Free Republic

Federal authorities have opened a wide-ranging investigation into the Miami Marlins' controversial ballpark deal with Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami, demanding financial information underpinning nearly $500 million in bond sales as well as records of campaign contributions from the Marlins to local and state elected leaders. In a pair of lengthy letters delivered to government attorneys Thursday, the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission gave the city and county until Jan. 6 to deliver everything from minutes of meetings between government leaders and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, to records of Marlins finances...

At 9:00pm Friday night, the Florida Marlins officially unveil their new logos and uniforms, transforming themselves overnight into the Miami Marlins.

The Marlins on Wednesday placed closer Leo Nunez on the restricted list so he could return to his native Dominican Republic to clear up a few things. Namely, his name. A league source initially said Nunez was not missing the Marlins’ final six games as a result of improper conduct. Later, the source confirmed Nunez’s premature departure was the result of an immigration issue.

Jack McKeon’s baseball days begin in a pew. At 8 on Tuesday morning, the Florida Marlins’ manager attended Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, less than 12 hours after his team beat the Mets on a 10th-inning grand slam. Such games are testament to his faith in the saint he prays to every game during the national anthem. “A good night for St. Thérèse,” he said, sitting in the lounge of Midtown Manhattan hotel. In each major league city, McKeon has a favorite, or at least a convenient, Roman Catholic church. If he does not know their names, he can describe...

Jack McKeon is older than Frank Robinson and Hank Aaron. He’s older than Willie Mays, older than Ernie Banks. He’s older than Jim Bunning. He’s older than Whitey Herzog. He’s even older than Matt Stairs. He’s older than night baseball, older than televised baseball, older than the ground-rule double, older than the All-Star Game. He’s older than Bobby Cox — by 10 years. He’s older than Davey Johnson — by 12. We could do this all day. How about deceased people, you say? McKeon is older than Sparky Anderson, older than Mickey Mantle, older than Ted Kennedy, older than Barack...

There goes U2's Bono again, imposing his will on the Major League Baseball schedule. As it attempts a reboot of its canceled 2010 tour, the world's biggest rock 'n' roll band is booting the Seattle Mariners and Florida Marlins from Sun Life Stadium for their interleague series on June 24-26. Instead of home games in Miami Gardens, the Fish will take on Ichiro(notes) at Safeco Field in Seattle using National League rules. This apparently means 84 home games for the M's and 78 for Florida. Uneven! It also could mean that AL Cy Young winner King Felix Hernandez(notes) (pictured holding...

Dan is now the all time HR leader in Marlins history. Rule 5 guy who has just worked his ass off to get where he is today. It is a pleasure to watch him play. Plus, he's one of the last that openly sports the chaw of Redman and Juicy Fruit. What a throwback.

 East W L Pct GB Home Road East Cent West Streak L10 New York Yankees 50 31 .617 -- 28-13 22-18 20-11 10-7 9-6 Won 2 6-4 Boston Red Sox 49 33 .598 1.5 29-17 20-16 18-17 10-9 8-2 Lost 1 6-4 Tampa Bay Rays 48 33 .593 2.0 20-19 28-14 19-10 11-6 11-6 Won 2 6-4 Toronto Blue Jays 41 42 .494 10.0 21-19 20-23 13-14 11-9 10-8 Lost 2 2-8 Baltimore Orioles 25 57 .305 25.5 16-25 9-32 9-27 4-6 5-13 Lost 1 5-5  Central W L Pct GB Home Road East Cent West Streak L10 Detroit...

The Florida Marlins have fired manager Fredi Gonzalez, bench coach Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley, the team said Wednesday. The team said Edwin Rodriguez had been named interim manager, with Brandon Hyde and John Mallee the interim bench and hitting coaches, respectively.

BY CLARK SPENCER cspencer@MiamiHerald.com An animal rights' group is urging the Marlins to "think outside the tank" and "deep-six" plans to install salt-water aquariums containing live fish at the team's new Little Havana ballpark. Instead, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, in a letter to Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, offered "cruelty-free alternatives" to the aquariums, which will serve as backstops and flank either side of home plate in the new stadium. "Being exposed to the loud crowds, bright lights, and reverberations of a baseball stadium would be stressful and maddening for any large animals held captive in tanks...

Florida Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton generates the inevitable Dave Winfield comparisons because he's a 6-foot-5, 240-pound right-handed slugger with a multisport background. His Double-A hitting coach called him "Paul Bunyan," and one opposing manager said he looks like a "15-year-old playing on an 8-year-old Little League team." Hello, Danny Almonte. Still, it's only when Stanton starts eliciting classic 1960s sitcom references that you realize how extraordinary he can be. Former big leaguer John Vander Wal, now a San Diego Padres scout, was at the baseball draft Monday when he recalled watching Stanton take batting practice earlier this spring for Jacksonville...

Objections to Arizona's new immigration law followed the Arizona Diamondbacks to Sun Life Stadium on Monday evening. Despite a drenching rain, a hearty group of about 75 community, labor and political activists, interfaith representatives and Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! fans, gathered at the stadium's main gate before the game to oppose the law known as SB 1070. They wore T-shirts reading "Strike Out SB 1070, " and chanted "Arizona shame on you, immigrants are people, too."

MIAMI -- The Florida Marlins are looking for some footloose fat men. The National League team is creating an all-male, plus-size cheerleading squad to be dubbed the Manatees. Tryouts were scheduled for Sunday. The team hopes to recruit seven to 10 tubby men to dance, cheer and jiggle during Friday and Saturday home games this season. Real manatees, 1,200-pound mammals sometimes referred to as "sea cows," are not considered the most agile of creatures and often get caught in boat propellers.

Marlins Move 1 Game Over .500 By STEVEN WINE MIAMI - For a team that overcame an 11-31 start, a five-run deficit was nothing. The resilient Florida Marlins became the first club in major-league history to climb above .500 after being 20 games under, rallying Monday to beat reeling Arizona 8-5. "I don't think we're surprised at what we're doing," closer Joe Borowski said. "But I'm sure everybody else is shocked." Joe Borchard's three-run homer capped a six-run sixth inning against the Diamondbacks, who have lost six in a row despite leading in each of the past five games. With...

Marlins turn it around By TIM REYNOLDS MIAMI (AP) - Joe Girardi is as surprised as anyone. "I knew we would play better," the Florida Marlins' rookie manager said, "but I did not expect this." He's surely not alone. No one could have expected this - a four-week run where the untried, rebuilding and rookie-loaded Marlins were the hottest team in baseball. Led by a bunch of relative unknowns, the Marlins are 18-6 in their last 24 games and have climbed out of last place in the National League East. Josh Johnson leads the majors with a 2.01 earned-run average....

Tough times for Marlins -- and their fans By STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer May 9, 2006 Tony Gwynn & Jeff Passan: These teams turn it around Can Bonds catch Aaron? MIAMI (AP) -- The vendor climbed the steps in the stands behind home plate, searching for customers amid the empty seats during the Florida Marlins' latest loss. ADVERTISEMENT "Buy some peanuts -- you'll feel better," he shouted. Marlins fans, that scarcest of breeds, are hurting because their team is beyond bad. Not only are the Marlins last in the major leagues in attendance, but they have the fewest wins...

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush signaled Thursday he's open to a proposal to give state help to Miami-Dade County for a new Florida Marlins baseball park in Hialeah. The proposal is riding on a bill already passed by the House that certifies the NBA's Orlando Magic for a similar state subsidy that Bush said he supports. If the measure (HB 615) passes the Senate and escapes Bush's veto, both professional sports teams would receive $60 million from the state over a 30-year period to help with building or refurbishing facilities. Although Bush killed a deal early in his first term...

Could we hear the call of Play Ball on site of Hialeah Race Track or could the Florida Marlins be looking at the hills of North Carolina as their new home? Representatives of the team apparently will visit the city of Charlotte, and officials in Hialeah, as they consider moving the team from Miami. A Marlins spokesman said Thursday that it'll be the first meeting between the team and Hialeah, the state's fifth most-populous city and one located just a few miles northwest of downtown Miami. "I'm not looking at it as a long shot. I want to do everything...

Back from managing, Mordecai ready to help Marlins By HAL BOCK AP Sports Writer NEW YORK In his first year as a manager, Mike Mordecai took a little infield practice and a little batting practice, just for fun, just to show the kids in the New York-Penn League that he could still do it at age 37. "I told my players I still felt like a player, just off the field," Mordecai said. "I told them, `I'm one of you.' I did it just in case. You never know." Now, after spending the season at Class A Jamestown, Mordecai knows....

Dontrelle delighted by success BY SEAN BRENNAN DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER After a week that saw one player whine about how unhappy he would be if he were traded while another had major issues with a couple of TV cameramen, along comes someone like Dontrelle Willis. Young, engaging, superbly talented and, maybe just as importantly, someone who realizes how lucky he is to be where he is. "This game, it's fun," Willis said. "If you're not having fun, I don't know what to tell you. I'm on my time here and I'm definitely going to enjoy this. I think a...