Q: Why should anybody trust you guys just a year after you invested so much money in players that are no longer here?

A: That’s exactly what we said and exactly what did not happen. That’s the whole issue. If we had all those starters pitching to where we thought they would pitch, then I don’t think we’re losing 93 games. So, that’s my exact point. You may not know the name Jacob Turner or Henderson Alvarez or Nathan Eovaldi, but the fact of the matter is we think we’re in better position to win more games. So, I hear you, it’s the names. But at the end of the day the names added up to 93 losses. So shame on us if we go at it the same way.

Q: When a ballpark is publicly funded, here is why a payroll is relevant: If a fan base doesn’t know a payroll is going to be large, it sounds like you’re just lining your pockets with money.

A: Yeah, but I think everyone knows that can’t be true. Everyone looks at the ballpark last year and saw the fact the team wasn’t winning and the games weren’t selling out, so obviously we have to do something different. Obviously, it was a public/private partnership. Let’s not forget how much money Jeffrey Loria put in. $160 million of his money to get a ballpark, which has been a very positive thing and will continue to be long after all of us are gone.

Q: Do you feel the distrust, anger from the public?

A: Of course I feel it and I understand it...There was no distrust when the team won the World Series in ’03. And when we were going into ’05 with the great [roster] and we didn’t win, that was bad. People were upset. We went into ’12 with a good team, everybody including us picked us to do better. Everybody, and it just didn’t happen. So I think the distrust is warranted.

Q: But it’s more personal than that. It’s not just the distrust of the franchise or winning, it’s a distrust of the owner, of you, of [President of Baseball Operations] Larry Beinfest. It’s a very personal distrust.

A: I think that distrust again is based on the fact we’re not performing. I get that. I think this isn’t about me, Jeffrey or Larry. It’s really about baseball and about winning.

Q: You say what specifically to the angry Marlins fans today who feel bilked, betrayed?

A: Better days are coming with a team that’s younger and hungrier to win, and that’s our goal every year.

Q: To me this is the second worst day in history for the Marlins in terms of how the customer-base feels about the product.

A: I hope if we do things right that people will look back on this day as the first day.

Q: But people want you to sell the team and Jeffrey Loria out of town.

A: OK, I don’t know what to tell you. Jeffrey Loria stepped in and I will defend him because he stepped in when no one else wanted to buy this team. He got a ballpark done when no one else could and that ballpark goes to the benefit of everybody in our community.

Q: Yes, but nobody benefits more than Loria.

A: It’s immense personal risk. But it’s not about that. No one cares about Jeffrey, no one cares about me, no cares about you. I think at the end of the day, people are trying to care about the team and the way people feel good — just go around to other cities and ask them when you feel good about your team. It’s when you win.