9 hours ago, FishFan95 said:

I really don't want to see this team get wrecked by the Dodgers. That's not much of an accomplishment. I don't care if they want to call it "playoffs." And I definitely don't think it will earn us any respect because they would just say the Marlins only got into the playoffs since they expanded it due to the pandemic.

Has nothing to do with what happens in the first round. Even with the expanded playoffs getting in means we had a better season than almost half the league which would be a clear sign that we're improving. 

Even with the short season the outside narrative going into 2020 was that the Marlins were the bottom feeders and would still be the worst team in the league. A playoff berth DESTROYS that narrative and puts us in a better light heading into 2021 both at a community level and at an MLB level. 

We're almost coming to a point where this season is going to end up with the line, "at least we have Starling Marte now."

Which isn't a bad silver lining, really.

I'd like to give a lot of these guys a break and benefit of the doubt that their timing might not be fully there given the oddity of the season and see how they do in a full, normal year next season.

Could still see Dickerson and Marte as flip options by next year's trade deadline, with the hope that Monte and/or Jesus and/or Bleday and/or Brinson (bear with me) have started to dig in and take over. Use Marte and Dick to improve whatever we may need at next year's deadline perhaps.

Happy to see Brinson playing well. Pablo will be much better next time out.

2 hours ago, SilverBullet said:

Has nothing to do with what happens in the first round. Even with the expanded playoffs getting in means we had a better season than almost half the league which would be a clear sign that we're improving. 

Even with the short season the outside narrative going into 2020 was that the Marlins were the bottom feeders and would still be the worst team in the league. A playoff berth DESTROYS that narrative and puts us in a better light heading into 2021 both at a community level and at an MLB level. 

I understand that a playoff berth will help, but I still think that the narrative will be a deflection from everything the Marlins have done if the Marlins get any seed 6-8 and drop out in the first round. It will be "Marlins didn't have a good year, Mets and Nats had a bad one." It would be "Marlins had one mediocre year which they won't repeat." A one and done on a playoff position that only exists this year would not move the needle at all.

It is a make or break next 10 days. Two more against the Rays which they really need to win and end the 9 game losing streak. Then it’s 3 against the Braves and 6 against the Phillies....that’s your season. 

1 hour ago, FishFan95 said:

I understand that a playoff berth will help, but I still think that the narrative will be a deflection from everything the Marlins have done if the Marlins get any seed 6-8 and drop out in the first round. It will be "Marlins didn't have a good year, Mets and Nats had a bad one." It would be "Marlins had one mediocre year which they won't repeat." A one and done on a playoff position that only exists this year would not move the needle at all.

The national narrative is irrelevant to the future success of the Marlins. What will positively impact this team is getting some of these younger players playoff experience heading into next season.

53 minutes ago, canada-marlin24 said:

It is a make or break next 10 days. Two more against the Rays which they really need to win and end the 9 game losing streak. Then it’s 3 against the Braves and 6 against the Phillies....that’s your season. 

7 against Phillies, friend.

15 game homestand is going to be the determining factor whether we make it or not this year.

4 hours ago, Vic D said:

Happy to see Brinson playing well. Pablo will be much better next time out.

Brinson certainly looks to be swinging the bat better.

27 minutes ago, mystikol87 said:

Brinson certainly looks to be swinging the bat better.

You cannot root against the guy. He's a genuinely good person who's had a rough time, but he doesn't give up. Keeps working, keeps tweaking, keeps trying to get better.

5 hours ago, FishFan95 said:

I understand that a playoff berth will help, but I still think that the narrative will be a deflection from everything the Marlins have done if the Marlins get any seed 6-8 and drop out in the first round. It will be "Marlins didn't have a good year, Mets and Nats had a bad one." It would be "Marlins had one mediocre year which they won't repeat." A one and done on a playoff position that only exists this year would not move the needle at all.

Nationally, yeah, they'll probably find any excuse to put down the Marlins....it's just the thing to do.

 

Locally, however, I do think that folks hearing "Marlins make the playoffs" (assuming the local media even mentions it, since they've seemed to be completely ignoring the team too), I do think that does help continue to change the narrative around the team.

On 9/5/2020 at 10:46 AM, FishFan95 said:

It would be "Marlins had one mediocre year which they won't repeat." A one and done on a playoff position that only exists this year would not move the needle at all.

Just by being in serious contention in 2020 with one of the better farm systems and more top prospects and impact players on the way the narrative will start to change because this team is proving they're on the rise and that this shouldn't be a one and done success. 

No one can see this rotation in 2020 and actually think this team is on a decline. The positive things this team is doing is more than just because of the shortened season and the expanded playoffs. 

Bottom line: it's not about the playoff position alone, it's that this season this team has proven they're capable of winning games while still being on a rise... they are not bottom feeders/doormats anymore, a playoff spot would cement that even with the 2020 season changes.

On 9/5/2020 at 4:07 PM, rmc523 said:

Nationally, yeah, they'll probably find any excuse to put down the Marlins....it's just the thing to do.

I disagree 100% because already in the last few weeks I've seen the Marlins success mentioned nationally more than "ever" (so to speak) and with a more genuine tone as well and not just with that tongue in cheek sarcasm. I think this has been very clear. This team has felt more respected as of late. Nobody is saying they're the best team in baseball but it's been a whole of "hey pay attention because the Marlins are doing really well for real this time".