Found August 01, 2008 on Hot Stove Philly: Yardbarker Blogger Network
The Florida Marlins were on the verge of acquiring future Hall of Fame outfielder Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox before Thursday's trade deadline, but Ramirez ended up with the Dodgers instead. As a consolation prize, the Marlins traded for journeyman reliever, and former Phillies, Arthur Rhodes, from the Seattle Mariners for minor league pitcher Gaby Hernandez. Not only did the Marlins not get better by getting Manny, but they actually got worse by acquiring Rhodes. Most Phillies' fans look back on the year Rhodes spent in Philadelphia with mild disgust. Rhodes went 0-5 with a 5.32 ERA and three blown saves. Rhodes was just another in a long line of Roberto Hernandez's, Antonio Alfonseca's, and Jose Mesa's (although, admittedly, I had a secret crush on Mesa for his blue and red gloves and his english name, Joe Table), veteran journeyman relievers that were supposed to come here and provide some stability and veteran leadership in the bullpen. Instead they came and just plain stunk. Miraculously, after undergoing Tommy John Surgery last year, Rhodes returned for his 17th major league season and is 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 22 innings. But that was with Seattle, where it didn't matter because they are the only team currently competing with the Washington Nationals for the Worst Team In The Majors Award. Now Rhodes is in a pressure situation, with the Marlins just one and a half games back of the Phillies, who are in first place in the National League East, a game ahead of the New York Mets. Rhodes is going to be expected to pitch well, like he was expected to in 2006, and we all remember how that went. Way to go Marlins, way to go.

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Comments (5)
  • tedhill
    Placard_complete_small
    Intersting that a Philly fan took all that time to write about the Marlins. it is probably because he is worried about them taking over the division. I'm not saying Rhodes is the greatest, but he is a solid bullpen arm that the marlins needed. The offense is obviously okay, and the starting pitching has improved drastically with the addition of Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad. Worse team? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
  • Brouse310
    Placard_complete_small
    like hell the marlins have no chance get over it you need to think it over haha your funny your marlins suck and should just quit they will never amount to anything haha go phillies
  • dave6834
    The Marlins got worse by adding Rhodes? Seriously? I have two words for you: Renyel Pinto.
  • phillyfan05
    it depends on how good rhodes competes in big games, i just cant believe how he is playing well at his age and since he had that horrible year with the phils
  • KingdomeCome
    Marlins fans should thank God that they didn't acquire Manny. That would have been an awful trade. Manny gives the Marlins an offensive boost over Hermida, but his defense is godawful. According to most metrics the Marlins would improve by exactly ZERO runs if that trade had been made. Saving runs is about as good as creating runs.
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