With just minutes remaining before the end of the 4pm trading deadline, the Florida Marlins added a much needed bat to the batting order.
Marlins aquired First Baseman Nick Johnson from the Washington Nationals for pitching prospect Aaron Thompson.
The best part of this trade is that all of our dreams have now come true. We waited all season for this and can finally say it: Emilio Bonifacio is finally out of our line up!
Jorge Cantu will slide back over to third base where he played last year. Bonifacio won't be going going too far. He will be used as a utility player, where he can play infield and outfield.
Fredi Gonzalez has already mentioned that Nick Johnson will bat in front of All-Star Hanley Ramirez. With that said, Nick Johnson is one of the most patient hitters in the league. He has drawn 63 walks this year, 6th best in the National League.
The statistics speak for themselves.
Nick Johnson's 2009 Season Stats:
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 98 353 47 104 16 2 6 44 63 66 2 2 .295 .408 .402 .810
The Miami Heat are officially out of the run for F Lamar Odom. Odom agreed to terms on a 4 year deal to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal is worth $33 million with a Lakers Option on the fourth year. I guess it's back to the drawing board for the Heat. Maybe this will get Pat Riley to start up talks with Utah for Carlos Boozer.
The Miami Herald is reporting that the Miami Heat are going to meet with Indiana free-agent Jamal Tinsley. Tinsley has hurt the Heat for years. One reason why the heat have been unable to beat the Pacers in Indiana since December 31, 2001.
In 2003, the Marlins lost the 102nd game of the season to the Atlanta Braves and sat at 53-49. The 2009 Marlins lost the 102nd game of the season last night to the Atlanta Braves and sit at 53-49. Just wanted to show the irony in sports considering the Marlins win a World Series every six years and it has been six years since the last Championship.
To more important things, Marlins fans find themselves in a tough situation this weekend. Last night the Philadelphia Phillies began a four-game series with the San Francisco Giants. If you are following the standings, the Phillies lead the Marlins by 6 games in the division standings and the Giants, current Wild Card leaders, lead the Marlins by 3 games.
What would be the best interest for the team? A Giants sweep (they won game one)? A Phillies 3-1 series win? A four-game split?
Good thing the games are being played in California because who you go for should depend on the Marlins outcome that day. If the Marlins win go for the Giants. If they lose go for the Phillies.
This keeps us close in at least one of the two races. If the Marlins and Giants sweep, Florida will find themselves three games behind Philadelphia in the division and three games behind San Francisco in the Wild Card race.
We've all seen the outside renderings of the new Florida (soon to be Miami) Marlins ball park, but not many have seen what it will look like inside. The Sun-Sentinel has a photo gallery of the images released by the organization on the official groundbreaking day.
According to the images, there will be a water tank beyond the center field wall. This tank will not contain marine life (like Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field has) although that would be a cool idea. Instead the tank will be a pool, similar to what they have in the Arizona D-Back's ballpark, where fans will be able to cool off and enjoy the game "with a splash." Either way, the point is to combine the Marlins' mascot with the idea of the sea and a "where fish belong" kind of ambiance. The pictures also portray a seating arrangement that includes blue seats, but we are not sure if that will be the official color of the seats. Besides, teal, orange or black might be better fits for the Fish.
Right field and left field will be open views of the city and pieces of the Miami skyline, accented by thin white pillars that hold up the structure. It should make for beautiful views during the summer as the retractable roof will be closed off and fans will enjoy the fact that they are "in here" and not "out there."
The dimensions of the park will resemble Dolphin Stadium (or temporarily, Land Shark Stadium) - meaning that it will be a pitchers' park. The center field dimensions will be as unorthodox as the current Dolphin Stadium layout, which they call "The Bermuda Triangle."
Take a look at the gallery for yourself by clicking here.
Stadium-to-Stadium Comparison
Dolphin Stadium dimensions:
Left Field: 330 feet
Left Center: 360 feet
Center: 434 feet
Right-Center: 361 feet
Right Field: 345 feet
Marlins Stadium dimensions:
Left Field: 340 feet
Left-Center: 384 feet
Center: 416-420 feet
Right-Center: 392 feet
Right Field: 335 feet
Dolphin Stadium currently holds 72,000 seats, obviously catered to football games and not baseball. The new Marlins stadium is projected to hold approximately 37,000 seats - much more fitting for a baseball game attendance.
Our Two Cents
Now the Marlins front office must use a more aggressive approach than "if you build it they will come." Instead, they should adapt a mentality that stresses the product on the field - a product that competes each and every season. That's how to build more than just a stadium, it's how you build a loyal fan base and a lasting legacy.
While the Philadelphia Phillies continue to add extra arms to their rotation, the Marlins starting staff is showing why they were projected to be the top in the National League. They have received the decision in six of the Marlins last seven wins and are averaging 6.1 innings over that span.
Last night Ace Josh Johnson not only showcased his arm, but also his bat. With 2 outs, Cody Ross on first, Dan Uggla on second and a 1-1 count, Johnson crushed one to the deepest part of Land Shark Stadium. This wasn't a close one either. It cleared the wall with ease. The Marlins were already up 1-0 off a Hanley Ramirez triple that scored Bonifacio in the 3rd inning. Johnson's home run just padded the lead.
And it proved to be the winning run.
The Marlins didn't look back from there. Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla hit solo shots in the 5th inning and the Fish guaranteed themselves three straight series wins and a chance for their second sweep in July.
Rick Vandenhurk, who has been stellar since his call-up, will take the mound tonight.
Over Use?
This is the third game in a row that Johnson has thrown over 100 pitches. He is averaging 103 pitches a game. This can prove costly for the Fish down the stretch. This is the time of the year that pitchers start to feel the wear and tear of the season. The Marlins are in no position to lose another pitcher this season. Johnson hasn't expressed any discomfort or soreness so far, but let's keep in mind that he returned at the end of last season from Tommy John Surgery.
Gaby Sanchez
Gaby Sanchez made his first Major League appearence last night in the bottom of the 6th inning when he entered the game as a pinch hitter for Josh Johnson. He grounded out to third in his only at-bat.
But there is some good news for Sanchez. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has decided to give Burke Badenhop the nod for Saturday's game against the Chigaco Cubs, meaning Sanchez will have some more time on the active roster. The Marlins were going to need a fifth starter come July 31st and Gaby was first on the list to be sent down. Baring any trade deadline acquisitions, Sanchez will have at least one more week to get some playing time.
Trade Deadline
I'm a firm believer that it's better to get something instead of nothing. It's going to be difficult to hold on to Dan Uggla and Jeremy Hermida due to financial reasons (i.e. arbitration). If we can get a good deal, I think we should make it, if it's going to improve our chances during the playoff chase, but I don't see anything available that would warrant such a move.
The way the Marlins are playing right know, they have a chance to contend, but they have showed this year how inconsistent the offense can be.
If you didn't hear about it in the local news, the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee hosted a casting call for volunteers that wanted to appear on their Super Bowl and Pro Bowl commercial. The event was only opened to people who are registered as volunteers for the Host Committee and drew over 100 interested individuals to Land Shark Stadium.
The casting call gained plenty of media coverage, including NBC 6 Miami, CBS 4 Miami, Sun-Sentinel and South Florida Live. Here's the story that NBC 6 aired on their 7 o'clock hour on Monday night:
Those who showed up to audition were taken upstairs to the club level and guided through a series of checkpoints - from taking headshots, to checking in and performing in front of a panel. Emotions ranged from sheer excitement to utter nervousness. Once they stepped up to the panel the spotlight was on them and they gave it a shot at being a part of this year's historic Super Bowl and Pro Bowl.
The Host Committee compiled a video of the process and some of the out-takes from the auditions. Let's just say that it resembled closely what is seen at the beginning of the American Idol season. Take a look for yourself:
With the hype and media coverage generated from the event, the Host Committee was able to drive home the message once again that Super Bowl XLIV will be coming to South Florida this season, along with Pro Bowl 2010. These two events will make history as it will be the first time that any host city receives a Super Bowl for a 10th time and it will be the first time in 35 years that the Pro Bowl comes back to South Florida. As the Host Committee says, "Two primetime games in one beautiful location - South Florida. It doesn't get any better than this."
The Florida Marlins pulled to 2 games behind the Wild Card leading Colorodo Rockies and moved past the Atlanta Braves in the division standings with a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves off Ross Gload's first walk-off home run.
"I don't think I ever hit a home run that I knew it was gone" said Gload.
But we all knew the game was over the moment the ball left the bat.
Entering the bottom of the ninth, it looked like the Marlins were headed to their second loss in the past 3 games. The Braves sent in Closer Rafael Soriano (1-2) who had 8 saves in 8 opportunities in July and has been virtually unhittable all season (1.54 ERA).
Cody Ross walked to lead off the inning and John Baker moved him over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ross Gload was put in to pinch hit for for Leo Nunez, who gave up a home run to Garret Anderson in the top of the ninth, and delivered.
Ricky Nolasco (8-7) started the game for the Fish. He left the game in the seventh with the score tied 2-2. Ricky ran into trouble in the third inning but was able to strike out Brian McCann and Chipper Jones to strand a man on first and third and limit the damage to one run.
Hanley Ramirez answered with a two-run double in the bottom of the 3rd to take the lead 2-1.
Chipper Jones led off the top of the 6th inning with a solo home run to tie the score at 2. Jones has been a headache for Nolasco the past 2 years, going 7-13 with 4 HR and 6 RBI.
Florida is sending Ace Josh Johnson to the mound tomorrow. Atlanta is countering with Kenshin Kawakami.
Quick Notes: The Marlins are 6-1 since being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first series of the second half. Manager Freddi Gonzalez served a one-game suspension and Pitcher Burke Badenhop served his first of a three-game suspension for hitting Orlando Hudson with a pitch in retaliation on Sunday.
It was just last season that the Miami Dolphins were AFC East Champions and resurrected a failing franchise into a winning team. Now football season is waiting at our doorsteps and talks of projected standings come into play. The Dolphins may have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL, but the team has only improved from last season. They may not surprise many this time around, but they may prove their doubters wrong and repeat as AFC East Champs.
Some say the Fins' 2008 success was "luck" - citing Tom Brady's injury and New England's subsequent downfall as a big factor - and dismiss Miami's accomplishments altogether. In an effort to put things in perspective for the critics, here's a few reasons why next season could be as successful as last year's.
Defense On Demand
For one thing, the Dolphins defense has only gained steam and added some important upgrades. In particular, the secondary additions will be a great help for a Miami team that was ranked 25th in the passing yards allowed category. This means that the Dolphins are less likely to be torched by passing-minded teams like they were in week two of last season against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts are the first two match-ups for Miami in 2009 and will be early indicators as to if the secondary is more than just better on paper. Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell will be formidable at the safety positions along with the "Allen Brothers" (Jason and Will) at the cornerback slots. Let's not forget about the two savvy DBs that the Fins acquired through the draft in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith - they could have an impact if they develop quickly.
The defensive front line was also improved with Jason Taylor's homecoming (for a cheap price we may add) and is looking meaner by the year with linebackers to the likes of Joey Porter, Channing Crowder and Matt Roth. Pass rushing and run stuffing should be a few other improved statistics this upcoming year. Last season the Dolphins were ranked 10th in rushing yards allowed and 9th in points allowed. Once again, the defense has only improved from last year to this year. The challenge will be in the defense's performance against some tougher opponents.
Dynamic Offense
Once the defensive evaluation is over there is the dynamic offense that Miami bring to the field. Chad Pennington isn't a long ball, slinger-type of QB, but he does have a stellar completion percentage and can make the important plays. With the implementation of the Wild Cat offense on a larger scale, Miami should be a difficult assignment for many NFL teams. Ronnie Brown may not be able to make great passes from the Wild Cat when opponents rush, but Pat White sure can. The creativity that will imbue this season's Miami offense will overshadow the lack of star players on the roster.
Ted Ginn is entering his third year as a WR, which is historically the "break out" year for receivers, and should be ready to step in as the number one guy in the passing game. Ginn had almost 800 receiving yards last season and averaged 14.1 yards per catch. This season he will be asked to do more, but will approach the game with more poise and experience now that he's past his rookie and sophomore years.
The Rest of the AFC East
New England Patriots
Tom Brady may be back on his feet and ready to start the season, but a torn ACL is no joke. Patriots fans are expecting a Tom Brady similar to the one that won three Super Bowls for New England. That will be a tough expectation to meet for Brady, 32 years of age, coming off one of the most debilitating injuries in professional sports today. Limited movement will be the biggest issue to overcome for the All-Star QB and may infringe upon his scrambling abilities.
Besides Brady's knee worries, New England was ranked only one spot above Miami in points allowed and did not make any major improvements this off season to their defense. It's safe to say that there has been a drop off in the Pats' D in recent seasons after their Super Bowl XLII appearance. In that time they've fallen in points allowed ranking from 2nd to 8th. The Pats also face offensively adept teams similar to Miami in the Falcons, Colts and Saints, which will prove how well their defense really performs. With that said, it's a bit comical to see how the Patriots still rank in the top three of most pre season NFL rankings out there (such as this one and this one).
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo may be getting some air time on various sports networks thanks to Terrell Owens, but they have quite a few other holes to fix on their squad. Trent Edwards is still an unproven QB in the NFL and has not displayed throwing skills equal to that of Tony Romo - who had plenty of issues with T.O. in Dallas. A receiving duo made up of T.O. and Lee Evans may be enticing, but potentially troubling if the ball is not landing in their hands. Who knows what will happen once the season begins and the Bills go through offensive droughts. Will T.O. then act up like he did in Philly and Dallas and begin to affect yet another lock room? More questions than answers there.
On top of that, the Bills' defense has slightly improved in the past couple years, but still ranks in the middle of the league's defensive statistics. Buffalo was 22nd in rushing yards allowed and 14th in both total yards allowed and points allowed in 2008. It's difficult to get excited about Buffalo's defensive potential and effectiveness as they are still in the air.
New York Jets
Not to leave out the least favorite of Miami's rivals, the New York Jets are coming into the season with what they tout as "the next Joe Namath" (prior to Joe's drunk on MNF incident). Of course we are talking about USC's very own Mark Sanchez. Being a rookie is hard enough, being a rookie QB is even harder. Now being a rookie QB in New York, that's madness. Good luck to Sanchez as he goes through the motions of being an NFL QB and faces the tough crowds that inhabit the Meadowlands Sports Complex.
The Jets will need to improve on their defense if they want to be taken seriously in 2009. Being ranked 29th in passing yards allowed is nothing to cheer about, and when coupled with 18th in points allowed and 16th in yards allowed there are definitive issues to be addressed on the defensive end of things. Their line backing unit has improved with the addition of Calvin Pace and Bart Scott, but Pace is now out on a 4-game suspension and cohesion may take longer to establish. In the grand scheme of things, the Jets still are not considered a dominant defense in the league.
The Bottomline
This may be a short and sweet version of the argument behind a Miami AFC East title repeat, but it's fair to say that these reasons leave the AFC East up for grabs. New England is the obvious favorite, but Miami is known to play well against the Pats and will be a worthy opponent for them.
Many DolFans have faith in what Coach Sparano, Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland preach to the organization. The attitude that this trio has instilled in the Miami Dolphins has united the team and is the primary factor behind Miami's 2008 success. How else can one explain the Fins resurrection with the limited talent pool they utilized last year?
With an improved team and an intact core, Miami only has room to improve. Nobody is saying that it will be easy, but neither was turning a 1-15 team into a 11-5 division champion.
The Florida Marlins finished off their series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in impressive fashion - holding off the best team in the Majors in an 8-6 victory. The Dodgers made a push in the 6th inning and almost completed a comeback in the 9th, but the Marlins didn't let the lead slip. It was a tough sight for Fish fans when the Marlins were swept by the Phillies coming off the all-star break. Now, it's safe to say that the Marlins have bounced back and brought themselves into playoff discussions once again.
It was a bit of a pay back game for the Marlins after being embarrassed in Florida by the Dodgers in mid-May. In that series, the Dodgers scored a total of 21 runs on the Marlins. This time around the Fish racked up 18 runs against Los Angeles. There's nothing like a good ole' offensive butt whoopin' to "repay a favor." Even despite the questionable officiating by the home plate umpire, the Marlins were able to survive the ejection of Burke Badenhop and bring home the win.
Now the Marlins are 2.5 games behind the Wild Card race and 6.5 games behind the N.L. East leading Phillies. The division race may not be as close as the Marlins would like it to be, but it is within reach and is attainable. Besides, the Marlins are now 5-1 after being swept by the Phillies on July 17-19.
From sweeping the worst (Padres) to defeating the best (Dodgers), the Marlins regrouped by winning the games they had to and playing exceptional against the favorites. This must be a trend and not a spurt of luck for Florida if they hope to stay in the hunt for October.
Count It Up
Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-4 and scored 3 RBIs in the final game of the series, keeping his batting average at .348
Dan Uggla homered for he 16th time this season on Sunday, but still is struggling with a .229 batting average.
Leo Nuñez has earned 4 saves in the last six games and is beginning to look like the Marlins go-to closer.
* * *
The fans voted and it's time to see the results of out Florida Marlins poll. We asked the question, "The Florida Marlins are..." A) Contenders, B) Pretenders and C) Wild Card Bound. It seems as though the fans are split 50-50, leaving the perception of the Marlins as a toss up. A couple of fans did vote for "Wild Card Bound" and believe that Florida can manufacture the same magic they had in 1997 and 2003.
Not many people realize this, but the Marlins are undefeated when they reach the playoffs. That is, the Marlins have not lost a playoff series in their franchise history. That's something Fish fans can pride themselves on and hope for the franchise to continue.
Sport: an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature. This is the typical form in which society defines sport - usually pointing at the importance of winning the game as opposed to the skills and values gained from playing it. Sports should more than just about competing, winning and leaving in triumph. Sports should be instead used as a tool to unite, enlighten and stimulate progress more often. That is exactly what Michael Evans, Dave Cullen and Full Court Peace (FCP) have set out to do.
Layup drills, defensive sets, pick and rolls - how do these simple tasks create a lasting bond between children? The answer is hidden behind the cohesion created by the team-oriented attitude that basketball instills in people. FCP does just that by brining together children of Catholic and Protestant religions in Belfast, Ireland in order to set aside their differences and make them aware of their similarities.
Northen Ireland has been plagued with religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants for centuries now - tearing apart populations of people and dividing a region. The most innocent of the people affected in this are the children, whom do not fully understand the reasons behind the wars. We were able to have a Q&A session with Mike Evans in order to fully understand the situation in Belfast, Northern Ireland and explain how FCP has begun changing lives over there.
Q: What was the deciding moment that led you to create Full Court Peace (FCP)?
I was living in Connecticut with a relatively mundane job. I had recently moved home from Belfast, Northern Ireland, where, only with the help of Dave Cullen and Dave Tierney (two Belfast natives and now key Full Court Peace members), I was able to put together a half-Protestant, half-Catholic teenage boys' basketball team. It was a controversial idea that the three of us had put together successfully, and all of the kids involved had remained friends with each other in the post-season.
The exact moment that led to the creation of FCP as an official entity to continue that work came when Dave Cullen, the Co-Founder of Full Court Peace, called me and demanded that we move forward with the work we had done. "This place is too much in-need for us to just stop with one team," he told me, "we have no choice. Let's do it." He's the inspirational-type, and it worked on me. He was right.
Q: How has FCP changed your understanding of life?
I'm much more interested in politics, but at the same time, I'm more critical of politicians. I mean that in a healthy and cooperative way. That is, after seeing the results of war in Belfast, and after seeing the enduring strength of sectarianism, I'm highly suspicious of the way post-conflict regions are handled by the people put in place to "cure" them, or heal them.
After seeing the incredibly positive after-effects of sport on a small sample of that culture, and seeing a healing process happen in a matter a months, I wonder where the time and money spent on helping Belfast heal from the top has gone. I'm also closer with all my former teammates. High school and college. It meant so much to me to be able to instill in the minds of youth the ideals that the coaches I had instilled in my friends and me.
Q: What is your most vivid FCP memory?
My most vivid memory was eclipsed this past year by a memory held by Colin Powers and TJ Reynolds, our amazing coaches on the ground in Belfast.
We coach basketball at Protestant and Catholic high schools in Belfast for three months, recruiting players and garnering interest in the sport. Then, we take the kids from each school who have shown the most dedication and unite the two groups to form a team. It's an awkward and contentious time, those first unified practices. And we often wonder if the kids are buying into it.
This past year, a group of Protestant players awaited for bus to bring them over to the Catholic school for their team practice. After about 15 minutes, they were told their bus was not coming because a teacher had forgotten to take them. In a show of complete understanding of our work's mission, and in unprecedented fashion, the boys marched into their principal's office and demanded they get a ride to the Catholic school.
The principal took them and they never missed a practice the entire year.
Q: How many children have gone through FCP?
Thirty 16-year-old boys have gone through FCP. The number may seem low, but we're confident that each kid we've worked with has turned his life around - and his attitude toward the other religion. In September, we'll be working with 75 kids, and we'll be starting our first girls' team, which will be coached by Emily Bango, an American coach with a lot of experience. We'll also be starting our Alumni Program, which will comprise 10 graduates and will help foster their friendships forged on the court.
Q: How does basketball help change these children's lives?
The same way it changes American teens' lives, but with a little more intensity. We at Full Court Peace know that basketball, the ultimate team sport, teaches communication, persistence, reliance on others, leadership and healthy living. The game does the work for us.
Our kids come to as troubled youth from sometimes-broken homes, with little knowledge of commitment and hard work and with little tolerance of the "others" from the opposite side of the wall. We make it simple for them: come to practice and you'll be on the team. Work really hard and you'll get better. Get better and you'll lead the team.
It becomes less of a cross-community project (which many youth there roll their eyes at) and more about a team of young kids who see they're all escaping the ills of a society trying to recover. They see that regardless of religion, depression and drug abuse, sectarianism and violence and a lack of having a mentor can weigh heavily on their lifestyles. They celebrate wins, but not because they had more points that the other team; because they came together and achieved something for the one of the first times in their lives.
And finally, they make friends, genuine friends. They don't go home after a season of playing with kids they'd never normally meet and say, "Mom, I once met a Protestant or Catholic." They go home and they log into Facebook and add the other kids as friends. They text each other. They call each other. They stay on the team and they continue being teammates and they build that friendship that basketball has created. It's truly lifelong, just like being on a team here in the States.
Q: How does FCP gain its funding to support all these children?
We're fortunate enough to have a very, very generous benefactor in Belfast who, when he was 16-years-old, had his life turned around when he participated in cross-community work. We'd be nowhere without him.
But we're also working hard to raise money with grant applications, private investors and small functions. It's the nature of the beast, a never ending fight to raise as much as possible. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:
Q: What is your ultimate goal to accomplish with FCP?
To have youth from several regions of the world develop strong, enduring friendships with other youth who they're not "supposed" to be friends with. And for it all to happen with the help of an orange ball and coach-turned peacemaker and ultimate mentor.
With training camp right around the corner, fans from all across the NFL begin to dust off their football gear, grease up the old tailgate grills and set their sights on the season. The state of mind "there's always next season" becomes "there's always this season" and the anticipation builds up for what they hope to be the year.
Here in Miami, there is no lack of fanaticism when it comes to football. People have always questioned the Florida Marlins fans and ignored Miami Heat fans, but it's tough to hide away from the teal and orange when you stroll into South Florida.
One particular group of fans have stuck out of the crowd and brought the level of fanaticism to a new level. These three guys, who call themselves the DolFan Bandits, are leading the way in hyping up the Miami Dolphins and bringing excitement to DolFans all around.
The DolFan Bandits have been loyal to the Dolphins, like many others, and have been season ticket holders since 2004. Ever since Bill Parcells (A.K.A. The Big Tuna) came into town, the Dolphins have resurrected their team and changed the direction of the franchise. As a tribute to the team, the DolFan Bandits went in all out body paint and costume apparel to the Dolphins' post season game against the Ravens. The Fins may have lost that day, but the DolFan Bandits vowed to continue their campaign to create a hardcore fan presence in the NFL, similar to that of the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers.
Their goal: to raise money to enough money to attend every away game that the Dolphins play. Their reason: to let the NFL community know that Miami has a loyal fan base as prominent as any other team in the league.
"Our goal is to be one of the best 'Super Hardcore Fans' in the Dolphins and NFL communities. We wanted to thank the Dolphins by giving the team and the DolFans a New Look! For the New Era! A New Beginning! So we came up with the "DolFan Bandits," declared the trio in full coats of teal and orange paint. "DolFans all over the world love it. We get emails everyday, fans write and thank us, on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. But we should be the ones thanking them for their support, as it motivates us to keep pushing to get the NFL community to acknowledge us DolFans."
It can't go without saying that these guys have already left their mark on the DolFan community although they have only been around for such a short period of time. Whether it's being featured on the Miami Dolphins' latest promotional video or getting up close and personal with some of the team's key personnel (i.e. Tony Sparano), the DolFan Bandits have made their presence known and have no intentions of going away any time soon.
When asked about what their favorite part of being a DolFan Bandit is they stated, "it's seeing the reaction of other DolFans and there appreciation - taking pictures with them - fans love it, we love it."
Let's not forget, these guys go out in a thick layer of body paint to Dolphin events, not to mention football games in Miami, and have to walk around with virtually a new coat of skin on them for hours. So how do they do it? "Trust us, its not easy. It takes us about two hours to get painted, then another 30 minutes to take some of the paint off and about another two to three days to get it off completely...the heat and humidity in Miami forces us to use tougher, more resilient paint."
With these guys taking the DolFan community by storm, there is a high likelihood that South Floridians will see them more often on TV, in the newspapers and around town. DolFans need to invigorate the in-game experience and show more excitement than ever, now that Miami faces one of the most difficult schedules in the NFL. It will take more than just some chants and shouts from the DolFan Bandits to make Land Shark Stadium rock every game day.
The Dolphins have their home opener against a tough Indianapolis Colts team on a Monday Night Football spectacular. The Bandits will be painted down, hyped up and ready to go. Will you be ready?
Miami Sports Generation has officially created its first annual head-to-head fantasy football league via Yahoo! Sports. This league is absolutely free and will not contain any friendly wagers or online betting. We would like to thank everyone that joined our league and wish them the best of luck during the season. The standings and major updates will be maintained on the right sidebar of our website.
A total of 12 spots have been filled by readers, fans and friends and their names and team aliases have been posted below. So, get ready for some quality football (at least in the fantasy realm), as we embark on an epic battle for bragging rights to...Miami Sports Generation's first annual fantasy football league - at least we can pretend it's important. Remember, this is 100% free and there won't be any insider bets, for that you can find some sites to go bet on football. Read below for league details.
League Details
A live online draft will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 7:45 pm (DRAFT RESULTS ARE IN).
Top 6 teams advance to the playoffs which will be held weeks 14, 15 and 16.
Week 10 is Rivalry Week. Your Opponent for that week will be someone close to you in the standings.
All trades will be reviewed by a league vote. Managers have 2 days to protest pending trades. The trade deadline is November 20th.
Can't cut list will be in effect. It will be removed to drop a player on a case by case scenario (Injury, Lack of performance for an extended period of time, etc).
5 bonus points are awarded to a QB who throws for over 310 yards, a RB who rushes for 175 yards and a Receiver who gains 160 yards.
1st place winner will receive a Miami Sports Generation T-shirt, Their choice of a Miami Sports Generation Beer Stein, Travel Mug or Coffee mug and a Miami Sports Generation Bumper Sticker.
2nd place winner will receive thier choice of a Miami Sports Generation T-Shirt, Beer Stein, Travel Mug or Coffee Mug and a Bumper Sticker.
3rd place winner will receive a Miami Sports Generation Bumper Sticker (Hey, it's better than nothing)
If one of the MSG writers were to finish 1st, than the 2nd place winner would receive the 1st place prize and the 3rd place winner would receive the 2nd place prize.
If they finish second, the 3rd place winner will receive the 2nd place prize.
The Heat have re-signed unrestricted free agent C Jamaal Magloire. Per Heat policy, the terms of the contract were not disclosed. That gives the Heat four centers under contract heading into next season. Magloire had expressed that he wanted to finish his career in Miami.
The Miami Heat will not be matching the offer sheet given to SF Jamario Moon by the Cleveland Caveliers.
Reports are that Lamar Odom and the Los Angeles Lakers have resumed negotiations. This is not a good sign for Heat.
Training Camp begins on Sunday, August 2nd, and the Dolphins have yet to come to terms with four of their draft picks, including their first round pick CB Vontae Davis of Illinois. Former Owner Wayne Huizenga's policy was if you want to play this season you will be at training camp. Lets see what stance new owner Stephen Ross takes.
First it was Jimmy Buffet, then it was the Estefans and now it's Marc Anthony. Many people raise the question: Why? We may not know the absolute reasoning behind the celebrity additions to ownership, but we can try and poke at some potential rationales.
When Buffet and his Land Shark Lager company rocked a deal with Stephen Ross and Dolphin Stadium there was plenty of excitement behind the business move. Some saw it as an interesting touch to entertainment surrounding the team and the stadium. Many didn't see it as the first domino in a series of celebrity acquisitions though.
As the Estefans came around and added a tinge of Hispanic flavor to the Dolphins then suggestions were raised as to the trend that was taking place. Marc Anthony solidified Ross' moves as an actual business approach, but still left people in confusion as to how it would affect the team in the long haul.
For one thing, the star power on board reaches out to an international audience, which obviously extends beyond the current Miami Dolphin fan base. Not that DolFans are not diverse, but the followings that these celebrities have are much larger than the core of Miami's faithfuls. From a business perspective, this could be an attempt to lure international companies into business talks with the Miami Dolphins. Many people say that Stephen Ross is a smart businessman and one that is usually ahead of the curve.
It would be dumb to believe that a multi-millionaire (or billionaire) would sell off pieces to the team for simply for the sake of entertainment. Besides, the presence of Buffet nor the Estafans nor Anthony will bring more wins to the Miami Dolphins. There must be a deeper, more complex reason behind such moves.
After all, Ross purchased the team for over $1 billion and has made it clear that he will not make profit off the team with the price tag he bought it for. Thus, he turns his attention to the stadium and its revenue opportunities tied into the prestige of an NFL team. Sponsorships, naming rights, advertising and other marketing opportunities will be the focus of his attention. Not to mention, selling off pieces of the team helps alleviate that one billion dollar pocket hit that can hurt any wealthy individual in these times.
Whether the celebrities own one percent, five percent or ten percent of the team, the reality is that they are chipping away at a one billion dollar mammoth that Ross is carrying on his back.
In essence, the method behind the madness could very well be to attract a broader audience beyond the Dolphins fan base, which in turn could create a lucrative marketing pool for companies, both domestic and foreign. One thing is for sure and that is that Ross has reached out to the Hispanic community with aggressiveness and it seems like positive feedback has already been pouring in. Ross states that it is all in an effort to match the ownership with the diversity of community that exists in South Florida.
We don't know if the current roster of star minority owners is suffice for Ross' ambitions, but we do know that the Dolphins majority owner is aiming high and keeping positive attention on the team, while staying away from the X's and O's of the game. It's better that he leave that part the "The Big Tuna" and company.
With a 5-0 victory on Wednesday afternoon the Florida Marlins completed a series sweep of the Padres after being swept by the Phillies just a few days back. It seems as though the Marlins continue on their late-June trend to sweep or be swept.
As a result of winning, the Fish are now 5.5 games behind the Phillies, who snapped their 10-game win streak against the Cubs, and are back in second place in the N.L. East. Not to mention, they moved into 6th place behind the Wild Card spot with 3.5 games behind the Rockies. All of this occurred under the fact that Florida has not gone into San Diego and swept the Padres since 1993.
The offense has not completely returned for the Marlins, but it has improved since their five runs in three games versus the Phillies last week. What has definitely been solid is the pitching from their starters. Rick VandenHurk, Chris Volstad and Ricky Nolasco all combined for a total of three earned runs and 16 strike outs (10 of which came from Nolasco).
The antes will be raised after tomorrow's one night rest. The Marlins stay in San Diego for a day and then head over to Los Angeles to face off against the hottest team in baseball. If the Marlins want to consider themselves contenders and prove to their fans that they are not pretenders, then they must go out and win their series against the Dodgers.
Last time the Dodgers played against the Fish they dismantled them in South Florida, taking two out of three games and scoring a total of 21 runs in that stretch. If the Marlins hope to get pay back, their pitching must stay stellar and their bats must awaken from their dreary slumber. Entering "Mannywood" will be hostile and the only way to come out alive is by playing like the season is on the line.
It's lights, camera, action for the Marlins and there's only one take in this film. They better have their best performance on showcase.
The Florida Marlins did not let the series sweep by the Phillies mess with their psyche as they traveled to Sand Diego to face a struggling Padres team. There is no comparison between the contending World Series Champs and the 37-57 Padres, but losing can become a trend and this time around the Marlins did not let that happen.
The first two games of the Padres-Marlins series have been low scoring and hard-fought by both teams. Rick VandenHurk and Chris Volstad showed excellent poise and an ability to work out of jams.
VandenHurk has returned with a vengeance. He made two bad pitches on Monday resulting in back-to-back home runs by Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff. His fastball had tremendous movement and painted the corners of the plate - so much that home plate umpire, Dale Scott, looked puzzled on whether it was a ball or strike. As the innings progressed, VandenHurk, received the benefit of the doubt. He is replacing Andrew Miller, sent to AAA New Orleans, in the starting rotation.
Hanley Ramirez Stays Hot
Hamley Ramirez is hitting .428 since the All-Star break to raise his average to a National League high .348. He's now third-best to Minnesots's Joe Mauer (.361) and Seattle's Ichiro (.363).
Hanley's hot hitting has not been productive though. No one has been in scoring position when he has come up to bat. His only RBI came off a solo home run in the opening game of the Padres series. His one run also shows the lack of production behind him.
IF - Gaby Sanchez Called Up
This is what Marlins fans have been waiting for all year. The struggles of Emilio Bonifacio, on and off the plate, have lead to sleepless nights.
But wait...let's not get too excited Fish fans. In true Freddy Gonzalez fashion, Sanchez will probably not get a chance this time around. The Marlins will need a fifth starter come July 31 and Gaby is the odd man out. The Marlins ran out of options, and to not have to designate anyone for assignment come July 31, they called up Sanchez. It could just be more shattered dreams. It seems we may just have to wait until next year.
Phillies Running Away
Philadelphia is running away with the division lead. They have been able to tear off 10 in a row and extend their lead to seven games over the third place Marlins. If the Fish want to contend they have to start showing it. They have a series against the Dodgers over the weekend in Los Angeles before come back home to face the Braves and the Cubs. Losing a series is out of the question. It is unlikely that they will be able to overtake a healthy Philadelphia squad, but when has a wild card spot not been sufficient?
To summarize all the latest updates on the Miami Heat, here is a brief recap of all the discussions and rumors surrounding the team.
- As you should know by now, the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Jamario Moon to an offer sheet. The Heat now have until Friday to match that offer or risk losing Moon to their Eastern Conference rivals. By the looks of it, Miami will likely let this go (despite the effectiveness that Moon provided during his minutes on the court) as their priorities are focused elsewhere. The Cavaliers would have added onto their big off-season with Shaquille O'Neal and Anthony Parker already in the books.
- Talks with Carlos Boozer continue to get more interesting with his latest description of playing alongside Dwyane Wade in Miami: it would be a "a beautiful thing." Boozer has already told the media that he and the Jazz have agreed to trade him away - a somewhat civil form of parting ways. The alleged deal that has been proposed between the Heat and Jazz involves sending Dorell Wright and Udonis Haslem to Utah in order to match salary costs.
- The Heat have officially re-signed back-up center, Joel Anthony. The terms of the deal are not clear, but is believed to be worth at least $1 million a year. This reassures, but does not bolster, the center position with the Heat. Anthony has acted as a defensive-minded hustle player that is undersized for his position, but makes up for it with plenty of effort and passion. Now, the biggest issue with Miami and the center spot is whether or not Jermaine O'Neal can recover from his knee problems and perform at a consistent level.
- Talks with Allen Iverson have cooled down and fast. The veteran PG has gone from talking to the Grizzlies to the Heat and more recently the Clippers. It seems as though money and playing time are the biggest issues with the four-time scoring champion as nobody is willing to dish out a long-term, above $5 million contract and offer plenty of minutes on the court. A.I. may have to settle for less at some point and start from scratch, or else he won't ever be able to skip practice again. As of now, the case for Allen Iverson is no longer in effect
- Negotiations with Lamar Odom stand as such: The Lakers have pulled their initial offer, the Heat have offered a contract of their own and Odom is still undecided as to what he wants to do. A possible return to the Lakers is still a possibility, but it require a five-year deal (which the Heat's offer includes) as opposed to the four-year offer that was recently pulled. Odom has a home in Miami and is good friends with Dwyane Wade, now the ball is in Odom's court as he must decide whether to return to a limited-playing time situation with a contending team or join an up-and-coming squad led by Wade.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Miami Heat as trades, rumors and signings are beginning to gain steam in Miami. Who knows what Pat Riley will pull out of his bag of tricks next.
Update (7/22/09): The Miami Heat have officially re-signed Jamaal Magloire to a contract. The terms of the contract were not disclosed (as usual). This solidifies the center position a bit more, but does not really add versatility as the Heat don't really have an "athletic" or "dynamic" big man. When you think of it though, how many teams do? Besides Amare Stoudemire and Dwight Howard there aren't too many more physical specimens that come to mind.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to spend what ever it takes to win an NBA Championship. In the past two months they have traded for Shaquille O'Neal, re-signed forward Anderson Verajao and sign free agent G Anthony Parker from Toronto. Now they have signed restricted free agent F Jamario Moon to an offer sheet.
The details of the offer have not been disclosed but the Heat have seven days to match the offer or let Moon his own way.
Jamario Moon was acquired last year along with Jermaine O'Neal in the trade that sent Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Toronto.
Cleveland has a good chance of signing Moon with Miami's attention focused on other players, namely Lamar Odom and Carlos Boozer. The Heat, already congested with small forwards, stated they are looking for a way to cut payroll to stay under the luxury tax threshold. Pat Riley stated he might go with 13 players on the roster instead of the maximum 15.
This move could be good for the Heat. The departure of Moon can make way for the return of Lamar Odom and a trade that sends Haslem and Dorell Wright to Utah for Carlos Boozer. This de-congests the roster at the small forward position, leaving Lamar Odom, James Jones and Yakhouba Diawara as the core, and puts the Heat in a good position to contend.
This can also be a bad thing. If we lose Moon and Odom decides to stay in Los Angeles, the heat lose their starting small forward and will have to force the Beasley experiment at the three spot. James Jones started a few times at SF, but the Heat need his scoring off the bench.
We all saw how the Heat struggled without Moon in the Playoffs. It would be great to keep him but Odom would be a worthy replacement - a more costly, yet more effective replacement.
As the first half of the season ended, it picked off where it started for the Marlins on one thing: the mentality of sweep or be swept. Although the scheduled four-game series was not played out completely (thanks to another rainy day in South Florida), the Phillies still took all three games that were not rained out. The saddest part of it all, the Marlins never led in any of those three games and were shut out in two of them.
On the bright side, the San Francisco Giants lost three games out of the last four games, keeping the Fish within reach of the Wild Card spot. Now the Marlins stand seven games out of the N.L. East lead and five games away from the Wild Card spot. The gap is fairly significant, but not insurmountable.
Looking forward to rest of the second half, the Marlins need to do one thing first before they look to correct their smaller issues - that is capitalize when men are on base. In the final game versus the Phillies, the Marlins were 0-12 with men in scoring position (three of those chances were with bases loaded).
The Phillies may be the defending World Series Champions and on an eight-game winning streak, but that should not be an excuse for the inconsistency displayed by the Fish in this series.
It seems like the Marlins had a minor All-Star break hangover and have not recovered from the extended rest. After the tough hit they took in the standings this weekend it should be enough water splashed on their face to wake up and get back on track.
A total of five runs in three games, all of which were scored in one extra innings game, is enough of a concern in itself for the team. It's not like the Phillies have a star-studded pitching rotation, so the reality is that Marlins dropped the ball (or one should say struck out) on plenty of opportunities in the series.
Whereas the bats were nowhere to be found and the small ball tactics nowhere to be seen, the Marlins must revert to a more offensive approach to the rest of the season. The pitching will take care of itself with solid starters (i.e. Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Chris Volstad) and decent relievers (i.e. Leo Nunez, Kiko Calero, Dan Meyer and Brian Sanches).
The second half will truly be a testing ground for Fredi Gonzalez and his managerial skills, not to say his job is on the line, but he must prove that he has what it takes to turn this team around through great leadership.
With a highly anticipated kickoff ceremony the construction of the the Florida Marlins (soon to be Miami Marlins) ballpark began at 10:00 AM on July 18th during a bright Saturday morning. There has been plenty of controversy surrounding the stadium, it's funding and how effective it will be in drawing fans to the games. On Saturday morning, all that was put aside for a moment of civic unity that echoed the statement "we are all Marlins fans" (whether we agree with stadium or not).
The crowds were in the thousands and optimism was sky high for a moment that symbolized the beginning of a solid foundation for baseball in Miami. In attendance were some county officials (which signed off on the stadium) as well as Commissioner Bud Selig. With all this positive reinforcement behind their backs, the Florida Marlins must now use and approach that stretched beyond "if you build it they will come."
As one writer suggests, the Marlins' management should now shift their focus towards building trust before anything else is built and showing gratitude towards the citizens of Miami and Miami-Dade County. After all, tax dollars are tax dollars whether they are tourism-based or income and sales-based.
Baseball fans in South Florida will have to make a concerted effort in trying to attend games and support the team in a more active manner, but the pressure is on the team to deliver a product on the field that is worthy of the loyalty and trust they seek. The fans did their part in keeping baseball at home, now it's time that the Marlins make that stay a pleasant one.
Cheers to a new beginning for the Florida Marlins and South Florida sports fans. There will always be skeptics and pessimists against the team and its potential, but less than two decades of existence and two championship trophies secured anything is possible with the Florida Marlins. Let's bring another trophy home to show the community that it was worth building a new home for baseball.
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Update: A source that reported from the site claims that the actual groundbreaking ceremony was "drowned out in boos" after friends and families of politicians and dignitaries were given temporary up-close access, blocking the view of many fans watching patiently. Although we are all about "keeping the fan faith alive" here at Miami Sports Generation, we do not condone that kind of gesture. After all, the fans were part of the taxpaying core and deserve better treatment than that. Now we can only hope that his minor incident is overshadowed by some positive sequence of events that will make the process more enjoyable.
It's about time that the Miami Heat start having headlines other than Dwyane Wade's contract situation. We are now beginning to hear about key players that are of interest to the Miami Heat (besides Allen Iverson). A recent story from Yahoo! reports that Miami is allegedly speaking with Lamar Odom and Carlos Boozer. Whether they get both, one or none at least Dwyane Wade knows that Pat Riley is starting to give into his requests.
Some think that Lamar Odom coming into negotiations with the Heat is all just a leverage maneuver by Odom's agent so that the Los Angeles Lakers offer a new contract. This could be a plausible argument, but it's all just speculation - it's tough to say why Odom's agent is truly talking to the Heat. If the reported five-year, $34 million dollar contact offer to Odom is real, then the Heat are looking at him as a long-term solution rather than a pre-2010 option. Not sure if that's enough money for Odom, but it's a start. Either way, some see it as an unlikely deal, but would love to see Odom come back to South Beach.
As for Boozer, the trade rumors involve Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright (and maybe even some draft picks). The Yahoo! report states that a three-way deal between the Heat, Jazz and Grizzlies is in the mix. This deal seems more likely to occur than the Odom deal, plus it gives the Heat the option to drop Boozer's contract off the books come 2010. One of our previous posts that discussed possible trade scenarios for the Heat included Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright in all trades, mainly because of Haslem's value and Wright's potential - both of which are alluring to many teams.
If this all falls through and Miami comes out empty handed, there will be disappointment in Wade's eyes, but satisfaction in the back of his mind as he lured Riley right where he wanted him. For the sake of Heat fans, there should be ongoing prayers for these trades to work out.
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Shimmy shaken checks? You heard right. Antoine "The Shimmy" Walker has been in the news lately and not for good reasons. He has been arrested for writing out false checks in excess of $800,000. This is not necessarily Miami Heat news, but since he did play a role in the 2006 championship run, he deserves an "honorable mention" (even though this is not so honorable, but it is entertaining - you have to admit).
Open Letter to Antoine Walker:
'Toine, let this be a lesson to you and realize that NBA stardom does not mean you can go around Las Vegas playing with money you do not own. Best of luck to you as you try to get your act together and straighten out your life. Your NBA career may be over, but you still have the potential to make the best out what you have. Start up a "tippy toe three" shooting camp or a "shimmy shake" dance team. Hey, you never know.
On a day in which the Florida Marlins begin their second half battle to gain a playoff spot in the 2009 MLB playoffs there is plenty of hope with a tinge of tension in the background. Hope that the team can put together a run for the N.L. East title or the Wild Card spot. Tension that it all may blow up in their face as has happened in recent years.
There are many ways that the second half can play out, but the Fish want one result and that is to make it over the hump this season. It's truly been a roller coaster type of season - with a zero to sixty 11-1 start, a seven game drop, a bumpy stretch of bad luck and a stabilizing recovery. Now they start the second half just above .500 at 46-44 with striking distance from playoff contention.
In all the team has gone through a growing experience as a unit. The pitching has stabilized and the offense has become less sporadic. Josh Johnson has emerged as the ace and Chris Volstad and Ricky Nolasco have strung together solid starts. Hanley Ramirez has gotten back to a .300 plus batting average and is one of the top batters in the Majors once again.
On the other hand, relief pitching is still a major question with the team and some position players are still underperforming. Matt Lindstrom has been very volatile - having some very dominant saves and some embarrassing finishes. Leo Nunez is still young and not ready to grab the reigns as a closer. As for the position player questions, fans are still waiting for the real Dan Uggla to emerge while Jorge Cantu and Jeremy Hermida have cooled down in recent times.
Where the Marlins stand now is on a sturdy ship sailing over rough seas. Direction, focus and proper team work can sail this ship towards the promised land, but inconsistency, stagnation and lack of passion could stray the ship away into peril. Will they grab hold of the wheel and steer towards their desired destination? That's the big question that will be answered in the second half.
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For in-depth analysis of the Florida Marlins all season long, Marlin Maniac offers some of the most detailed analyses of Marlins baseball. Whether it's using a complex calculation to determine the team's overall performance or statistical observations on individual players, Marlin Maniac provides plenty of information for Fish fans. He's even taken Miami Sports Generation to task over a story on a trade proposal, but he's still our buddy.
For the second time this year Lebron James beat out Dwayne Wade for NBA's Best. Dwayne Wade was nominated for 2009 Best NBA player along with Cleveland's Lebron James, Orlando's Dwight Howard and Los Angeles's Kobe Bryant.
It was tough considering that all four players made a good case throughout the season. James was named regular season MVP, Dwight Howard was named Defensive Player of the Year, Dwayne Wade was the NBA's scoring champion and Kobe Bryant was the Finals MVP, but Lebron James was able to run away with it.
This was the second time that Wade was nominated for an ESPY. The first time was in 2006 when he won the NBA's best player award after leading the Miami Heat to an NBA Championship.
For those who missed last night's All-Star game, the National League's win-less streak has reached 13. Their starting top 6 of the batting order went a combined 0-12 to include Marlins Short Stop Hanley Ramirez who went 0-3 with three groundouts. Pitcher Josh Johnson did not enter the game in his first All-Star selection.
Yahoo Sports reported last night that Pedro Martinez passed his physical and has agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract with N.L East Division Leader Philadelphia Phillies.
The Los Angeles Lakers have pulled their $27 million, three year offer to Lamar Odom. Lamar is upset that the Lakers were refusing to extend a contract for more than 3 years. The Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat are believed to have extended contracts to Odom with Miami being the favorite relocation destination for Odom. Reports are that he is weighing his options and hasn't ruled out a return to Los Angeles.
There are so many rumors surronding Carlos Boozer that they are hard to keep up with. Miami is still a possibility but Pat Riley insists that he will not trade F Michael Beasley.
Allen Iverson still has Miami on the top of his list. Iverson is looking for the full $5.8 million mid-level exception.
Pat Riely needs to make a move. If it's going to keep Dwayne Wade here, do whatever you have to do.
The Miami Dolphins have agreed to terms with fourth round draft pick WR Brian Hartline out of Ohio State.
Earlier this month they were able to sign third round draft pick WR Patrick Turner (USC) and LB J.D. Folsom (Weber State). OL Andrew Gardner (Georgia Tech) was signed in June and TE John Nalbone (Monmouth) was signed in May.
First-rounder CB Vontae Davis (Illinios), second-round picks QB Pat White (West Virginia) and CB Sean Smith (Utah) and fifth-round pick S Chris Clemons (Clemson) have yet to sign contracts with the Dolphins.
It's been a long time since the National League has beat the American League in the All-Star game. Not as long as the Cub's World Series drought, but long enough make notice of it.
The last time the N.L. sank the A.L. was in 1996. It was Ozzie Smith's last All-Star game, Mike Piazza was named the MVP and the American League was shutout 6-0.
How important is home-field advantage in the World Series?
The two leagues have split the six World Series titles since the inception of the rule in 2003. With Florida (2003), St. Louis (2006), and Philadelphia (2008) taking it for the National League and Boston (2004), Chicago White Sox (2005) and Boston (2007) wining it for the American League.
With those numbers it seems like home field advantage is a craps shoot, 50-50 chance.
Something that should be taken into consideration is the format in which the World Series is played. Similar to the NBA Finals, the 2-3-2 format is in place where the home-field team gets the first two home games and the other team gets games three, four and five. The last two games, if necessary, are played at home-field team's turf.
This format has created various problems for some teams that had home-field advantage. For instance in 2003, when the Marlins played the Yankees, the Fish won the series 4-2 by taking two games in New York and only losing one at home. Some teams can't take the pressure of a three-game stint away from home.
In essence, home-field advantage only benefits those teams that can last a three-game stint at the opposing team's stadium. It all depends on the poise and readiness of the team. It could be said that those teams that lost the championship while having home-field were just not ready to be World Series champions.
In the end, it's certain that most teams would like to have the advantage either way. The World Series is a whole different level and anything could happen - any logical team would like four games at home rather than three.
So do the N.L. All-Stars have it in them this year to end the drought and surpass the A.L.? There is a good chance that it can happen, but momentum is difficult to shift and it will take a concerted effort by the National League to secure home-field for their side.
The All-Star game begins at 8 PM EST and can be watched on FOX. Tim Lincecum will represent the N.L. on the mound, while Roy Halladay will be the starter for the A.L. May the best league win.
As the seats at the American Airlines Arena slowly filled up on Sunday night, fans anxiously anticipated the finale to Alonzo Mourning and Dwyane Wade's long series of Summer Groove events. After an extended wait, the players came out onto the court and the fans got what they came to see: an all-star game filled with humorous antics and high-flying acrobatics.
The final list of players that participated in the event included: Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Daequan Cook, Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Dorell Wright Caron Butler, Rasual Butler, Chris Paul, Kenyon Martin, Roger Mason, Darius Miles, Tim Hardaway, CJ Watson and Patrick Beverley (who? that guy the Heat drafted this year). Carmelo Anthony and Raja Bell were on the bench, but didn't dress up for the game.
It was a bit disappointing not to see some of the initially announced players such as LeBron James, Joe Johnson and Kevin Durant, but The Summer Groove cast still put on a show worth the time and price.
From the alley-oop dunks to the Globetrotter-like flow of the game, the players gave fans a showcase of their talents while cracking smiles and giggles at the same time.
Wade and CP3 took on Zo on two separate occasions and showed him how their dribbling skills are just a bit ahead of Zo's on-ball defense (Sorry Zo, can't mess with two recent Olympic Gold Medalists). Tim Hardaway looked like he was making a comeback run as he drained countless threes throughout the game, including a special Carnival Cruise Lines five-point shot that was activated during the last two minutes of each quarter.
Besides the in-game festivities, fans were give a mid-game performance by Salt-n-Pepa and a half time extravaganza by The Golden Oldies. Salt-n-Pepa performed a few songs, including their hit single, "Push It," and Zo and D. Wade joined them with a little groovin' of their own at center court.
But The Golden Oldies truly stole the show at half time. They capped off their show with a tribute to Michael Jackson by performing Thriller in fiendish outfits. From one song to another they moved to the music, as if age didn't matter, to hip-hop hits like "The Wu Tang" and "The Stanky Leg." It was worthy of the standing ovation that followed their performance.
Celebrities and local personalities were in attendence witnessing this crossroads between entertainment and charity. Pat Riley and his family were stationed a few rows up from center court. Zo's wife, Tracey Mourning was also sitting front row with a few of her close friends. Kenny "The Jet" Smith, Rodney Pete and plenty of other public figures went to support Zo and D. Wade's efforts. It was star-studded from the line-up to the audience.
And so The Summer Groove ended in style with a goal that carried plenty of substance - raise money for humanitarian causes and activities. It should never cease to amaze the South Florida community as to how priviledged they are to have two stars, in the form of Zo and D. Wade, that use their celebrity image and abundant wealth to give back to those in need.
On behalf of loyal Heat fans and concerned South Floridians, we thank them for their efforts and their passion. They truly are living the motto that states, "there is nothing better than serving a cause greater than oneself."
Shout out to Mike Brown of Hoop Connection, whom we met at the game - they've got a great organization that aims at helping youngsters get into college through their love of the game of basketball. Keep up the good work for a worthy cause.
Take a look at some of the pictures we took at The Summer Groove All-Star game held on Sunday, July 13th at the American Airlines Arena.Alonzo Mourning and Dwyane Wade put together a great series of events an the All-Star game finished it off in style.
General Manager Larry Beinfest knows how to make something out of nothing. There is nothing that he can't do. You give him a dollar and he gives you two dollars back.
On July 11, 2003 he made what he considers his most aggressive transaction when he sent first base prospect Adrian Gonzalez (now with the San Diego Padres) and two other minor leaguers to the Texas Rangers for reliever Ugueth Urbina. A trade that catapulted the Marlin's season.
"That was a big day for the organization," Beinfest said. "We were still coming, still in the middle of the pack. There were plenty of teams ahead of us in the wild-card race, and it was still relatively early — almost half the schedule still to be played."
Today is July 11, 2009 and the Marlins find themselves in the exact situation that they were in six years ago. They are two games over .500, three games back of division leader Philadelphia, four games back of the wild card spot and in need of a closer.
The San Diego Padres are in need of an infielder. Second baseman David Eckstein is injured and they have SS Luis Rodriguez and 3B Edgar Gonzalez filling in. Neither of which are batting over .200. When Eckstein returns they can move him over to short stop and slide Uggla right into second base.
The top of their line up would be a force to be reckoned with.
2. Tony Gwynn Jr. - .296
3. Dan Uggla - 16 HR, 50 RBI
4. Adrian Gonzalez - 24 HR, 52 RBI, .393 OBP
Dan Uggla has always been a better hitter at the top of the line-up. He batted 3rd for eight games this year while Hanley Ramirez was out with an injury and he performed as expected.
Stat Line - .370 AVG, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 5 R
His run producing stats weren't stellar because number two hitter Emilio Bonifacio is scarcely on base.
Dan Uggla is expendable with the emergence of Brett Carroll. Carroll would become the everyday right fielder, Chris Coghlan would moved down to second base and Jeremy Hermida would slide back over to left field. Brett is better defensively at right than Hermida and Coghlan is lighter on his feet at second.
Relief pitcher Heath Bell was the set-up man for all time saves leader Trevor Hoffman last year. After Hoffman departed for Milwaukee, Bell got the nod for closer.
Bell leads the National League with 23 saves and is tied for second in the Majors behind Brian Fuentes who has 25. He leads the National League with a 1.49 ERA which is second to Joe Nathan's 1.31 in the Majors.
The Marlins have committed themselves to a struggling closer. Matt Lindstrom is a roll of the dice. Leo Nunez filled in a couple of games and has three blown saves in seven opportunities. Dan Meyer is two for two in save opportunities but is too important as a middle reliever to make him our closer.
Matt Lindstrom - 2-1, 14 SV, 2 BS, 26 K, 20 BB, 6.52 ERA
Heath Bell - 3-1, 23 SV, 1 BS, 40 K, 15 BB, 1.49 ERA
Ugueth Urbina (at time of trade) - 0-4, 25 SV, 4 BS, 41 K, 18 BB, 4.19 ERA
This trade makes sense for both clubs. It would benefit both teams and address areas of need. San Diego has a replacement for Bell in Edward Mujica and the Marlins have a replacement for Uggla in Chris Coghlan - making both players expendable.
Larry Beinfest has worked magic before. It's time for him to do it again.
Plus, San Diego should do it as a thank you for Adrian Gonzalez (a returned favor for Gary Sheffield in 1993). Let's continue this great relationship. San Diego won't be disapointed with Uggla if they use him properly.
It seems as though the anticipation for the 2010 off season has led teams to make big moves now, some which may be more valuable than the projected moves for next year. The biggest trend is summed up in one phrase: "The contenders just got better."
We have seen three out of the four Eastern and Western Conference Finals teams re-up by making major additions to their roster. The reigning NBA Champs Los Angeles Lakers have brought in Ron Artest to bolster their seemingly intact roster from last season. The Orlando Magic have added Vince Carter (A.K.A. Vinsanity) to their crew. And last, but not least, the Cavaliers brought Shaquille O'Neal into Ohio to partner up with LeBron James.
Other notable signings and trades include:
Hedo Turkoglu signing with the Raptors
Mike Miller and Randy Foye going to the Wizards
Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess heading to San Antonio
Shawn Marion going across the border to the Dallas Mavs
Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva roll on into Detroit
Rasheed Wallace taking a trip to Boston
Trevor Ariza becoming a Houston Rocket
So who wins and loses amidst all the movement? It's pretty evident that those who lost players were the losers, for the most part.
Ron Artest going to the Los Angeles Lakers was a huge move for L.A. and automatically makes them a championship repeat threat. The departure of Trevor Ariza and potentially Lamar Odom could hurt their depth though. Both players were intricate pieces in last year's playoff run. Losing one is acceptable, but losing both could create some problems.
Projected Lakers Lineup:
PG - Derek Fisher
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Ron Artest
PF - Lamar Odom (pending)
C - Pau Gasol
When Orlando announced that they acquired Vince Carter in a trade during the 2009 NBA Draft, it seemed like a deal that fell out of the sky. Not only do the Magic get rid of excess players, they receive a second solid player in the form of Ryan Anderson (who's lighting up the Summer League). Courtney Lee is a promising player, but the Magic do not need him now that they have Vinsanity. Letting go of Rafer Alston and Tony Battie was a no brainer for two reasons: A) The team had four (4) point guards on the roster, and B) Battie is reaching the limits of his career at age 33.
Projected Magic Lineup:
PG - Jameer Nelson
SG - Mickael Pietrus
SF - Vince Carter
PF - Rashard Lewis
C - Dwight Howard
"The Big Witness" or "Shaqalier" (whatever shaqname you want to call him) was major for a team that underachieved last post-season. LeBron James needed help, now he got it. There have always been Shaquille O'Neal doubters ever since he left Los Angeles, but he's already proven people wrong time and time again - with a ring in Miami and a showcase in Phoenix that proved "I can run with the fastest offense in the league." Shaq wanted Kobe to get his fourth ring, but you bet he wants a fifth ring for himself. Although it's debatable, it seems like Cleveland is improving rather than regressing with this move. One thing that can be said is that this is an "all or nothing" move by the Cavs. We can only wait to see if it's a home run or a miserable strikeout.
Projected Cavaliers Lineup:
PG - Mo Williams
SG - Delonte West
SF - LeBron James
PF - Shaquille O'Neal*
C - Zydrunas Illgauskus
*It is still unknown as to how the Cavs will use Shaq (maybe he'll switch off with Big Z or come off the bench).
Lightning Round for Other Trades & Signings
Hedo Turkoglu to the Raptors, but loss of Shawn Marion leaves them at a stalemate. Similar team, slightly different faces. Thing is that Hedo is a bit more ball-hungry than The Matrix is. We'll see how that works out.
Mike Miller and Randy Foye are upgrades for an ailing Wizards team. They are nice compliments to the Wizards' core of Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Expect the Wizards to make a playoff push and contend for the 5-8 seeds.
San Antonio made some impressive off season moves by trading for Richard Jefferson and signing Antonio McDyess, while drafting DeJuan Blair and Jack McClinton. The front office should pat themselves on the back because the Spurs are a force to be reckoned with once again.
Mark Cuban has some big pockets and he emptied out some change to get contract-heavy Shawn Marion. It adds athleticism to the squad and brings in an element of hustle to the team. Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Josh Howard should all be happy with this move.
Detroit has gone in a different direction once they dismantled their 2004 squad, and it's a more versatile approach to the game. Adding Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva brings exciting offense and hustle defense to the team. Check plus for the Pistons.
Rasheed Wallace may be nearing the end of his career, but he is still a reliable veteran PF that can shoot threes, play defense and show veteran poise. With Kevin Garnett back and healthy, the Celtics cannot be forgotten. The only issue is the age of their core players, besides Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis.
Houston's problems trump the upside that Trevor Ariza brings. It's as if the Lakers and Rockets swapped players - Artest to L.A. and Ariza to Houston. Ron Artest is the better player on paper, but does not bring the intangibles that Ariza does. Besides that, Houston is dealing with Yao Ming's foot dilemma, which could cost him the entire season. Ariza is exciting, but does not solve Houston's greater issues.
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With just minutes remaining before the end of the 4pm trading deadline, the Florida Marlins added a much needed bat to the batting order.
