2008 Woodie Awards
Marlins Mania
Florida turns baseball on its head
Mark Karsteadt
Issue date: 11/6/03 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Eight months ago seems like an eternity, especially after the World Series wrapped up. The New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves were the leading contenders for the championship, and the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins were the basement dwellers. My, how things have changed since March-- the curses of the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs were almost put to bed in thrilling league championship series and the lowly Florida Marlins won the World Series.
It is hard to figure out how a ragtag bunch of castaways and homegrown products can win a championship after starting 16-22, firing their manager, and replacing him with manager Jack McKeon, who is older than my dad and I combined. Well, it took guts, determination, and any other adjectives coaches say after a team battles for a victory, it also took a pitcher younger than me.
Josh Beckett was awesome during the play-offs. I watched game five of the National League Championship Series (NCLS) and was awed by his ability. Sliders nipping the black, fastballs blowing by the bats of Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou, and pitches hitting the exact location where Ivan Rodriquez set up; it was a display I didn't think he could recreate. I was wrong. Game seven of the World Series was another showcase for his talent and all on three days rest. To most people, three days rest is nothing. I mean, I would love to go to work every third day, but throwing takes a great toll on a pitcher's arm. Josh Beckett was the best Marlin in a World Series filled with heroes like Alex Gonzalez and Juan Pierre but if you do not believe me, ask the sports writers who voted him Most Valuable Player.
The Florida Marlins now have some awesome numbers to their credit: 6-0 is an amazing statistic. So are two World Series championships. Two winning seasons, six play-off series victories, and two championships add up to the undefeated Florida Marlins. They have never lost a play-off series in the team's existence. The Marlins have only been around 11 years, but that fact is still staggering.
Next year should be another successful year for the Marlins. Unlike after the 1997 championship when the Marlins gutted the team, Jeffrey Loria, the Marlins' owner, has already resigned Jack McKeon and has most of the young talent under contract. Hopefully, if the Marlins win the World Series next year, they have a better sense than to let Juan Pierre take the microphone. The only celebration worse than his play-off rap was the dance by the Los Angeles Lakers' Mark Madsen after their three-peat.
It is hard to figure out how a ragtag bunch of castaways and homegrown products can win a championship after starting 16-22, firing their manager, and replacing him with manager Jack McKeon, who is older than my dad and I combined. Well, it took guts, determination, and any other adjectives coaches say after a team battles for a victory, it also took a pitcher younger than me.
Josh Beckett was awesome during the play-offs. I watched game five of the National League Championship Series (NCLS) and was awed by his ability. Sliders nipping the black, fastballs blowing by the bats of Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou, and pitches hitting the exact location where Ivan Rodriquez set up; it was a display I didn't think he could recreate. I was wrong. Game seven of the World Series was another showcase for his talent and all on three days rest. To most people, three days rest is nothing. I mean, I would love to go to work every third day, but throwing takes a great toll on a pitcher's arm. Josh Beckett was the best Marlin in a World Series filled with heroes like Alex Gonzalez and Juan Pierre but if you do not believe me, ask the sports writers who voted him Most Valuable Player.
The Florida Marlins now have some awesome numbers to their credit: 6-0 is an amazing statistic. So are two World Series championships. Two winning seasons, six play-off series victories, and two championships add up to the undefeated Florida Marlins. They have never lost a play-off series in the team's existence. The Marlins have only been around 11 years, but that fact is still staggering.
Next year should be another successful year for the Marlins. Unlike after the 1997 championship when the Marlins gutted the team, Jeffrey Loria, the Marlins' owner, has already resigned Jack McKeon and has most of the young talent under contract. Hopefully, if the Marlins win the World Series next year, they have a better sense than to let Juan Pierre take the microphone. The only celebration worse than his play-off rap was the dance by the Los Angeles Lakers' Mark Madsen after their three-peat.