By Nunnie Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
If you’re like me you probably haven’t paid much attention to the Miami Marlins this baseball season with all of the other major sports in play. Baseball in South Florida has had its uphill struggles and challenges just to gain some relevance with respect to the Dolphins and Heat popularity and coming on the heels of the vastly improved and two time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. You see, the Marlins have developed the reputation of building sound rosters, winning two World Series, dismantling the teams by trading key players because of poor attendance and financial solvency and changing ownership. That’s the abbreviated version of the Florida/Marlins history. See if you recognize any of these former Marlins now playing with other teams: Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, J. T. Realmuto, Marcel Azuno, Dee Gordon, Trevor Williams, Luis Castillo , Anibel Sanchez and Jazz Chisholm. The list goes on.
I trust the owner and management will chart a different course because these Marlins are proving worthy of the opportunity.
The team surprisingly is in third place in the eastern division of the National League with a 41-48 won-loss record, 11 games behind the first place Philadelphia Phillies and 2 wins in front of the Atlanta Braves. They are presently on a tear, having won 7 of their last 10 games – the best in the division -, including Monday night’s 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and superstar Elly Della Cruz. The Marlins play the Reds again tonight on the road, having played extremely well with a 10 game road winning streak.
Top players include pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, outfielders Derek Hill, Jesus Sanchez and Kyle Stowers; and infielders Exavier Edwards and Otto Lopez. There are rumors that the Yankees, who lost starting pitcher Clark Schmidt, are interested in Marlins star Sandy Alcantara, a talented pitcher coming off successful Tommy John surgery and not having a great year with a 4-8 record. If he indeed is traded, the Marlins must benefit significantly from trade while fans pray fervently that this isn’t indicative of past Marlins management decisions or behavior.
We will keep tabs on this surprising, competitive, up and coming version of the Marlins and management. Will they stay the course or return to their past indiscretions.
