Baseball Guru
06-28-2001, 04:02 PM
Marlins release rabble-rouser Miceli
SportsLine.com wire reports
MIAMI -- A month after criticizing the Florida Marlins for making "stupid
moves," reliever Dan Miceli lauded the team for this one.
The Marlins placed Miceli on unconditional release waivers on Wednesday.
If the right-hander is not claimed by 2 p.m. ET Monday, he could sign with
any team.
He could be claimed, in which case a team would have to pay the
remainder of his salary this season, about $1 million. If Miceli signed after
clearing waivers, the new team would owe him only about $100,000, with
the Marlins paying the rest.
"This is what I wanted," Miceli said as he left Pro Player Stadium. "I wanted
my release form so I could go on. Hopefully I clear waivers and I can choose
where I want to go.
"It's been a month, a lot of brain cramps. I felt I threw the ball good for these
guys and helped them win. I touched a lot of guys in that clubhouse and
hopefully they won't forget, good or bad."
Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski spent the last month trying to
trade Miceli, whose comments sparked the firing of manager John Boles on
May 28.
"I really didn't want to release him," Dombrowski said. "That wasn't our goal.
But we ultimately decided that if we're not going to be able to use him, then
we needed to make a decision. We didn't want to hurt our ballclub."
Miceli condemned Boles' coaching moves after a four-game series against
the New York Mets. Boles was fired the following day for having lost control
of the clubhouse.
Miceli then ripped his teammates, saying he felt betrayed by many of them
for not echoing his remarks about Boles.
Dombrowski said he got several offers for Miceli, but none he felt would have
given the Marlins a player of equal ability.
"Some people I talked to had no desire to trade for him based upon what he
did, some people had no desire to trade for him based upon his
performance and others did offer players that were maybe at the bottom of
their pitching staff in exchange," Dombrowski said.
"I know he has ability. He's a better pitcher than his numbers indicate. The
type of pitchers and guys we were talking about getting didn't measure up.
So all of a sudden, you're taking someone with equal salary and you're not
getting someone that's going to pitch as well."
The Marlins placed Miceli on irrevocable waivers Friday, and he cleared
those Tuesday. Any team could have claimed him for a $20,000 waiver fee
but would have been responsible for the remainder his salary.
Marlins manager Tony Perez has been reluctant to let Miceli pitch since he
took over, using him just five times this month. Miceli, 0-5 with a 6.93 ERA,
went from being Florida's setup man to mop-up man.
Miceli, who had a 4.83 career ERA, played with Pittsburgh, Detroit and San
Diego before joining the Marlins last season.
In his last four outings, he has shown signs of returning to form. He has
given up three hits and a run in four innings. He struck out three and walked
one.
"He ends up getting what he wants out of this situation, I recognize that,"
Dombrowski said. "He gets released, we pay his salary basically and he
gets to go play where he wants.
"It's not that we don't realize that, but we just couldn't let it affect our
ballclub at this point."
To fill Miceli's roster spot, the Marlins recalled left-hander Jesus Sanchez
from Triple-A Calgary. Sanchez started Wednesday night's game against
Montreal.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
------------------
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."
LETS GO METS!!!
HELP BE AN ADDICT AND CLICK ON AN AD!!
SportsLine.com wire reports
MIAMI -- A month after criticizing the Florida Marlins for making "stupid
moves," reliever Dan Miceli lauded the team for this one.
The Marlins placed Miceli on unconditional release waivers on Wednesday.
If the right-hander is not claimed by 2 p.m. ET Monday, he could sign with
any team.
He could be claimed, in which case a team would have to pay the
remainder of his salary this season, about $1 million. If Miceli signed after
clearing waivers, the new team would owe him only about $100,000, with
the Marlins paying the rest.
"This is what I wanted," Miceli said as he left Pro Player Stadium. "I wanted
my release form so I could go on. Hopefully I clear waivers and I can choose
where I want to go.
"It's been a month, a lot of brain cramps. I felt I threw the ball good for these
guys and helped them win. I touched a lot of guys in that clubhouse and
hopefully they won't forget, good or bad."
Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski spent the last month trying to
trade Miceli, whose comments sparked the firing of manager John Boles on
May 28.
"I really didn't want to release him," Dombrowski said. "That wasn't our goal.
But we ultimately decided that if we're not going to be able to use him, then
we needed to make a decision. We didn't want to hurt our ballclub."
Miceli condemned Boles' coaching moves after a four-game series against
the New York Mets. Boles was fired the following day for having lost control
of the clubhouse.
Miceli then ripped his teammates, saying he felt betrayed by many of them
for not echoing his remarks about Boles.
Dombrowski said he got several offers for Miceli, but none he felt would have
given the Marlins a player of equal ability.
"Some people I talked to had no desire to trade for him based upon what he
did, some people had no desire to trade for him based upon his
performance and others did offer players that were maybe at the bottom of
their pitching staff in exchange," Dombrowski said.
"I know he has ability. He's a better pitcher than his numbers indicate. The
type of pitchers and guys we were talking about getting didn't measure up.
So all of a sudden, you're taking someone with equal salary and you're not
getting someone that's going to pitch as well."
The Marlins placed Miceli on irrevocable waivers Friday, and he cleared
those Tuesday. Any team could have claimed him for a $20,000 waiver fee
but would have been responsible for the remainder his salary.
Marlins manager Tony Perez has been reluctant to let Miceli pitch since he
took over, using him just five times this month. Miceli, 0-5 with a 6.93 ERA,
went from being Florida's setup man to mop-up man.
Miceli, who had a 4.83 career ERA, played with Pittsburgh, Detroit and San
Diego before joining the Marlins last season.
In his last four outings, he has shown signs of returning to form. He has
given up three hits and a run in four innings. He struck out three and walked
one.
"He ends up getting what he wants out of this situation, I recognize that,"
Dombrowski said. "He gets released, we pay his salary basically and he
gets to go play where he wants.
"It's not that we don't realize that, but we just couldn't let it affect our
ballclub at this point."
To fill Miceli's roster spot, the Marlins recalled left-hander Jesus Sanchez
from Triple-A Calgary. Sanchez started Wednesday night's game against
Montreal.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
------------------
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."
LETS GO METS!!!
HELP BE AN ADDICT AND CLICK ON AN AD!!