Spearing Some Marlins

As the calendar turns to March, those of us in South Florida automatically start to think about baseball. Spring training abounds, and northern baseball fans make their yearly pilgrimage to my town in order to watch their favorite team, escape the horrid winter weather, and take my parking spots at my regular pubs. Ahhh baseball. Since it is now March, it seems a perfect time to write my first, and quite possibly only, preseason preview. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Florida Marlins.

In some respects, the Florida Marlins are a model franchise. They compete for a World Series championship at least once a decade, have not lost a playoff series in their admittedly short history and their management has an incredible eye at identifying young talent. However, something seems to be missing (well, more than one thing for sure). That something is recognizable and identifiable players around whom the team is defined. That trend continues this year. Outside of Hanley Ramirez, I would doubt that any non-season ticket holder could name 5 Marlins. WAIT - they have season ticket holders?! Who knew?!

In 1997, the Marlins won their first World Series in franchise history, after making their debut in 1992. That team had not only good players, but also very recognizable players: Gary Sheffield, Devon White, Moises Alou, Kevin Brown, Al Leiter, Charles Johnson. What happened? After determining that winning a World Series did not necessarily equate with greater profits, the owner/management dismantled the team. At least they waited an entire week before releasing Alou. ONE WEEK!!!

The fan base was outraged, but in retrospect, the team did great. They packaged known talent for unknown prospects, almost all of whom seemingly hit the big time. Then, in 2003, only six years after winning their first World Series, the Marlins won their second, with an assist by two guys named Bartman and Baker. (Bartman got the blame, but Baker was the real goat in that series, by the way). That team also had stars: Josh Beckett, Pudge Rodriguez, Mike Lowell, and the emerging Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. Then, as if on cue, the team was dismantled again, although this time much slower and subtler (if that is even a word).

As a quick aside, what teams outside of the traditional powers, wouldn't love to win a World Series every 6 to 10 years and then rebuild in between, so long as the fans new that the rebuilding would be successful and culminate in an actual chance to go and win the World Series after a few years. It could be worse, the Marlins could be the Cubs, and not win anything in, well, let's just call it 100 years. Back to the column.

Having traded Beckett and Lowell to the Red Sox, the Marlins received Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez, an emerging perennial All-Star and a pitcher who has already thrown a no-hitter. In 2006, the team had 6 rookies with at least 20 Home Runs. The team seemed on cue for another run in either 2008 or 2009 (preferably 2009 just to keep the every six years string going). They had known quantities ready for 2009, Cabrera, Ramirez and the ever popular D-Train. Then, something happened on the way to their appointed date with destiny. The Marlins traded Willis and Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers for a package of about 6 players.

Now, by all accounts the package received by the Marlins is loaded with prospects, included some very live arms, and at least one potentially potent bat. (Don't ask who - if I told you the names you could then be able to name 5 Marlins - besides, the actual prospects are irrelevant for the purposes of this column). From reading and listening to those who follow minor league baseball, the Marlins may have acquitted themselves very well in this trade, especially since it appears that the league has figured out Dontrelle Willis, whose numbers have declined in the past few seasons. But even though the Marlins may ultimately win the numbers game with this trade, the Marlins are still missing any names or personalities that will draw fans to the ballpark.

And that my friends, is the problem with the Marlins. There is absolutely no reason to watch this team. Do they have talent? Absolutely. Are a lot of the players on this team going to have long established careers in the majors? Yes. Do fans want to watch Dan Uggla flawlessly turn a double play or Miguel Olivo continue to be a league leader in hitting when swinging at the first pitch or even Jeremy Hermida play two amazing games followed by eight games in which he looks completely lost at the plate and in the field? NO!!!

What this team needs is someone for whom to root and cheer, a reason for the kids to become excited about the team and a reason for baseball fans to be excited about the possibilities, even if those possibilities are literally the proverbial "next year". They need a player that can singlehandedly be responsible for a sellout - thereby giving exposure to the guys like Uggla, Olivo, Mike Jacobs, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and the almost immortal Rick VandenHurk (OK - so now you know 5 other players).

Perhaps the Marlins already have that player in Hanley Ramirez. If you are a baseball fan, he is an absolute must see. He still needs some work on defense, but he puts on a show every single night. However, given the recent history, most Marlins fans are resigned to the fact that he is going to be traded in the next couple of years in a salary-cutting deal that probably will bring several really good prospects. Since the fans already believe that Ramirez will not be around for any length of time, no need to invest any emotional capital in him now, right? (Or actual dollars - unless you want to go ahead and buy that future throwback Ramirez Marlins jersey).

Without a reason to watch this team, and without hope for any postseason titles, the Marlins fans need something to get them through baseball season. Which is why I am going to watch Pudge, D-Train and Cabrera on the Tigers. If that doesn't work, perhaps Joe Girardi can keep the players motivated - once all the prospects blossom and are traded to the Yankees. Until then, here's hoping that Anibal Sanchez's next no-hitter is pitched on the road, so perhaps some people can actually see it live and in person. Until the team's strategy changes, expect to see many more of last year's Marlins-Nationals games, where only 700 people attend.