Miami Marlins Drawing Wrong Kind Of Media Attention

The Marlins organization has been by all accounts considered a low-class organization since the day Loria and his boys squatted in Miami with the help of MLB. In 2013, ESPN voted Loria the most dishonest owner in baseball for good reason and somehow I have to imagine he had a diamond incrusted pendant made to commemorate this milestone.

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This week in the ongoing circus that is the Marlins organization, media personalities Craig Minervini and Joe Frisaro lambasted local sports coverage of the team as inadequate. As Minervini put it on Twitter: “I think some of media here has gotten so drawn into football/hoops, that when a great baseball story smacks them in face, they don’t see it”. This self-pity party from Minervini and Frisaro went on for days, involving both responses from local media and opinions from local fans.

Ultimately, this culminated last night with the response from Local 10 sports personality Will Manso.

http://www.local10.com/video/strong-will-manso-sounds-off-about-marlins-coverage

In a desire to make all wrongs right, Manso provided Minervini, Frisaro and the Marlins the local coverage they feel entitled to. Highlights of this Marlins season included:

• Dee Gordon’s steroids suspension
• Giancarlo Stanton’s prolific… strike out streak
• Standing update (with Marlins sitting in 4th place)
• Reports that the team has filed lawsuits against season ticket holders
• Ichiro’s postgame quote

Joe Frisaro had the pleasure of interacting with me on Twitter this morning and to his loss he will no longer be able to do so now that he has blocked me, taken his ball, and gone home. Upon jokingly saying that Manso gave Loria the “Harper bat shake” and pointing out the team’s dismal record against the Braves, Frisaro accused me of being a troll connected to local sports station 790 The Ticket and the Miami Heat. Now, I assure you that while I listen to 790 and actively root for the Miami Heat, there is enough space in my heart for the Marlins. In fact, I would say there has been so much room for the Marlins that I have forgiven more than I should. For years I have given the team the benefit of the doubt, believing promises of a middle of the pack payroll in the new stadium, and assuming trades made were performance and not salary related.

Frisaro’s attitude is a reflection of the organization. To feel victimized by facts is to be scared of them. I pointed out the Marlins 1-5 record against the Braves and his response was “what are you talking about? It is overall record. It is a season, not a series.” Joe, you are indeed correct.  The overall record is what matters and as Manso pointed out, the Marlins overall record currently suggests that they are fourth best in a division of five. Say what you want, Joe, but as I mentioned to you, this team does not get the coverage you want because the fan base is turned off.

Here are a couple of things the season long record tells us. We have reached Memorial Day and 36% of the Braves wins have come against the Marlins. 50% of the Braves home wins have come against the Marlins. Joe, the Braves have literally won as many home games against the Marlins in 3 games as they did 22 games before the Marlins came to town! The Braves winning percentage is .286 propped up by a .833 winning percentage against the Marlins. Without the Marlins, the Braves winning percentage would be .209, barely above the Mendoza line.

Here’s what I know about the Marlins.  They love to play the role of the victim and have done so for many years. Anything that comes from someone associated with the team needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as with any company, culture starts from the top down and it’s only effective when everyone has bought in. Clearly Minervini and Frisaro have. As much as I like honesty from my media personalities, I can’t expect that from those on the Marlins payroll.  We all know what happens to those that dissent – just ask Tommy Hutton.

The organization seeking attention from local sports coverage should expect it organically, not from Twitter rants from its employees. Toiling in obscurity for many years, the Florida Panthers have proven that the coverage will come when you deserve it. The Miami Heat are a great organization that South Florida is proud of. Maybe the Marlins should aspire to be respectable before wondering where all the coverage is. The only thing coming from the Little Havana stadium is the foul smell of continuous mediocrity. As the record shows, this team is destined for another 75 win season and in all likelihood the trade of a few pieces, and that likely includes tonight’s starting pitcher.