GaryMrMets
10-05-2005, 12:34 AM
Marlins Among Biggest Flops This Season
By STEVEN WINE
.c The Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) - Carlos Delgado's 12th year in the major leagues ended like the other 11: as a postseason spectator. He's weary of excuses for coming up short, and when someone mentioned the late-season injuries that doomed his Florida Marlins, he shook his head.
``Good teams overcome injuries,'' Delgado said. ``They overcome that kind of adversity.''
The Marlins simply weren't good enough, which ranks them among baseball's biggest flops this season.
Their dynamic trio of hard-throwing starters stayed mostly healthy, Delgado and emerging star Miguel Cabrera thrived in the heart of the lineup, and new closer Todd Jones provided an unexpected boost with 40 saves. But somehow Florida won only 83 games - not enough for a wild-card berth, and not enough to end the Atlanta Braves' 14-year reign as division champions.
The disappointing season prompted fan favorite Jack McKeon to resign as manager Sunday, just two years after he led the Marlins to an improbable World Series title.
``It's tough to see him go out on this note,'' center fielder Juan Pierre said. ``But we had more good times than bad.''
As the injuries and clubhouse tension mounted, the final month was mostly bad. Players increasingly criticized McKeon as too abrasive, and Cabrera's attitude came into question when he derided the team's veteran leadership, prompting a players-only meeting. McKeon defended Cabrera, but when pitcher A.J. Burnett complained that the team played and managed scared, he was banished for the final week of the season.
The Marlins led eventual wild-card winner Houston by 1 1/2 games on Sept. 14, then lost 12 of their next 14 games.
``I haven't been around a situation like this where it went so bad so fast,'' said Jones, a 13-year veteran.
A roster shakeup is imminent, and not just because the Marlins will have a new manager. Spending cuts are possible after owner Jeffrey Loria approved a franchise-record $60 million payroll this season and was rewarded with a September meltdown, the second-lowest attendance in the league and a stalemate in his ongoing quest for a new ballpark.
Even if the budget remains the same, the only hitter certain to return is Cabrera, who had 33 homers and 116 RBIs. Dontrelle Willis (22-10) and Josh Beckett (15-8) will continue to anchor the rotation, and Delgado (33 homers, 115 RBIs) and catcher Paul Lo Duca are likely to be back.
But Burnett, Jones, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and outfielders Juan Encarnacion and Jeff Conine can become free agents, perhaps creating openings for such rookies as outfielder Jeremy Hermida, shortstop Robert Andino and right-hander Josh Johnson.
Questionable to return are Pierre and Mike Lowell, the biggest reasons the offense struggled for runs despite leading the NL in batting average. Lowell is under contract for $9 million each of the next two seasons, but there's a limited market for a third baseman who hit .236 with eight home runs. Pierre was also a rally killer, with an on-base percentage of .326 hitting mostly leadoff.
The priority is the search for a manager, which likely will last until after the World Series. The list of possible candidates is long, and at least two are involved in the postseason - New York Yankees bench coach Joe Girardi and Atlanta third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez.
McKeon led the Marlins to three of their four winning seasons, but there was a consensus within the organization that a change was in order.
``Every time someone goes out the door and someone comes in, you hope there's improvement,'' Conine said, ``because we didn't make the playoffs.''
10/03/05 17:16 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By STEVEN WINE
.c The Associated Press
MIAMI (AP) - Carlos Delgado's 12th year in the major leagues ended like the other 11: as a postseason spectator. He's weary of excuses for coming up short, and when someone mentioned the late-season injuries that doomed his Florida Marlins, he shook his head.
``Good teams overcome injuries,'' Delgado said. ``They overcome that kind of adversity.''
The Marlins simply weren't good enough, which ranks them among baseball's biggest flops this season.
Their dynamic trio of hard-throwing starters stayed mostly healthy, Delgado and emerging star Miguel Cabrera thrived in the heart of the lineup, and new closer Todd Jones provided an unexpected boost with 40 saves. But somehow Florida won only 83 games - not enough for a wild-card berth, and not enough to end the Atlanta Braves' 14-year reign as division champions.
The disappointing season prompted fan favorite Jack McKeon to resign as manager Sunday, just two years after he led the Marlins to an improbable World Series title.
``It's tough to see him go out on this note,'' center fielder Juan Pierre said. ``But we had more good times than bad.''
As the injuries and clubhouse tension mounted, the final month was mostly bad. Players increasingly criticized McKeon as too abrasive, and Cabrera's attitude came into question when he derided the team's veteran leadership, prompting a players-only meeting. McKeon defended Cabrera, but when pitcher A.J. Burnett complained that the team played and managed scared, he was banished for the final week of the season.
The Marlins led eventual wild-card winner Houston by 1 1/2 games on Sept. 14, then lost 12 of their next 14 games.
``I haven't been around a situation like this where it went so bad so fast,'' said Jones, a 13-year veteran.
A roster shakeup is imminent, and not just because the Marlins will have a new manager. Spending cuts are possible after owner Jeffrey Loria approved a franchise-record $60 million payroll this season and was rewarded with a September meltdown, the second-lowest attendance in the league and a stalemate in his ongoing quest for a new ballpark.
Even if the budget remains the same, the only hitter certain to return is Cabrera, who had 33 homers and 116 RBIs. Dontrelle Willis (22-10) and Josh Beckett (15-8) will continue to anchor the rotation, and Delgado (33 homers, 115 RBIs) and catcher Paul Lo Duca are likely to be back.
But Burnett, Jones, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and outfielders Juan Encarnacion and Jeff Conine can become free agents, perhaps creating openings for such rookies as outfielder Jeremy Hermida, shortstop Robert Andino and right-hander Josh Johnson.
Questionable to return are Pierre and Mike Lowell, the biggest reasons the offense struggled for runs despite leading the NL in batting average. Lowell is under contract for $9 million each of the next two seasons, but there's a limited market for a third baseman who hit .236 with eight home runs. Pierre was also a rally killer, with an on-base percentage of .326 hitting mostly leadoff.
The priority is the search for a manager, which likely will last until after the World Series. The list of possible candidates is long, and at least two are involved in the postseason - New York Yankees bench coach Joe Girardi and Atlanta third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez.
McKeon led the Marlins to three of their four winning seasons, but there was a consensus within the organization that a change was in order.
``Every time someone goes out the door and someone comes in, you hope there's improvement,'' Conine said, ``because we didn't make the playoffs.''
10/03/05 17:16 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.