dan can't get to or the ones he boots into the outfield.

My Miami Heat Analysis

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 10:22:46 EST

This is my analysis of the current Miami Heat.

Udonis Haslem on weed is better than Chris Bosh. Bosh needs to hit the bench and stay there. Why the hell was this punk given a big contract?

Dwayne Wade should have been traded last year. He's acquired Hanley Ramirez disease or is that Penny Hardaway disease. Yeah he's good sometimes when he wants to be.

Spoiledstiff, ahem I mean, Spoelstra should have been fired last year.

Fans in the Stands

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:01:52 EDT

If you want fans in the stands there can be many solutions, but only one seems reasonable enough, make them want to come and make them be able to afford your prices.

Thursday evening there was a bizarre event occuring in South Florida.

This event involved the Pittsburg Pirates and the Florida Marlins. The typical expectations involved was bad pitching, lots of offense, very little fans in the stands, more Pirates fans than Marlins fans, and all this for $15 per person.

The only part of this that held up its end of the deal was bad pitching and lots of offense.

Re: Ines Sainz

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 2:41:26 EDT

My personal opinion is that male, or female, should not even be in any team's locker room. First off it is not professional to be conducting interviews in an area where players are getting dressed/undressed. Leave the interviews on the field. If you have to go into the locker room for interviews do it during the playoffs.

As for the "sexual harassment" and such, the players should have more respect toward her no matter what she is wearing. Some of these men are married and should be embarassed that this is brought to the attention of people around the country. Then to react the way some players did is unacceptable, not just because you don't respond that way to a lady or to the nature of the situation, but because there is an old cliche that says "you can't do battle with an organization that buys ink by the barrel."

Ch-Ch-Ch-one Figgins

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:00:22 EDT

Does anyone else disagree that Choke Chone Figgins is just an older version of Emilio Bonifacio? At this point it is hard to compare the two, because Emilio has spent most of the season in the minors and when he has been called up, he has been benched so Chris Coghlan can embrass himself in the outfield like he has done all season.

I'm sure some people still disagree and maybe heated now that I am throwing it back out there, but hey I gotta say "I told you so." Chone Figgins gets the mid-season award for biggest bust and most overpaid SCRUB of the year. The season has not even ended yet and he won the award already.

Good job Seattle and congratulations to Chone Figgins for his ... achievement?

Best Owner in Sports History

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:24:52 EDT

George Steinbrenner passed away today. I consider him the best owner to ever own a professional sports team. He wanted to win and was willing to spend the money to do it. He gave the fans of his city and state what they wanted. How many other organizations is willing and able to achieve such a task? Far and few.

Many consider him a scumbag who ruined baseball. That is their opinion, but I disagree. Whatever the case is he deserves much respect as a human being who sought the American dream to be rich and live happy, and that he did very well and brought much happiness to the fellow people of New York for two decades.

May he rest in piece. From a Malins Fan.

LEBRON YOU TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!!

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:39:31 EDT

I have 10 people to blame for Lebron James leaving Cleveland!

1. Barry Bonds for leaving Pittsburg to play for a good team

2. Shaq's fault for leaving Orlando to win 3 rings with the Lakers

3. Pippen's fault for leaving Chicago after Jordan retired

Places to Go

Sat, 08 May 2010 18:50:03 EDT

And I am going there for the third straight year now?

Will Fredi Gonzalez FINALLY get fired this year? I would take Jeff Torborg back over this guy. At least Torborg knew how to not use Vic Darensbourg that crapty lefty that came in scared. Now the Marlins have the third coming of Richie Lewis.

Richie Lewis resurrected himself as Vic, Darensbourg, and has returned as Renyel Pinto. You're not fooling me Richie!

2010 Season Predictions

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:58:16 EDT

I almost wrote the title of this one as "predicaments" instead of predictions. You know I was thinking about the Mets, Jose Reyes, and the crew having a couple failed steroid tests this year or the Feds putting their business out, but ah let's save the drama for when it actually happens!

On the standings predictions I bolded teams that I expect to see in September battling for the wild card or division.

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies

Baseball Does Not Need A Salary Cap

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:17:14 EST

To Hell with a salary cap. I think we should realign divisions based on team payrolls.

AL Division 1:

N.Y. Yankees

Boston Red Sox

Chone Figgins vs Emil Bonifacio

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:56:43 EST

THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!!!!!!!

Which would you rather have? Emilio Bonifacio or Chone Figgins.

Both guys are second basemen turned into third basemen, very little power, has speed but has way too many lapses trying to steal bases, and both have subpar defense which if not for their speed would be utility bench players.

A look at the stats.

MLB Second Round Predictions

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:48:19 EST

The first round to me was not so hard to predict in my last blog . Teams like the Twins, Rockies, and Cardinals were fortunate to have unbalanced and favorable schedules, and play in weak divisions. The Red Sox have no passion, no team chemistry, and just are not that good without Manny Ramirez in that lineup.

So anyways, moving on to the next round.

Yankees vs. Angels ANGELS IN 6.

Phillies vs. Dodgers DODGERS IN 7

End of Season Smack Talk

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:03:15 EDT

Early Season Predictions

So how about those Mets! Am I a genius for my early season predictions on the NL East or did I come upon dumb luck? NL EAST: 5/5

NL CENTRAL: 2/6 NL WEST: 1/5 AL EAST: 0/5 AL CENTRAL: 2/5 PENDING AL WEST: 2/4 TOTAL: 12/30. 40% Correct

Season Awards

Fan Rant: 35 Games In, Fredi Should Be Out

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:58:26 EDT

The Marlins have begun the season where they left off last year, collapsing against everyone except the Nationals and Mets.

After a 11-1 start the Marlins went 6-17.

What to do, oh what to do to get back to winning again? Last week the Dimaondbacks fired their manager, this week the Marlins need to take that into consideration.

Issues that need to be considered.

Season Predictions

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:28:49 EDT

National League East

Philadelphia Phillies

Florida Marlins

Atlanta Braves

The 5 Cleanest Players of the Steroid Era

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:00:08 EDT

OF Chuck Carr

In 1997, Chuck Carr while with the Milwakee Brewers popped out to third base on a 2-0 count, Phil Garner asked him why did he swing? Chuck responds "That ain't Chuckie's game. Chuckie hacks on 2-0." Not too long afterwards Chuck Carr found himself jobless as he has found throughout his career. I guess talking like Rickey Henderson won't get you too far if you can't drill a ball out the park. Sorry Chuck you're just too skinny and scrawny.

Chuck has always been a skinny trash talking arrogant runt, but one thing you can count on this smack talking bum is that he did not juice up. There is no way with his swing for the fence first attitude and his I gotta make an easy catch look hard. If Chucky knew the rest of the league was on the juice you know he would have juiced up too, or at the very least snitch on all dem cheatas. From the Mets, to the Marlins, to Houston, Chuckie never changed his game. He won 1 stolen base title with the Marlins while trying to hit 50 home runs, but fell short by 46. He will always be remembered for his jogs to first base admiring that fly out just before the warning track.

How much is a closer Worth?

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:50:17 EST

This is the first of many blogs I will post over the course of the winter and spring until the opening of Pre-Season Baseball 2009. The purpose will be to define those overpaid players. Last year I created a list of all the American League and National League players that I believed to be overpaid. This season I will do the same, but also point out why they are overpaid. The list for 2008's most overpaid I promise will be a big one. Unlike the Mitchell Report, there will be no stone [AHEM PLAYER] left unturned.

For the sake of closers, we will determine why we pay them what they make.

They are the go-to guy in the ninth inning.

You expect them to close out games by holding on to leads.

Pitcher Trades

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 1:57:32 EST

So Scott Olson has been traded, along with Josh Willingham to the Nationals for a couple prospects. The deal hasn't been finalized, and there could be a third throw in from the Nats.

Did the Marlins give too much? Yes and no. I think if Willingham was kept they could have waited to see if he had a big season then deal him, but what if that never comes? Josh has been injured so much in the past year with back problems you have to believe that his days as a catcher has truly hurt his physical health. He's a great hitter when healthy, but he has had problems staying healthy. So what do you do? Deal as fast as possible.

Now with Olson you have to look at his 4.20 ERA. Outside of Florida you have to expect it will climb up about 50 points. The weather and park benefits pitchers down here. Olson can very well be the next D-Train wreck. Not many pitchers have left Florida and have had success elsewhere. It's like a curse. Livan Hernandez, Josh Beckett, Al Leiter, and Kevin Brown (with the help of steroids) have had success outside of Florida. A.J. Burnett has had a season and one-half of success, but still many teams put question marks on him because of his injury-risk. Olson is certainly a better pitcher then Mark Hendrickson and should have some success, but with his attitude you never know. He is another one of those players you want to get rid of as soon as possible while he still has value and is NOT in jail.

Marlins Pick Up Meyer from Athletics

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:59:50 EST

Yesterday the Marlins claimed LHP Dan Meyer from the Oakland Athletics. Meyer is a former 1st round draft pick by the Braves, and a top prospect traded for Tim Hudson.

The deal brings in another lefty as a possible replacement in the rotation. Arthur Rhodes ia free agent, and the Marlins may be looking to deal Scott Olsen and/or Renyel Pinto. Olsen is expected to get a significant raise from arbitration this offseason.

Marlins-Royals Trade

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:17:53 EDT

Okay so CBS is acting up and posting a bunch of n/a all over the place. I'm not sure why that happens.

Anyways. Here is my analysis of the Jacobs-Nunez deal between the Florida Marlins and Kansas City Royals.

1B Mike Jacobs. He was obviously going to be dealt off to someone in the American League. The Indians and Yankees need a 1B, but neither team made a serious effort or was contacted. The Marlins lost on this deal. If they had been patient they could have found someone more in need of a first basemen. Mark Teixeira is a free agent so the Angels become another team in need of a first basemen. Then there is the Diamondbacks who also have Adam Dunn, another free agent. By acquiring a reliever, this pretty much has ex-closer Kevin Gregg with a foot already out the door.

World Series Predictions: Quite the Bash Fest

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 8:31:08 EDT

So the Rays Bullpen has struggled quite a bit lately, but the offense absolutely tore up the Red Sox pitching staff. They likely will do the same to the Phillies pitching, but they will have one problem, the Phillies lineup can do the same right back to their pitchers as well.

This is a series where a lot of runs is likely to be scored in Philly and Tampa. Expect a lot of home runs and quite a few high scoring games. The favorite is clearly the Rays, making a run at their first WS title. The Phillies are the underdogs, but they're definitely the most fearsome underdog of this decade with the second best offense in the National League. They are definitely no pushovers.

This series will come down to execution and manager moves. No matter how you look at it, these are the best overall squads top to bottom from both leagues and should go deep into the series.