Los Angeles Angels and Miami Marlins: Three stories to watch

Worst Miami Marlins Month Ever? 

The short answer is no. Even if the Miami Marlins are swept this weekend, that distinction is technically off the table.

But they could tie.

In June of 2011, the Marlins posted a 5-23 record. That was enough fun to cause manager Edwin Rodriguez to quit. One win in six tries is all Miami needs, the first three of which come against these Angels, to avoid claiming a share of that title. That much seems reasonable to hope for.

The bigger questions are just how far the 2017 Marlins can move away from even being in the running for worst month, and whether they can outright avoid having the worst May ever.

The current May title goes to the 2013 Marlins, at 6-22. So that’s one win to tie, and two to escape. A surprise series win here would put the club in fine shape to even break out of the Top 10 Worst Months, once you remove twenty-three Octobers at any rate.

Finally, I’m sure many Marlins fans have noticed that the club hasn’t managed to win a series yet this month. This has happened before, but it’s extremely rare. Once you discount all those regular season Octobers (and one March), it’s happened only three times in franchise history. And one of those was in April of 1995, when the team only played six games on account of the Strike.

Depending on how glass half empty, glass half full you look at a series split, there was a fourth time the Marlins went winless. In that abysmal 2013 May, the club did manage one split against the Phillies. I choose the glass half full view personally, but wanted to put it out there in case anyone is checking the math.

So while it would be hard to match this month for disappointment, it will really only take one win to avoid making this stretch of futility historic for Miami.

Will The Miami Marlins Finally Solve The Angels? 

For much of their history, the Miami Marlins were actually one of the best teams in baseball when it came to Interleague Play. It was a fun quirk, especially during the lean years of 1998-2002, when the club would trounce teams like the Yankees only to go on to get clobbered by lesser NL competition.

Even though that has tailed off as of late, the Marlins have held their own against the Junior Circuit. In fact, the Fish have won at least one series against every team in Major League Baseball.

Except the Angels.

Miami is 4-8 all time against Los Angeles, eking out a lone win in all four dropped series. Admittedly, this is something that will mean very little to the team itself, as only Giancarlo Stanton was even on the roster for more than one of these previous series losses. And it’s not like a special trophy is handed out for crossing all thirty MLB teams off your dance card.

But it’s an interesting nugget of franchise lore, and a trivia tidbit I’d be happy to discard for the knowledge the Marlins had won a series against every team in the game. In a season shaping up the way this one is, I don’t think we can afford to discount any positive.

Power On Parade At Marlins Park

Aside from the two World Series victories, the best time to be a Miami Marlins fan might have been the 2011 offseason. The team was heading into a brand new ballpark. Jose Reyes had been signed. And there was a blissful few days, perhaps even a week, where there seemed to be a real chance that Albert Pujols was going to be bringing his talents to Little Havana as well. He and Stanton would unite to be what he and Miguel Cabrera should have been, the most terrifying 3-4 punch baseball had seen in decades.

But he didn’t come. Which honestly, given his sharp fall from superstar to semi-consistent veteran, was probably one of the most fortunate whiffs in franchise history. He’s here now though, for the first time since he left St. Louis. Seeing Mike Trout is awesome enough for young Miami Marlins fans, but this is also the first time in six years they get to see a player that is already in the all-time stratosphere.

Trout will make the Hall of Fame. Stanton still could, if he finds a way to stay healthy. But Pujols is a first ballot masher, and unlike when Alex Rodriguez visited a couple seasons ago, a masher that fans want to see break records. Pujols could actually reach 600 HR in this series. He’s three away, and Justin Nicolino is pitching in one of the games. Every shot in any event would be a thrill to say you saw, and I’d be shocked if the outfield seats aren’t filled every game.

Next: Prospect Watch: Isaac Galloway

Then there are the young guns. Trout. Stanton. Even Ozuna with the season he’s having. The chances for in-game fireworks in this series are sky high.

For that alone, I’m tuning in all weekend. Fingers crossed some of those homers set off the statue, and we’ll catch you next series.