The San Diego Save

Each year, when creating my crazy baseball prediction magazine, I have one recommendation of literature from the “Ryan J. Dugan Book Club”.  Not that such a club really exists.  It’s really just my chance to “book drop” in a feeble attempt to seem superiorly intellectual.  I pretend to know how to read, and pretend to recommend books to others.  But the truth is, very few people read in America any more, and the few that do, are not going to take any tips from me!  But this year’s recommendation pertains directly to the San Diego Padres who perplex me when it comes to baseball’s final key ingredient: The Save. 

I stumbled into a book signing at Borders about a year ago when author Fran Zimniuch spotted me checking out his book.  He told me I have a striking resemblance to Shane Victorino and from there we engaged in a serious debate of baseball.  The coversation centered around Fran’s book, Titled: Fireman- The Evolution of the Closer.  I of course have an undying infatuation for my favorite closer/player, and in my opinion the best of all time: Mariano Rivera.  Fran, although placing Rivera on the cover of his book, seemed to disagree quite passively.  Fran was more interested in the origins of the closer role, and his personal friend, and favorite closer: Lee Smith.  I bought his book, he signed me a copy, and now I’m recommending it to others. Imagine that!

But our closer conversation alas brings me to San Diego California, and to two Padres closers who have, in recent history that left me baffled.  The first closer I have issue with would be the all time saves leader Trevor Hoffman.  How can a guy with such little talent accumulate such astronomical save totals? (601 lifetime saves - the all time leader) Hoffman has never had a vital save in a big game, I.E. Playoffs or World Series. And in fact Hoffman usually choked in any playoff spots he found himself in. Hoffman threw an average fastball, and an above average changeup. Yet he is considered statistically the greatest closer in the history of baseball.

Thier second closer I have issue with, would be their present day closer Heath Bell. Bell was second in NL saves a year ago , behind only Brian Wilson. Bell was an over-weight, bullpen right-hander, who spent eight years in the Mets minor league system. Then in 2009 he exploded on the scene. First as the USA closer in the World Baseball Classic. Then Bell went on to a 42 save season. His pervious season high in saves: two. I just don't get it!

After reading Fran’s book, the reader receives a fine appreciation for how complex the save role is in baseball. And yet the Padres, from Hoffman to Bell, have made it look easy. They get top credit in save conversation. Truely amaizing!

Lets Execute Jeffery H. Loria

Last year, I wrote of my absolute distaste and despise for Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey H. Loria. I referred to him as: “A criminal of the worst kind!”

In the last 365 days, the actions, and my view, of Jeffery Loria have only gotten worse! In my humble opinion Loria should be in prison sharing a cell with Bernie Madoff! Or maybe an even better idea would be to give Loria the death penalty!

Last Spring, I made the case that the Marlins have been receiving millions of dollars from Baseball’s luxury tax and other MLB resources, and using those funds as the only means to pay for players salaries. Meaning that the Marlins have been pocketing the millions of dollars from ticket sales, concessions, parking, and personal club advertising, while having MLB front their entire player payroll. Pocketing revenue without spending any on the team,or signing free agent players, means a continued state of mediocrity for the Marlins on-feild product.

Trouble was, I had no proof. I could only speculate, based on some simple math, that the Marlins ownership was scamming their fans. The Marlins budget books were closed to the public, and only Loria knew for sure.

Jeffrey Loria was crying poverty!

Loria has always talked about what a struggling small market team he has in south Florida, and how those other means of revenue, (tickets advertising, concessions and parking) are actually in the red, and losing him money.

Loria’s cries of poverty have been abruptly followed by threats to move the team. Las Vegas or San Antonio were always suggested suitors. Loria’s only solution to keep the team in Miami, while making them profitable, was to build a new stadium, completely funded by the state of Florida. (After all, Loria was in the red! His organization had no money to help build a new stadium!) Loria took his poverty cries to the politicians of Miami Dade county. Loria finally convinced the state of Florida that a new stadium deal had to be publically financed, (paid by the tax payers) and he convinced them without ever having to open up the Marlins books, and show them his budgets.

WOW!

Then in August of 2010, the web site Deadspin.com, leaked all of the Marlins dirty laundry! (And man was it ugly!!!)

According to Dead spin, the Florida Marlins books showed a profit margin of 49 million dollars from 2007 to 2008. During that time the Marlins collected 90 million dollars from MLB resources. The clearly documented news devastated fans and tax payers in a struggling financially stricken state of Florida.

But by late August 2010, when the books were leaked, Miami Dade county had already approved the new Stadium deal, and the new Marlins home was being built. The total estimated cost for the new park is 515 million. Loria and the Marlins will pay absolutely none of that sum. The Florida tax payer, will pay for all of it.

Jeffery Loria has lied to his own fans, the politicians of south Florida, and worse of all, the tax payers, both fans, and non-fans of Major League Baseball. The criminal acts of this New York Art dealer, ( who’s personal worth is close to a billion dollars) is truly horrid. The ignorance of the political system in Miami Dade County is also guilty.

But this is what happens when the American people trust the wealthiest one percent of its citizens to always do the right thing when they are given all power and control of the nation. They abuse their power, take what they want, while making themselves more money , and losing all control of morality.

I say kill Loria!

Former President George W. Bush always said he supported the death penalty only because killing some one is such a powerful action it can be used to deter others from committing the same crime. The idea of the death penalty is to show other criminals the grave consequences for their actions.

Anyone who is going to ruin my national pastime, rob it's ball park fans, and steel tax money from school children, old ladies, and the infrastructure of our nation deserves to die! And maybe if we kill Loria, the fat cats on Wall Street will be detered from commiting similar acts of greed, if the consequece is your own execution!