Some beliefs about the Miami Marlins are wrong
MIAMI, FL – MARCH 27: A general view of the new Marlins logo in the outfield during 2019 Workout Day at Marlins Park on March 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
The Miami Marlins lost another game by a run, what’s happening?
There are some popular common beliefs about the Miami Marlins that are false. These beliefs hurt our Fish’s reputation so let’s disprove them right now once and for all!
The Miami Marlins are not historically “financially careful” or refusing to pay free agents.
One of the most popular beliefs about the Miami Marlins, is that the team doesn’t spend on free agents. I even pointed it out myself. It is true that The Fish can be “financially careful”, but what about that Giancarlo Stanton extension? 13 years/$325 million. Small market teams don’t give out such contracts. The Fish were also in on Albert Pujols remember? When ownership wants to, the Miami Marlins can spend money.
Did you know that the Miami Marlins had the seventh highest payroll in the Majors at one point? We certainly can get back there whenever we want to. Not to pick on other teams, but can you imagine the Tampa Bay Rays or the Kansas City Royals having that type of payroll?!
The number seven seems to be a lucky one for the Miami Marlins. Before previous owners hurt the team’s reputation with repeated sell-offs, The Fish were seventh out of 28 teams in attendance. That was in a stadium in a worse location too!
I think it’s time to talk about something that’s a not controversial… Jeffrey Loria was a bad owner but was the sell-off after 2012 really wrong? The Fish spent a record $191 million (!) the previous off-season. The problem was that those players disappointed and were bad signings…
SP Mark Buehrle went 13-13 with a 3.74 ERA/4.18 FIP and at 33 wasn’t expected to suddenly turn into an ace. CP Heath Bell had a 5.09 ERA and was clearly a sunken cost at that point. Most ownerships would’ve sold off after a bad season with free agent pick-ups who flopped too. It just looked worse because the franchise had too many sell-offs already.
The Miami Marlins aren’t a team that can’t have good attendance. The Fish can also spend big money and have done so. The 2012 sell-off was actually logical as well. Let’s stop dragging the team down with false narratives and start believing in the new direction. The future is like Miami itself, sunny and bright.
