17 Years

 

Enjoy it Marlins Fans ⚾⚾⚾! Cuz it's been a long time coming!! The Marlins play their first Playoff Game since October 25th 💍💍 2003, and they do it this afternoon in Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. 

Just as we said here at Son Los Marlins last week, before an absolute thrilling night took place in Yankee Stadium this past Friday, it won't be easy. Chicago has the experience. They've been in these Playoff dances 5 of the last 6 years, with a shiny World Series Ring in 2016 to prove it. A World Series which was captured by the Cubs for the 1st time since 1908 (with the Marlins having a little something to do with that lengthy time frame, more on '03 later 😉). 

The Cubbies of today are loaded. They have a fearsome lineup with names like Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, and Kyle Shwarber. They have a legitimate back of the Bullpen with Jeremey Jeffress & Craig Kimbrel, and speaking of "legitimate", Chicago will also throw a 1-2 Punch out in front of their Rotation (Which in a 3 Game Series is even tougher), a combo of Kyle Hendricks & Yu Darvish. 

Easy? Anything "but". "But" being the key word. ..Ay un dicho en México 🇲🇽  que dice "yo pongo a mis 🐓 gallos 🐓 con cualquiera".. Hence the Marlins have not a "combo", but a "Trio" of Starters in the forms of Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, and Sixto Sanchez. If Postseasons in 1997 & '03 have thought us anything, it's that "Starting Pitching" can carry a Team to a 👑Crown👑 (or 2 😉) during Playoff stretches. 

Offensively my Fish have a Quartet of run producers in the middle of their Lineup with Starling Marte, Jesus Aguilar, Brian Anderson, and Garrett Cooper that should be hitting 2, 3, 4, and 5 in their Order. 

The Florida Bullpen is led by Brian Kintzler (whose come up unbelievably big during his last 3 appearances), along with Yimmi Garcia (whose been 🔨Nails🔨 since Spring🌴Training, and 2 Men who were given their chance during an 18 Player Covid Outbreak 3 Games into the Season. James Hoyt & Richard Bleir were given an opportunity in early August, while the Marlins looked high and low to field a competitive Roster, and have absolutely ran with their chances. Which goes back to my original point. 2020 has not been easy for any Team in Major League Baseball, "but" let's face facts, nobody more so than our Marlins, who have enjoyed a couple days off now after having played 28 GAMES IN 24 DAYS. So did we really think Round 1 would be in San Diego 😉?! 

"Special" is a term we named the 2020 Marlins 2 months ago. Special like the last Marlin Playoff Team that had to come back from 3 Games to 1 against Sammy Sosa and his 🐻 Cubs 🐻  in the same venue, Wrigley Field (Which has shown magic to the Marlins). Special in the talent guys like Alcantara, Lopez, and Sanchez posses in their Right Arms. Special in that the 2020 Chicago Cubs are going down. After all, history has a way of repeating itself, and we're talking 17 years worth.