Portrait of a Fanbase in Two Tweets

And...
Context.

UPDATE: Be careful what you wish for.

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Week in Review

Overview: The Fish did well to win three of four from the Milwaukee Brewers during the week. Over the weekend they dropped two of three to the Giants but will have an opportunity to split the four game set tomorrow.
Positives: The starting pitchers have been much better as this week they all allowed no more than three runs in each start. Hanley Ramirez has also gotten real hot as he went 10-25 and raised his batting average to .335. The bullpen also remains mostly good, with Leo Nunez and Kiko Calero consistently getting their jobs done (and Lindstrom's too!).
Negatives: While the offense has started scoring more runs, there are still games of a very little offense and subsequently, some of those great starting pitching performances have been wasted. In the last two weeks, the Marlins have lost four games in which the opposition scored only two or three runs. Oh, and Matt Lindstrom continues to struggle and there is a mild closer controversy.
Highlight of the Week: Josh Johnson provided his own run support on Thursday, blasting a three-run homer, that helped him and the club win 4-3 in the series finale. Honorable mention to Dan Uggla though, for reaching 100 career home runs quicker than any second baseman in MLB history.
Line of the Week: Again, JJ the ace takes the cake, from that same Brewers game.

W, 7 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 1BB, 8 Ks

Looking Ahead: As mentioned earlier, the Marlins look to split the four game set with Giants in the finale today. The homestand wraps up midweek with three games against the Cardinals before going on the road and starting interleague play north of the border in Toronto.

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Is there a ghost in my house?

A Milwaukee news outlet informs us today that the historic Pfister Hotel, where many baseball teams stay while playing the Brewers, is allegedly haunted. And of course there are juicy details aplenty:

A player for the Dodgers has been known to sleep with a baseball bat for protection after hearing odd noises. And two pairs of Florida Marlins players reportedly demand to share a room when they're in Milwaukee because they're afraid of ghosts.

This leaves an important question unanswered, though: which Marlins are making this demand? My guesses:

• Dan Uggla: Ghost interference would explain his errors in last year's All Star Game.
• Matt Lindstrom: Ditto last night's Alfonseca save (What, you haven't heard of the ghost of Grover Cleveland Alexander? Probably not, since it likely doesn't exist...)
• Renyel Pinto: Don't let the scowl fool you, he is very afraid.
• Ronny Paulino: Just a wild guess.
  

We've asked Marlins beat writer Joe Frisaro to get to the bottom of it. Don't let us down, Joe.


H/t: Deadspin, image via i-love-cartoons.com

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It's Like He Realizes the Objective is to Get Outs

How about that? A pitcher who gets outs and doesn't issue many walks, all the while inducing groundball outs and a few double plays...

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
	5.0	5	1	1	1	3	1	81-53	4.97

HLD&S is vindicated for now. It's only one start, though, so let's not anoint Burke Badenhop just yet. Either way, it is always nice to get a win off of the wife-beater.

As for Leo Nunez and Matt Lindstrom... well, I could do without the Alfonseca hold and save, guys...

AP Photo/Tom Mihalek

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Meet the Mets, Beat the Mets

The Fish just pulled out an impressive 4-3 victory to take the first Marlins-Mets series in Citi Field's young history. Matt Lindstrom finished off an Alfonseca Save¹ preserving the lead which was delivered by a Cody Ross 2-RBI single in the 8th. Jorge Cantu once again proved how valuable he is with another home run in the first and a couple great defensive plays to save runs and end innings. I've been hesitating to say this, but Jorge plays a nice first base. I guess the key is that he never has to overhand throw it to anybody. Anyways, nothing beats taking two out of three in New York, especially when David Wright never comes through in the clutch. Stay tuned tomorrow morning for the SPESH report.

¹An Alfonseca Save is defined as a pitcher entering a save situation and instantly making it drastically tougher on himself by walking and hitting batters and getting hit all around the yard. Somehow though, the save is eventually made.

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Blown Save #1

via (gameticker.net)

This graph represents the Marlins win probability throught Friday night's game. Also that sharp decline in the 9th inning may also represent the amount of activity in my brain at that moment. It was really mind numbing as Shane Victorino blasted a two out grand slam to take the Phillies from 3-2 down, to 6-3 up. It had been coming. Lindstrom couldn't spot the fastball and get ahead. He needs to be checked out, and if he's 100% healthy then he should resume his familiar 8th inning role. The closer can be Leo Nunez. He has earned it.

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Marlins Sweep Away Nats

And the first save of the season is recorded by Matt Lindstrom Brett Carroll. A good start by Chris Volstad and a huge 3-RBI double by Dan Uggla gave the Marlins a 5-2 lead heading into the later innings. In the 9th though it was Uggla combining with closer Matt Lindstrom in an attempt to throw the game. Lindstrom walked two (including Adam Dunn with the bases loaded¹) sandwiched around a fielding error by Uggla. With the lead cut to 6-4 and the bases load with only one out, Stormy² was able to K Josh Willingham. On the next pitch Austin Kearns laced a liner into left that Carroll lunged and caught after first being frozen. It was a tough play with the game on the line and it was a huge out to record the win and the sweep. I'll leave it at that for now but stay tuned as we will have two new features to debut during tomorrow's off-day.

¹ In retrospect, the walk wasn't the worst thing in the world. It was a long at bat, and if a strike was thrown it may have ended up as a go-ahead grand slam.
² I've heard this used as Lindstrom's nickname a couple times and if it indeed is, then so far it's fitting. The end to this game was like running for cover in a thunderstorm.

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Lindstrom Displays Testicular Fortitude

Newly-minted Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom made sure everyone knows he has testicles last night in World Baseball Classic action, throwing at Dutch batter Vince Rooi in retaliation to the previous batter, Bryan Engelhardt, taking a bit too long to admire his tater tot in the eighth inning. In a show of anger which proves how little most players actually care about the WBC, the Dutch bench walked up the steps, gave Lindstrom a few words, and retreated when the umpires intervened. I'm taking the episode as a good sign. Lindstrom is penciled in to be the Marlins' closer this year, and I like that he's showing some fire already.

I do have one criticism for Matt, though. Not to put too fine a point on this, but if you're going to throw at a dude, you've got to hit him. Also, if throwing at a dude causes enough inflammation in your shoulder to warrant an MRI, then it's probably not worth it...

On a similar note, now that Matt is the closer, he needs a nickname. SporTech Matter is calling him "Wildman," but I think we as a fanbase can be a little more creative (plus, the similarity to Mitch, "Wild Thing" Williams is a bit off-putting). I'm also curious as to what you think his entrance music should be. May I suggest "Achilles' Last Stand," by Led Zeppelin? Leave your suggestions in the comments.


h/t: Awful Announcing

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