What the Marlins are doing right now is exactly what I was talking about when I said all I wanted out of Florida was not to have a redeux of 1998 when the season was dead on arrival right after they won the Series the last time. All I wanted out of them this year was to be a competitive ballclub. I didn't need another Series win, I didn't need even another playoff appearance. Just so long as they were in it on Labor Day, I would have been happy.
Although at current rate, it's going better than I ever could have expected. Now granted, they're not going to win 7 out of every 8 and they're not going to be able to play Montreal all the time, but for now, with Beckett/Willis/Pavano throwing bullets and Cabrera and Choi being hot right now, they have a chance in what's shaping up to be a not-so-strong divisiion.
I'll second that. I knew the rotation would be good this year, but they've been throwing lights-out. The bullpen has held up better than I expected, too. I'm just afraid that the offense will go into some prolonged slumps- they're not exactly crushing the ball. But hey, at 8-1, I can't complain.
If you told me that Pierre and Castillo would barely be stealing bases and I think have scored 6 runs between them so far (and also to wit: Pierre's OBP is under .300) and they'd be this successful, I wouldn't beleive it.
Now obviously Cabrera/Choi aren't going to stay this hot all year, no one can. But hopefully when they taper off, Lowell and/or Conine heat up and then vice versa. Also, hopefully Burnett can overcome his setback and Oliver can pick the slack up if and when he returns.
And also, that Benitez (who HAS been pitching well the last week in spite of all of our doomsdaying regarding him) keeps it together all year.
The Marlins had a chance to put the Braves in the grave this weekend. Considering the Expos suck and the Mets; well, are the Mets, holding the 2-0/4-2 leads on Friday and putting the foot on the Braves throat could have allowed the Marlins to turn it into a 2 team race with the Phillies after only 2 weeks. And, I'll go out on a limb here: If the Marlins have a lead in the 9th Sunday, Benitez will come in and do one of his 'Arsonist Delight' moments. He gets saves, but its the one's he blows that are the cripplers.
With God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
Actually Benitez looked really good for the two innings they put him in on Sunday. It's still Benitez, and I'll be spending all season waiting for the other shoe to drop, but losing Sunday certainly wasn't his fault.
How about the Marlins' ownage of the Phillies? Swept them for the third straight time (going back to last year), and I think my Marlins have won like 16 out of the last 18 meetings or some insane stat like that..
Yo, it's me, it's me, it's (points to self) P-A-B!
Originally posted by FirecrackerHow about the Marlins' ownage of the Phillies? Swept them for the third straight time (going back to last year), and I think my Marlins have won like 16 out of the last 18 meetings or some insane stat like that..
18 out of 20 (yes, I'm counting). And a brawl to boot!
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After 3 weeks, a brief breakdown of the NL East: The Phillies can't beat the Marlins, the Marlins can't beat the Braves, and the Mets, well, they can't beat anyone.
WooHoo, the wrestling dead pool is back in business.
Originally posted by redsoxnationAfter 3 weeks, a brief breakdown of the NL East: The Phillies can't beat the Marlins, the Marlins can't beat the Braves, and the Mets, well, they can't beat anyone.
That's about accurate. Even Beckett, who's pitching beautifully against every other team he's faced this season just for some reason cannot get anyone on the Braves out. And he's giving up taters to hitters he has no business giving up taters to every time he pitches against them.
Armando Benitez....doing good. Now why couldn't he do that in Baltimore. And Dontrelle is hitting better than most non-pitchers. This guy is gunna be MVP material very soon.
"Whats your name? Dick Army. Hahaha, whats your wives name, Vagina Coastguard?"
Originally posted by InYourMouthArmando Benitez....doing good. Now why couldn't he do that in Baltimore.
Benitez has been good-to-great for eight years, but he got the tag of being no good in the clutch, so therefore everyone was insistent that he sucks because the New York pressure cooker was too much for him to handle or some such. In 9 postseason series in his career, Benitez has an ERA of 3.56 and really only had the one terrible series against Cleveland in '97, the year in which he absolutely dominated the league in a setup role, followed by him doing very well in '98 as the closer before they foolishly traded him. I've never been one to remember Benitez as some sort of Oriole failure that did well elsewhere; I've remembered him as an Oriole success in the making, traded away at 25.
Originally posted by geemoneyGetting back to the title of the thread, if you wanna break up the Marlins, start with Darren Oliver!
Yup, he hasn't been doin too well this year... thank god AJ Burnett will be back soon, nipple rings and all.
Agreed...Oliver has been the designated AW CRAP guy in the rotation this year. Hopefully he can help them out more in middle relief, but it's not like he can go to the bullpen and then miraculously learn how to get guys out.
World Classic calls Barry 'U.S.' Bonds (San Fransisco Chronicle) Well, he certainly is hellbent now on proving that he's clean he'll be clean by the spring. The exhibition game March 5th against the Giants should be interesting.
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