Worst to First - The Sequel

[goroyals]

Like others have said, what a fun team.

LOL @ Pujols contract though. That's the real nightmare.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by illeracula

Cano, Kemp, Pujols, Fielder, Cruz, and Granderson? All in the same lineup? And you are 5th in the league in runs scored? How can that be?

Pretty awesome lineup the Marlins are rocking... and then that staff... And when arbitration hits in a couple of years you will do what the Marlins seems to do and blow the team up... hopefully you'll have your title by then.

Originally Posted by MacIsaacM

That is a beast of a team. Although I share illeracula's concerns re: a few years from now.

This was one of those rare opportunities where everything seemed to line up and bring aboard a lot of pre arbitration talent for a one shot opportunity. My biggest concern is injury or something unexpected happening, because I think as soon as next year I'd have to start breaking up the Marlins "dream team".

I have a feeling that this could work out either really well, or this will turn out to be a miserable failure. I'm not sure I like building a team this way, but I do like the makeup of this team quite a bit. And we better be higher than 5th in the league in runs scored soon.

Originally Posted by mirrf

This is the Florida Marlins. They are legally required to auction off their players to the highest bidder as soon as they win the world series.

I don't think I'd feel right doing this with any other team but the Marlins, because that's what they do.

Originally Posted by goroyals

Like others have said, what a fun team.

LOL @ Pujols contract though. That's the real nightmare.

The Pujols contract is definitely a headache. It wasn't structured in a good way long term, because it's going to cause some big problems hitting along with arbitration.

I'm thinking if I win the World Series this year I may stay in Florida to show the effects and likely quick demise.

[NYY #23]

A 15-14 month brought the Marlins down to earth, but we still hold a decent 4 1/2 game lead over the Braves.

Our middle of the lineup is struggling with Pujols (.245), Fielder (.259), and Cruz (.190) all struggling. I expect them to heat up though.

[NYY #23]

The Marlins went 17-9 this month and we've opened up a 7 game lead.

Injuries struck this month with Robinson Cano going down with an injury, along with Bryan Bannister, Kyle Davies, and Javier Lopez.

Prince definitely heated up this month, hitting .398 with 9 home runs, 27 RBI, and 22 runs to win the Batter of the Month.

[NYY #23]

The Marlins sent four players to the All-Star game with Matt Cain, Yovani Gallardo, Rafael Perez, and Prince Fielder selected.

The Marlins finished the month 15-11 and we opened up an 11 game lead over the Braves. I'm feeling pretty good about our postseason chances.

[NYY #23]

The Marlins rolled to a 19-9 month and we lead the NL East by 19 1/2 games. Our magic number is down to 9, so barring a big and unexpected collapse the Marlins should be heading to the postseason.

We'll be calling up some reinforcements in September, and hopefully remain healthy for the postseason.

[NYY #23]

The Marlins finished the season with 104 wins, winning the NL East by 23 games and are in good shape for the postseason. We even had an end of season surprise with Franklin Morales called up for bullpen help, being placed in the rotation and going 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA. My manager has him penciled in as our number 3 starter for the playoffs, but Yovani Gallardo may have a problem with that.

We'll face off in the Wild Card round with the 91-71 Astros.

[NYY #23]

Tonight was a pitcher's duel between Rich Harden and Matt Cain. Neither pitcher allowed an earned run in a combined 15 innings, but Cain got the win pitching a 3 hitter through eight innings while striking out 13. Rafael Perez came in for the save with a 1-2-3 inning.

Our potent offense managed just 1 hit tonight, off the bat of Nelson Cruz. That single didn't account for our run though, that came when Curtis Granderson walked to lead off the third, stole second, and came home to score on an error.

The Marlins take a 1-0 lead in the series.

[illeracula]

I like your chances with this crazy Marlins team... you can even win the 1-0 games, that is saying something.

Good luck the rest of the way.

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by illeracula

I like your chances with this crazy Marlins team... you can even win the 1-0 games, that is saying something.

Good luck the rest of the way.

Thanks. I'm feeling pretty good about our chances this year. I feel like we're definitely capable of winning it all, so hopefully we can avoid any bad luck since I know I've won some that I shouldn't have.

[NYY #23]

The Marlins go up in the series 2-0 with another well pitched game, this time by Yovani Gallardo who allowed just 3 hits over 8 innings. Gallardo struck out 8, while Rafael Perez came in to pitch the ninth for the save. It's definitely been a nice winning formula so far.

Matt Kemp hit a solo home run tonight, while Prince Fielder singled home a pair of runs in the Marlins 4-1 win.

[ShagVT]

Definitely wasn't expecting this to be such a strong pitching team. The salary structure dictates that this is going to be a flash in the pan, while I feel like you've built other teams to be better winners over the long haul. Still, for a single season squad, this one would give any of your others a run for their money. (Although if I recall correctly, some of those Eddie Collins teams were awfully good too.)

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by ShagVT

Definitely wasn't expecting this to be such a strong pitching team. The salary structure dictates that this is going to be a flash in the pan, while I feel like you've built other teams to be better winners over the long haul. Still, for a single season squad, this one would give any of your others a run for their money. (Although if I recall correctly, some of those Eddie Collins teams were awfully good too.)

By winning percentage I think that this was my best team:
http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ml#post3347778

But I always felt that Eddie Collins and the Phillies were the best team I had:
http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ml#post3379268

Of course that Phillies team was swept in the World Series, but we were able to win it all the next year with a worse record.

That of course is my biggest fear with the current Marlins, because I think they are right up there with my best teams, but as you mentioned they aren't built for the long haul. I'm even worried that next year's payroll is going to be too much without painful changes.

The pitching has really saved me so far though, which definitely helps this time of year. I keep thinking our bats need to bust out with a big game though, but until that happens I'm hoping our pitching is enough to carry us.

[NYY #23]

We are paying Tim Hudson $18 million per year to win game's like this, but tonight he struggled giving up 5 runs in 3 2/3 innings to get the loss. Our offense was just as pathetic, getting just 3 hits tonight, one of them off the bat of Tim Hudson.

The Astros 7-0 win give them their first win of the series.

[NYY #23]

I'm just not sure what is wrong with our offense after a 2-1 loss evens up the series. Matt Cain pitched another brilliant game, allowing 2 runs in 8 innings, but picks up the loss. We're heading back to Florida for a deciding game 5.

[NYY #23]

The Marlins were trailing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the 6th, and I started thinking about the offseason based on the way our offense has been playing.

We got on the board in the sixth though when Nelson Cruz singled home Matt Kemp for our first run of the game, then scored three more in the bottom of the seventh when Matt Kemp singled home Andruw Jones and Robinson Cano.

Yovani Gallardo pitched 7 innings to pick up the win, while Rafael Perez saves his third game of the series.

The Marlins escape the Wild Card round and the slate is wiped clean as we prepare to take on the 97-65 Giants.

[NYY #23]

Tim Hudson got the start today, and picked up his second postseason loss after giving up 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings in our 6-3 loss.

Prince Fielder was about the only bright spot for our offense hitting a two run home run.

The Marlins trail the NLCS 1-0.

[NYY #23]

Matt Cain allowed just 3 hits in a complete game shutout to even up the NLCS. He also struck out 9 batters to lower his postseason ERA to 0.72.

Robinson Cano hit a two run home run in the bottom of the first, and David Ross singled home a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth.

The series is now evened up.

[NYY #23]

Consecutive singles by Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and Matt Kemp got the Marlins on the board first with two runs in the first, while Yovani Gallardo struck out 9 batters in 7 innings while allowing just 1 run to pick up the win.

We needed a ninth inning rally to give us some insurance runs in our 6-2 win, and we used six relievers to close out the game, as the Marlins take a 2-1 series lead.

[NYY #23]

I'm not sure what is wrong with Tim Hudson, as he again pitched poorly, allowing 4 runs in 5 innings. The Marlins scored 4 runs in the last two innings to bail him out though as we take a 3-1 lead with the 8-6 win.

Ramon Ramirez picked up the win with a scoreless eighth inning, while Rafael Perez picked up the save.

Albert Pujols hit a 3 run homer tonight, while Robinson Cano added a solo shot. Matt Kemp picked up 4 hits tonight and the Marlins are one win away from going to the World Series.