Sports Agenda for Monday (7/16/11)
Big Story: Well, the agenda has been in hibernation for two weeks, but has now awoken to find…the NFL is still locked out, the NBA is still locked out, and the Florida Marlins are still in last place. With that said, there's a lot to get to…including why choke now means the American Women's soccer team.
Firsties:
The Marlins were the joke of Major League Baseball in June, but have come out swinging in July.
The Marlins are just 1.5 games out of third place in the NL East, which is no easy feat considering how far the Marlins fell in June.
The team is currently 3 games under .500, but have a legitimate shot of being in third place by the weekend.
But, before Marlins fans start celebrating too much, the Fish are still 10 games out of the wildcard spot.
That's a heckuva lot of ground to make up being this close to the trade deadline, July 31.
The front office will have to decide who they can deal and who they should keep in the next week or so.
The top candidate to be dealt is closer Leo Nuñez. He's set to make roughly $5-$6 million next year and give how CHEAP and GREEDY Jeffrey Loria is, Nuñez is not going to be with the Fish next season.
Past that, until the Marlins get some clarity on the Josh Johnson injury, they can't do much to trade any starting pitchers.
The Fish still have 3B Matt Dominguez in the farm system who they hope can solidify the hot corner for years to come.
I still think locker room cancer Hanley Ramirez should be dealt. But given Loria's love for Hanley, and that fits considering Loria likes having a loser, it ain't happening any time soon.
So don't look for the Marlins to make any major moves at the trade deadline besides maybe trading Nunez.
NFL Lockout:
Welcome to day 124 of the NFL Lockout.
This is crunch time. The clock has stopped for the two minute warning, the ball is inside the 10 yard line, but Jeffrey Kessler (NFLPA attorney) wants to stop this thing and is putting up a helluva goal line stand.
The latest hurdles in front of the CBA are as follows:
1. The players want $320 million in unpaid benefits from last year restored.
2. The players want the franchise tag to be limited to one year of us.
3. The 10 plaintiffs in the Brady, et. Al., case have to approve the deal. Patriots guard Logan Mankins and Vincent Jackson will want to be free agents. Mankins has been hit with the franchise tag twice and wants his freedom to get a big pay day. Hey, if he gets his freedom, the Dolphins have an opening at right guard!!!!!!
4. The owners want to close a loophole for workman's comp that allows a player who has played one game in California during their career to file workman's comp claims in the more employee-friendly state.
5. The lockout insurance case must be resolved.
Yet, despite all the headaches left to go, there seems to be momentum to get a deal done in the next 48 hours to allow the owners to vote on it on the 21st.
Jerry Jones said the negotiations are down to "circumcising mosquitoes." Quick, someone call Tim Tebow!!!
College football update:
T-Minues 48 days until the opening kickoff of college football season.
Here's the pecking order in the state of Florida.
1. Florida State Seminoles
2. Florida Gators
3. University of Miami Hurricanes
4. USF
5. UCF
6. FIU
