2008 Woodie Awards
Girardi, Marlins open lots of eyes
Pat Pickens
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
In March, the weather was cold, the baseball season was just underway, and each team was offered a fresh start and optimistic view to their season.
Except for the Florida Marlins.
South Florida's fish had the lowest payroll in baseball, and had just traded two of their most recognizable faces, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, to the Red Sox in the offseason for prospects. They dumped Carlos Delgado to the Mets. There was talk of a move out of Miami to San Antonio. They had an inexperienced manager and a young team that was expected to struggle throughout the season, which they did in the beginning.
Then something extraordinary happened.
They started to win. And win some more.
Since June 1st the Marlins are 56-42, the best record in the National League in that time span.
They do it with a $15 million payroll and no name players of whom very few people on this campus could name, recognize or distinguish from a local supermarket worker.
Those prospects whom the Marlins received from the Red Sox in the Beckett deal are none other than future superstars Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez, and prospects Harvey Garcia, and Jesus Delgado.
Ramirez has been a rock at shortstop and has infused energy to the top of the Marlin lineup this season, batting .290 with 13 home runs, 52 RBI's, 10 triples and 49 stolen bases.
Anibal Sanchez, Scott Olsen, Ricky Nolasco, Dontrelle Willis and Josh Johnson have anchored the staff nicely. Add their bullpen to the equation and the Marlins appear to be on the right track. Journeyman Joe Borowski has settled into the closers' role, saving 34 games this year.
In the Delgado trade, the Marlins netted Mike Jacobs. He, Uggla, and the veteran Miguel Cabrera, who is having an MVP caliber year (.340, 25 HR, 110 RBI), have made going through the Marlin lineup a major headache for opposing pitchers this year.
This Marlins team may not make the playoffs this year, or even have a winning record. That is not the point. They have excelled past anyone else's expectations and have done it in relative anonymity. Miami's Dolphins Stadium is not even close to a baseball cathedral, and the Marlins have the lowest attendance in baseball.
Florida's fish average less than 14,000 fans per game. Just 12,562 fans witnessed Sanchez's no-hitter last week and in 20 of their home games, they have drawn less than 10,000 people.
Despite all of these facts, the Florida Marlins are a young, dangerous team, who just may shock the world and make the playoffs this season. Even if they do not, look out for the young studs from Miami to be in the thick of things in the next few years.
Except for the Florida Marlins.
South Florida's fish had the lowest payroll in baseball, and had just traded two of their most recognizable faces, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, to the Red Sox in the offseason for prospects. They dumped Carlos Delgado to the Mets. There was talk of a move out of Miami to San Antonio. They had an inexperienced manager and a young team that was expected to struggle throughout the season, which they did in the beginning.
Then something extraordinary happened.
They started to win. And win some more.
Since June 1st the Marlins are 56-42, the best record in the National League in that time span.
They do it with a $15 million payroll and no name players of whom very few people on this campus could name, recognize or distinguish from a local supermarket worker.
Those prospects whom the Marlins received from the Red Sox in the Beckett deal are none other than future superstars Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez, and prospects Harvey Garcia, and Jesus Delgado.
Ramirez has been a rock at shortstop and has infused energy to the top of the Marlin lineup this season, batting .290 with 13 home runs, 52 RBI's, 10 triples and 49 stolen bases.
Anibal Sanchez, Scott Olsen, Ricky Nolasco, Dontrelle Willis and Josh Johnson have anchored the staff nicely. Add their bullpen to the equation and the Marlins appear to be on the right track. Journeyman Joe Borowski has settled into the closers' role, saving 34 games this year.
In the Delgado trade, the Marlins netted Mike Jacobs. He, Uggla, and the veteran Miguel Cabrera, who is having an MVP caliber year (.340, 25 HR, 110 RBI), have made going through the Marlin lineup a major headache for opposing pitchers this year.
This Marlins team may not make the playoffs this year, or even have a winning record. That is not the point. They have excelled past anyone else's expectations and have done it in relative anonymity. Miami's Dolphins Stadium is not even close to a baseball cathedral, and the Marlins have the lowest attendance in baseball.
Florida's fish average less than 14,000 fans per game. Just 12,562 fans witnessed Sanchez's no-hitter last week and in 20 of their home games, they have drawn less than 10,000 people.
Despite all of these facts, the Florida Marlins are a young, dangerous team, who just may shock the world and make the playoffs this season. Even if they do not, look out for the young studs from Miami to be in the thick of things in the next few years.
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