In N.Y., Ken Belson in a front-page piece notes while MLB is "eager to have a deal done" to sell the Marlins, Owner Jeffrey Loria has an "incentive to wait until next year." After March, as "part of the team's deal" with Miami-Dade County, Loria will "no longer have to give the city and the county" a 5% share of the profits from the sale of the team. The sale is "being led" by team President David Samson, who is also Loria's stepson. Unlike most teams going through a sale, the Marlins have "not hired an investment bank to help broker a deal." Omitting this step "will save the Marlins' ownership from having to pay a hefty commission, but it also has led to a less-than-fluid process" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/5).
BIG CAT STRUGGLES: In Detroit, Bill Shea noted fan disappointment with the Tigers has "manifested itself at the gate." The 37-45 Tigers are "averaging 28,479 per game after 40 games at 41,299-seat Comerica Park." That ranks 16th among MLB's 30 clubs. A year ago, at the season's halfway point, the Tigers had "averaged 29,488 per game over 39 games at Comerica." Since '13, when the Tigers won the AL Central and lost to the Red Sox in the ALCS, home attendance has "fallen by an average of 9,587 per game." The Tigers' only sellout so far this season was 45,013 for Opening Day, and they "haven't come near that mark since" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 7/3).
STAYING OUT OF THE WAY: In DC, Thomas Boswell notes the Nationals have "won more regular season games than anybody in MLB the past six years." The "key master-builders" are Assistant GM & VP/Player Development Doug Harris and Assistant GM & VP/Scouting Operations Kris Kline, as well as GM & President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dusty Baker, "plus plenty of other evaluators and instructors." They scout, trade, teach and project the future "better than their rivals." The Nationals ownership "gives its baseball people complete control of scouting, drafting, international signings, minor league instruction, trades for relatively inexpensive players, picking up useful castoffs, roster construction and daily lineup decisions" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/5).
