Greatest Moments in Marlins History: #82 2006 The Impossible Year

Dec 10, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi talks with reporters during the MLB Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the Greatest Moments in Marlins History. Today we are going to take a look at an entire season. For moment 82 we are going back to the 2006 season of the Florida Marlins!

In 2006 the Marlins were projected to lose well over 100 games. I mean baseball was right to assume this. We had the lowest payroll in all of baseball at roughly 15 million dollars. With only Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis as the Marlins super stars, the team was made up of mostly rookies and very low costing veterans. To top it all off it was Joe Girardi’s first year coaching in the majors. At first the experts were right; the Marlins went on losing streak after losing streak, at one time even being 20 games under .500 (May 21 the Marlins were 11-31). However, as I’ve said before you can never count the Marlins out. The Marlins started to find ways to win and the no-name rookies started to come into their own.

Hanley Ramirez started to show that he was a star as he went on to win his Rookie of the Year Award. Dan Uggla broke the rookie record for home runs by a rookie second baseman. Our four rookie pitchers each won 10 or more games, something that has never been done in baseball history. Another thing that has never been done in modern baseball is that the Marlins, after starting 20 games under .500, on September 12 went 73-72 and became the first team to climb over .500 from that many games down. Also, that rookie coach, he went on to win Manager of the Year Award, too!

The Marlins stayed in the Wild Card race until late September, but couldn’t pull off the Cinderella story. Nevertheless, to go 78-84 when you were supposed to lose over 100 games is something to be very proud of! Join me next as we continue to countdown to Opening Day!

Keep Calm And Get Andy On #MLBFC

#MLBFC2014 Application Pick Andres Salgado

#MLBFC2014 Let’s Put #AndresInTheCave