Post by marlinsgm on Sept 20, 2022 11:31:28 GMT -5
In their brief 5 year history before luring Matt Andersen out of retirement to attempt to turn around a struggling new franchise, the Florida Marlins had lost over 100 games 4 times in their first 5 years, and 98 the other. When Andersen
was hired there was plenty of grumbling about recycling another old "retread", and a retread who had had really limited success at his previous two stops at that, leading the Cubs to a handful of playoff berths over a long tenure, but nothing meaningful, then abruptly quitting on the expansion Rockies without seeing whatever "plan" he supposedly had to fruition. But with a renewed outlook and an owner willing to spend, Andersen immediately turned the Marlins into winners while bringing a renewed interest to baseball in South Florida. After bringing numerous veterans in, and gutting the farm system in the process, Andersen immediately took the Marlins from 64 wins to 92 wins his first season at the helm, he won 88 his second year, and last year he led the Marlins to a 104 win season that culminated with the Marlins being eliminated from the playoffs on the last day of the season at the hands of the hard charging Milwaukee Brewers. The Marlins are on pace to win over 100 yet again, but at 5 games out of the wild card and 9 games out of the division lead, and a core thats starting to show signs of age, one has to wonder if all of the gutting of the farm system was worth it, as, as of right now, the Marlins look to miss the playoffs yet again and find themselves in that terrible purgatory of winning just enough to keep the fans happy, but not enough to make the playoffs, all the while continuing to pick late in the amateur draft and having to trade valuable young pieces to feed the machine.
These next few weeks will prove interesting, as Andersen will surely keep a close eye on how these fish swim coming out after the break. The Marlins recently extended 6 veterans, including fan favorite Ellis Burks, a suddenly resurgant Bernard Gilkey and Marquis Grissom, bullpen stalwart Bill Wilkinson, versatile Melido Perez, and Sean Berry, who even in a reserve role would have value on a team that's sure to be getting younger, and all are coming back on much more
team friendly deals. One still has to wonder if some or all might not end up being put on the open market if the Marlins don't make a quick move in the next couple of weeks. Eric Young, who the Marlins have shopped both of the last two off seasons would certainly be on the block, and with his scorching hot June, maybe would provide value to a contender. Here's another name that may surprise you: Ivan Rodriguez. Last year the Marlins stealthily acquired Charles Johnson from the Dodgers, primarily to back up Pudge, but also keeping one eye to the future. The Marlins made no secret that they saw CJ as a replacement for Pudge when the time came, and have been more than pleased with how he's played and handled the pitching staff since the acquisition. If the Marlins could get a package that would start to rebuild their farm system, you have to think if they throw in the towel that's a name that will at least get shopped. It's hard to see fan favorite Felix Jose or Barry Larkin getting moved, but the Marlins do have wonder kid Hanley Ramirez at AAA who is getting closer every day, and an aging Larking, no matter how well he's hitting, doesn't really do the fish a lot of good if they see a temporary rebuild in the future.
In an ideal world, the Marlins come out of the break hot, make a move, and are able to push off the rebuild another season or two, but the rebuild is coming, it's just an issue of when, and whether or not Andersen is able to maneuver it
skillfully before it's too late, and keep the time frame to as short as possible without losing the fans. The part of the equation that gets talked about the least is the renewed interest of the fans. There was grumbling of the team leaving Miami, but with the product on the field now, the fans continue to flock to the Joe, which is the most important part of the Marlins maintaining success in South Florida. One things for certain, July won't be boring for Marlins fans, one way or the other.
was hired there was plenty of grumbling about recycling another old "retread", and a retread who had had really limited success at his previous two stops at that, leading the Cubs to a handful of playoff berths over a long tenure, but nothing meaningful, then abruptly quitting on the expansion Rockies without seeing whatever "plan" he supposedly had to fruition. But with a renewed outlook and an owner willing to spend, Andersen immediately turned the Marlins into winners while bringing a renewed interest to baseball in South Florida. After bringing numerous veterans in, and gutting the farm system in the process, Andersen immediately took the Marlins from 64 wins to 92 wins his first season at the helm, he won 88 his second year, and last year he led the Marlins to a 104 win season that culminated with the Marlins being eliminated from the playoffs on the last day of the season at the hands of the hard charging Milwaukee Brewers. The Marlins are on pace to win over 100 yet again, but at 5 games out of the wild card and 9 games out of the division lead, and a core thats starting to show signs of age, one has to wonder if all of the gutting of the farm system was worth it, as, as of right now, the Marlins look to miss the playoffs yet again and find themselves in that terrible purgatory of winning just enough to keep the fans happy, but not enough to make the playoffs, all the while continuing to pick late in the amateur draft and having to trade valuable young pieces to feed the machine.
These next few weeks will prove interesting, as Andersen will surely keep a close eye on how these fish swim coming out after the break. The Marlins recently extended 6 veterans, including fan favorite Ellis Burks, a suddenly resurgant Bernard Gilkey and Marquis Grissom, bullpen stalwart Bill Wilkinson, versatile Melido Perez, and Sean Berry, who even in a reserve role would have value on a team that's sure to be getting younger, and all are coming back on much more
team friendly deals. One still has to wonder if some or all might not end up being put on the open market if the Marlins don't make a quick move in the next couple of weeks. Eric Young, who the Marlins have shopped both of the last two off seasons would certainly be on the block, and with his scorching hot June, maybe would provide value to a contender. Here's another name that may surprise you: Ivan Rodriguez. Last year the Marlins stealthily acquired Charles Johnson from the Dodgers, primarily to back up Pudge, but also keeping one eye to the future. The Marlins made no secret that they saw CJ as a replacement for Pudge when the time came, and have been more than pleased with how he's played and handled the pitching staff since the acquisition. If the Marlins could get a package that would start to rebuild their farm system, you have to think if they throw in the towel that's a name that will at least get shopped. It's hard to see fan favorite Felix Jose or Barry Larkin getting moved, but the Marlins do have wonder kid Hanley Ramirez at AAA who is getting closer every day, and an aging Larking, no matter how well he's hitting, doesn't really do the fish a lot of good if they see a temporary rebuild in the future.
In an ideal world, the Marlins come out of the break hot, make a move, and are able to push off the rebuild another season or two, but the rebuild is coming, it's just an issue of when, and whether or not Andersen is able to maneuver it
skillfully before it's too late, and keep the time frame to as short as possible without losing the fans. The part of the equation that gets talked about the least is the renewed interest of the fans. There was grumbling of the team leaving Miami, but with the product on the field now, the fans continue to flock to the Joe, which is the most important part of the Marlins maintaining success in South Florida. One things for certain, July won't be boring for Marlins fans, one way or the other.
