Friday, March 7, 2014

Day 341: Marlins Moan Over Lack of Red Sox Stars

This might be my most favorite story from spring training so far. We learned some things about the Miami Marlins organization this week. We learned that they're a bunch of whiny bitches. And we learned that they're greedy and like to cheat their fans. And we also learned that they are a pretty horrible team.

Why are they whiny bitches, you might ask? The Red Sox traveled to Jupiter, FL on Thursday for a game against the Marlins. Now this is a pretty far drive for an exhibition game—about two and a half hours—and the organization did not send one starting player from the 2013 team to play. The closest they got were two minor leaguers that saw some time in Boston—Jackie Bradley Jr. and Ryan Lavarnway. The Marlins were pissed that they didn't get at least the MLB-required minimum of four major league roster players. Miami brass took to the press to express their displeasure with the situation which made them look like, well, you know, whiny bitches.

And how could they be cheating their fans? Because the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox were coming to town for a game (an exhibition game, mind you), the Marlins thought this was their chance to make a few extra bucks. They charged their fans "super premium pricing" for the tickets which means that fans were paying $8-$12 more than the regular pricing. All for the chance to see David Ortiz or Dustin Pedroia or Shane Victorino play for a couple innings? Well, none of those stars showed up and now it just looks like the Miami organization is a bunch of money grubbers that like to gouge their fans. But if you ask them, it's Boston's fault.

The Marlins were a pretty horrible team in 2013. Their 62-100 record was only better than one other team in all of baseball. Basically, they have no stars to attract fans so they need to rely on their opponents to draw in the crowds. But then they bitch and complain that the Red Sox didn't hold up their end of the bargain when they sent their minor league squad. So here's the deal... if the Sox sent what essentially turned out to be Pawtucket to play, and the Marlins fielded their required four major leaguers, how is it that the game ended in a 0-0 tie? I guess the Marlins must just plain suck.

Basically, the only guy on the field who played regularly on that 2013 Championship team was Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and he plays for the Marlins now. I feel bad for him... he now works for a bunch of chumps. And will probably never hoist another World Series trophy for the rest of his career—at least not if he stays in southern Florida.

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