Miami Marlins: Three reasons the Marlins are winning other than Giancarlo Stanton

It’s all people can talk about these days, and with good reason. But there is more to the Miami Marlins recent play than Giancarlo Stanton’s home runs.

In the light of his unbelievable home run total and offensive explosion, it’s no surprise that Giancarlo Stanton is dominating Miami Marlins talk. He’s the toast of Major League Baseball right now. But that’s only the surface of Miami’s recent success.

If you hadn’t heard, the Miami Marlins are only 4.5-games out of a wildcard spot. With more than a month of baseball to go, they’re playing well enough to keep things interesting. If Miami makes the playoffs, it will be difficult for the league to award the MVP trophy elsewhere.

But there is a lot more to the Marlins winning ways than just monster dong long balls.

It’s taken a team resurgence to get the Fish back into contention. From top-to-bottom, all 25 guys on the roster are contributing in a major way right now. It’s easy to forget the supporting cast when one star is running away with the show.

But baseball isn’t basketball. It’s the ultimate team game, where one solo star can be buried on a team that underperforms elsewhere. Suppose for a minute that nobody else was getting on base or driving in runs. What if the bullpen was regularly being gouged for three run innings?

That would render the impressive performance by Miami’s bonafide slugger a pleasant footnote in an otherwise disappointing season.

There is plenty to talk about beyond Giancarlo Stanton and his impressive power display. Chicks dig the long ball, and so it’s only natural that gets the most press. As thrilling as it might be, there is quite a bit flying under the radar.

Here are three reasons why the Miami Marlins are winning games not named Giancarlo Stanton:

Brad Ziegler is perfect since becoming Miami Marlins closer

Who saw this coming? Less than a month ago, Brad Ziegler was free agency signing enemy number one to most fans. He was a plan B for the Marlins after they whiffed on Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman, and he didn’t get off to a great start.

Being paid $7 million this season, it’s easy to understand why Marlins fans were frustrated with Ziegler’s performance. He was battling injuries, and wasn’t effective when he was in the game.

Prior to becoming the Marlins closer, Ziegler was sporting a 6.52 ERA over 29 innings of work. He’d walked 9.4-percent of the batters he faced, hit five batters, and was allowing a .342 BAA coming out of the pen. Since becoming the closer, he’s 180’ed like nobody’s business.

He’s appeared in 12-games as the closer of the team, nine of which were save situations. He’s perfect in them, successfully recording a save in each opportunity.

In the 12 innings he’s logged over his last 12 appearances and hasn’t allowed a run. His walk rate is down to 2.1-percent, he’s surrendered only nine hits, and his BAA is down to .205. In short, he’s been lights out.

Ziegler on the back end has provided the Miami bullpen the stability it has lacked all season.

Miami Marlins winning close games

One of the most encouraging parts of the Miami Marlins recent success is their ability to win close games. Throughout the month of August, they’ve managed to answer back when the other team scores, and hold on to a lead when they have one.

Since sweeping the Colorado Rockies, the Marlins are 13-3 overall. Nine of those games have been decided by three runs or fewer, Miami has won them all. The margin for error is small the rest of the season if the Marlins want to make the playoffs. Winning close games is essential.

After spending most of the year on the short end of the stick when it came down to the wire, the Marlins are suddenly finding ways to win. The previously mentioned 9-8 victory over the Phillies was prime example. The Marlins trailed by as many as five runs during that game.

Winning close games is a team effort. The lineup, the starting pitcher, and the bullpen all have to do their job. They’ve been doing it, and it’s showing up in the boxscore.

The three games the Marlins lost over their recent run were out of hand fairly early on. Those games are often easier to swallow than nail-bitters that come down to the last out. Winning in extra innings against the Padres on Saturday was huge for morale.

It’s the kind of games the Miami Marlins have learned to win recently. If it continues, they’re poised for October baseball.