The Marlins released aerial photos of the under-construction new stadium. Check it out:

View the entire gallery here.

The Marlins are holding an open tryout on February 16 at their Spring Training facilities in Jupiter:
Eligible players are age 16 to 24 and are not currently playing for a college team. Released players with prior professional experience are welcome. High school players are required to supply written permission from their school principal to take part.
Registration is free and opens at 8 a.m. with the tryout starting an …

We will be stoked to have this view at the new stadium:

(click to enlarge)
Pic via @MarlinsBigCatch

For some Mets hatin’…

(click to enlarge)
Here’s the craigslist posting, while it is still up. Whoever did this, kudos.
via BI Sports

March 7, 2010:
Third baseman Wes Helms said recently, “I have told Hanley 100 times, ‘You have to lead this team.’” Now, “he looks like a guy that wants to. I’m proud of him.”
January 30, 2011:
“Everyone will be very surprised with the new Hanley and his whole makeup,” manager Edwin Rodriguez said. “He is very motivated. He was very disappointed in his season. He knows …

Last night, Forbes.com posted an article by Patrick Rishe in which Rishe examines three factors which have made Super Bowl contestants Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh* Steelers two of the most popular (as in top 5) teams in the NFL. Their popularity has many predicting record ratings for this year’s Super Bowl. Rishe examines three factors which have led them to their level of popularity, which both have sustained for …

Our good blogging friend Michael at Marlin Maniac will be having a live chat this Friday at 5:00pm EST on his site. Both of the Diehards should be there for at least part of the chat, so be sure to stop by and talk Marlins. Carry on.

Yesterday was LoMo Day at Marlin Maniac (parts 1, 2, and 3). For the record, if Ted and I weren’t convinced that Logan Morrison will someday be traded for a pair of pitching prospects to the Los Angeles Angels (or Minnesota Twins or whoever), we would rename this blog “Every Day Should Be LoMo Day,” abbreviate it to EDSBLMD and wait for a cease-and-desist letter to arrive from Spencer Hall’s …

Via Deadspin:
“A then-21-year-old Scottsdale-based girl who went to Arizona State University claimed she went to Chicago for the National Championship game in 2003,” a source familiar with the production told RadarOnline.com.
“She said she was partying with at least three Cubs players at one of their houses downtown until 4 a.m. — drinking and hooking up.
“It was the night before Game 7 in the NLCS and at least two of the …

In a puzzling move, former Mets manager Bobby Valentine was appointed director of public safety in Stamford, Connecticut, yesterday. I first learned of this from a tweet from Rob Iracane, and I assumed he was simply referring to some other guy named Bobby Valentine. I’m guessing he was hired for his experience in undercover work (see above photo). This is largely a volunteer gig for Valentine, who will remain an …

Trevor Hoffman, P
Played for Marlins: 1993Other Teams: San Diego (1993-2008), Milwaukee (2009-2010)Marlins fans know him because: The Marlins selected Hoffman with the eighth pick in the 1992 expansion draft from the Cincinnati Reds, for whom Hoffman played two years in the minor leagues. Hoffman spent the first part of 1993 as a setup man for Bryan Harvey, amassing 2 saves in just over 35 innings before being traded to San …

Today from Bleacher Report: Could Cliff Lee Signing Make Josh Johnson Available?
Of all the Bleacher Report articles, this is the Bleacher Reportiest. The gist: Because the Phillies are so good (thanks to their monster rotation), the Marlins should consider trading their best pitcher (and second-best player overall), even though they are getting a bargain on him, to free up money for other good players. FLAWLESS LOGIC!
Some choice quotes from the …

Yesterday at a media roundtable, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told reporters “I was a little naive,” in discussing a possible coaching contract with then-Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh without first firing Dolphins coach Tony Sparano. According to Ross and team general manager Jeff Ireland, the two decided against hiring Harbaugh, then signed Sparano to a contract extension, making a complete 180 in a matter of hours, while Sparano was left …

When Loria messes up in hiring a manager, Marlins fans miss out on Bobby Valentine. When Ross messes up in hiring a coach, Dolphins bloggers react thusly:

Advantage: Loria.
Image via Fins Nation

The BBWAA Hall of Fame voting results were announced today and MDH extends a congratulations to Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven who have been elected to be enshrined in Cooperstown, both very deserving of the honor.
It wasn’t a good day for some members of the Diaspora. Kevin Brown, Al Leiter, Benito Santiago Lenny Harris Soul Food, and Charles Johnson did not receive enough votes to remain on future ballots and …

It’s official, the Braves have signed former Marlin second basemen Dan Uggla to a 5-year $62 million contract extension. The Marlins had offered 4 years and $48 million to him in November, which he turned down. 5 years seems like 2 years to many, but Uggla deserves to get whatever the market will pay for him. But if that expected post-30 decline hits (and it is highly unlikely it won’t), …

h/t: Carolina, the only person (I know of) whose ongoing affection for Cody supersedes that of the Diehards.

When Ted and I first started planning our Marlins blog in early 2009, one of the blogs whose tone and wit we wished to emulate was Walkoff Walk. We were disappointed to hear yesterday that Walkoff Walk will be shutting down at the end of the month, but we wish its proprietors, Rob and Kris, the best.

Ted will henceforth be known as Tie Guy. Which makes him way better than Hat Guy.

The Marlins Diehards editorial staff will be holding our Winter Meetings this weekend, so we won’t have any new content up until after the new year most likely. Merry Christmas, enjoy the holiday, be safe, and eat as much as you can this weekend. To our Jewish readers, a belated Happy Channukah, and enjoy the Chinese food and movie on Saturday (I recommend True Grit). And to our pagan readers, …