The Miami Marlins won’t be basement dwellers in 2020

By David Levin |

LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 01: A detailed view of a pair of official Rawlings Major League Baseball baseballs with the imprinted signature of Robert D. Manfred Jr., the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, sitting in the dugout prior to the Spring Training game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 1, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 10-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

After the past two seasons of falling into the basement of their division, this is the year the Miami Marlins rise above expectations.

Will Leitch of MLB.com said the words I have wanted to hear for some time now – The Miami Marlins aren’t finishing last this season.

While I have read many stories over the past couple of months, where writers are singing the praises of the front office and the work of Derek Jeter and Michael Hill, it has not been one of those situations where I have seen someone put words on a website that proclaimed the Miami Marlins as a mover in the standings this coming season.

“This team is sneaky competitive, with an improved lineup and a quietly steady rotation. Things are looking up here, and this year could be an abbreviated preview,” Leitch writes.

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I am going to need a moment here. I am caught up in my feelings about this one. Jeter finally has a team that could make some noise this season. Regardless of it being just 60 games. Regardless of the season has been halted due to COVID-19. If anything, the sudden sprint the fans and the Marlins are about to experience could be one of the best things to happen to this franchise since its last winning season in 2009.

Yes, I am a bit excited.

The Miami Marlins and the rest of the baseball world start the season in just three days. The rotation is set and looks slightly different. The lineup will be deeper and stronger this season. The bullpen should be more durable. The back end of the pitching staff more formidable. And there are prospects who could make an impact sooner than expected.

Did I mention I am a bit excited? And I am not the only one who thinks the Miami Marlins will be better this season.

I took to Twitter to ask a simple question the other day – “What do you think the Marlins’ record will be this season”. And fans answered with honesty. There is a change in how they perceive this team. They see the progress. They know winning seasons are coming.

How many victories do you think the Marlins will have in this 60-game sprint in 2020?
— Marlin Maniac (@MarlinManiac) July 19, 2020

While some of the answers were all over the map, there was a true belief this team was better than it was just a season ago. For South Florida, that hasn’t happened in a few years. This could be manager Don Mattingly’s best team based on what he has had to deal with since coming to this organization. There will be growing pains, but there will be growth.

Plenty will depend on the pitching staff as this group with Elieser Hernandez grabbing the fifth spot in the rotation needs a fast start to prove they can compete with the rest of their opponents. The batting order will need a hot hand from Brian Anderson, Jonathan Villar, and Corey Dickerson. The bullpen needs Brandon Kintzler to be the closer this team has lacked.

It’s a lot to ask, but if those things come together, this could be a magical season. And fans who have waited like Jeter asked them to will be more than happy to cheer this team on.

Leitch may be onto something. But I’ll take the credit first. This is a team that won’t finish last. There is too much talent on the roster for that to happen this season.

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