That is exactly my point.

 

Some of these high attendance home games can be easily pegged to a number of factors without making a stretch (I was alluding to the UM/Super Saturday factor in my post). I might not have gone to Wednesday night's game but I certainly heard and saw a large number of Phillies fans in attendance.

 

If you look at the Marlins' attendance figures since mid-August, they've been mostly static and consistent with the seasonal average. However, there have been exceptions (as noted above) that have produced abnormally high attendance figures.

 

I suppose I am merely trying to say that I've seen no indication that the LandShark stadium fans have been treating the last couple of weeks as if it were a playoff race.

In other words, the Marlins are only "in" the race due to mathematics. If you apply reason to the situation, they are out.

 

 

No, no, no. Applying reason should tell you that them making the playoffs is difficult and unlikely. But that's far from out. I've seen it happen in much more unlikely situations so maybe I just have a different sense of reasoning than you.

 

I've never been too optimistic that the 2009 Marlins are a playoff team. But that doesn't mean that I can't see the possibility of us playing well in the next 9 games and the Rockies playing crappy.

 

Is there a historical precedent for a team being placed in a situation of equal or less favorability (4 games out, 9 games left) and managing to reach the playoffs? The Marlins aren't at a disadvantge because they are four back. They are at a disadvantage because the number of games left is exceptionally small and there is no margin for error.

In other words, the Marlins are only "in" the race due to mathematics. If you apply reason to the situation, they are out.

 

 

No, no, no. Applying reason should tell you that them making the playoffs is difficult and unlikely. But that's far from out. I've seen it happen in much more unlikely situations so maybe I just have a different sense of reasoning than you.

 

I've never been too optimistic that the 2009 Marlins are a playoff team. But that doesn't mean that I can't see the possibility of us playing well in the next 9 games and the Rockies playing crappy.

 

Is there a historical precedent for a team being placed in a situation of equal or less favorability (4 games out, 9 games left) and managing to reach the playoffs? The Marlins aren't at a disadvantge because they are four back. They are at a disadvantage because the number of games left is exceptionally small and there is no margin for error.

 

Well I believe the Rockies a couple years ago had to have been 4 games back at least. Also, I'm sure some of the Mets collapses over the last couple of years had been quite similar as well.

 

I realize there is no margin for error, but if we do error (which will more likely than not happen) then we will adjust the situation accordingly. Until then, its still open.

How many people in attendance seemed to be Phillies fans? Does it actually seem like the Marlins are attracting playoff crowds or are there other factors (Super Saturdays, Mets, Braves, and Phillies fans)?

 

Like I said, noone really knows, do they? I wasn't there last night so I can't say, but last year in mid-September, when the Phillies were also basically locked in, we had 20K at a Friday game and 28K for a Saturday game, not 20k for a Tuesday DH and 31k for a Wednesday game.

 

Wednsday's game was pretty much evenly split, I think. We were actually surprised before the game started and the fans had settled in that they had opened up the 400 level. I attributed it to being nationally televised, this being an event type fan base. The signage and what folks were doing trying to get on TV seemed to confirm that. Even a Star Wars related thing for the ESPN cameras (using the initials), and a "Wookie Of The Year" sign with you know who present in his costume. (That one was actually kinda funny.)

 

This week end is the final 3 home games. Seems to me we usually draw well for that if the team even has a sniff at making the play offs. The Super Saturday thing just adds to that. Event driven draw. And I think Mets fans want to see their team officially knock us out of the play offs to "make up" for what we did to them the last two years, even if it isn't to the same degree. Guarantee if they win one game we will be hearing that on the way out to our cars.