[Owner] Jeffrey [Loria] has shown time and time again his desire to win year after year, ... He has shown his desire to have a competitive team. The reason why we never talk is the proof is always in the results, and it's far more powerful when actions speak without words. |
Carlos is a valuable member of this team and we look at him the way we look at all of our players: Everyone gets evaluated at the end of the year, |
For now, we must focus on the names on the front of the jersey. Not the name on the back. |
Governments do make decisions when they attract businesses to the community. Baseball is not the only industry, by any stretch, to ask for government help when deciding where to have its corporate headquarters. |
Hampton Roads speaks for itself. When it and Las Vegas are the two largest places without one of the four major league sports, there aren't many places left like it, so it was interesting. |
I don't think one player gets a stadium deal done. Cities that want baseball want it for 50 years. They're looking for the name on the front of the jersey. They're not focused on a specific player. |
I haven't seen a spot that really sticks out anywhere in South Florida. There is no perfect site. If you are too far south, the people north are unhappy. If you're too far east, the people out west are unhappy. So, I believe now the new perfect site is anywhere, and we'll teach people how to drive to the stadium. We'll build a tradition in this building for 30-40 years, and people will be more comfortable attending baseball games. |
I understand what they are doing. They are trying to do what is best for their community. At the same time, things don't often work as quickly as you like them to work in any scenario. Deadlines, once they are broken, you've got credibility issues. |
It should be noted that Miami and south Florida continue to be our first choice. But the reality is we don't have a deal there because our lease expires after 2010. |
It's a (term) that has a connotation that is very frustrating to me. In a fire sale, you don't need a GM or an owner for that. You actually just need a booth. You stand there and say, 'Here's our players. Come get them. First come, first served, quick as you can.' That's not what this is. |
It's definitely serious when you are presented a financing plan and when you talk as much as we are. |
Miami, the Gateway to the Americas, could well be the first American city in 35 years to see its baseball franchise leave. People in Washington D.C. know very well how long it took to get a team back. |
No longer can baseball in South Florida be assured, |
Nothing is scheduled. I suspect we'll sit with them at some point, but nothing is scheduled. |
Our focus is on staying in South Florida, that's our only goal. Five of the last seven new (major league) ballparks were built after teams started to relocate and didn't. |