Utility player Matt Downs has agreed to terms with the Marlins on a minor league deal and invitation to spring training.
The versatile 28-year-old spent last season with Houston, where he hit .202 while playing six different positions: all four infield spots and the two corner outfield positions. Downs had his best season in 2011 when he hit .276 with 10 home runs in 199 at bats for the Astros.
For his career, Downs is a .230 hitter in four seasons with the Giants and Astros.
Loria sez he signed Matt Downs because ,after playing for Houston the past 3 years , Downs is an experienced loser,who can mentor the young 2013 Marlins in the downs of losing at least every 6 out of 10 games,without getting down.
Posted by: Debbie Downer | January 19, 2013 at 04:17 PM
Instead of having UPton, we have Downs.
Posted by: Flav C. | January 19, 2013 at 04:39 PM
huge pickup
Posted by: Forsythe | January 19, 2013 at 06:31 PM
After one season of splurging, the Marlins are back to scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Posted by: bob | January 19, 2013 at 06:43 PM
Heard that Loria's MLB writer Frisaro ,same as Loria ,has decided to not communicate with his loyal bloggers any further. Wow ,first Samson ,now Loria's shill on the Marlins MLB website. Whose next? Guess the only employee that doesnt have to worry about being muted is Billy. Is Beinfest a eunuch?
Posted by: HangEmHigh | January 19, 2013 at 07:20 PM
More like scraping the bottom of their shoes. At least they might find something at the bottom of a barrel
Posted by: HangEmHigh | January 19, 2013 at 07:56 PM
And the scrubs just keep coming!! LOL!! Seriously, is anyone taking the Marlins seriously??? Even as a Marlin fan, I can't help but to think this franchise is a total embarrassment and an outright joke!!!
Posted by: Mike | January 19, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Yippppyyyyyyyyyy we have signed Michael Wuertz, Nick green and now Matt Downs. We will win 41 games next year. Boycott that Stadium!!!! Opening day will have 7900 people. I'm just interested to see which team gets Stanton cause he is gone come June.
Posted by: Sean chatty | January 20, 2013 at 08:35 AM
have to feel bad for Tommy and Rich, and Cookie. they will have to create positive thoughts and excitement while broadcasting games in 2013.
Posted by: richiej | January 20, 2013 at 09:05 AM
I feel worse for Dave Van Horne. He had to see this same thing happen to the Expos. He's probably thinking, at his age he shouldn't have to look for another job again.
Posted by: bob | January 20, 2013 at 02:02 PM
Stan Musial's Batting legacy:
*Batting titles-7
*Career doubles-#3
*Career triples-#19 (most career since WWII)
*Hits-#4
*Total bases-#2
*RBIs-#6
*Runs scored-#9
*Extra base hits-#3
*Times on base-#6
*Most valuable player-3
*Runner up to MVP-4
*Most total MVP points than anyone but Bonds
*Offensive WAR-#7
*Runs created-#3
*OBP + Slugging %-#13
*Times thrown out of game-0
*Statues Outside Ballpark-2
*Musial averaged about two strikeouts per week. No power hitter in history had a better career percentage.
*Was on pennant winning team in 1942, 1943 1944 and 1946-Was in military service in 1945
Posted by: Stan M | January 20, 2013 at 03:58 PM
How many prospects would Loria have gotten for Musial?
Posted by: Flav C. | January 20, 2013 at 06:30 PM
Musial was signed by an old pitcher named Dickey Kerr. Why was he exceptional? He won 2 games in the 1919 World Series while his Black Sox team was throwing the series. Not too shabby. Another Musial tidbit. If memory serves me right, he was the first NL $100,000 grand man, but requested a pay cut when he has a bad year because of sickness and took $80,000. Of all his batting feats, the two that amaze me the most are having the most triples of any player since 1940, and only averaging about two strikeouts per week. For the man who has the second most total bases in history; that is amazing. And to think of how he was viewed by contempories, no one had more votes for MVP until good ol' Barry Bonds learned about "the cream".
Posted by: Stan M | January 20, 2013 at 08:08 PM
Webb will make more this year than Musial may have made in his career. oh well.
Posted by: Lou | January 20, 2013 at 10:18 PM
Lou, I honestly don't think any money would have made a difference in the life that this man had. Loved everywhere in the midwest, revered in St. Louis, respected throughout the world, married to his HS sweetheart for 72 years. Elected to the highest place of honor for his profession. Given the highest honor an American civilian can achieve. And the guy was forever happy! And he wasn't exactly poor. Until toward the end when the disease grabbed him, he had a life we can all admire and maybe even envy.
Posted by: Stan M | January 21, 2013 at 07:57 AM
I think I've read everything findable on the internet. If you have time and are interested, this article really captured the essesce of what Musial represented.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130120/stan-musial-st-louis-cardinals-heinz/?sct=uk_t11_a6
Posted by: Stan M | January 21, 2013 at 08:18 AM
Stan, I know what Musial meant to so many. It's sad to contemplate how the game has been turned on its ear due to wrongs that needed to be righted,however, as in so many instances when ills are corrected the newly created repurcussions only result in a parallel problem. As long as Ryan Webb gets to make a 1,000,000 a year by sticking around and you can then contrast that with Musial's LIFE and ACHIEVEMENTS, you get a true sense of the warped nature of the game in 2013.
Posted by: Lou | January 21, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Lou, I think more of the dad with a wife and 2 kids who can only go to one or two games a year so that someone who has the skill to play baseball can live in a true mansion and hire private jets. There were probably more untutored slobs in Musial's day than now because of the scrutiny these guys get. PR is now a big thing. Just ask Ozzie! Incidently, that I have the same name is just coincidence. I was probably in 1st grade when he broke in.
Posted by: Stan M | January 21, 2013 at 02:31 PM
RIP Stasiu . One of the greatest ever .
Posted by: Marlin Fan | January 21, 2013 at 03:58 PM
MATT DOWNS?? THE MATT DOWNS?? WHEN I THINK ABOUT BASEBALL LEGENDS, I THINK ABOUT BABE RUTH, MICKEY MANTLE AND MATT DOWNS I'M THROWING A MATT DOWNS CELEBRATION PARTY AT AROD'S MIAMI BEACH MANSION, I'M SOO EXCITED I'VE HAD A BONER SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT!!
Posted by: MIG PILOT | January 22, 2013 at 05:51 PM