Marlins officially change name to Miami (AP)

Hanley Ramirez emerged from the back of the stage, wearing a grin and a new uniform, arms raised as he basked in the first applause for a Miami Marlin. The franchise founded in 1993 as the Florida Marlins officially changed its name Friday night in a ceremony at the team’s new ballpark. The Marlins also [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/11/12/marlins-officially-change-name-to-miami-ap/

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Marlins make Pujols contract offer (AP)

A surprising visit by Albert Pujols sent a message: The Miami Marlins will be a much different franchise than the Florida Marlins. Pujols picked an unlikely locale to begin his free-agent tour Friday when he was courted in Miami by the Marlins, only hours before they officially changed their name during a ceremony at their [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/11/12/marlins-make-pujols-contract-offer-ap/

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Was wOBA invented in 1915

Was wOBA invented in 1915?

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Nats C Ramos rescued after kidnapping (AP)

Venezuelan police rescued Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos on Friday, two days after he was kidnapped, officials announced. Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said on state television that Ramos was “safe and sound” and that he was rescued by police. He said the circumstances weren’t immediately clear.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/11/12/nats-c-ramos-rescued-after-kidnapping-ap/

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Former pitcher Lea dies at 54 (AP)

Charlie Lea, who was the first French-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the major leagues, has died. He was 54. Collierville Police Lt. Doug Marshall confirmed Friday night that Lea was found dead at his home by his wife at about 4:30 p.m. The cause of death was not immediately known. Born in Orleans, [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2011/11/12/former-pitcher-lea-dies-at-54-ap/

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Good-Bye Florida Marlins. Hello Miami
Marlins!!!!

Good-Bye Florida Marlins.  Hello Miami Marlins!!!! It is officail now. Out with the old… And in with the new!!!

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http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/good-bye-florida-marlins-hello-miami-m
arlins/

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Saber-porn. Essentially, an argument for wOBA
over batting average using linear weights from 1915....

Saber-porn. Essentially, an argument for wOBA over batting average using linear weights from 1915. Background and link to the original article here.[...]

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http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2011/11/11/2555762/saber-porn-essentially-an-arg
ument-for-woba-over-batting-average

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Miami Marlins Debut Event Open Thread

OK, Marlins fans have been talking about it all day. We have seen the jerseys (probably). We have debated to death the merits of said jerseys. We have heard about the offers to big-name free agents like Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes. We have been restless all day regarding tonight's big event.

The moment is almost upon us. At 9 pm EST, the Marlins will be reborn as the Miami Marlins, and a new era of Fish will begin. And you Fish Stripers will be here to join us in commemorating or denigrating this occasion, depending on how you feel. Tonight, we officially see the new jerseys, check out the players in said jerseys, and ring in the arrival of the Miami Marlins. And hey, we may even see the arrival of a new Miami Marlin (though the odds are very small).

Here's what you guys have to do: comment, chat, and enjoy the ride. I will be here throughout the pre-game and event discussing whatever it is pops into the minds of the Fish Stripes readership. Ted Hill should be dropping in as well, as well as some of the other writers on the site. For the first time in the team's history, let's talk Miami Marlins baseball for a change.

After the jump, I'll put up bulletin points with updates regarding the event much like a live blog. I'll also be in the comments section talking about this exciting new time. Let's find out how ridiculous our team may or may not look!

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Crane Approval Vote On The Agenda

Crane Approval Vote On The Agenda

via Mark Berkman (@MarkBermanFox26) it appears a vote is on the Agenda for the owners meeting this Thursday. It appears Crane and MLB are still negotiating compensation for a move to the AL.

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Twins Sign Jamey Carroll to Man Short

The Twins took their first step toward addressing a decimated infield today, signing free agent Jamey Carroll. According to Ken Rosenthal's sources, the plan is for Carroll to become the team's everyday shortstop.

My stance has been that the Twins' approach this offseason ought to involve finding competent stopgaps that could potentially aid a return to contention in 2012 if things break right, but won't break the bank or require significant long-term commitments. Carroll fits that bill about as well as Ramon Santiago or Nick Punto, who were the players I suggested in my blueprint last month.

Although he'll turn 38 in February, the righty-swinging Carroll has been a consistent producer, finishing with an on-base percentage of .355 or higher in each of the past four seasons, with steady if unspectacular defense in the middle infield. Twins shortstops turned in a .292 OBP while frequently batting in the two-hole this year, so the upgrade potential here is massive. Though he has no power to speak of (he hasn't hit a home run since August of 2009), Carroll is a disciplined hitter, a good base runner and last year he turned in the second-lowest swinging strike percentage in the majors. He's the quintessential piranha.

It's unclear how the veteran's range will play at shortstop as he inches toward his fourth decade of life, but he's committed only nine errors in 1,000 innings at the position for the Dodgers over the past two years, making it easy to recognize his appeal to Terry Ryan and the Twins after a gaffe-filled 2011.

I will say that I've got some quibbles with the contract. The Twins reportedly are guaranteeing Carroll between $6-7 million on a two-year deal; that seems quite excessive for a middling 37-year-old who has earned less than $12 million in his big-league career up to this point. He's bound to start declining sometime, perhaps as soon as 2012, and if that's the case his contract will prove considerably more burdensome than a cheap one-year pact with a similar option (such as Punto).

Here's another thing that should be noted about Carroll: While his .368 on-base percentage over the past two years is impressive, nearly half of his at-bats came in front of the pitcher. If you want an idea of how hitting eighth in an NL lineup can inflate an OBP, consider that Punto posted a career-high .388 mark this year while getting a big chunk of his at-bats there for the Cardinals.

Still, at the end of the day, $3.5 million is a reasonable price for a starting shortstop, and if the Twins felt compelled to spend a little extra in order to ensure they got their guy so they can move on to addressing other needs -- such as pitcher and catcher -- I can live with that.

I do hope that the club isn't done adding veteran depth to the infield. I also hope that the money saved by acquiring a low-cost starter at shortstop is put to good use elsewhere.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.nickstwinsblog.com/2011/11/twins-sign-jamey-carroll-to-man-short.html

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