A Tale Of Two Franchises

Miami - Ft. Lauderdale is a large market. This means the Florida Marlins are a large market baseball team.

Yet their payroll is less than half that of the smallest market in the big leagues (our beloved Brewers).

And believe it or not: they compete!

This franchise is arguably the most successful in MLB history - right up there with the Cardinals, Dodgers and Yankees as far as displaying WS bling versus years in existence.

Yet nobody in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale of the Palm Beaches cares. Including ownership.

In any other universe, the team would fold an move ANYWHERE where people care about baseball. I'm guessing the 'good old boys' club that are the ML owners don't want to give up such a large TV market which along with merchandising extends into Latin America.

So tell me: Why not move the team to Latin America? At least they would play in front of fans?

After watching the Brewers-Marlins this week here is my South Florida version of Nobody Asked Me ... But:

• The Marlins' owner Jeffrey Loria (of Montreal Expos fame) is awful. He and the Orioles owner may be the worst in MLB. Last year he fired manager Joe Girardi in part because Girardi asked him to stop yelling at umpires. Girardi left with the respect of everyone while Loria continues to look like a spoiled Rich kid who is not grateful MBL bailed him out fo the Expos mess HE CAUSED.


• Can you imagine if the Brewers had won two world championships in the past 10 years and been competitive in most of the others? We would be talking about Brewer tickets like we talk about Packer tickets.


• Granted: they went the Free Agent way to win their world championships ... but even in most off years, they have fielded a better team than most of the rest of us. Look at those guys we just saw. Never heard of any of them - yet they all looked awesome.


• That stadium sucks. I have seen several games there and would not return. I hear their call for a new yard - but I still don't think anyone will really care. One of the big myths down there are the rabid Dolphin fans. I never saw any when I lived in FL. Heck, the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay had better fans.

They should do the humane thing and move that talented group of young players and proud franchise to somewhere it will get the respect it deserves.

Bud ought to contract the Devil Rays and move the Marlins to Tampa-St. Pete. I don't know if the players would approve the Marlins playing 2 or three series in Miami and a few in Orlando - but it would sure make sense. The combined media markets of Miami, Tampa, Orlando ... plus medium markets like Jacksonville and Ft. Myers would make a nice size TV market for a true Florida team.

Just leave Loria behind ... or (and here is my idea of the year ...) let him buy the CUBS!!!