But due to an extremely busy day at work, and also due to the economic meltdown and the political ramifications (my interests in life do extend beyond baseball…), you will all have to wait another day for my piece on the end of the season.
Screw the Mets: Closing Day 2008
September 28, 2008 By 2 Comments
It’s that time of year again – the close of the regular season. And yes, the Marlins failed to reach the playoffs this season, but considering no one picked them to be anywhere near where they are (except for a few of us here on MarlinsNation.com) we have got to consider it a success in that the Marlins are playing meaningful games all the way up until the end.
Only, these past three games are more vital for the Mets than the Marlins, still, it is a joy to watch the Marlins screw up the Mets’ season once again.
With a win on Friday, the Marlins essentially put all New York fans on suicide watch – yet the Mutts bounced back by running out their ace Johan Santana on three days rest. Such is this time of year where urgency wins out over sensibility. Still, the Marlins were held to only 3 hits and had a chance at the end of the game. With a man on, Cody Ross gave a charge into a fly ball that ended up at the warning track at Shea. Met fans were relived twofold – they finally won against the Marlins in this crucial series, but the Brewers lost as well.
As of now, the Brewers and Mutts are tied for first place in the wild card race. The Brewers will take on the Cubs at 2:05pm this afternoon while the Mets will look to squeeze by the Marlins today at 1:10pm.
It could also be the final game at Shea – and how great would it be for the Marlins to not only trash the Mets season by stealing a win from them, but also to leave Met fans with their final impression of Shea being yet another choke job that cost them their season.
They wouldn’t be able to hit the demolition button quick enough.
One game determines the fortune of one team – a win today and the Mets possibly stay alive for a playoff spot. A loss and it could mean the end of their season, the end of their coaching staff’s tenure, and the ultimate end of Shea Stadium. How sweet a win would be for the Marlins today.
Still Plenty to Play For
September 26, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Even though the Marlins failed on what would have been a miraculous comeback to end the season, they still should hold their heads high for a successful season. They made it practically until the end of the 2008 season playing meaningful baseball – and if not for an August swoon, they may have been doing so in October as well.
The fact of the matter is, when you have a team payroll hovering around $28M, you are bound to have flaws. The biggest flaw, it seems, was really the Marlins were not able to get their starters healthy until almost after the first half of the season.
Still, there is plenty to play for. Jorge Cantu has 3 games to hit home run number 30 and join the 30 HR club with his fellow infielders Dan Uggla, Mike Jacobs and Hanley Ramirez. This infield has already set history, but to surpass the 30 HR mark with each member would be a most impressive feat.
Then there is the fact that we are playing the Mets, who are in the midst of a wild card hunt themselves. Sitting 1 game behind the Phillies for the NL East title, the Marlins can help the Phillies stay there by winning two games against the Mets. Talk about bitter sweet. Thankfully for Philly fans, there is an incentive for the Marlins to play well – they could also spoil the Mets season, again, by pushing them out of the wild card spot which they currently share with the Brewers. Also competing for the NL Wild card are the Astros, who were swept by the Marlins recently.
Nothing would be sweeter, except to end up in the postseason of course. And may Cody Ross hit a home run off of Pelfrey tonight.
Que Sera, Sera
September 24, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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Blow It Up! Marlins Beat Mets to Close 2008 Season Down
Goodbye, Shea Stadium. You won’t be missed.
Well, at least by me. Never been there – went to Yankee Stadium instead. There is nothing that seemed to stand out about Shea except that stupid apple that would light up when the Mets hit home runs.
Too bad it didn’t light up for the last two home runs hit there – one by Wes Helms and one by Dan Uggla. Both home runs pushed the Marlins past the Mets and also propelled the Brewers, officially, into the postseason.
And as Cameron Maybin squeezed his glove around the final out – a pop fly to center field from Ryan Church – the Marlins claimed the win. The boos showered down from the Mets faithful who looked more like a photo op from an enema convention. The signs went up asking for miracles and paging for Dr. Heimlich. The smiles for the Marlins were a bit wider than normal because this victory had some sweetness to it – for the second straight year they eliminated the Mets from the playoffs on their field.
Seems like the Fish own the place. Might as well blow it up and tear it down. The Mets, in their 44 year history there, mustered as many titles as the Marlins have in their brief history.
So, for neither team the season ended as they would have wished. Still, the Marlins climbed to 84 wins (and possibly could have had 85 wins if not for a game that was called against the Nationals) which isn’t bad considering they only have a $22M payroll. With 17 arbitration eligible players on their roster heading into the offseason, it is expected that there will be changes. The payroll is expected to go up, so that is good news.
And so is how the Marlins season ended – they look to be in contention next season. Destroying the Mets season for the second straight season isn’t half bad either.