Miami Marlins: Your -Insert Year Here- Champions

          Sometimes, being a Miami Marlins fan seems like a full-time job, that more often than not pays no reward. It's like I'm working for a struggling company who doesn't have the resources to pay me. So why stick with them? Why not bandwagon on teams with a history of winning like the New York Yankees or even the Boston Red Sox? Why not jump on the train of new young teams who are flourishing like the Kansas City Royals or the Baltimore Orioles? Well for one, because fans of teams with an established history of winning are the most condescending and annoying fans to represent a jersey. If I ever get in a sports debate and use the argument "look at how many rings we have" will be the day I disappoint all my future generations. There's no way I'm raising any Yankees/Lakers/Duke (etc.) children who live in the past glory even though they weren't in existence for the "Glory Days." I keep my loyalty to the Marlins because, despite years of losing, I know that the talent is there and "Next Year" is within arms reach. And once "Next Year" comes, it'll be even sweeter than any of the 27 championships that the Yankees have won.
          The talent is there ladies and gentleman. We have the superstars in Jose Fernandez and Giancarlo Stanton and we have the good role player in Adeiny Hechavarria, Dee Gordon, Christian Yelich, and Marcell Ozuna. I'll be the first to admit that there still are missing pieces, mainly in management (Jeffrey Loria, as an owner, would undoubtedly get the trash emoji 🚮 but that's a blog for another day), but the pieces for a great team surely are there. Let's bring it back to Jose Fernandez for another second. This guy, to say it straightly, is a winner. In 21 career starts at Marlins Park, he has 13 wins and 0 losses with an astounding ERA of about 2.somethingsomething. I'm not going to go into full detail about the ERA, the sole 2 to start should be enough to let you know that, as Ned Flanders from The Simpsons would say, is "mighty diddly good." After not pitching for 13 months, Fernandez on his first start didn't pitch phenomenally , but he pitched well. "Oh, but, Eddie, if he didn't pitch that great, how, is still a winner?" HOW IS HE STILL A WINNER?!! BECAUSE HE HIT A HOMERUN THAT GOT THE MARLINS OFFENSE GOING! Even when he isn't at his best, he has an impact on the game that helps his team win. Even if he isn't an active part of the current game, his mere presence and passion for the game is just that of a winner. I won't go into the same rant about Giancarlo Stanton but to keep it short and sweet, if Superman was a baseball player, it'll be in the form of Stanton. I'm sure if Stanton tried to lay down a bunt he'll simply fly out. Man is a beast.

         I had really high expectations for the Marlins this year (and surprisingly so did ESPN) and unfortunately they haven't lived up to the hype thus far, but I still believe 100% that the Marlins have a chance to still make a playoff run. And if the Marlins once again don't make the playoffs this year, then well...there's always next year.