Special

 

The underdogs. The masked men in these Covid times. The balck jerseys with the black letters and numbers. The Team that lost 105 Games in 2019, and over 20 Players to Coronavirus less then 3 months ago. The "Bottom Feeders". The 2020 Marlins. Special.    

En una temporada como ninguna en la historia del Beisbol, los Marlins de esta generación jugaron más unidos que nunca. Pudo a ver sido las nuevas reglas de Grandes Ligas, de no poder hacer más que respirar y vivir pura pelota caliente por 3 meses, lo que los unió? Pudo a ver sido las Mayores, echándole culpa al Club por tener 18 Jugadores en un solo golpe recibir el Covid-19, y luego suspendiendo su Temporada por más de una semana, sin poder salir del hotel?? Pudo a ver sido que ya simplemente estaban hasta aqá, de tanta falta de respeto por todos lados??? Pero nadie hubiera sospechado que este Equipo llegara tan lejos.      

Playoffs?!

For only the 3rd time in Franchise History, the Marlins made it to the Postseason. They went on to Defeat the mighty Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field during the Wild Card Series. Ultimately falling to the Atlanta Braves in Houston during the Division Series. The "Fighting Fish" were led by their Captain Miguel Rojas, who in 40 Games in between illness, had his most productive Season at the plate. A Slash-Line of .304/.392./.496, to go along with another Year of stellar Defense, capped Rojas’ best Big League Campaign to date. Another Venezuelan, Jesus Aguilar proved Son Los Marlins correct, becoming the most productive Off-Season pickup, and returning to a form that made him an All-Star in 2018. Along with Brain Anderson, straight as an arrow, continuing what has made him the best player on the Squad for 3 Years and counting.

 “Pitching, pitching, and more pitching”. Was, and will continue to be the strength of this Club however. With another solid Season from Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez taking a major step forward, and Sixto Sanchez emerging into the Starting Rotation scene. You couple the Rotation with what had to be the biggest surprise for the 2020 Marlins, the Bullpen. Brandon Kintzler, Yimi Garcia, Richard Bleier, James Hoyt, Nick Vincent and Brad Boxberger all stepping up huge. There’s a reason this Club was 29-1 all year long when leading after 6 Innings.             

Manager Don Mattingly will win the Manager of the Year Award for the National League after being at the helm through everything Covid related, but Leadership was certainly missing in Houston. The Division Series against the Braves TURNed in Game 1, after dumbass Ronald Acuna Jr. made a big deal about being plunked in the ass. Braves Manager Brian Snitker then went out for the old gimmick of acting upset that Warnings were handed out, but make no mistake about it, it was to throw Marlins Starter Sandy Alcantara off his game with the delay and it worked during the 3^rd Inning. 

All this with Fish Skipper Mattingly just standing there, with his arms crossed, instead of taking up for his Team. Showing the Players he had their Backs, like he again did not in Game 2 when Rojas attempted to bring some form of life against the Umpire. His Game 3 decisions to first NOT start Starting Catcher Jorge Alfaro (Which was criticized both locally and nationally) and then to bring Trevor Rogers out of the ‘Pen was a head-scratcher. Rogers was supposed to be the Game 4 Starter, if the Marlins could survive Thursday. What message are you sending the Club if you bring him into Game 3 instead?! Chad Wallach got the Start over Alfaro behind the dish and let’s not forget Chad’s Dad, Tim, is 1 of Mattingly’s better friends in life. I didn’t care for any of this, but we are talking “Donnie Baseball” here. Don Mattingly who before coming to the Marlins, spent 25 YEARS as a Player, Coach, or Manger of super spending Teams in the New York Yankees & L.A. Dodgers. Yet miraculously has NEVER been to a World Series 🤔. Maybe that's for a reason or 2..

       

The future arrived in 2020 for the Marlins, but maybe not in the way that was once thought. MLB Network's Jim Kaat, while broadcasting Game 2 of the NLDS, brought up an interesting Whitey Herzog quote that may apply to Florida. Kaat quoted the longtime Manager Herzog as once saying, "These are my Prospects, but sometimes you find out you're non-Prospects are better". In the Marlins case, think of 30 year old Jon Berti. Coming out of absolute nowhere a year ago, to Batting Leadoff on a couple occasions for the Fish during the Playoffs. There is no way you can tell me an Isan Diaz deserves playing time at Second Base over Berti to start 2021. Magneuris Sierra, has been behind the Outfield "Prospect" List to guys like Monte Harrison, Jesus Sanchez, and Lewis Brinson. It was Sierra however, who stepped up when Centerfielder Starling Marte was drilled on the hand during the Wild Card Series. 

Hablando de Marte, al parecer los Marlins retendrán al de Santo Domingo una Temporada más, aunque el salario este por 12.5 Milliones de Dólare$$$. Y porque no?! El de 2 Guantes de Oro, impulsó 13 Grandes Carreras para los Marlins en sus 28 Juegos. Jugadores como Marte, como Berti, como Sierra han sido sorpresas agradables en Florida. Peloteros como Harrison, Sixto, y hasta el propio Brinson 😉, le trajeron mucha energía al Club (Necesitada, cuando te toca 28 Juegos en 24 días, y solo jugaste 26 de los 65 que su Jugó este año en Casa). Leaders como Rojas, Alcantara, Kintzler, Aguilar, y Anderson ayudaron mantener el barco derecho. Y todos, hicieron esta Temporada 2020, "especial".