NL playoff breakdown

[MaineDolFan]

Excuse me?  Wait...one more time...'Scuse me?

Not only do you have an open invitation "every" Saturday, but you didn't even show last Saturday when you said you'd be interested in talking about the playoff picture.

Hey!  HEY!!!  I have a very good excuse....ERRRRRRRRRRRRR...re ason for my no show!

[Sunstroke]

Hey!  HEY!!!  I have a very good excuse....ERRRRRRRRRRRRR...re ason for my no show!

If it wasn't an allnighter with three asian midget contortionists, I'm sure it isn't a good enough excuse.

Every Saturday night from 8 PM ET to around 9-9:30. Call in number is always 646-200-0114.

[MaineDolFan]

Actually - my very good excuse is that the sound card on my computer suddenly isn't working.  I can't figure out why, either.

[bsfins]

You got a cell phone, You can hear the show,on yor cell phone when You call in....Excuse problem solved...Worse case Scenerio,You call in Stroke Puts on the air....

I'm curious to see the last week ofe the season...I'd like to get on a roll here at the end of the season..Today wasn't encouraging....I'm hoping it was a errr Trap game....Knowing that It was important to put out foot on the throat of the Brewers...

[BingeBag]

Philly, are you biting your nails a little bit here or what?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Philly, are you biting your nails a little bit here or what?

Cameron Maybin's looking really good right about now.  You think they might make his call-up permanent?

[Sunstroke]

I sure was hoping that Maybin could set the Marlins' record when he came to the plate last night looking for his 9th straight base hit. You can see such a dramatic difference in this kid at the plate right now...spending the year in AA working on his hitting sure looks like it was the right move.

To answer your question, Tommy...unless Maybin backslides a little bit between now and spring training, I can't see him starting next season anywhere but with the parent club. Florida will be going for their third world series next season, and they'll need all the talented bats they can get.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I sure was hoping that Maybin could set the Marlins' record when he came to the plate last night looking for his 9th straight base hit. You can see such a dramatic difference in this kid at the plate right now...spending the year in AA working on his hitting sure looks like it was the right move.

To answer your question, Tommy...unless Maybin backslides a little bit between now and spring training, I can't see him starting next season anywhere but with the parent club. Florida will be going for their third world series next season, and they'll need all the talented bats they can get.

Question.... and if you can't answer this, maybe Maine can:

When a minor leaguer is called up at the end of the MLB season, does he get a prorated major league salary for that portion of the season?

[Philly Fin Fan]

Philly, are you biting your nails a little bit here or what?

I knew that was going to happen last night. A buddy and I were talking yesterday about how good Brett Myers has pitched since his little stint in the minors. He had only given up 10 runs in his last 7 starts and had pitched lights out. Of course since we talked about it, he gave up 10 runs in one night!

Ironically, the same thing happened a few weeks back when Moyer pitched against the Mets. He had been something like 7-0 aginst them, with like a 2.something ERA. Of course since we talked about it, he got lit up that day!

[Sunstroke]

Of course since we talked about it, he got lit up that day!

The Marlins would like to invite you to talk to your buddy about the Phillies, Mets and Brewers every day between now and the end of the regular season. Thanks!!

[bsfins]

Woohooo..Cubs...Clinch.....Go Cubs Go...Go cubs Go...Hey Chicago Whadda say...Cubs are gonna win today....


Ok...Enough Time to get back to work.....

[MaineDolFan]

Question.... and if you can't answer this, maybe Maine can:

When a minor leaguer is called up at the end of the MLB season, does he get a prorated major league salary for that portion of the season?

They are paid the league minimum, pro rated, in 99% of the cases.  The MLB league min for 2008 is $390,000.

Most prospects, no matter the level, are paid the league minimum when they are pressed into action on the MLB level.  That's usually very significant over the amount they were making in the minors.  Generally the real money these kids see from the beginning is in the form of their signing bonus and then their annual salary is pretty small - which is why you see most players opting to play year round.

Some higher level prospects have two way contracts, they've already negotiated something slightly higher than the MLB minimum for times that they are called up.  This is usually done in the stages when a team is trying to sign the player and keep them from opting back into the draft.  Example is the Red Sox #1 pick in '08, Casey Kelly.  He had already agreed to a free ride to play QB for Tennessee, which is why a lot of teams didn't pick him.  Boston offered him a huge signing bonus and something like 9% above league minimum for call up duty.

AA players are paid $1,500 a month during the season until they have one year experience at that level.  Then no less than $1,500 a month.  AAA is $2,150 until the player has one year experience at that level and then no less than $2,500 a month.  They also get $20 a day meal money while on the road.   Jacoby Ellsbury is another good example, he didn't spend one year time in the minors at any level but had negotiated a different bonus amount based upon promotion date to the MLB level.  I think he received an additional $750,000 when he made the opening day roster this season in addition to his salary (and post season pay outs from last year).

[Philly Fin Fan]

Marlins were eliminated with their loss last night. The Phillies magic number is 4 to win the division, 3 to secure a playoff spot.

[Sunstroke]

The Marlins were only eliminated because the other teams in the NL fear them too much. Yeah, that's the reason...

[Brian Fein]

if you can't beat the Reds, you don't deserve playoff consideration, IMO.  Too bad, it was a good run.  Maybe next year when Kevin Gregg doesn't cost us like 12 games.