Marlins infield about to make history

September 19, 9:17 PMMLB ExaminerTony DeMarco

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the MLB Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The Florida Marlins' infield is one Jorge Cantu home run away from a major-league first.

No infield ever has had all four players hit at least 30 homers -- and in fact, no infield besides the Marlins' has had all four players with at least 25. The Fish foursome: Hanley Ramirez (32), Mike Jacobs (32), Dan Uggla (31) and Cantu (29).

The 4-by-30 feat also is very rare for any set of four teammates. Here's the short list: (and if you're wondering why so many are crammed into such a short period of baseball's 100-plus-year history, you really shouldn't be):

The Los Angeles Dodgers have done it twice -- 1977 and 1997.

It was nearly an annual event for the Colorado Rockies in the pre-humidor, Blake Street Bombers days -- 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999.

And the other four -- 1998 Atlanta Braves, 2000 Anaheim (yes, Anaheim) Angels, 2000 Toronto Blue Jays and the 2004 Chicago Cubs.

That's it -- at least until Cantu connects one more time in the season's final eight games. And the way these Marlins have been belting home runs this season, especially at Dolphins Stadium, who's doubting if Cantu can get it done? The Fish trail only the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies in home runs, going over the 200 mark in a 14-8 rout of the Phillies on Friday night. 

Cantu is a Fish reclamation product. They signed him off the scrap heap this spring after two mostly injury-filled seasons in 2006-07 following a 28-homer season with the 2005 Tampa Bay Rays. Ramirez is the Marlins' star -- a .300/30-homer/30-steal performer. Uggla has survived his All-Star Game nightmare to put together a second consecutive 30-homer season. Jacobs is a free-swinger with power but a low batting average.

And in case you been too busy tracking the Milwaukee Brewers' collapse, or the Houston Astros' weather-induced woes, the Marlins have won nine in a row to get within shouting distance in the wildcard race. It would take an unlikely set of circumstances to pass two teams and erase a 4 1/2-game deficit in the final week-plus, it's an impressive run nonetheless for Fredi Gonzalez's team.