| The start of the 2005 baseball season looked so | | | | Series in 2000 against the New York Yankees. This is |
| promising for the Florida Marlins. They signed a clutch | | | | the type of manager that can bring a certain level of |
| hitter in Paul LoDuca to a 3 year contract. Next, they | | | | excitement to the team and can bring in fans to the |
| go out an reel in a big free agent catch in Carlos | | | | ballpark. |
| Delgado with a 5 year contract. With this pitching | | | | This now brings me to the second problem. South |
| rotation and lineup, the season looked promising. | | | | Florida may be looking at the final two years of seeing |
| Everyone was predicting the Florida Marlins to win their | | | | the Florida Marlins as their baseball team. In 2008, the |
| first division title. | | | | Florida Marlins will be evicted from Dolphins Stadium at |
| They got off to a fast start after the first month of | | | | the orders of Wayne Huizenga. 2006 is just around |
| the season and they just fizzled. Lackadaisical play | | | | the corner and there is still no stadium deal. The City of |
| and no sense of urgency among the players. Now in | | | | Miami is backing the Marlins. However, it is the State of |
| the final two weeks of the season, the Marlins have a | | | | Florida that is saying no. I guess the people in the State |
| chance to get into the playoffs as a wildcard and they | | | | government don't care about the economy of South |
| are screwing up. "There is so much negativity, it is | | | | Florida. They must not understand that having this |
| depressing. Everytime someone hits a homerun, it turns | | | | team here brings jobs to the local economy as well as |
| into a funeral and we can't recover," says pitcher A. J. | | | | the state in terms of tourism dollars. |
| Burnett. | | | | There is still one option that has yet to be explored. |
| So what is the problem? First, I think manager Jack | | | | That is for the team to go public on the stock |
| McKeon has lost his touch and there needs to be that | | | | exchange. Yes, it is possible, as the Orlando Predators |
| managerial change. Part of the problem lies with the | | | | of the Arena Football League have demonstrated. |
| players, but the type of manager that would be | | | | They are listed on the stock exchange under the |
| needed is one who is an excitable manager and who | | | | ticker symbol PRED. Many companies go public to |
| can bring excitement to the team. The players, seeing | | | | raise funds. Why not the Florida Marlins? If Owner |
| this excitement, can then feed off of that excitement | | | | Jeffrey Loria and President David Sampson really and |
| and raise their level play on the field. | | | | truly care about keeping the Marlins in South Florida like |
| One manager that comes to mind that would fit this | | | | they have been preaching, then why not look at this |
| profile is Bobby Valentine who is currently managing in | | | | option? |
| Japan. He his a proven winner. When he was the | | | | If somebody doesn't get up off their ass and start |
| manager of the New York Mets, he consistently had | | | | doing something, then start saying bye bye to the |
| them in second place. He even got to the World | | | | Florida Marlins in South Florida. |