"Early on the second day of last week's winter meetings in Dallas, Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria traversed the long, crowded lobby of the Hilton Anatole. Loria's gait was brisk, but not so quick that he would outrace the flock of minicams on his trail.

Loria smiled as he walked. He could have crossed the hotel on one of the upper floors and avoided the crush of the lobby, packed with reporters and front office executives from every major league team. But he didn't want to do that. Loria wanted to put on a show.

Why wouldn't he? Next season, the Marlins will christen their new, $515 million stadium with a flashier lineup. Barely two years after being rebuked by MLB and the players' union for having a minuscule payroll, the Marlins splurged in Dallas."