While the Marlins continue to shop the bargain bins, it becomes more and more apparent that they believe they can compete with the basic make-up of the current roster. On the surface, it seems like a ridiculous notion.
The last time the Marlins made the playoffs, they won it all back in 2003. So let’s compare, boxing-scorecard style, that team with the current roster and see just how close they really are.
Here’s my round-by-round (position-by-position) scorecard:
Round 1: Catcher – This is almost a first-round knockout. Pudge Rodriguez (2003) is on a different level than J.T. Realmuto (2015).
Scorecard: 10-8 (2003)
Round 2: First Base – Derek Lee (2003) 31 homers, 92 RBI takes the slight edge with a slash line of .271/.379/.508/ over Justin Bour (2015) .262/.321/.479/, who played 26 fewer games.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2003)
Round 3: Second Base – Dee Gordon (2015) scores for last year’s team over a very strong year from Luis Castillo (2003), who actually had a better on-base percentage (.381-.359) and a slightly better OPS (.778-.776) in a battle of career-years.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2015)
29 September 2015: Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) rounds third base on his way home in the 1st inning of the regular season Major League Baseball game between the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)
Round 4: Shortstop – Alex Gonzalez (2003) had some pop in his bat (18 homers, 77 RBI), but Adeiny Hechavarria closes the gap with his defense. Still, it’s hard to argue with the edge going to Gonzalez.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2003)
Round (position) 5: Third Base – Mike Lowell (2003) went off that season with a career-high 32 homers. He also drove in 105 runs. Martin Prado (2015), while not having a bad year at all, can’t compare.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2003)
Round (position) 6: Left Field – Christian Yelich (2015) gets the nod here. He hit .300 and had a better slash line all the way through. Yelich scores one for last year’s club over the combination of Todd Hollandsworth and a rookie outfielder named Miguel Cabrera.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2015)
Round (position) 7: Center Field – This is no contest. Juan Pierre (2003) hit .305 and stole 65 bases. Marcell Ozuna (2015) can’t compare to those stats, although his slugging percentage was 10 points higher. Still, Pierre wins easily.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2003)
3 Aug 2003: Juan Pierre of the Florida Marlins during the Marlins 3-1 loss to the Hosuton Astros at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Fl. Mandatory Credit: Gary Rothstein/Icon SMI
Round (position) 8: Right Field – Though Juan Encarnacion had a good season (19 homers, 94 RBI), Giancarlo Stanton, despite missing much of the season, gets the nod anyway. With 27 homers and 67 RBI in just 74 games, Stanton holds the edge, especially considering his .952 OPS.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2015)
Round (position) 9: Starting Pitching – With a starting rotation that includes Josh Beckett (3.04 ERA) and Dontrelle Willis (3.30) there’s no contest. Although a healthy Jose Fernandez (2015) makes things competitive anyway. Still, it’s a win for the World Champs.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2003)
Round (position) 10: Bullpen – A.J. Ramos (2015) leads what could be a very solid pen this season. With the likes of Bryan Morris and Carter Capps and some younger arms, last year’s team gets the edge here even though Ugueth Urbina (1.41) was nearly unhittable.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2015)
Round (position) 11: Bench – Miguel Rojas (.282) and Cole Gillespie (.290) give a strong showing for last year’s club. They give a slight advantage over 2003 leader Miguel Cabrera (12 homers, 62 RBIs, .268), though he turned out just fine in the long run.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2015)
Round (position) 12: Manager – Jack McKeon went 75-49 after taking over for Jeff Torborg, who started the season 16-22. He gets the edge, easily.
Scorecard: 10-9 (2003)
Final scorecard: 115-112 (2003) Rounds (positions): 7-5 (2003)
Well, what do you know? The Marlins just may be onto something here. They really aren’t that far off from the 2003 championship team after all, if you break it down by position. Shopping the bargain bins doesn’t look like quite the absurd idea. One or two bigger moves – you never know – could put the Marlins over the top in 2016.
January is supposed to be the month where the bargains are realized. Maybe it’s not too late to make that defining move.
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