We are 2.5 games back of the division; 3 of the wildcard. With 50 games to go.

 

But here are some more facts:

 

Mark Hendrickson

Andrew Miller

Ryan Tucker

Burke Badenhop

Rick Vanden Hurk

Eulogio De La Cruz

 

= 6.48 ERA (in 301.2 innings)

= No longer in the rotation

 

...= replaced by

 

Josh Johnson

Chris Volstad

Anibal Sanchez

 

= 3.70 ERA (in 56 innings)

 

Combine ALL 5 of our current SP's (Noly, Oly, JJ, Volstad, and Anibal) = 3.86 ERA (in 340.2 innings).

 

WHY, again, has this day been so pessimistic regarding playoff chances on this board, when this team has managed to stay OVER .500 all year, despite TERRIBLE PITCHING from the 3-5 starters? The 3-5 starters that were replaced not so long ago?

 

How can you not be feeling more optimistic than you were a couple weeks ago?

 

Is it the offense?

 

The same offense (that despite some recent scuffles) is STILL 6th best in the NL in terms of scoring runs? The same offense that is STILL 4th in the NL in slugging? The same offense that entered the day 6th in the NL in .OPS? The same offense that has produced 31 comeback wins this year?

 

Are we all giving up on it...just b/c of today's loss?

Has this team NOT comeback from tough losses before? It won't get much tougher than 18-17. Ouch. Yet, they came back nicely after that loss, didn't they?.

 

So what is it, really?

 

The defense is bad...however, that hasn't been the complaint on this board today, so I'm just leaving it out.

 

Is it the bullpen? ... which had the 4th best ERA in the NL coming into today's game? A bullpen that should only get better, as they get more rest...with five solid / more consistent starters now?

 

Seriously...why are you so eager today to tell me this team is not going to play well in the 2nd half / will continue to stay inconsistent forever? Is there something scary about the Mets? Are we really scared of the Phillies and their current starting rotation, that (aside from Hamels) has been mediocre all year?

 

Talk to me. :hat

very solid post erick, and the phillies are the team that will give us the most trouble as far as i'm concerned. their pitching sucks compared to ours but their offense is also great. i know it's too early to worry bout two games back but gaining ground is always nice and i think the series coming up is perfect to show everyone. Also an attendance boot to support this team would be nice!

Erick, you bring a gleeful tear to my eye.

very solid post erick, and the phillies are the team that will give us the most trouble as far as i'm concerned. their pitching sucks compared to ours but their offense is also great. i know it's too early to worry bout two games back but gaining ground is always nice and i think the series coming up is perfect to show everyone. Also an attendance boot to support this team would be nice!

 

No doubt. This week is big.

Lets hope we can make it a .500 road trip. Can't ask for much more than that.

Go .500 on the road, comeback home within reach, still. Of course, if they want to go 4-2, 5-1, or 6-0...I'm all for that, too. :hat

other bi g series coming after is vs cardinals and cubs.....not to worried about the cubs and i believe we can beat the cards after watching how philly beat them. hopefully we end the moyer thing, if we do it'll be a huge confidence booster

Great post and I've been saying this all year long. National people ( like ESPN) look at the Overall Stats and just go on that, which is obviously ridiculous. If we include the 3 weeks before the trade deadline, anyone who REALLY knows baseball and the Florida Marlins knows that the Florida Marlins had the best mid-season "acquisitions." in MLB by far. Even with not getting Manny Ramirez. What other team in baseball can say that during the second half of the season, they brought in 3 YOUNG STARTING pitchers who could quite possibly be the best in the rotation. (I know Nolasco has been awesome, but JJ, Anibal, and Volstad are legit)...Along with that, the Florida Marlins also filled their biggest need, which was help in the bullpen against lefties, which is esp. important with all the lefties in the NL East.

 

The Marlins have the most powerful offense in baseball and soon people may be saying they have the best starting rotation in baseball as well...Thats a pretty nice recipe for success and that be saying, makes me wonder by "Florida Marlins fans" said the fish didn't do "enough" during the regular season to make this team better..What a joke.

other bi g series coming after is vs cardinals and cubs.....not to worried about the cubs and i believe we can beat the cards after watching how philly beat them. hopefully we end the moyer thing, if we do it'll be a huge confidence booster

 

 

The good thing is that we're within striking distance (despite bad pitching most of the year from 60% of the former rotation) of BOTH the division and wildcard. It's always good to have alternatives. We just have to stay close, and stay close. Stay in the race as long as possible, and then take care of business in September.

 

Just look at the NL East last year...Phillies down 7 with 17 to go...no problem. The Rockies overcame obstacles. Just some more reason to believe, imo. (especially since we're only 2.5 out with 50 to go)

A round of applause to Erick. A beautiful thread to start and i agree with everything you said. I was one of the people that was optimistic about sanchez and JJ coming back. And as you can see in my sig, I'm expecting the marlins to win the division.

it sucks that moyer is pitching in the first game of the series, he's a marlin killer.

Erick, you bring a gleeful tear to my eye.

Geek. lol

it sucks that moyer is pitching in the first game of the series, he's a marlin killer.

 

 

it doesn't suck. the marlins have to learn to beat him already they aren't the same rookies of 2 years ago. also what if late october a game vs. philly and it decides it all....you know philly will send moyer we have to learn to beat him. sorry for mispelling no light in room

it sucks that moyer is pitching in the first game of the series, he's a marlin killer.

 

Yes, it does.

But it could also be a good thing.

B/c if the team somehow manages to beat Moyer, they'll feel unstoppable. It's basically the ONLY THING they haven't proven they can do.

 

Moyer is 10-0. That is awesome. The good news is...he's due for a loss against us, just like Brad Lidge is due for a couple of blown saves before the year ends.

Great post and I've been saying this all year long. National people ( like ESPN) look at the Overall Stats and just go on that, which is obviously ridiculous. If we include the 3 weeks before the trade deadline, anyone who REALLY knows baseball and the Florida Marlins knows that the Florida Marlins had the best mid-season "acquisitions." in MLB by far. Even with not getting Manny Ramirez. What other team in baseball can say that during the second half of the season, they brought in 3 YOUNG STARTING pitchers who could quite possibly be the best in the rotation. (I know Nolasco has been awesome, but JJ, Anibal, and Volstad are legit)...Along with that, the Florida Marlins also filled their biggest need, which was help in the bullpen against lefties, which is esp. important with all the lefties in the NL East.

 

The Marlins have the most powerful offense in baseball and soon people may be saying they have the best starting rotation in baseball as well...Thats a pretty nice recipe for success and that be saying, makes me wonder by "Florida Marlins fans" said the fish didn't do "enough" during the regular season to make this team better..What a joke.

 

"The Marlins have the most powerful offense in baseball"

Huh? Maybe by HR alone...

 

"best starting rotation in baseball as well"

This is when I know your a true delusional team homer.

 

"the fish didn't do "enough" during the regular season to make this team better"

They didn't, our pitchers just recover from surgery.

 

Don't post if you ddon't know what you are talking about.

Beautiful post Erick...BUT... the negativity on here today comes from the fact that the Marlins continue to lose games that they should have won...and I'm a very positive fan myself but I've had a nasty feeling in my stomach all day concerning the fish...

 

I just feel that they aren't "greedy" enough...Imagine if we took today's game and several other of those heartbreaking losses...we could theoretically be so much farther ahead right now...

 

I'm so happy that this team has come so far...but I really feel like we could definitely be farther and today was a glaring example of that...

 

I wouldn't call that negativity...its the thorn on our rose

Beautiful post Erick...BUT... the negativity on here today comes from the fact that the Marlins continue to lose games that they should have won...and I'm a very positive fan myself but I've had a nasty feeling in my stomach all day concerning the fish...

 

I just feel that they aren't "greedy" enough...Imagine if we took today's game and several other of those heartbreaking losses...we could theoretically be so much farther ahead right now...

 

I'm so happy that this team has come so far...but I really feel like we could definitely be farther and today was a glaring example of that...

 

I wouldn't call that negativity...its the thorn on our rose

 

Yeah...but there's also the games that we won, that we should've lost. Starting with the 31 comeback wins...I believe it's 13? after the 7th inning (could've sworn I heard Rich & Tommy say that the other night).

 

It's definitely frustrating (especially after it happens)...but after the game, I understand that it happens to every team, really. And knowing the Phillies bullpen hasn't blown many, makes me feel good that we're 2.5 out with 50 to go. I honestly don't believe that Brad Lidge, for example, will have a "perfect season."

Great post and I've been saying this all year long. National people ( like ESPN) look at the Overall Stats and just go on that, which is obviously ridiculous. If we include the 3 weeks before the trade deadline, anyone who REALLY knows baseball and the Florida Marlins knows that the Florida Marlins had the best mid-season "acquisitions." in MLB by far. Even with not getting Manny Ramirez. What other team in baseball can say that during the second half of the season, they brought in 3 YOUNG STARTING pitchers who could quite possibly be the best in the rotation. (I know Nolasco has been awesome, but JJ, Anibal, and Volstad are legit)...Along with that, the Florida Marlins also filled their biggest need, which was help in the bullpen against lefties, which is esp. important with all the lefties in the NL East.

 

The Marlins have the most powerful offense in baseball and soon people may be saying they have the best starting rotation in baseball as well...Thats a pretty nice recipe for success and that be saying, makes me wonder by "Florida Marlins fans" said the fish didn't do "enough" during the regular season to make this team better..What a joke.

 

"The Marlins have the most powerful offense in baseball"

Huh? Maybe by HR alone...

 

"best starting rotation in baseball as well"

This is when I know your a true delusional team homer.

 

"the fish didn't do "enough" during the regular season to make this team better"

They didn't, our pitchers just recover from surgery.

 

Don't post if you ddon't know what you are talking about.

 

How about YOU don't post when you don't know what you are talking about. Our CURRENT rotation is one of the best right now - Top 10. Since when was the word delusional synonymous with the word accurate?

youre right again...but im sorry, i just wanna be a greedy fan of a greedy team...I'm tired of "six over .500"

 

...show me ten-twelve over .500...show me series sweeps...show me 6 runs off the opposing team's #5 starter...show me less LOB...show me dominance...

 

...show me first place!

I think the main reason people are pessimistic is because this team looks great one day, and it looks terrible the next. They just don't seem capable of putting it all together and going on a run that they need to reach the postseason. So yeah, the pitching has finally improved, but the offensive has been pretty bad since the all star break. It seems like when they fix one part of the team, another part breaks down. This, to me, is the mark of a young, incomplete team that is not quite there, but close. Plus, if you look at the schedule, its EXTREMELY difficult. I think they have the talent to get it done, but even some the better teams in baseball wouldn't survive the road the Marlins are about to take.

it sucks that moyer is pitching in the first game of the series, he's a marlin killer.

 

 

it doesn't suck. the marlins have to learn to beat him already they aren't the same rookies of 2 years ago. also what if late october a game vs. philly and it decides it all....you know philly will send moyer we have to learn to beat him. sorry for mispelling no light in room

 

 

Nah, he should be retiring very soon...

I think the main reason people are pessimistic is because this team looks great one day, and it looks terrible the next. They just don't seem capable of putting it all together and going on a run that they need to reach the postseason. So yeah, the pitching has finally improved, but the offensive has been pretty bad since the all star break. It seems like when they fix one part of the team, another part breaks down. This, to me, is the mark of a young, incomplete team that is not quite there, but close. Plus, if you look at the schedule, its EXTREMELY difficult. I think they have the talent to get it done, but even some the better teams in baseball wouldn't survive the road the Marlins are about to take.

 

 

Well, at least that made sense.

Schedule doesn't get any easier (especially the next two weeks).

 

The team is gonna have to be ready to play, for sure.

I am overwhelmingly hyped about our starting pitching, and have no problems with our bullpen (not even Gregg).

 

However the offense continues to frustrate me, and I am worried how they'll perform if (when?) we get to the postseason.

 

Which is pretty much the opposite of the national media, who thinks our pitching still stinks and we have an incredible offense. Not to say I think we have a bad offense, but moreso inadequate for October. They get overrated nationally for the huge homerun totals, and underrated on our board for the strikeouts.

 

Of course since good pitching beats good hitting, I am overall pretty psyched about our chances to go far.

 

EDIT: I'd just like to add, I think Tommy Hutton influences a lot of our opinions and criticisms of the offense. When the only color commentator you've ever known for your team constantly berates the teams offensive execution, its bound to rub off on you.

We have a good team, they just need to beat the phillies and Mets when it counts..like in this big series coming up...and we need to beat Moyer da***t

I think our offense will come around once the bats of players like Hanley and Dan. The problem is that we will probably never be good hitting with RISP and we have relide on the homer. I may be wrong because I am just speaking on the fly but I think we have been hitting less homers. To take one specific example, Dan was hitting a homerun at a more frequent rate in the first half than now. We will see. I am pretty optimistic about the rest of the season. I actually feel like we have a better chance of gaining ground when we face the teams we have to gain ground on. That tells me that I am confident enough to trust this team when they go up against the real competition. I am not saying everyone should feel this way but I am just throwing it out there. I think it's an indication on how I feel this team should perform and I don't see why they can't do it.

Great post and I've been saying this all year long. National people ( like ESPN) look at the Overall Stats and just go on that, which is obviously ridiculous. If we include the 3 weeks before the trade deadline, anyone who REALLY knows baseball and the Florida Marlins knows that the Florida Marlins had the best mid-season "acquisitions." in MLB by far. Even with not getting Manny Ramirez. What other team in baseball can say that during the second half of the season, they brought in 3 YOUNG STARTING pitchers who could quite possibly be the best in the rotation. (I know Nolasco has been awesome, but JJ, Anibal, and Volstad are legit)...Along with that, the Florida Marlins also filled their biggest need, which was help in the bullpen against lefties, which is esp. important with all the lefties in the NL East.

 

The Marlins have the most powerful offense in baseball and soon people may be saying they have the best starting rotation in baseball as well...Thats a pretty nice recipe for success and that be saying, makes me wonder by "Florida Marlins fans" said the fish didn't do "enough" during the regular season to make this team better..What a joke.

 

"The Marlins have the most powerful offense in baseball"

Huh? Maybe by HR alone...

 

"best starting rotation in baseball as well"

This is when I know your a true delusional team homer.

 

"the fish didn't do "enough" during the regular season to make this team better"

They didn't, our pitchers just recover from surgery.

 

Don't post if you ddon't know what you are talking about.

 

How about YOU don't post when you don't know what you are talking about. Our CURRENT rotation is one of the best right now - Top 10. Since when was the word delusional synonymous with the word accurate?

Then why didn't he write it the correct way. Best in baseball mean #1 which is false with this team.

I think it's a bit premature to call us the best rotation in baseball when 3 starters have combined for a grand total of 56 inn each.

 

I'm certainly optimistic as can be seen by a thread I made similiar to this, but they actually have to perform over time, not just have potential. We can not call it a top rotation in baseball until they have proven they are a top rotation in baseball. Two are coming back from injury, one from a serious injury, and one's a rookie that has absolutely dominated every level....right when he's called up. And then over time he does worse and worse.