Another weekend is upon us and I, for one, couldn't be happier to see it make an  appearance. 

In the sports realm, there is a lot going on which includes the show, This Week In Baseball.  Do any of you watch that program with any regularity?  I can remember a time in the past when I would rarely miss it.  But now, it is unusual for it be a part of my weekly television watching routine.  Perhaps, you still tune in and I am missing the boat.

If sports isn't on your agenda this weekend and you have found something better to do, whether it be the arts, the positioning of garden gnomes,  making your own picnic basket, stealing bowling shoes, solving differential equations, or whatever.  Feel free to share.

But whatever you do, Have a Great Weekend!

We finally made it to Friday and I must say, earlier in the week, I wasn't sure that we would.  But we did.  Yaay us!

In sports, the NBA seems to be in full swing tonight and there is a college basketball game.  Along with Fresno State playing San Jose State in college football.  In other words, it is time to move on from the 'Canes looking so, how do you diplomatically say it, stinking lousy last night.  I have more to say about the game, but I don't think I'm allowed too.

Turning the page, if you want to talk about the Marlins, that is the number one fan favorite.  And who would've thunk since this a Marlins blog.  However, if climatology is your thing, get after it.  Maybe someone will chime in.  Then again, those of us who are freezing to death really don't want to hear about the perfect weather in South Florida.  So may be you should choose something else.  How about wine making, yeah, that is something I can use.  I want be able to offer any tidbits, but I can sure take notes.

Have a Great Friday!

The Florida Marlins made some roster moves and added 4 players to the 40-man roster.

The Marlins added four players to their 40-man roster on Thursday, selecting the contract of catcher Brett Hayes, as well as right-handed pitchers Chris Leroux, Dallas Trahern and Tim Wood, it was announced by Larry Beinfest, president of baseball operations.

When Rabelo either clears waivers or is claimed by another team, one more name will added to the roster, I'm guessing.

The reason for the adding the minor leaguers is to protect them from being claimed in the Rule 5 draft.

This being Friday, I'm not going to breakdown my opinion of the players put on the roster and the ones left off.  Also, I will explain the Rule 5 draft later on.

The Rule 5 draft takes place on December 11, the last day of the Winter Meetings.

More to come.

However, if you have an opinion about the minor leaguers, feel free to voice it in the comments.

Baseball Prospectus released their ranking of the top 11 Marlins prospects.  Now this is premium content and if you want to read the whole thing, you need to pay to play.  I pay and maybe you should too.

Will Carroll, who is a great guy, and I have exchange emails about how much I pilfer when the content is premium, and I think this will be okay.  If not, I'm sure he will let me know.

Anyways, here it is:

Five-Star Prospects
1. Cameron Maybin, CF
2. Michael Stanton, RF
3. Matt Dominguez, 3B
Four-Star Prospects
4. Logan Morrison, 1B
5. Kyle Skipworth, C
6. Jose Ceda, RHP
Three-Star Prospects
7. Sean West, LHP
8. Ryan Tucker, RHP 
9. Chris Coghlan, 2B
10. John Raynor, LF
11. Gaby Sanchez, 1B

Just Missed: Brett Carroll, OF; Scout Cousins, OF; Ike Galloway, OF

If you like to read their explanations for the rankings just click on the link, if you are a member.  If you are not, breakout the credit card, it is money well spent.

Seeing how I have read what they have to say, I won't say much.  Other than, I think Kyle Skipworth is ranked way too high.  Catchers drafted out of high school rarely pan out and one year of data on him isn't enough to warrant the rankings.

But BP knows more than me and everyone has their list and they often differ.  So I could easily be wrong

(Oh, by the way, it is Scott Cousins, not Scout Cousins.  Just letting the powers that be know.)

The Florida Supreme Court made its final ruling on the Strand v. Escambia County case.

There'll be no triple flip-flop on the question of whether voter approval is needed for local redevelopment bond sales.

The Florida Supreme Court refused on Wednesday to rehear the tax increment financing case again.

The high court ruled 28 years ago that referendums aren't needed for bonds repaid by new property tax revenues generated by the redevelopment projects. Last year, it reversed that precedent.

After a rehearing, the justices reversed their 2007 decision in September. They ruled the bonds don't need voter approval after all.

 

Now, Judge Cohen can finally grow a spine and put to rest the Braman suit, at least in its original form.

One down, probably many to go.

Of course team Braman, ever the thorn in the Marlins sides, knew this ruling was coming and will continue his parking garage suit.  

Needless to say, Braman won't be invited to my Thanksgiving celebration.  I'm sure he is crushed to learn that.

But hey, one is lawsuit is down.  That is unless Cohen something really strange, but I'm guessing that she won't.

So today is Thursday you know what that means.... Oh, wait, that is the lead in for the Mickey Mouse club's Tuesday song.  Hey, they both start with a T.

Sports today, the Hurricanes are playing the Ramblin' Wreck in college football and there is not a doubt who I am rooting for.  But I will say this about Georgia Tech, they have one of the best fight songs in all of college sports.

I'm sure there are other things going on but I'm not going to do the research to find out what they are.  If you would like to enlighten us, that is what the comments are for.  And I'm sure we would all appreciate it, if you did.

Gotta run.

Have a Great Day!

My, my, my.  It is has been next to forever since we have done a Flotsam and Jetsam post.  But today is the day to revive the old tradition.

Generally, a Flotsam and Jetsam post happens when I realize that nothing much new is being reported about the Marlins and I have absolutely no time to write something original.

So here we go:

In the SB Nation baseball blog world FishStripes has some sites that are our buds.  Most all of them are in the NL, but there is only one in the AL and it is Bless You Boys, who covers the Tigers.  Which would make sense in a superficial way since a lot of their players played for the Marlins at one time or another.  But the real explanation is: they are kindred spirits.  Well, okay, kindred spirits whose team has way too much money.

Anyway, Ian poses the question to the Tigers fans whether to Bring Back Mike Rabelo?

Apparently Logan Morrison is turning heads in the AFL.

John Sickles had this to say:

Logan Morrison, 1B, Florida Marlins: This guy looked great. Very fast bat, quick, relatively short swing, works the count well. Scouts are arguing over how much home run power he will develop, if he'll be a 15-20 homer guy or a 25-30 homer guy. Given his youth and continued improvement, I am very optimistic.

Which was backed up by The Sporting News, which said:

Logan Morrison, 1B, Florida. A hard worker who has turned himself into one of the top hitting prospects in the minors, Morrison hit over .400 in the Fall League. The Marlins farmhand is a patient hitter with a powerful, compact stroke. He won't hit tons of home runs, but he should bat close to .300 and have at least average power.

Whether Logan plays first base for the Marlins is in some doubt, he can also play the outfield, but what isn't in doubt is that he will play for the Marlins at some point in his career.  With the usual caveats applying.

Our good buddy Photi posted a link to the Marlins winter ball stats.  I knew this existed but completely forgot about it.  Click on the link(s) and see how the guys are doing.

Over at Beyond The Box Score, our good friend Sky put together some numbers on base running runs and Dan Uggla is one of the best.  If you are interested in the methodology that was used, it is provided.

Speaking of things going on at Beyond The Box Score, they are presenting the History of Baseball.  And so far, the first two parts are completed.

The History of the American League and National League, Part I.

The History of the American League and National League, Part II.

The Marlins appear in Part II.

And finally, if you have something you want, former Marlin, Al Leiter to sign, that should be no problem.  Apparently he is more than happy to oblige.

And that concludes today's Flotsam and Jetsam.

Well we made it to Wednesday, and that ain't bad.  Therefore it is time for the Wednesday Chum Bucket.

There are several things going on in sports tonight, but the important one is Ball State at Central Michigan.  Both teams are undefeated in conference play and this game will determine which one represents their region in the MAC Championship game.

I will say this: if Central Michigan pulls the same stunt in the second half that they did against Northern Illinois, this will be a blowout.  But they've probably learned from their mistakes and won't do that again.

This is still weird to me that I follow the MAC and I couldn't name all of the teams in the conference that the school I graduated from plays in.  Go figure.

But perhaps you are normal and couldn't care less about Ball State and Central Michigan, and therefore have other things on your mind.  Whatever those things may be feel free to jump into the thread and let the world know.  And you can never tell, someone else may have the exact same interest.

Have a Great Day!

Mike Rabelo was placed on waivers to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Looking to free up 40-man roster space, the Marlins on Tuesday placed catcher Mike Rabelo on outright waivers, according to multiple MLB sources.

The move doesn't necessarily mean the 28-year-old catcher will be leaving the Marlins organization. If he isn't claimed during the 72-hour waiver window, Rabelo could be outrighted to Florida's new Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans.

To clear waivers, Rabelo first would have to pass through National League waivers, and then the American League.

 

I'm guessing he won't have any trouble clearing waivers.

Taking Rabelo off the 40-man roster will leave the Marlins with 35 players on the roster, if I counted correctly.

A lot of clubs like to leave a spot or two open incase they make a trade.  However the Marlins rarely do that since when they make trades for players who need to placed on the 40-man, they trade someone on the 40-man.

Making five spots be open on the roster kinda makes you wonder if something is brewing.

The Marlins stadium deal keeps progressing just like it always has.  Or another way of saying it, the delays just keep coming.

As the deadline to complete the new Marlins stadium looms in less than three years, Local 10 has learned there has been yet another delay in the construction and development contracts.

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The building of the new stadium has been delayed because the contracts are very complex documents and they must be perfect before they are voted upon, Local 10's Michael Putney reported. The contracts were supposed to be ready to go to the city and county commissions in October, but they are not yet finished.

 

Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess is the lead negotiator for local government on the stadium deal, which was approved in concept in December 2007.

 

Marlins President David Samson said the team needed final approval by December 2008 to start play at the stadium in 2011.

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Samson said he expects commissioners to see contracts in January.

 

"We're very focused on (a 2011 opening date), but we're waiting to hear from our construction managers about the delays and the impact on the construction schedule," Samson said. "We expect to make an announcement in the next 10 days."

 

The Marlins could push the deadline for the opening of the new stadium to 2012, Putney reported.

It don't come easy.

If the Marlins push the opening of the new stadium to 2012, it could impact the 2009 team's makeup.  Until the Marlins are sure that a new stadium is on the way along with an legitimate timeframe for its completion they will continue to hold down cost.

If Samson is right, and that is a big if, we may know more in 10 days.