Mastering the quick Chum Bucket seems to be a necessity here lately.  So here is another one.

In men's college basketball I know that South Florida is hosting a game and on the women's side, FIU and FAU are in action.

In the pros, the Heat will be on ESPN with Dick Vitale doing the color for the game.  It seems that ESPN is having their pro announcers call the college game and their college announcers call the pro game tonight.  Whatever floats their boat.

But naturally, you can talk about anything you want to.  It is a Chum Bucket after all.

Whatever you decide, Have a Great Day!

Well to be completely accurate, Hanley Ramirez should already be in Las Vegas.

Showbiz, music and sports superstars and captains of the electronics industry are en route to Las Vegas today for the giant 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show, the globe’s greatest gathering of gadgets and gizmo groupies! The world’s largest consumer technology trade convention officially kicks off tomorrow as manufacturers promote their latest products and technologies...

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Sports celebrities booked at the Sharp HDTV zone highlight a slew of Major League Baseball players, including Prince Fielder, all-star first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers and the youngest person ever to reach 50 home runs, plus five-time all-star Big Papi, David Ortiz from the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets starting pitcher John Maine, silver sluggers Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins and Matt Holiday of the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs infielder Ryan Therlot and New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain.

 I hope Hanley's wrist is in signing shape because something gives me the idea that he is going to go through a few sharpies before the event is over.

 Just think of it as spring training for Fan Fest.

 Should you attend the event, get a picture of yourself and Hanley and I will be more than happy to post it on FishStripes.

The vote on the remaining contracts may be just days away and then again not.

Five documents still must be agreed upon by commissioners from the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County. The vote is expected on Jan. 22. If all goes according to script, that could be the day the team's retractable-roof park will become official.

Shortly after that, the club likely will release renderings of what the park will look like.

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The target date to break ground is May, but there is a 30-day window that it can fall under -- between May 15-June 15.

 

The five documents that commissioners will address are: City/parking agreement; operating agreement; construction/administration agreement; non-relocation agreement; and the assurance agreement, where all parties are bound by all agreements.

The Marlins' negotiations are being led by Derek Jackson, the team's general counsel; Wayne Katz, a top-tier attorney from Proskauer Rose LLP; Joel Mael, the team's vice chairman; and Michel Bussiere, the club's executive vice president and chief financial officer.

 

The reason the Marlins chief negotiators are included in this is that when it comes to hearings at the county: you won't know the players without a program.

The city of Miami will probably be an easy sell.  The county of Miami-Dade, less so.  From my understanding the Marlins don't have the votes at the moment to pass the contracts and that is due to the number of commissioners sitting on the fence.  In other words the nay sayers don't have the majority either.  The Marlins will be going to the meeting to make sure the fence sitters fall to their side of fence.

If the county commissioners meeting goes like last time, it will be long drawn out process with more negative points being brought up than positive ones.  However, it doesn't mean that ones wanting their negative concerns addressed won't vote for the stadium.  They did months ago.  But of course times have changed, so nothing is a sure thing.

We are getting closer to knowing whether the Marlins will get their own stadium, but if I were you, I wouldn't write Jan. 22 on my calendar in ink.  Things change.

More as we get closer. 

Scott Proctor passed his physical and is now officially a Marlin.

He's far from eligible for discounted movie tickets and early-bird specials, but at 32, right-hander Scott Proctor on Tuesday officially became the senior member of the Marlins' bullpen.

Proctor, who agreed in principle to a one-year, $750,000 contract last week, passed his physical Monday.

I will say this about Scott, he is saying all the right words at the beginning.

"To be able to help younger guys the way some older guys did for me is going to be a lot of fun," Proctor said. "That's just the way the game is. Guys help you through when you're younger and then you return the favor when you're in that position. Whatever capacity they use me, I'm just going to try and help the guys in any way I can to be ready for any situation."

Proctor has already been added to the 40-man roster, but his number is in doubt at this point.  When he was Dodger he wore number 45 on his jersey, but as of now that belongs to Frankie De La Cruz.  My suggestion to Frankie, assuming he isn't married to the number, and Scott really, really wants it.  Make him pay -- big time.  Frankie, you hold all the cards.

What Proctor will add to the Marlins pen remains to be seen, but is nice he passed his physical.  Since it wasn't guaranteed that he would.

Carl Pavano got an offer he couldn't refuse.

The Marlins were unsuccessful in their attempt to reacquire Pavano, who ended up signing a one-year deal with the Indians.

The oft-injured Pavano, who once pitched for the Marlins, will reportedly make $1.5 million, with the potential to earn an additional $5.3 million in incentives tied to starts and innings pitched.

Good for Carl because there was noway the Marlins were going to match that offer.

In case you are wondering, Pavano will never make all his incentives.  In order to get the full $5.3 million he will have to make over 30 starts and pitch about 230 innings.  If on the off chance he does that, it will be a career year and probably his final one in major league baseball given that his arm will be spent.

He does have a history of injuries and I doubt he would ever recover from that much work.

But whatever happens, we wish Carl the best.

This is going to be sorriest and shortest Chum Bucket ever!  Okay, it may not be the sorriest but it will definitely be short.

In sports, stuff is happening.  Personally, I have no idea what, but there will be stuff.  Oh wait, I do know something -- Ball State is playing Tulsa.  Other than that, I'm lost.

If you would like to discuss non-sports issues, go for it.  Someone might join in -- you can never tell.

Have a Great Day!

I said it was going to be short.

Or at least Jayson Stark thinks they are.

SURPRISE TEAM

Florida Marlins

I can't get Bobby Cox's words out of my head. It was the last week of September. And here's what he said: "You know who's got the best starting pitching in our division? It's the Marlins. And it's not even close." Nobody, of course, was saying that about that team a year ago, when the Fish were getting ready to roll out a rotation that had won a total of 23 games the year before. But now, they haveRicky Nolasco, Josh Johnson, Chris Volstad, Anibal Sanchez and Andrew Miller lined up.

There is some news on former Marlins players.

Outfielder Reggie Abercrombie and reliever Clay Hensley were among five players who agreed Monday to minor league contracts with the Houston Astros.

Outfielder John Gall, and infielders Mark Saccomanno and Jason Smith also agreed to deals.

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The 27-year-old Abercrombie hit .309 with two home runs and five RBIs in 34 games with the Astros last season. He is a career .223 hitter in 180 games with Houston and the Florida Marlins.

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The 30-year-old Gall hit .312 with 12 home runs and 76 RBIs last season at Triple-A Albuquerque,

If I had to guess, Reggie and John will just be insurance policies in the minors

Then there is Sergio Mitre.

New York Yankees pitcher Sergio Mitre will receive a 50-game suspension Tuesday for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy.

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"Although being suspended for 50 games is tough to accept, I think that it is important to understand that I am in full support of drug testing in baseball," Mitre said in a statement released through his agent, Paul Cobbe. "I did take the supplement in question and accept full responsibility for taking it. What has been difficult for me to understand is that I legally purchased this supplement at GNC and had no intention nor desire to cheat or to circumvent the system in any way.

 

"As confirmed through the drug testing and grievance processes, it contained a 'contaminant' amount of an illegal, performance-enhancing drug. This was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging, should not have been in the supplement and certainly should not have been available for legal purchase at a store."

I have no problem in believing his story, Sergio has always been a standup guy.   But there are some curious aspects that would make one wonder.   However, I will leave that alone for now.  

The Florida Marlins, according to this report, are still negotiating with Carl Pavano.

The Marlins are interested in signing ex-Marlin Carl Pavano to a deal worth $1 million with incentives but were told Pavano wants $2 million. If any of the Marlins' five projected starters ( Josh Johnson,Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad, Anibal Sanchez or Andrew Miller) is injured, Florida could turn to Rick VandenHurk or Ryan Tucker unless it adds a Pavano-type veteran.

Paying $2 million dollars to an injury waiting to happen doesn't seem like that good of a insurance policy.  Yes, yes, I know that Pavano was the Marlins ERA leader in among the starters in 2004.  But times have changed and Pavano isn't the same pitcher.

Should the Marlins need a sixth starter, I would rather see if VandenHurk has matured as a pitcher or possibly whether Sean West is ready for the big time.  The Pavano solution doesn't feel right to me.

But I probably won't have to worry about it since I sincerely doubt the Marlins will meet his $2 million dollar price tag.

Phiten Florida Marlins Titanium X30 Necklace.

Product Description
Phiten Florida Marlins MLB Titanium X30 22" Necklace Phitens Aqua-Titanium is uniquely charged to create a stabilizing field that enhances your bodys natural systems. Benefits: Increases flexibility Relieves joint & muscle pain Alleviates discomfort Improves blood circulation Transports energy Reduces fatigue Perfect for anybody that is physically active Support your favorite team

Uh huh.  Exactly how is this necklace suppose to perform these physical wonders?  Does anyone know?  But if on the unbelievable chance it does, it should a part of the issued uniform to the team.  And if it does, you can have one too.