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The Florida Marlins have been around since 1993 and in that span they’ve won more championships than anyone not named the New York Yankees. In 2003, the Marlins made it into the postseason as a wild card team, defeated the Giants in four games, then beat the Cubs on the way to the franchise’s second World Series. In the Series they faced the Yankees where they lost two of the first three games, but much like the series before the Marlins grinded out three straight wins capped off by a 5-hit shutout by pitcher Josh Beckett in hallowed Yankee Stadium.
The Marlins looked to keep the payroll low and talent high this season as they had it last year. They moved veterans Derek Lee and Juan Encarnacion. Lee went to the Cubs for first baseman Hee Seop Choi and Encarnacion to the Dodgers for a player to be named later. The fish also went out and got closer Armando Benitez and let go of Ugueth Urbina.
The Marlins concentrate on getting guys on base, stealing bases and grinding games out with timely hitting, not home runs. They have arguably the best 1-2-3 combination in the league with center fielder Juan Pierre, second baseman Luis Castillo, and right fielder Miguel Cabrera. Behind Cabrera are all star third baseman Mike Lowell, left fielder Jeff Conine, Choi, catcher Ramon Castro and short stop Alex Gonzalez.
As good and young as their bats are, their pitching is just as good and just as young. The starters consist of Josh Beckett, Brad Penny, Dontrelle Willis, Carl Pavano and Darren Oliver. In the pen, Benitez is the man closing down the ninth.
The Marlins have called Pro Player Stadium their home since they broke into the majors in 1993. The stadium also plays host to the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.
Buy Marlins Tickets and be a part of it all!
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