Five Reasons MLB Should Want Miami Marlins To Advance

The Miami Marlins As Cubbie Kryptonite

First up, the first matchup: Miami Marlins at Chicago Cubs. Plenty of baseball history there- just ask Steven Bartman. The Cubs are a massive media draw, and now get the chance for revenge for the 2003 NLCS. That’s worth tuning in for many a baseball fan, even if you don’t wear Cubby blue.

That being said, the Cubbies also have a lot of archrivals. People used to tune in to see if they could break the curse. That draw is gone, and for many, the Cubs are just another baseball superpower now. Between hatred of the big spenders, and the enmity of fan bases like St. Louis and Milwaukee, plenty will be tuning in to see if Chicago comes up short.

Which is honestly the better story when it comes to the history of these two teams.

There probably are some Cub fans out there who are still salty about 2003. Here in 2020 though, the curse has ended, and they enter as the heavy favorite. They are supposed to win, and do so convincingly.

On the other hand, the Miami Marlins are massive underdogs. As they were in 2003. The Fish finding a way to repeat that magic, to once again foil the Cubs chances against overwhelming odds, that’s entertaining stuff. That’s what will boost ratings, and spark interest. The Marlins may lack superstars, but in some ways, so does Chicago. As a team, they have had an excellent year. As a collection of individuals? Only Yu Darvish has been elite this season, and he’s not exactly must see tv if you don’t reside in Cook County.

No, history will be the star in this series. And there’s only one outcome that will really let that history shine in an entertaining way for viewers. That would be the Miami Marlins in three.

Ideally via some wacky play.

David v Goliath

Secondly, the Miami Marlins narrative as the David of the MLB landscape. Whoever they end up playing, it will be a team that is spending hilariously more on payroll than Miami. Certainly, that includes Chicago in the Wild Card round.

It was also a huge talking point during the 2003 World Series, where the New York Yankees were spending almost as much on Alex Rodriguez as the Marlins were spending on half their roster. This season, the payroll gap would be even wider. Audiences love an underdog in general, and the Marlins certainly provide that.

Granted, that small payroll is a choice, and one that has brought the Miami Marlins organization a lot of mockery over the years. Not to mention some finger wagging from MLB itself. However, this season, and going into next, the Marlins ability to do more with less might actually be something MLB will want to spotlight. Revenues are down this season, and will very likely see a hit next year as well. Austerity promises to be a big theme this offseason for many clubs, and a deep playoff run from Miami will provide some cover for owners crying poor when free agency hits this winter.

The Miami Marlins: The Mr. October Organization

Another key Miami Marlins storyline? How about the fact they have never lost a postseason series.

That’s right, in terms of postseason series winning percentage, the lowly Marlins trump even the mighty Yankees. Six playoff series, six wins, two titles. Stretching that streak even to seven would be quite the story, and drive up the drama of the next series for sure, regardless of opponent. There’s something about those Marlins in the playoffs is frankly just more interesting than there’s something about winning when you’re in the top ten in terms of payroll and won your division.

Speaking of division winning, that’s another hallmark of Miami’s postseason dominance. The Marlins have never won a division, but have still won more World Series than Atlanta since coming into the league. Plenty of headlines fodder then, if Miami did advance. Particularly since they would either be facing the Braves, or outlasting them, in that scenario.

Mattingly v Dodgers

Finally, what better team for the Miami Marlins to play spoiler against than the Los Angeles Dodgers?

The entire NLCS is pretty much being regarded as a warmup act for whoever Los Angeles will get to play in the World Series. The Dodgers are built for a deep run, and should have talent to overcome even Clayton Kershaw‘s legendary October miscues. The Dodgers have been to the playoffs for eight straight years, after all, thanks to eight straight NL West titles.

Of course, Dave Roberts himself has not. The skipper for the first three of those division titles? That would be current Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly, who came to viewed as a much better reason for not advancing deep into the playoffs than Kershaw flaming out in elimination games.

Maybe the time was right for a change. Maybe it really was the mutual parting it was presented as to the media at the time. That doesn’t mean it still wouldn’t be sweet for Mattingly to finally get a chance to put one over on his former club though. You could easily argue that, other than the Houston Astros or the Boston Red Sox, no team in the playoff field offers a better storyline for taking on the Dodgers than that one.

The Miami Marlins Fingerprints Are All Over These Playoffs

Finally, the Dodgers are just one example of a plethora of Miami Marlins connections with the rest of the playoff field.

It’s no secret that the Marlins have done a lot of wheeling and dealing in their history. That when players got too expensive, they either weren’t re-signed, or were sent packing. That a few too many promising prospects were dealt away with no consideration for the long-term ramifications. That a few too many firesales have transpired, including the most recent following the 2017 season.

Consequently, the Miami Marlins fingerprints are all over these playoffs.

The Dodgers tie in has been established. The Braves? A showdown with two ex-Marlins in Marcell Ozuna and Adeiny Hechavarria awaits, not to mention the whole division winner/wild card dynamic discussed earlier. The Milwaukee Brewers? An opportunity to relitigate the virtues of the widely lampooned Christian Yelich trade. Both the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres feature pitching staffs led by a former Marlins prospect- prospects traded for mediocre veterans acquired for failed playoff bids. Of course, the Marlins aren’t the only club that has burned through prospects to make a playoff push. Staff ace Sandy Alcantara was once the pride of the St. Louis Cardinals organization- a trade the Cardinals would surely take back right about now.

Understandably, thanks to free agency, every team can play this six degrees of Kevin Bacon game to some extent. But MLB would be hardpressed to find a team that can pull it off more successfully than Miami.

Bottom-line, this wacky expanded postseason needs some new blood to make a deep run. And there’s no better candidate for 2020 MLB playoff poster child than the Miami Marlins.