June 13, 200620 yr Miracle Marlins mirror Baby Braves Rookies finally learning how to win, MLB-style By GUY CURTRIGHT The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 06/13/06 Miami ? One team is on a 12-6 roll and feeling really good about itself. The other is on a 3-11 skid and wondering when the losing will end. A couple of weeks ago, no one would have guessed which team was which. The Braves, winners of 14 consecutive division titles, are the ones reeling. The Marlins, their payroll slashed to about $15 million in a winter roster purge, are the ones playing winning baseball. Two teams heading in different directions open a three-game series tonight at Dolphin Stadium. The Braves are desperate for a return to normalcy. This is like a very bad episode of "The Twilight Zone." When John Smoltz beat the New York Mets on May 8, he said he doubted the Braves could have come back to win another division title if they had fallen 10 games back. That is exactly where they are now and the season is a month older. Smoltz will pitch in the series opener against the Marlins, opposing rookie right-hander Josh Johnson. There is no questioning the sense of urgency. The Braves have come back from deficits before, but that doesn't mean that it will happen again. "We have to quit assuming it is just going to happen," Smoltz said recently. "If we do that, it won't. We have to make it happen and it won't be easy." How bad have the Braves been? They are twice as far out of first place as they are ahead of the last-place Marlins, who are just five games back. Of course, the Marlins haven't been bad at all lately. In fact, the Braves and Marlins have very similar records if you throw out the head-to-head games. Minus their 6-1 record against Florida, the Braves are 24-33. Without their struggles against Atlanta, the Marlins are 22-31. How could this happen? With everyone but third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis gone, Florida was supposed to be lucky to win 60 games. The Marlins, though, are growing up fast. Despite the use of 18 rookies already, they are coming off a 6-3 road trip that followed a 6-3 homestand. After winning just two of their first 15 series, the Marlins have won four of the past six. Six rookies started for the Marlins on opening day. With Johnson pitching, seven will likely be in the lineup against the Braves tonight. "They've got a lot of good young players," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "I really like a couple of their rookie pitchers." One is the 6-foot-7 Johnson, who was named NL rookie of the month for May and has Florida's victory over the Braves. The other is Ricky Nolasco, who will start the series finale. "The Cubs are going to regret trading Nolasco," Cox said. The Marlins' surge has coincided with the return of rookie right fielder Jeremy Hermida from the disabled list after missing more than a month with a hip flexor injury. But the Wheeler High School graduate is hardly the only Marlins rookie hitter making a major contribution. The big surprise has been Dan Uggla, who was claimed in the winter draft from the Arizona system. The former Memphis University player is among the NL rookie leaders in most offensive categories while playing a solid second base. http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/b...613marlins.html
June 13, 200620 yr 6 rookies was in the Marlins line up in Houston? I know Cabrera and Willis are not rookie, butr who's the other?
June 13, 200620 yr 6 rookies was in the Marlins line up in Houston? I know Cabrera and Willis are not rookie, butr who's the other? Olivo
June 13, 200620 yr Olivo is not a rookie... http://snap.stats.com/premium/sfa/stats/pl...ats.asp?id=7028
June 13, 200620 yr "Miracle Marlins" Why are they the Miracle Marlins? A team with a $15 million dollar payroll would figure to play like the Royals (or worse). We just went 6-3 on a West Coast road trip. Look at it this way, take all the payroll away from the Reds EXCEPT 15 million. If what you were left with played the way the Marlins were playing it would be quite a miracle wouldnt it?
June 13, 200620 yr "Miracle Marlins" Why are they the Miracle Marlins? A team with a $15 million dollar payroll would figure to play like the Royals (or worse). We just went 6-3 on a West Coast road trip. Look at it this way, take all the payroll away from the Reds EXCEPT 15 million. If what you were left with played the way the Marlins were playing it would be quite a miracle wouldnt it? It doesn't really surprise me, if you look back at my posts before the year I said you guys woldn't be terrible. However worst record in the NL is hardly a "miracle".
June 13, 200620 yr "Miracle Marlins" I think that was from the 2003 year. Great article, thanks for sharing!
June 13, 200620 yr I know Atlanta is struggling mightly these days but they're still a hump this team can never seem to get over.
June 13, 200620 yr We've got to sweep 'em boys! Make the braves lose their confidence and any possibility of a 15th title.
June 13, 200620 yr Even though Curtright was evidently just trying to get under the Braves' skin... it's nice to see a reporter put a positive spin on our Marlins for once. Good find, Mr. 2003.
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