JETER JUST MATURED AS AN OWNER

I hated when Derek Jeter took over the Miami Marlins. I thought the decisions he made to fire guys like Jeff Conine, Jack McKeon... Andre Dawson and Tony Perez were stupid considering they were part of what made the Marlins fun and a have a sense of history.

I think getting rid of that hideous statute in center field was just him swinging his weiner around acting like he was in charge. The thing is ugly, but again, important to the building and make-up of the Marlins. No other place had it. Look, I don't know the Marlins financials. I don't know how much money they were wasting and what they needed to do to sustain a solid baseball life in Miami.

What I did know is that symbolism is important to fans, and when they see a guy like Jeff Conine, Mr. Marlin, shown the door, you have to question it.

I do think that no one will go to that ballpark for a while now that Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Bour, Ozuna and Yelich have left.  But look, that's old news. This next move Jeter move is the right one... and so, he's forgiven by me, for now at least.

NBC New York writes:

"Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter told team employees during a conference call Monday he is forgoing his salary during the coronavirus pandemic, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press. 

The person confirmed Jeter's comments to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Marlins have not commented publicly on the call. 

The person said other members of the Marlins' executive team agreed to take pay cuts, while baseball operations personnel will continue to receive their full salaries through at least May 31."

Let's see what happens next.

THE BOY THAT BROKE HIS TOY

I don't get any of it. I don't get what Derek is doing.  So yeah... I had to map this latest article out for you.

Photo: Joe Skipper/AP

Look, the truth is I like Derek Jeter, but I cannot for the life of me understand what he is attempting to do in Miami. Sure, wants to cut payroll, I get that. Sure, he wants youth in the Miami farm system, I get that too.  But doing it all at once is a sure way to tick off a fan base.  In a moment you will see that first hand. For now, I just have to get this off my chest...

Derek and Sherman are surrounded by other "top" guys in this Miami organization. It's not just DJ, I know this. Plus, investors are involved in this team.  People will read this again and say "You're not being fair JUST ripping Jeter for his 'alleged mistakes' with his team." 

Photo: AP

Well, the truth is, he's the only one putting his neck out to take the heat.  And when I say heat, realize that I'm NOT the only publication going after this guy for poor ownership skills. There are plenty of other publications going after DJ.  NY Post. Miami Herald is owning it right now. Incredible reporting.  But look, I've been stating since day 1 here on Bleeding Yankee Blue that I respect Jeter the player all day long.  No one better.  But this businessman / owner thing is not flattering on his personality.

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File

He cuts all the iconic Marlins loose. That for one is a red flag. Guys like Jack McKeon and Jeff Conine.  Then under the pressure from target media, he backtracks and tries to offer them new positions back with the club, less money of course. Conine says "go scratch," and why wouldn't he?

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Then Jeter trades away Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna.  Of course he's slashing payroll here... maybe even gets some young players for the farm, but now he's managed to piss off an entire fan base who already had next to nothing. Now he gets rid of Miami's home run hitters?  Not too many people are wearing a Dan Straily jersey, you know what I mean?

Then, in case you missed it, the world famous rumored "Miami Town Hall meeting that took place recently.  That's right, an emergency Town Hall meeting that was a true testament to how the Miami fans really feel. They are heartbroken, folks. That's what Derek Jeter doesn't understand.  The fans don't care about business. They want to go see their heroes, they want to bring their kids, pay a low price for tickets and go see the games. 

I mean, what's next, will Jeter fire DJ Vertigo next?  Anyway... here's some of that recap of the town hall brought to you by the New York Post.  Classic right here:

"Derek Jeter’s coming-out party with his Marlins fanbase Tuesday night was more like an intervention. The new co-owner met with a group of mainly disgruntled fans for a town hall-style gathering at Marlins Park and, for nearly 90 minutes, answered questions about the current state of the franchise.

Photo: SI

Jeter’s flurry of activity out of the gate, including trading away three star players and prompting two others to say they want out too, has apparently not sat well with a fanbase that already is used to losing and poor management.

'This makes me miss [Jeffery] Loria,' the famous Marlins Man said at the town hall of the team’s former owner, who was far from fans’ good graces by the time he sold the Marlins to Jeter and Bruce Sherman in August. 'Who would have thought that?'”

And now, the Miami Herald, who's literally been all over Jeter and his missteps obtained something called "Project Wolverine" from the Jeter camp... a project designed to cut payroll to about $90 million.  Right now it's at $104 million. 

And as I've written several times here... Christian Yelich... Justin Bour... J.T. Realmuto will probably be next because if they are, that will get the Marlins to where Jeter wants it. And empty shell of itself. Low payroll, sure, but the fans will no longer come and you can forget Marlins Park. 

Athens Olympic Facilities/2004 Summer Olympics

It will be a white elephant in no time. You know, one of those stadiums that get built when the Olympics come to some famous city in the world, only to just sit there long after the Olympics is gone, never to be used again.

But now the New York Post has Jeter's plan mapped out, again, echoed by BYB extensively, and distributed by the Miami Herald who's been all over this guy.  Check this out:

Photo: Sun Sentinel

"First: Make your team unwatchable.
Second: See an immediate boost in ticket sales with this eye-sore squad.
Third: Convince your TV network it should pay more for a team no one wants to watch.
Fourth: Coax more millions from corporations, thinking they will be further inspired to support a franchise that is now much worse on the field.

...how do Jeter and Sherman visualize the boon coming to Miami?

The Marlins made about $30 million in ticket revenue last year with a team that finished 77-85. Now that the best player in franchise history, Giancarlo Stanton, and his friends have been dealt away, Jeter and Sherman project to make $37.5 million in sales this year.

The Marlins have the worst TV deal in all of baseball, which will pay them $17 million, $18 million and $20 million from Fox Sports Florida over the next three seasons. The new regime plans to renegotiate that deal and projects $51.6 million in 2021 and $53.6 million in 2022. Such an enormous jump likely would require a second TV bidder for the Marlins, which could be difficult to find.

The final aim, on its face, seems the easiest goal to hit. Wolverine predicts the team’s sponsorship revenue will go from $19.1 million in 2017 to $24 million in 2018, then $32 million, $37.8 million and $41.6 million.

The dramatic increase is a reach, but selling the naming rights to Marlins Park will help revenues.

This is how Jeter imagines dismantling a team and enraging its fan base will result in more Marlins dollars. Good luck. "

This maps it out wonderfully... kind of like I've written many times before. Lose the stars, increase ticket sales.  Yup, that makes sense. 

So before you bash me for ripping Jeet... here's just another publication of someone just as confused as I am, and believe me, there are plenty more... Google it.

As I have said here... we are following the Marlins debacle closely, even though it has nothing to do with the New York Yankees. This story is big. We will stay on it.

WHEN YOU PISS OFF MR. MARLIN, YOU GOTTA PROBLEM

Not sure how you walk into Marlins Park, cut the head off the snake and think that that's OK... you know what I mean?

That's what happened with Derek Jeter now being owner of the Marlins, and basically how he handled the top tier of Marlins office folks... one of them being Mr. Marlin himself, Jeff Conine... a lifelong Marlin, who now gave Jeter the finger and is leaving the organization on his own terms.  I call that patriotism, loyalty and taking a stand.  I tip my cap to Conine. He did it right.

If you life under a rock, the latest drama in Jeter's world is that he wanted some top Marlin icons removed in his "restructuring" of the Marlins.  4 guys, Andre Dawson, Tony Perez, Jack McKeon and Conine were fired. Then, when Jeter felt the heat, he allegedly called them all and tried to give them different jobs.  Well, Conine told Jeter to go scratch.  Here's the latest on that. ESPN has it:

"Jeff Conine, known as "Mr. Marlin" for his years as a player and staff member in South Florida, is leaving the organization after he said he was offered a lesser role and lower pay from the new ownership group led by Derek Jeter.

'To say I'm disappointed that I won't have a role in this organization, yeah, I'm disappointed,' Conine told the Miami Herald on Thursday.

But Jeter and Conine couldn't agree on a role.

'I spent 7½ years as a player and the last nine years as someone working with the organization,' Conine said, according to the Herald. 'I've always considered myself a Marlin. I'm a member of this community. I want to see them win again. I want to see them get back to the World Series and the playoffs.'"

Look, Jeter can couch this as "business" all he wants, because yes it is. But in Marlins world, where they don't have much as it is, there are 3 things you don't do...

Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't piss in the wind... and you certainly don't remove an icon and then diminish what he means to the organization when the heat gets too much.

Jeter F'd up big time.  Welcome to the growing pains of ownership...

moron.

DEREK JERK-ER

Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Business is business, but when it comes to building a franchise, and loyalty, and marketing and all of that, especially when it comes to a baseball team and getting butts in the seats and buying merchandise and seeing games, there are certain things you keep in place to make it more appealing to the fan.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm not feeling Mr. Jeter right about now... especially if this latest report is true.

ESPN reports the following:

Photo: Getty Images

"According to the Friday report, Jeter, who stands to be in charge of the business and baseball operations of the Marlins when the sale of the team is finalized, asked David Samson to dismiss Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Tony Perez, as well as Jeff Conine, the former outfielder known as 'Mr. Marlin,' and 2003 World Series-winning manager Jack McKeon.

Jeter, after first telling Samson he wouldn't be retained -- which was already presumed -- then asked him to inform the four of the moves, because Jeter didn't want to do it, the Herald reported."

Jesus... kind of spineless.

IRA STRICKSTEIN REUTERS 

Now look...  Marlins fans should be outraged.  Conine IS the Marlins.  That's like someone coming into Yankee stadium as a new owner and telling Jeter he needed to be dismissed, if Jeet was a Yankee employee. Jack McKeon? If that guy died, I'd have him stuffed and placed at the entrance of Marlins Park. 

He's iconic down there.  Dawson and Perez are Hall of Famers, regardless of if they were Marlins during their playing days or not. 

There's something called respect in this game, and that's the irony here.  Remember RE2PECT?  Have we forgotten? What the hell is Jeter doing?

I'm pretty disappointed in this guy.  I mean, he's a Yankee icon, a great player but since that meeting he had with my son, he's on my bad side... and I have news for you, this latest report about the Marlins employees being fired is unreal to me.

Hey, maybe I'm being oversensitive and sure, I expect to get crap for this story from my readers and I get that, but this is BYB.  We offer honest opinion here... it's what we were built on and you may not want to hear it, but Lord knows if we think something doesn't smell right, we will being it to you, whether they are Yankee greats or not.

What's right is right, and this is wrong, Jeet.  Get it together.

WHY DOES CURT SCHILLING GET A PLATFORM?

Curt Schilling is a gamer.  There is no doubt about it.  Winning with the Diamondbacks and Red Sox, there is no question he was a great competitor.  What I don't get though is why the guy gets press for things he says about other players.  Who cares? And why does it even matter what Schilling thinks?

Apparently Curt Schilling thinks Pete Rose shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame.  OK... and my mom thinks he should be. So what gives?  I was reading Comcast Philly and here's what they wrote:

"...does Schilling believe Rose deserves to be in the Hall after his checkered gambling history?

'Not in my book,' Schilling told the Breakfast on Broad crew. 'What he did, how long it took him to tell us, and admit to what he did, and knowing him, I'm not sure he didn't bet on baseball. I'm not sure he didn't bet on his own team. Given how competitive he is, I think that he did bet on his team, I think he might have bet on his team to do both, to win and to lose. That to me goes to the heart of the game. I'm sure I'm in the minority but that wouldn't be the first time.'"

Curt "thinks" Pete did a lot, but there's no confidence in that answer, is there? It seems like bluster. 

Now if you're asking me, Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame for his playing ability. There was no one tougher in his time. No one played harder.  When I was a kid, I wanted to be Pete Rose! 

Now, did he bet on baseball? Of course he did, but as a manager.  Should it count? It should if Pete Rose was just a manager like say Jack McKeon or a Buck Showalter. Guys that never really ever played pro, but tried to get there and only ended up as managers. Here's the difference... Pete played for a long, long time before that, becoming the All-Time Hits King. 

Sure, you can look at Rule 21 in the Handbook all you'd like, but there is something to be said about his competitiveness and ability on the field, BEFORE his "gambling" days as manager  that should definitely be considered.

That, my friends is alittle bit more specific than Curt Schilling's uneasiness of whether or not Pete Rose should be in the Hall... and I'm a nobody!

Then Schilling was on the Michael Kay show talking about Masahiro Tanaka.   Apparently Schilling doesn't think Tanaka will last.  If you check out Kay's site, it simply reads: "Curt Schilling says Tanaka will not make it through the season because his pitches are flat."

True.  Now think about what BYB said:

"Something isn't right about Masahiro Tanaka.  I've been suspicious about the whole thing for months now.  How could a guy like Tanaka be pitching for 8 years in organized ball, and while he's in the US, gets hurt, and suddenly heals over time. I mean, he's got a tiny tear in his UCL, right? That just gets better? Really?

Now look, Tanaka pitched "OK" this spring.  Not wonderful... I mean, he had great moments, but I wasn't exactly blown away. Now though, the elbows healed... and everything is back to normal?  Do you really believe that? DO YOU? Because I don't."  

What's my point, you're wondering?  Simply, you don't need Curt Schilling telling you stuff you already know. You, as fans, are smart.  Many of you voice what I think about Tanaka. Curt Schilling is not a genius.

You know when he's a genius? When he goes after trolls on Twitter for attacking his daughter! (Read CURT SCHILLING: A NEW KIND OF CHAMPION.) That, my friends was incredible work by a dad... gotta love him for that.

But for baseball analysis... I've never been impressed.  That's nothing against Curt Schilling personally. The guy was an incredible pitcher. It hurts me to say it. But to be honest, I don't need the guy giving me opinions on stuff he's unsure of, or just plain obivous about. We can handle that on our own as fans... can't we?

Yes we can. We're kind of smart.



You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!  Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!

THE IRISH, DEREK JETER & AN AWARD NAMED AFTER PETE CALDERA

I thought this was cool and not just because it’s Foley’s NY and not just because it has something to do with Derek Jeter.  I also thought it was a great story because Pete Caldera’s involved… you know I love reading that guy!  Anyway… don’t know what I mean? Check this out:

Back on St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame announced the names of the nominees on the 2014 induction ballot.  They include:

• Derek Jeter 

• David Cone 

• Mike Sweeney

• Kevin Millar

• Roger Bresnahan

• "Big Ed" Delahanty

• Tom Gorman

• Joe McCarthy

• Jack McKeon

• Bill Shea        

• Bill Murray

• Hal McCoy: Cincinnati Reds beat writer 

• Ed Coleman: New York Mets broadcaster

Now here’s where it gets more interesting. This year, The Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame will introduce a new award: The Pete Caldera-Duke Castiglione “I Didn’t Know He Was Irish” Award, which will be presented to an honoree whose Irish roots are not well known. Did you see that? It's the PETE CALDERA-DUKE CASTIGLIONE "I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS IRISH" AWARD.

I mean seriously? I know one thing, when an award is named after me... I know I've pretty much accomplished everything! Congrats to Pete and Duke for that little honor! 

So why the new award? Shaun Clancy, the owner of Foley’s said this of the award: “We all recognize Garvey, O’Malley and O’Neill as Irish surnames, but there are plenty of folks with maternal Irish roots or ancestors whose last names changed through marriage or other reasons.  For this reason, we have created this new award to honor people whose heritage might not be obvious but who are proud of their Irish heritage.” Nice!

Results of the voting will be announced in April.  The induction ceremonies will take place this summer at Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant (18 W. 33rd St.), which also houses the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.  If you've never been... you need to go!

When it happens, we’ll tell you all about it. Meanwhile, congratulations to the nominees!

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!

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