Baseball season is over.. but Marlins offseason talk begin

The biggest questions surronding the Florida Marlins organizations are? Are they getting a new stadium? and Will third baseman Miguel Cabrera and starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis come back.

The baseball season is over, but the general manager meetings are on the way.

There's alot of trade discussions right now with top these two Marlins players. The organization informed the media as well as other clubs that these two players would be avaliable but only for the right price. Right price you ask?

Right price means young prospect that are lock into minimum contracts for the next four to five years. For example, if any team wants to acquire a Dontrelle Willis or a Miguel Cabrera someone would have to give up a Phillip Hughes or a Joba Chamberlien. Or maybe a Lasting Mileage and Carlos Gomez. While the Yankees are always given up prospect to get good veteran players, this time, they want to grow within the organization and spend money wisely on younger players for the future of the organization.

According to ESPN,

Good players are always in need, that's for sure. I'm not talking specifically about Cabrera or Willis or Dan Uggla or [Hanley] Ramirez," Florida president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said, mentioning many top Marlins. "When you trade really good players, you want really good players in return. You want talent for talent.

Other baseball trade discussion involved the Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon and Chicago White Sox third baseman Joe Crede. Also, there are rumors of New York Mets going after free agent pitcher Carlos Silva.

We can't talk baseball without talking about the 300 million dollar man. Alex Rodriguez has kept quite since he opted out his contract. The questions in the meetings this week was who's interested. So far, in the two long days of meetings, no one was interested.

This is all the big news from the meeting thus far, i'll get back when i hear something new.

Joe Torre was introduced as the new Los Angeles Dodgers manager

In the field of the Dodgers staduim, Joe Torre was made the 8th Dodger manager in franchise history. Torre, will lead a franchise that will celebrate its 50th birthday in Los Angeles.

Torre brings exeptional experience into the Dodgers dug-out; 12 straight playoff appearences, 4 World Series championship, and over 1,200 wins.

Now, Joe Torre doesnt have the superstar players in L.A. than what he had in N.Y. But he still has a good ball club with young talent. Torre, gets to manage top prospects like James Loney, Matt Kemp and Andy LaRoche. He also has some experience players in Juan Pierre, Rafeal Furcal and Nomar Garciaparra.

But the questions is can Torre bring back together a team, that last season couldnt get along. Yes, he can.

If there is one thing that Torre can do is manage players. He was able to handle superstars like Alex Rogriguez, David Justice, Gary Sheffield, and Kyle Farnsworth. He brings great deal of knowledge to the game of baseball and he's also great with the media. In such a place like L.A., Torre will have no problem getting along with the media. He will have great sound bites for the L.A. papers just like he did in New York.

Even though i am a huge Yankees fan, i am extremely happy for Joe Torre and his new team. He deserves it and every Yankee fan should be proud of what Torre did. Don't be surprise if the Dodgers win the World Series within three years.

Miami Dolphins had a bye week... that's a good thing.

This week was a good week for pro Florida football fans, but not for Florida college football. South Florida and the Miami Hurricanes but lost this week to teams like Conneticut and North Carolina State. On the other hand, the 0-8 Miami Dolphins had a bye week this week. But many are wondering what's going on with them?

By the way, did anyone see the way Wes Welker has been playing? The former DOLPHIN has been one of Tom Brady's primary target. He's also a punt and kick returner as well. But ofcourse the Dolphins didn't resign him last season.

It seems that no matter what the Dolphins do, whether its pick up the wrong quaterback in Daunte Culpepper and not Drew Brees, who by the way threw for 445 yards and 3 touchdowns this week. i think its time to shake up things in the Dolphins internal everyday operations. Can the Dolphins organization be shaken up by The Tuna . Acccording to Yahoo sports writer, Jason Cole,

It makes a lot of sense that the Dolphins would be a job he'd be very interested in if it came open," a source close to Parcells said Friday. "But only as the GM. I don't think he'll ever coach again.

I'll tell one thing. Bring Bill Parcells would be a smart move in the part of the Dolphins. He knows football. He has taken teams that needed help, fix them and made them winners. He knows talent when he sees it. The one question on everybodys mind is can Wayne Huzienga give control to Bill Parcells. But like i said, these are just rumors.

How good is Tom Brady?

This was the battle of the two best teams in the NFL and two of the best quarterback in the game. Tom Brady vs. Payton Manning, Indianapolis vs. New England, the battle of the unbeatens.

Indianapolis defense was unbelieveable during the first three quarters of the game. They hold Tom Brady under 150 passing and forced him to throw two interceptions. In the first seven games, Brady threw for 2 interceptions total.

So you know the Colts defense brought the noise to the Patroits. But, that's until the fourth quarter came.

And the world found out why Tom Brady is the best quarterback in the league, right now.

With under five minutes left remaining, Brady rallied New England back down 10 points to beat the Colts 24-20.

i felt the Colts defense let off in the fourth quarter. They didn't cover Patroits wide reciever Wes Welker, the fastest player in the team and they left one of the best reciever, Randy Moss, go deep.

With no running game, the Patroits knew that the only way to win this game was to stay close and throw it in the air. That's exactually what they did.

New York Yankees hire former Florida Marlins manager.

Yes, i am a big Yankees fan and everybody that knows me, knows that. I am very happy with the Yankees decision on making Joe Girardi the new manager.

The former Yankees catcher and broadcaster brings leadership, knowledge and youth to the organization.

I like this move because the Yankees needed to change there style of play. Joe Torre was a quiet and a soft-spoken manager, while Girardi is not. Girardi managed a Florida Marlins team that had the lowest payroll in baseball. He made sure that his players played by the way he managed, aggressively.

Yes i miss Joe Torre, because he was very close with the players. And yes i'm not blaming him for the Yankees mistakes. He doesn't pitch and he doesn't hit, so you really can't blame the guy. But he was in the dug-out, and i felt he kept quiet when he should've spoken out when his team was making mistakes.

Simply, it was time for a change and bringing Joe Girardi will get Yankees fans excited once the season start next year. He will have a different team, now that Alex Rodriguez is gone, but will find the best nine players he has and will put them in the field.

Joe Torre walks out... Yankees search for new manager begins.

After 12 season with the New York Yankees, Joe Torre turn down a one-year offer for $5 million, plus bonus. Torre, who won four championship with the Yankees, leaves the team with one of best performance by a Yankees manager ever.

According to MLB.com writer Bryan Hotch,

I just didn't think it was the right thing for me, or the right thing for my players. Whether they're on my side, or not on my side, any pressure caused by maybe the manager's going to lose his job, that pressure isn't needed when the goal is to win baseball games.

Now the question is? Who will manage the New York Yankees? Some candidates for the job are: former Yankees catcher Joe Girardi and former first baseman, Don Mattingly.

Joe Girardi is honestly ready to take over Joe Torre's job. He's more experience with his managerial experience with the young Florida Marlins. He managed a team that had a low payroll and almost took them to the playoffs. Don Mattingly spent three years as a hitting coach for the Yankees until last year. This year, it was his first season as a bench coach, and showed a lot of patients, as the Yankees bats struggled in the beginning of the season. He worked with A-Rod, Cano and Jason Giambi and Shelly Duncan while they were struggling and eventually the bats woke up. There are also some consideration to current manager for the Cubs, Lou Pinella and former Cardinals manager, Tony LaRussa, but it will be long-offseason before the Yankees have a new manager.

According to MLB.com

There will be a process and I can promise you that process is going to take some time," Cashman said. "I ask for everybody's patience as we review and interview the individuals and make the appropriate recommendations to ownership...

The decision will be made, but it's premature to discuss the criteria right now.The only criteria I can touch on is what Hank and Hal [Steinbrenner] have always spoken, which comes directly from The Boss. Our intent is to continue on our quest for championships. We're very proud of everything we've accomplished over the years.

BCS standings are in...South Florida is # 2.

After 2 top-five teams lost this this week, The standings were shaken up just a little bit. A little school in Tampa is now the # 2 team in the nation. What? South florida is # 2 now?. You mean the Bulls, give me a break.

This is why the BCS standings is a joke and it's overrated. What happens if Ohio State plays South Florida for a national title. What station is going to what to pick up that game. Are you kidding me. Get rid of this thing already (BCS). You might as well put this game on PBS because no one is going to want to advertise it.

South Florida is not the second best team in the country. I have seen that and there is proof of that. I know a there's always one game that will tell you if a team is for real, but last week it wasn't that game.

Against Florida Atlantic University, a team who is ranked somewhere between 70-80 in the nation, came really close to knocking off the bulls. FAU forced USF to four turnovers, out-played them defensively and and scared the green and gold off of them.

Its time to get rid of the Bowl Championship Series standings and bring on the playoffs. Bring in the playoff format. Get the best eight teams in the nation and play in the format. Not only will we know who the best team is, but they will get to showcase that in multiple games.

To be honest with everyone, if the playoff format was to be in effect this year. South Florida would not get out of the first round. And if they did, they would get slap around in the second round, by a team like the Florida Gators, LSU Tigers, or Oklahoma Sooners. No chance what's so ever.

Miami's defense struggles... Dolphins are 0-6

One of the worst defense in the NFL showed why they were just that (the worst defense in the NFL).

The Dolphins defense allowed 384 total yardage, 244 passing yards and 140 rushing yards. They also allowed one rushing touchdown by Jason Wright and three passing touchdowns from Derek Anderson. The Dolphins also struggled on penalties. Miami had eight penalties for 90 yards. Although the inside seven of Miami's defense struggle badly, so did Miami's cornerbacks and safeties.

Browns receiver Braylon Edwards had 5 five catches for 67 yards but had three touchdowns. Tight End Kellen Winslow had a great game as well. He had five receptions for 90 yards.On the other side of the ball (offense), the Dolphins played better than usual and scored more points.

Quarterback Cleo Lemon was superb. He pass for two touchdowns to tight end David Martin and rushed for two toucdowns as well. Running Back, Ronnie Brown rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries. This is the fourth week in a row that Brown rushes for more than 100 yards. The first downs of this game was even, but that's because Miami had to play comeback to make this game close.

The Dolphins should play for next year instead of this year. Lose as much games to secure the #1 pick in next years NFL Draft. They should play with what they have and see what needs they will need.

Just when things couldn't get any worst they will. Miami plays the undefeated New England Patroits, who came away from Dallas with a big win. According to ESPN, "Cleveland handed Miami a franchise-record ninth consecutive loss.

FAU basketball recruits two players.

The countdown to March Madness is several months away, but the beginning of the regular season is near. There are many good teams to watch-out for this season.

Some include: Memphis, North Carolina, Michigan State and Louisville, but other teams are recruiting and getting ready for the years to come; those include the Florida Gators and Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Gators lost 5 starters this year to the NBA draft. The return of head coach Billy Donovan has gator fans excited again, but they will have a different mind-set then the championship team had. Instead of having leadership and experience, they will have to rely on youth and athleticism. The Gators recruited top prospect G Jai Lucas, SF Nick Calathes, Adam Allen, Chandler Parsons and Alex Tyus, to make the "baby gators" the best recruting class of 2007.

On the other hand, Florida Atlantic University had verbal agreement from two players.

Shooting Guard, Dago Pena and Combo Guard, Shay Shine verbally agreed to play for the Owls this season. With Sun-Belt conference 1st team player, Carlos Monroe, the Owls look to put one of the most explosive young team in the conference on the court.
Only FAU coach Rex Walters, though, envisioned both in his backcourt.
According to heraldtribune,"

Florida Atlantic made Dago and Shay a priority," said Matt Ramker, founder of the adidas-sponsored Florida Rams, the duo's travel team. "(FAU) worked harder than anyone. They convinced Dago to pass on much-larger schools and help build their school into a bigger national name."

Look for FAU to make a run at the Sun Belt conference championship this year. If so, it will be the second time in the school's history that the Owls would make the NCAA tournament. With young players and a leader in Monroe, the Owls will be a scoring team that can cause some damage against poor defenses.

Miami Dolphins are 0-5.

Kris Brown kicked 5 field goals including a 57-yard field goal as the Houston Texans defeated the Miami Dolphins 22-19. Brown kicked three out of his five field goals beyond 50 yards.

"That's as impressive as I've ever seen," Texans coach Gary Kubiak
said. And then to put that on top of it, i'm kind of lost of words. It's special. i don't know if we'll ever see that again."

Houston Texans offense was superb. They had more total yardage and passing yardage then the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins running game out-rushed the Texans running game. The Dolphins running back, Ronnie Brown rushed for 114 yards on 23 carries. He also had a rushing touchdown.

If the Dolphins 0-5 start is not bad enough. During the game, the Dolphins also lost there starting quarterback Trent Green. Green, was hit in head and was injured by the Texans defensive tackle, Tarvis Johnson. The Dolphins back-up quarterback Cleo Lemon replaced Green and went 15 for 27 for 151 yards.

Lemons looked poised. He showed he can run the Dolphins offense. He will start Miami's next game. Green is out indefinetly. Miami also has options with second round pick John Beck. The BYU quarterback is now the second-string quarterback behind Cleo Lemon. If Lemon gets hurt or starts to struggle, look for Miami to start the rookie sometime down the line.