Good article on the Marlins and the Playoffs! Also Tommy Phelps has tendonitis!

 

From 10 back . . . to playoffs?

Eight teams have achieved feat

By CLARK SPENCER

cspencer@herald.com

 

MILWAUKEE - Dropping 10 games below .500 almost always spells doom.

 

But if the Marlins make it to the playoffs by rebounding from a 19-29 record, they will become the ninth team to do so after sinking to such depths.

 

Of the eight teams able to reverse course in like manner, only the 1914 Boston Braves won the World Series.

 

A rundown of the eight teams:

 

? 1914 Braves (16 games under .500 on June 8): Went on a tear to finish 94-59 and swept the Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series.

 

? 1974 Pittsburgh Pirates (14 games under .500 on June 7): Recovered to finish 88-74 but lost to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

 

? 1973 New York Mets (13 games under .500 on Aug. 14): Made the postseason with a 82-79 record, defeated the Big Red Machine in the NLCS, then lost to the Oakland Athletics in the World Series.

 

? 1981 Kansas City Royals (13 games under .500 on May 25): After starting 11-24, Kansas City saw its season saved by a midseason strike. The Royals went 30-23 in the second half to lock up playoff spot, but lost their division series with the A's.

 

? 1989 Toronto Blue Jays (12 games under .500 on May 14): Made a strong second-half run to wind up 89-73 but lost to Oakland in the American League Championship Series.

 

? 1984 Royals (11 games under .500 on July 18): Finished 84-78 but lost to Detroit in the ALCS.

 

? 1951 New York Giants (10 games under on April 29): Most famous and dramatic of all baseball comebacks, one capped off by Bobby Thomson's home run off Ralph Branca -- the so-called ''Shot Heard Round the World'' -- to win one-game playoff. The Giants advanced to the World Series, where they were swept by the New York Yankees.

 

? 2001 A's (10 games under on May 1): After an early slump, Oakland went 94-42 to finish 102-60. Lost in the division series to the Yankees.

 

LEE NOT READY

 

First baseman Derrek Lee, who missed the entire Milwaukee series because of a sore right shoulder, will sit out again tonight when the Marlins face the Dodgers to open a seven-game homestand.

 

Lee has not taken part in batting practice in four days but said he expects to hit off a tee today. It's uncertain when he will return to the lineup.

 

PHELPS HAS TENDINITIS

 

Left-handed reliever Tommy Phelps, who hasn't pitched since July 24, has tendinitis in his elbow and has not thrown in five days.

 

Phelps said his elbow would be re-examined today in South Florida, adding he expects to begin throwing on the side.

 

LORIA ON BOARD

 

Owner Jeffrey Loria is going on more road trips with the Marlins, even canceling his annual European excursion to view art.

 

''The Philadelphia series clinched it for me,'' said Loria, who called off his trip after a three-game sweep against the Phillies in early July.

 

Link

Owner Jeffrey Loria is going on more road trips with the Marlins, even canceling his annual European excursion to view art.

Modern Art = caca

When I watched one of the Brewers games, I think it was on Friday, Loria nearly got pegged by a foul ball. At least he's showing up at more games. He wasn't doing that earlier this year. :mischief2

Yea now he knows we are in conention thats why he is showing up. The Cubs are right behind us and so are the D-Backs. We need to get them off our back!

I don't mind an owner not showing up...what I DO mind is when he ONLY shows up for big games against the Yankees, etc.

As long as that owner keeps signing the checks, he could do whatever the hell he wants.