Post by Fish Troll on Mar 4, 2007 11:23:01 GMT -5
Loria not promising superstars will stay
By Tom D'Angelo
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 04, 2007
JUPITER — Owner Jeffrey Loria praised stars Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera as his team leaders Saturday but stopped short of saying both would be in a Marlins uniform in September.
"Guaranteeing they'll be here at the end of the year? I don't even want to ... " Loria said. "I never answer those types of questions."
Loria, appearing at camp for the first time this spring, touched on several subjects, including upgrading this team for the season.
The Marlins, still one of the youngest teams in the league with an overabundance of starting pitching throughout the organization, have glaring holes in center field and at the back end of the bullpen.
"We keep our eyes open," Loria said. "We keep looking to see what will make a good match for us.
"The one or two places we have to fill, they'll eventually be filled in some fashion."
Cabrera and Willis will cost the club $13.85 million, more than half of the expected on-field payroll of approximately $25 million.
Although the Marlins will once again field the cheapest team in baseball, Loria did not rule out adding players in July, as he did in 2003, if the Marlins surprise again.
"Let's see where we are (in) July," he said. "You know my enthusiasm for this team and this community. We did what we had to do then and we'll see where we are then and we'll make those decisions then."
The Marlins were in the wild-card race until the final weeks of last season with a team that used 22 rookies. The team returns the same nucleus with the exception of first-year manager Fredi Gonzalez, who replaces the fired Joe Girardi.
"Essentially this is the team we had last year, but they've had a year of experience to grow and develop," Loria said. "And the growth, you can sense it, you can feel it."
Loria praised Gonzalez for being "levelheaded" and "straightforward." He said the two speak several times a week.
Concerning Girardi, who was at odds with Loria from spring training throughout last season, Loria said: "I moved on, it's history."
Of more recent history was the discovery last week that Girardi offered tips to Phillies pitcher Jon Lieber in late July, helping turn around Lieber's season, including two crucial victories over the Marlins during the wild-card race.
"It was unfortunate, but that's history and I don't want to talk about history," Loria said.
He also addressed the ongoing stadium issue.
"I was really optimistic last year but whatever happened, happened," Loria said. "I'm cautiously optimistic this year."
By Tom D'Angelo
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 04, 2007
JUPITER — Owner Jeffrey Loria praised stars Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera as his team leaders Saturday but stopped short of saying both would be in a Marlins uniform in September.
"Guaranteeing they'll be here at the end of the year? I don't even want to ... " Loria said. "I never answer those types of questions."
Loria, appearing at camp for the first time this spring, touched on several subjects, including upgrading this team for the season.
The Marlins, still one of the youngest teams in the league with an overabundance of starting pitching throughout the organization, have glaring holes in center field and at the back end of the bullpen.
"We keep our eyes open," Loria said. "We keep looking to see what will make a good match for us.
"The one or two places we have to fill, they'll eventually be filled in some fashion."
Cabrera and Willis will cost the club $13.85 million, more than half of the expected on-field payroll of approximately $25 million.
Although the Marlins will once again field the cheapest team in baseball, Loria did not rule out adding players in July, as he did in 2003, if the Marlins surprise again.
"Let's see where we are (in) July," he said. "You know my enthusiasm for this team and this community. We did what we had to do then and we'll see where we are then and we'll make those decisions then."
The Marlins were in the wild-card race until the final weeks of last season with a team that used 22 rookies. The team returns the same nucleus with the exception of first-year manager Fredi Gonzalez, who replaces the fired Joe Girardi.
"Essentially this is the team we had last year, but they've had a year of experience to grow and develop," Loria said. "And the growth, you can sense it, you can feel it."
Loria praised Gonzalez for being "levelheaded" and "straightforward." He said the two speak several times a week.
Concerning Girardi, who was at odds with Loria from spring training throughout last season, Loria said: "I moved on, it's history."
Of more recent history was the discovery last week that Girardi offered tips to Phillies pitcher Jon Lieber in late July, helping turn around Lieber's season, including two crucial victories over the Marlins during the wild-card race.
"It was unfortunate, but that's history and I don't want to talk about history," Loria said.
He also addressed the ongoing stadium issue.
"I was really optimistic last year but whatever happened, happened," Loria said. "I'm cautiously optimistic this year."
www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2007/03/04/a9b_loria_0304.html
