Marlins grab 7th straight W, keep unexpected hot start to season going

The Florida Marlins with a payroll of 21 million, less than some major league baseball players yearly salaries, are atop the National League East with a 23-14 record on the season. They beat the Nationals on Sunday to increase their lead over the Mets and Phillies to 3 games and their winning streak to seven. They are doing so with one standout player, Hanley Ramirez whom they traded for from the Boston Red Sox. The rest of the Marlins lineup are players that aren’t very well known mainly because of the market in the Florida. Though they aren’t a very high paid team at all (Yankees payroll is around 10 times more), they have put up very surprising numbers. They lead the major leagues with 53 homers on the season, including 11 by second baseman Dan Uggla, and are second in bullpen ERA at 2.59. These numbers as well as the strategy by the front office is why winning games isn’t about how much players are paid. The teams’ front office got a bad rap by the trade they made with the Detroit Tigers this off-season when they sent Miguel Cabrera, and all-star power hitter who hasn’t even turned 26 yet, and a potential ace in Dontrelle Willis to Mowtown. What they got in return has already paid dividends this season. Camyron Maybin, a young prospect center fielder in trying to find his groove, but has had some bright spots so far this year, and Andrew Miller, another talented young player for the future, has gone 3-2 this year, including a dominating performance his last time out.

Their overall play is very surprising to say the least, especially with so called powerhouses like the Phillies, Braves and Mets in their division. Their hitting, batting average wise, isn’t very good but they eek out wins with clutch hitting. Their 7th straight was a come from behind win, 3 runs in the 7th inning against the Washington Nationals, whom they have beaten for 6 of their 11 road wins. If you can come back from a deficit, and get good bullpen you can win a bunch of games at home as well as on the road. As a team the Marlins are 12-9 at home, but are even better on the road, 11-5. They are hitting better on the road, which is a good sign because the hitting will come for Florida at home, eventually making them a better offensive team.

Hanley Ramirez, their 24 year old shortstop, is fresh off signing a 6-year, $70 million dollar contract, a great move for the future of the team (and a steal in today’s market). He is showing why the Marlins gave him the lucrative deal, hitting .336 this year with 8 homers, 48 hits and 13 steals so far this year. Though Florida’s team batting average is low, .257, they get big hits when they need them, mainly from Ramirez and Dan Uggla. Uggla hot start is huge for the team, as he is hitting .280, but with 11 homers and 27 rbi’s. Role players like Jeremy Hermida, Mike Jacobs and Jorge Cantu are making a name for themselves as well. Hermida is hitting .305 with 36 hits, and 18 rbi’s, Jacobs is hitting .271 but has knocked 9 homers and driven in 24 rbi’s, and Cantu, the teams’ replacement for Cabrera at third base, has a batting average like Jacobs but has 37 hits, including 10 doubles. The reason for the overall team success even with the poor overall batting average is patience, they have 5 players that have drawn 10 or more walks contributing to a high on base percentage. The teams’ lineup is averaging over .320 OBP this season. Getting a lot of players on base is allowing them to drive in runs, therefore getting wins.

Like their offense, their pitching is beaming with confidence. Mark Hendrickson leads the team with a 5-1 record, while posting an ERA of 3.5, while youngster Scott Olson has 4 wins to his name to only just one loss, and a 2.5 ERA. Though their starting pitching has been shaky at times, (rightfully so with a young staff ) their bullpen has not. Renyel Pinto, a middle reliever who has seen regular action this season, has allowed just 14 hits in 25 innings and just 2 runs, leading to a .70 ERA. His performance this season has given the Marlins a spark and has allowed closer Kevin Gregg to obtain 7 saves in 8 chances. They have won a lot of close games this year, making the bullpen’s job even more important.

If the Marlins keep getting the situational hitting they have recieved, progress from their starters, and a continually strong bullpen, this start won’t be an admiration.