Number 29 Satchel Paige

While Paige never played for the Florida Marlins, he actually played from 1956 to 1960 on the Triple A team based out of the Orange Bowl called the Miami Marlins. They were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1956-1958 and the Baltimore Orioles from 1959-1960. From 1956-1957 Paige pitched for the Marlins to help out Bill Veeck’s struggling Minor League team. Over that span Paige had a record of 21-14, 155 S/O, an ERA of 1.86 in 1956, and an ERA of 2.42 in 1957. Nice numbers, but the reason we should retire his number is because on August 7, 1956 57,000 people came to see him play, the biggest crowd in Minor League history. This also proved that baseball can survive in Miami. Now I know he has never played for the MLB Miami Marlins, but that has never stopped the Nationals from retiring numbers of players that have never put on a Nationals jersey.

Number 7 Iván Rodríguez

July 14, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Florida Marlins former catcher Ivan Rodriguez waves a baseball to the crowd as he is honored during a ceremony before a game between the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, Pudge only played for one season, but what a season. Before the season started he said we were going to make the playoffs. His play at the plate against the Giants in the Playoffs, his NLCS performance, and his leadership in the club house all helped his young team win its second World Series. Though the most important thing of all is his love for the fans and the love that we have for him. I went to the last game in Sun Life Stadium against the Nationals and when Pudge came up to bat the crowd started chanting his name. He called for time, stepped out of the batter box, and tipped his hat to the crowd. What class. It doesn’t stop there. After the game the Marlins had a big celebration with former players and current players and videos of the past. Pudge came out wearing a number 7 Marlins Jersey and said a few words to the crowd. What a great player. He might have been a Marlin for only one year but man did he make such a difference.

Number 18 or 19 Jeff Conine

I love Pudge and Satchel, but if anybody is going to have the honor of being the first Marlins player to have his number retired, it’s going to be Mr. Marlin himself Jeff Conine. Jeff might not have the numbers Pudge and Satchel have but when you think of the face of the Marlins Jeff is the person you think of. He was part of the 1993 Marlins, has an All-Star MVP award as a Marlin, was part of the 1997 World Series team, was part of the 2003 World Series team, retired as a Marlin, and was the first to hoist the World Series banners in Marlins Park. He is still with the organization and is a commentator for FSN. You cannot find one Marlins fan who has something bad to say about Mr. Marlin. He has been and will always be the face of this team and he deserves to be the first Marlin to have his number retired.

Now this is just my opinion. There are plenty of other Marlins who should get their numbers retired; such as Charlie Hough, Liván Hernández (when he retires), Jack McKeon, Gary Sheffield, and so much more. By retiring numbers the Marlins will show that they do have history and have had great players on their team. Beside, that new stadium would look good with some great players’ numbers around it.

Mike Stanton

Mike Stanton is currently standing behind Albert Pujols and Dan Uggla for the National League lead in home runs, and if there is one player on the Marlins that fans should still be watching in this most meaningless of months, it is Stanton. He is currently sitting out games with a strained right hamstring, but when he returns he should have about 15 games or so to try and overtake those two players for the league lead. ZiPS currently has Stanton finishing the season with 36 homers in 615 plate appearances, which is about five or six more than I expected before the season began. If Stanton ends the year with 36, he will have started his career on a 34.2 homer per 600 PA pace, which is simply amazing for a 21-year old.

As fun as watching Mike Stanton hit bombs is, I am also quite interested in seeing how his overall season finishes. Earlier this season, I made the comparison between him and a young Miguel Cabrera, and that comparison is looking more and more apt as the season progresses. Stanton outperformed Cabrera at the plate in his age 20 season and is now hitting comparably at age 21 while playing better defense. If he ends the season somewhere near 4.5 or five wins above replacement, he will outperformed my expectations for him and put him on track for a stellar career.

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Jeff Torborg:

Torborg spent the 1960s and 1970s behind the plate with the Dodgers and Angels.  In 1977, he tried his hand at managing.  He managed the Indians for three seasons, got fed up, and took most of the 1980s off, that was a crazy decade anyway, who wouldn’t?

Torborg returned to managing in 1989 for the Chicago White Sox and in 1990 he won the AL Manager of the year award where he lead the White Sox to a 94 win season.  He then went to the Mets for the 1992 – 1993 seasons and took the remainder of the 1990s off.  Apparently a glutton for punishment, Torborg helmed the Expos in 2001.

His tenure with the Marlins in 2002 – early 2003 was short lived and uneventful and after starting off the 2003 season with a 16 -22 record Torborg was shown the door.

Torborg called games for the Atlanta Braves in 2006 and 2007 but his contract was not renewed and he has since faded into obscurity.

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Series Hero: Ricky Nolasco (0.218 WPA)
Series Goat: Chris Volstad (-0.337 WPA)
Impressed by: Ricky Nolasco (7 IP, 1 R, 4 K, 2 BB, 0 HR)
Depressed by: Anibal Sanchez (4 IP, 6 R, 6 K, 3 BB, 2 HR)

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By the way, no live chat tonight! I don’t do them on the West Coast trips on account of it being way too late to be discussing disappointing Marlins baseball. Look out for one next week.

Florida Marlins @ Seattle Mariners (37-38), June 24-26, Games 76-78

NL East Standings

Stadium: Safeco Field
Five-year Run PF*: 0.97
Five-year HR PF*: 0.95
Stadium Dimensions:
Left Field: 331 ft.
Left-Center: 390
Center Field: 405
Right-Center: 385
Right Field: 326

*Five-year regressed park factors provided by Patriot here

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