NFL is monitoring Tropical Storm Erika

By: AndySlater

The Miami Dolphins are scheduled to face the Atlanta Falcons in their preseason home opener on Saturday night. The tropics may have different plans for them.

Tropical Storm Erika was born on Monday night and is projected to continue to track toward the Bahamas for the next four days. The National Hurricane Center has forecast Erika to become a hurricane as it approaches the Bahamas.

If the current projected track holds, a storm watch or warning would likely be issued for parts of Florida as early as Saturday. Right now, there's much uncertainty with Erika as with any tropical system. On Tuesday, weather officials said their confidence in the storm's forecast track is "low". 

When asked about alternative plans for Saturday night's game, including the possibility of playing earlier in the day, NFL spokesman Michael Signora said the league has "been in touch with both clubs and will continue to monitor the situation throughout the week."

Should the Dolphins or NFL move the game to an earlier than scheduled kickoff, it wouldn't be the first time. In 2004, the Dolphins' regular-season home opener was changed from Sunday to Saturday due to a Hurricane Ivan threat. One year later, the Chiefs were forced to fly to Miami early and play on a Friday because of impending Hurricane Wilma. 

Sportsbook has no respect for Booker T. Washington

By: @AndySlater

The Booker T. Washington football team has won 41 consecutive games. That number is almost as big as how many points an offshore sportsbook is giving them for their opening game vs. St. Thomas Aquinas.

The site 5Dimes has Booker T. as a 34.5-point underdog for Friday night's contest.

The Tornadoes have won three consecutive Class 4A titles. Their opponent, St. Thomas, is the defending Class 7A champ.

The game will be played Friday night at Brian Piccolo Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPN.

(Update: 8/26 10:30pm)

Apparently, some bettors believed the original point spread for St. Thomas Aquinas was a bargain. Booker T. Washington is now a bigger underdog. 

(Update: 8/28 7:40pm)

This afternoon, St. Thomas remained at a 36.5-favorite. Within the last six hours, the line has dropped steadily. 

(Update: 8/28 8:00pm)

The final line at kickoff.

(Photo Credit: MaxPreps)

The Marlins organization is losing and breaking records

By: @AndySlater

Losing three straight games to the Philadelphia Phillies is pretty bad, but it isn't the worst streak in the Marlins organization right now. 

The Marlins' Triple-A team in New Orleans goes into Sunday evening's contest on a 14-game losing streak, a franchise record. The Zephyers haven't won since August 7 and have dropped 22 of their past 24 games. 

I pointed out on July 20,  along with WPLG's Will Manso and David Lang, how every one of the team's affiliates were in last place. The only bright spot for the Marlins now comes from the Gulf Coast League where their rookie-league team is not in the cellar. 

(Update 08/24) The Zepyhrs are now on a 15-game losing streak after Las Vegas defeated them Sunday night 5-4. New Orleans is two games away from tying the Pacific Coast League record for consecutive losses at 17, a record that was set in 1925 by Sacramento, according to The New Orleans Advocate. 

See the overall standings below

Photo credit: Miami Herald

Fox Sports Florida will replace Bill Lindsay

By: @AndySlater

Fox Sports Florida will hire a replacement to fill the role former Florida Panthers player Bill Lindsay was let go from on Monday. 

Lindsay announced that he would no longer be part of the Panthers' Fox Sports Florida broadcast. He was part of the television team for the past six years.

There was thought that Lindsay's role was being eliminated, however, that's not the case. I've learned that Fox Sports Florida currently has several candidates ready for final interviews to take the job. I'm told all of the candidates have considerable hockey knowledge. 

Fox Sports Florida hires the talent for the Panthers broadcasts, but the team has some say in who is selected. The candidates will be meeting with team executives very soon. 

Update - 12:20p ET Fox Sports Florida has announced Randy Moller will be the new television analyst. 

Marcell Ozuna may be on the farm for more than one reason

By: @AndySlater

Update: July 30, 5:00pm (Marlins President of Baseball Operations, Michael Hill Speaks on Ozuna's status)

Marlins' Michael Hill on Marcell Ozuna (07/30/15)

Andy Slater

July 25, 2015

Marcell Ozuna's .289 batting average dropped to .249 from June 12 to July 5. It was that day when the Marlins decided to drop Ozuna to the minor leagues.  

The move was somewhat surprising for the struggling team as they needed any proven bat they could have in the offensively-challenged lineup. However, to some, it's more of a surprise that Ozuna is still with the Marlins minor-league affiliate in New Orleans almost three weeks after being demoted. 

As of July 25, Ozuna was hitting .353 with 2 home runs in 51 at-bats for the Triple-A team.  Meanwhile, the major-league team is without its two best bats in Giancarlo Stanton and Dee Gordon because of injury. 

There could be two reasons the Marlins haven't called upon Ozuna again. The team may want him to continue to work out any kinks they feel are necessary before he rejoins the big-league club.   The other reason may be the arbitration clock.

Players need to be on a major-league roster just under three years (2 seasons plus 130 days) to begin the arbitration process, as explained by the website Fangraphs. Entering this season, Ozuna had one year and 153 days of service time. To reach arbitration status in 2016, Ozuna would need to be on the Marlins 25-man roster for about 149 days this baseball season, which began April 5 and ends October 4.  

Ozuna currently sits at two years plus 73 days of service time, according to my calculations.  That number puts Ozuna about 57 days shy of qualifying for arbitration. Going into tonight's contest at San Diego, the Marlins have 72 days remaining in their season (65 games, 7 days off). For Ozuna to qualify for the automatic, bigger paycheck next year, he'd have to be back with the team by August 8.  It should also be noted, according to rules, if Ozuna was recalled within 20 days of being sent to Triple-A, he would have received credit for major-league service time even while in New Orleans. 

During my weekday radio show on 940-AM WINZ and iHeartRadio, I asked Marlins' MLB.com writer Joe Frisaro if Ozuna was being "punished." Frisaro pointed out "the business of baseball."

It should also not be forgotten how Ozuna turned down a reported contract extension in March 2015. Ozuna said his agent Scott Boras told him "don't hurry. Be waiting for the moment, and let's see what happens in a couple of years."

Did Boras and Ozuna irk the Marlins to a point where the team will make him wait an additional year for arbitration and free agency or is it solely Ozuna's mechanics and not the business of baseball that are keeping him on the farm?

Keep an eye on the calendar.

Photo Credit: StandingOSports