Marlins Getting Out of Town at the Right Time
Another series loss against a quality opponent and the Marlins are leaving town. With Fay bearing down on south Florida, there seems like no better time than now for the Fish to get out of the water.
The series loss to the Cubs crippled the Marlins a bit as they fell further back into the depths of the NL East now trailing 4.5 games in back of the re-surging Mets. Sporting a record that is just 3 games over .500, it remains to be seen how much longer the Marlins can hold on.
Their bullpen has been failing them. Reynel Pinto, who was arguably the Marlins most consistent reliever up until now, has been sliding. He faced 7 batters yesterday and 5 of them scored. He has not had much success of late, but still Fredi Gonzalez turns to him in the hopes that something will get worked out. Pinto has a 10.33 ERA since the All Star Break. Pitching coach Mark Wiley maintains that Pinto’s mechanics are still sound, but there seems to be some suggestion that he is tiring - Pinto has pitched 63 innings this year. Last year he lead relievers with a league high 58 2/3 innings pitched.
Maybe the Marlins will get everything firing on all cylinders on the road. They have 3 games against the Giants on the opposite coast, far away from bad weather, and then 4 games against the D’Backs. The Marlins will wind things up in Atlanta. Each series presents an opportunity for the Marlins to get back into this race, they will need to focus on themselves and trying to win each series in order to do that. Maybe Paul Lo Duca’s return can help?
It isn’t just the bullpen though - the offense has become anemic. Too many strikeouts and not putting the ball in play will do that to you. Gonzalez asserts the Marlins’ hitters are trying to hit home runs, but others just note the increase of K’s. When looking at the Cardinals series, the Marlins saw a team that can hit the long ball, but was hugely successful in putting the ball in play and limiting their strike outs. The Marlins still have not yet been able to consistently string hits together in bunches, instead relying on the big fly to garner most of their run support. The approach has worked for most of the year, but right now it is hurting the Marlins.
Matt Treanor: Pimp
I mean, who wouldn’t want to live this kind of lifestyle? You are a catcher for the Florida Marlins: sometimes you start, sometimes you don’t. But everyone in the clubhouse respects you and looks to you as a team leader. Your team is surprising a lot of people in the game and you are pushing for the playoffs. Your paycheck, too, isn’t all that bad.
Oh, and your wife happens to be the winningest female player in beach volleyball history. And she’s easy on the eyes.
It would be a difficult thing to swallow, I’d think, seeing your wife (and various parts of her) plastered on the internet. But I got to ask, how the hell did Matt Treanor land Misty May as his wife?
“We met in November 2003 at a sports therapy center in Orange, Calif. I was rehabbing my knee, and she was there training. I had no idea who she was. I went home and told my little brother, Markell, I was planning to ask out some volleyball player. I called her Missy May. He’s like, ‘What’s with you, man? You’ve got problems. She’s one of the most famous players in the world.’ We eventually went out in January, and we were engaged in March.” [Source: SI]
Started dating her in January and they were engaged by March? Three months? That is amor, my friends. But imagine how hard it would be that your wife is playing in the Olympics in Beijing at the same time you are working on the Mets in Shea Stadium? This is a huge event in your household, or any household for that matter - the Olympics. Yet you can’t be there to see your wife at her best going for gold. Its something to keep in mind as we fans tune in to watch the 4 year spectacle we call the Olympics; there is a story behind every athlete there.
Treanor admitted it is tough, that he actually had a friend hold up a cell phone and give him the play by play so he could somehow feel like he was there with his wife when she was playing in Athens in 2004. Seems like Treanor may have actually wanted his recent rehab stint to last a few more weeks so he could at least escape to Beijing to see his wife play. Who could disagree with that? Guess he will just have to watch like the rest of us.
It is an interesting story, though for us Marlin fans. Treanor is a likeable guy, the heart of a lion. He toiled in the minors for 10 years and almost gave up when the Marlins finally gave him his shot. In fact, it was Misty May who encouraged him to keep working at it as she knew how much he loved baseball. It’s also funny to note how Treanor gets teased in the clubhouse about his wife. She does play in a bathing suit, after all. Treanor recalled one year in Spring Training when Jeff Conine re-wrote Treanor’s name on the board as Matt May. To this day the rest of the clubhouse rags Treanor by calling him Mr. May.
But like they say, it takes a real man that will allow himself to take a backseat to his wife’s career ambitions and it doesn’t seem to bother him. May-Treanor, as her name has been changed since their marriage, admits that she sees her volleyball partner Kerri Walsh more than she does her husband these days. Seems like Treanor is the patient type, however, as he waited for his opportunity to finally play in the majors and he is waiting patiently for his wife as well. Of course, he is on the road most of the time, too.
Like they say, pimpin’ ain’t easy.
Read more about Misty May-Treanor and Matt Treanor.
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The Marlins have a bit of a history of players charming famous women. Carl Pavano was linked to Alyssa Milano while teammate Josh Beckett was dating model Leeann Tweeden back in 2004.
Gregg Costing Marlins Wins
Should Kevin Gregg continue to close games?
- No (85%, 11 Votes)
- Yes (15%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 13
Loading ...The Marlins are choking. Kevin Gregg is supposed to be there to give CPR and life support, but he hasn’t been able to save himself let alone his team. Sure, he has 15 saves, but he also has 6 blown saves.
Gregg also has 27 walks in 40 innings - that is the most of any reliever with 15 or more saves on the season.
This is a demonstration that Gregg’s control has not been precise - all season. So why keep putting him into these pressure situations which demand for a pitcher to respond by throwing strikes? Gregg’s WHIP is also a fat 1.43 which means hitters just aren’t fooled by him and when he is behind in the count, he has to throw strikes. It is a recipe for disaster.
Kevin Gregg needs to be lifted for a more promising closer. The sad fact is, the Marlins would have at most six more wins if Gregg just closed the door like he is supposed to. Where would that put the Marlins in the standings? Would that force Larry Beinfest, the team’s de facto GM to make a deal to improve the team? You bet. It would at least for the Marlins front office to look into making a deal to leap over the Phillies.
Yes, they will be getting Josh Johnson back sometime this week. Sure they will be getting Anibal Sanchez back soon, too. But what about Kevin Gregg? Will he continue to be inconsistent, at best, as the closer and cost the team wins?
Justin Miller was sent down because of an injury and Matt Lindstrom was recalled. “Justin” time, I say. Because he has quietly been one of the worst relievers we have had in the pen and has managed to escape too much ridicule. We all know what Miller is capable of, but he hasn’t shown good control all season. So, why is it any different with Gregg? Maybe because the Marlins don’t have any other options to close. Then again, let’s hope Lindstrom can come back and make Fredi think about making a change. Right now, Fredi isn’t showing much brass either by backing a pitcher who is struggling. Sure, you should back your players but when something is wrong, something is wrong. To support that is to lack any grey matter.
Last Day to Vote for Dan Uggla, Hanley Ramirez and the Marlins for All Star Game
Today is the final day - so get out and VOTE!
Vote for Hanley Ramirez, who is right now the favorite SS selected to start in the NL. He has a slight edge over Houston’s Miguel Tejada. Hanley just was awarded NL Player of the Month and has gone on a home run tear, surging up to 20 home runs on the season.
Also, show how much you appreciate Dan Uggla’s offensive numbers and VOTE for him to get to New York to represent the Marlins in the all-star game. He has MVP-type numbers and leads the team and tied for the Major League lead with 23 home runs. His main competition is Philadelphia’s Chase Utley, who is currently the leading vote getter at 2B for the NL. Currently, Uggla is out with an ankle sprain and should be out for at least 2 more days.
Final day to vote for your Marlins. Get out and VOTE!
Marlins Look to Overcome Legal Hurdle for Stadium
Today the Marlins will learn more about the legal fate of a suit designed to undermine their funding for the new stadium and the Miami redevelopment project of the downtown area estimated at about $3 billion dollars.
Further Reading: New Stadium Plans Moving Forward
Auto dealer Norman Braman has brought a suit against the Florida Marlins which stipulates that money being used to fund the new stadium should be going elsewhere. The Marlins contend that no tax revenue is being misused but that only tourist tax money is being targeted as a source for funding the stadium portion of the project.
To make matters worse, it was recently discovered by Braman’s legal team that a member of his legal team was related to the previous judge and a new judge was assigned to the suit. This could result in delaying the hearing, which favors Braman’s intentions and impede the groundbreaking scheduled for November.
Fishing Poll
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