Plan Accordingly

From today's Uni Watch:

Caleb Berg was recently watching the pilot episode of Sequest DSV, which first aired in 1993, when he noticed something interesting: “The character Lucas Wolenczak, played by the late Jonathan Brandis, is wearing a Marlins jersey. At the end he turns around and you can see he has 'World Series Champions 2010' on the back.” Seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

In other news, Andre Dawson will be wearing an Expos hat on his Hall of Fame plaque. Dawson wishes he could wear a Cubs hat. I can only hope Andre just has a wry sense of humor...

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Because someone else will make the joke if I don't...

Only the Marlins could have more fans in Kuwait than in America...

Someone needs to get those kids some stirrups...


h/t: @Marlins411

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This photo is totally going to be the centerpiece of our Friends Forever collage

On an unrelated note, I just found out that I'm 5 days older than Josh Johnson. Just as I was feeling good about my accomplishments thus far...

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What's going on here?

What happened to the cheapskate team with which I had become accustomed? How am I supposed to deal with the fact that I will soon be unable to blame the front office for any and all of the team's failures? Will rooting for the Marlins lose some of its charms when the team is no longer populated entirely by prospects, mediocre veterans, and bargain-basement options? Why did it take the players' union so long to make the team spend money? It's a confusing time to be a Marlins fan, for sure...

UPDATE: Frisaro confirms that the above tweet was not merely idle speculation.

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Uggla Signs, For Now

Joe Frisaro is reporting that the Marlins and Dan Uggla have agreed to a one-year $7.8 million contract for 2010, avoiding salary arbitration. The odds of the Marlins keeping both Uggla and Josh Johnson for 2010 were somewhat low going into the offseason, and Uggla's deal leaves open the possibility that the Fish could trade him before the midseason trade deadline if the club is out of contention for a playoff spot (though I imagine it would take quite an implosion in addition to a good offer to make such a trade happen).

While Uggla was not able to join Johnson and Hanley Ramirez in the long-term contracts club (newly formed), but at the very least he will be able to fill many Dan Uggla piggy banks this year. Hopefully he'll be around for a little while longer, and maybe he and Hanley will play nice this year...

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Johnson Signs 4 Year Deal (With Marlins! For Realsies!)

Jerry Crasnick is reporting that the Marlins have signed Tall Dark & Mormon Josh Johnson to a 4-year $39 million deal. Cue the Beck...

This is obviously wonderful news, and now it is time to celebrate with a HopDevil Ale.

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A spending tip for the Marlins

As just about everyone has reported, the MLB Players Association have compelled upon the Marlins to increase their payroll from "embarrassingly low" to "uncomfortably low." Allow me to take this opportunity to suggest a few guidelines on increasing payroll in a responsible manner.

DO give Josh Johnson a 4-year deal and a raise. He won't disappoint.
DON'T make anymore offers for Pudge. It's not worth it.
DO hire bloggers. I would totally earn my six-figure salary.
DON'T blow it all on Emilio Bonifacio. Why pay $6 million for Boni when you can get at least three subpar infielders for that price?
DO hire an extra over-the-hill bench player. Guys like Wes Helms and Luis Gonzalez get injured, cause they're old. This is how the Royals avoid getting hammered for low payrolls, remember when they signed Doug Mientkiewicz?
DON'T hire anymore Marlins Manatees. It wasn't that funny to begin with...


UPDATE: What's that, you want real analysis? Then go here.

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Children of The Marlins Diaspora 11

Andre Dawson, OF

Played for Marlins: 1995-1996
Other Teams: Montreal (1976-1986), Cubs (1987-1992), Boston (1993-1994)
Marlins fans know him because: He's The Hawk. Unlike most other children of the diaspora, Dawson ended his career with the Marlins, having already made a name for himself. He is now a special assistant in the Marlins' organization.
Everyone else knows him because: Dawson was one of the most feared players in baseball from the late-1970s through the 1980s, winning Rookie of the Year in 1977 and MVP in 1987, a year in which his salary was only $500,000 when he was forced (by collusion) to sign a blank contract with the Cubs. Dawson was one of three players (Willie Mays and Barry Bonds were the others) to hit 400 home runs and steal 300 bases in a career. Dawson was elected to the Hall of Fame this week, in his ninth year of eligibility.
Best Marlins moment: Though he did not play on a World Series winner, Dawson did receive a World Series ring for his work with the Marlins front office during the 2003 season. That's the best I got...

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Congrats Hawk

Congratulations to Andre Dawson on his election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Though statheads (rightfully) note that his OBP is not quite on par with most Hall-of-Famers, I still think he deserved inclusion based on his excellent defense and power hitting (Joe Posnanski's take on Dawson hit the nail on the head, I think).

By virtue of his two years spent as a role player on the Marlins, the Hawk becomes the first child of the Marlins Diaspora to make the Hall of Fame. Something tells me he won't have a Marlins hat on his plaque in Cooperstown, but that'll have to do until Gary Sheffield makes the Hall (a man can dream, can't he?). Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that fellow Expo Tim Raines deserves to join Dawson in the Hall. The prospect of two players who spent a majority of their careers in Montreal before finishing as members of the Florida Marlins was apparently too much for the baseball gods to allow this year. Hopefully Raines makes it in the next few years. Same goes for Barry Larkin, Bert Blyleven, and Roberto Alomar.

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