Sometimes it's Good to be Poor

In this season more than almost any other, I have been amazed/confused/astonished/bewildered by the payroll disparities in Major League Baseball.

What is so confounding isn't that some teams have low payrolls and others have high ones, that is nothing new. The thing that gets me is the number of silly contracts that have been given out by some of these general managers.

Examining the Marlins' opponent last night demonstrates what I'm talking about.

The Mariners signed last night's starter Carlos Silva to a huge deal that pays him more than $8 million a year. Richie Sexson (who for a big man has the tiniest swing I've ever seen) makes $15 million this season! Miguel Batista makes almost $10 million! I haven't even mentioned the bloated contracts of Adrian Beltre, Jarrod Washburn or Jose Vidro. I don't think any of those guys could even earn a starting spot on the Marlins. No wonder GM Bill Bavasi was fired. Are you serious Bill?

People jump on the Marlins for being cheapskates and they undoubtedly are. But I think the Fish's thriftiness is a good thing. It makes them avoid stupid, costly mistakes like the Mariners, by all accounts a respected franchise. Just because a team has the revenue streams to spend a crap-load of money, doesn't mean they have to spend it stupidly.

The Marlins' big gaffe this season was signing Jacque Jones (it cost about 5o grand.) The Brewers' big gaffe was Eric Gagne's $10 million deal!

Larry Beinfest's and David Samson's mantra is to find players that out-perform their contracts. It is amazing that more teams don't subscribe to the same philosophy. I think other teams (aided by the success this season by the bottom three payroll teams: the Marlins, Rays and A's) are finally beginning to realize that high payrolls do not necessarily directly contribute to wins.

Jacque Jones Experiment? Done.

Well that was fast. Not only is Jacque Jones removed from the CF platoon, but the major league roster.

It's pretty surprising that the Marlins would give up on him so quickly, but what did he show for himself? Nothing. If he makes it through to AAA, I'm sure the Marlins will be watching him closely for a turnaround. At age 33, though, this could be the end of the road for Frere Jacque.

Replacing him on the roster will be South Florida Fan favorite, Robert Andino, aka The Great Andino. Will he actually get to play this time? He batted a respectable .255/.379/.418 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in AAA Albuquerque, flashing his usual great defense. With the Marlins carrying 13 pitchers now instead of 12, odds are Andino will get a PH appearance in half the games. The PH order should be Helms-Amezaga-Andino-Rabelo, so expect to see him in some 5th/6th inning ABs or late in the games, should Helms and Amezaga already be employed.

Cody Ross WILL Get More Time

Did Fredi Gonzalez read our Cody Ross piece, advocating for Ross to play every day? Doubtful, but he does seem to be reaching the same conclusion, albeit in smaller steps.

As Fish Stripes reports today, Cody Ross will play more, though how much more is still ambiguous. Here is Craig's take:

"I know all of the players need to play some, because it is impossible to stay sharp or in the case of Jones, improve, when you're just taking batting and fielding practice. But Cody should be the everyday center fielder at this point in the season.

Let Jones work on his pinch hitting, something he may one day be good at. He isn't now, but he is veteran enough to figure it out. Let him start some Sundays here and there but the high majority of the time, let the Boss man center."

Nothing surprising about the fact that Craig and I agree. The only Marlins matter for which we expressed differences in public was over Hanley's lineup spot, and I eventually compromised towards his point of view. We may have also varied on whether Jason Wood should have been sent down in the first week...when it comes to Cody Ross, however, I couldn't possibly be more in acquiescence.

Jacque Jones a Marlin

That's the rumor, and it's coming from a number of places. Usually, the first words of confirmation involve the phrase, "Ken Rosenthal reports," and here it is. According to Rosenthal:

"Jones, 33, will take a physical Monday morning. He initially will report to extended spring training in Florida to get back into playing shape, according to one source, then return to the majors as a fourth outfielder and left-handed hitter off the bench."

Marlins Today also confirms the report, so count on it happening.

The best part of this news, especially for you Cody Ross fans, is that Jones is not expected to start. He may take a few games away from Amezaga and Ross, but I don't see that changing so quickly. Brett Carroll will certainly be the one sent down (was he even up? You'd never have known it), but what happens when Willingham comes back? That shouldn't be for a while, but it will happen (we hope).

I don't see the Marlins sending down Alfredo Amezaga under any circumstances, so the clear choice would appear to be Robert Andino. The problem, of course, is that Amezaga would become the backup infielder as well as potential starting center fielder, creating a number of pulsating headaches for Fredi in his lineup formations. This is something to keep a close eye on.

In the meantime, we welcome yet another bargain bench player to the friendly confines of South Florida.

Cody Ross is Heating Up

We know our friends at codyross.org got a real kick out of our Cody Ross Wonder Boy story. Just look at the comments.

Well it's time to give Cody Ross another look. Hampered by a bad knee and a shortened Spring, Cody Ross slumped through April. At times, we wondered if the guy known for his gentility would ever find his way out. Guess what? He has.

Let's look at his April vs. May numbers:

April: .159/.188/.227, 3 Doubles
May: .300/.440/.900, 4HR, 8RBI

Whoa! This, while Alfredo Amezaga struggles. It seems like Cody Ross is ready to assume the starting spot in CF. Based on these numbers, I would encourage the Fish NOT to sign Jacque Jones, because the answer is already there.

The only question left: Was that a Wonder Boy moment?

Jacque Jones Released

Yesterday, we talked about the possible inclusion of Jacque Jones on the Marlins roster. The center field spot is definitely one that can be improved, and there are compelling reasons for Jacque Jones to be its next inhabitant:

1. He wants to be a Marlin.

2. He's a legitimate leadoff hitter, with real speed.

3. The Marlins tried to trade for him last year, so they clearly covet him.

4. And now, he has officially been released by the Tigers.

All signs point to the direction of him joining the Marlins. Here's what rotoworld.com had to say:

"Tigers released outfielder Jacque Jones.
Detroit couldn't find a taker for Jones during the window to trade him, so they're now on the hook for his $3 million salary and he's free to sign with another team. The Marlins are said to be interested."

Cheap? Can choose any team he wants? South Beach, first place, no pressure, lots of playing time? This seems like something destined to happen.

Jacque Jones and Jim Edmonds: One, Both or Neither?

Every Marlins fan knows the Fish have had a hard time finding a fixture in center field. The Alfredo Amezaga/Cody Ross platoon has been adequate, but Amezaga has tailed off as of late (Ross is finally heating up though).

It just so happens that two center fielders are joining the market: Jacque Jones and Jim Edmonds. Both are past their prime (especially Edmonds), but might have something left in the tank in a new opportunity. Here's the rundown:

Jacque Jones: The Tigers have until Friday to either trade or release him. He's been slumping, but he does fit the role of CF and leadoff man. One thing that might be encouraging? The Sun-Sentinel reports that he wants to be a Marlin! So does Miguel Cabrera, by the way, so maybe South Florida is a lot more fun than Detroit.

Jim Edmonds: JSponge is a staunch advocate for Edmonds joining the Marlins. Between the two players, there's no question that Edmonds was the better at the peak of his career. Is there anything left though? Rumors are swirling that the Cubs want him, but don't count out the Marlins to surreptitiously slip into the mix.

Should the Marlins go for Jones, Edmonds, both, or neither? One place to find out might be the famous Florida architectural firm, Jones Edmunds, where I happen to know a number of excellent employees.

Is Beinfest jonesing for Jones?

As reported by the talented Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel, ex-Tigers outfielder Jacque Jones could be a player of interest in the Marlins' ongoing search for a reliable and productive center fielder and leadoff hitter while Cameron Maybin matures in the minors.

Jones' numbers were putrid so far this season (.165, 1 homer, 5 rbi) for the sedentary Tigers, but his track record is a successful one. Jones, 33, is a .278/.327/.451 player in 10 seasons. He has hit more than 22 homeruns in a season four times. And as Rodriguez points out: "he has 1,339 at-bats from the top spot in his nine-plus seasons and is a .289 lifetime hitter with a .799 OPS there." He could really give the Fish the leadoff hitter they so desperatley need.

From all those years as Torii Hunter's sidekick in Minnesota to a productive run with the Cubs, Jones has proven to be a solid major league outfielder. And he is a player that Marlins POBO Larry Beinsfest has coveted for a while.

Plus, he's cheap, or cost effective or market corrective, or whatever you want to call him in David Samson-speak after being designated for assignment by Detroit. The Marlins can basically get him for free because the over-zealous Dave Dombrowki has backed himself into a corner, and created a team full of prima donna sluggers. Hence, Jones is the odd man out and the Marlins could be the beneficiary.