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Florida Marlins showing some magic
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South Florida is a region where no fad goes unnoticed.
Take the Florida Marlins, circa 1993, 1997 and 2003. In those seasons, the team was relevant. People talked about them. And yes, they came to the games (though they waited till late in the season in '97 and '03.)
The reasons were simple if you know the area: The Marlins were a novelty in '93. In '97 and '03, they won the World Series. It was cool to be seen at Joe Robbie Stadium/Pro Player Stadium/whatever. Now the question is: will Marlins fever again overtake the region?
The Marlins are just 3 1/2 ganmes behind the NL East-leading Philies after their 8-6 victory over Houston on Monday night. But the reversal has been shockingly swift.
The Marlins had made a last ditch-effort at contending by grabbing first baseman Nick Johnson at the July 31 trade deadline, but the move appeared futile after the Marlins were swept by the lowly Washington Nationals.
A few days later, Earl Maucker, editor of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, which regularly covers the team, answeed readers' criticism in a column that the paper is baised toward the Miami Dolphins. Maucker plead guilty.
Then the team turned around and swept the defending World Series champion Phillies. Might eyes start to wander from the Dolphins' two-a-days?
The smart money says the Phillies will hang on. Acquiring Cliff Lee to join Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and impressive rookie JA Happ in the starting rotation was huge, and now the Phils are adding veteran Pedro Martinez. But if the Marlins can draw closer as September draws near, tickets might actually become cool to have again.
At least until the first preseason game.
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