Joel's MLB Franchise Top 10: Florida Marlins

This is the fourth installment in my current series in which I am attempting to name what I feel are the top 10 players in the history of each MLB franchise.

The Marlins, despite their brief tenure, have enjoyed two World Series titles, and have also had to endure the post-World Series tear down of those teams.

So here are my top 10 Marlins. I look forward to hearing where you would differ in your choices. Next up in the series is the Blue Jays so stay tuned.

Honorable Mention

SP Livan Hernandez: 24-24, 4.39 ERA, 333 Ks, 1997 WS MVP

SP A.J. Burnett: 49-50, 3.73 ERA, 753 Ks

SP Josh Johnson: 34-16, 3.40 ERA, 425 Ks, 1x All-Star

CP Robb Nen: 269 Appearances, 108 Saves

CP Antonio Alfonseca: 307 Appearances, 102 Saves

1B Derrek Lee: .264 BA, 129 HR, 417 RBI, 51 SB, 1x Gold Glove

2B Dan Uggla: .257 BA, 121 HR, 360 RBI, 2x All-Star

OF Preston Wilson: .262 BA, 104 HR, 329 RBI

OF Cliff Floyd: .294 BA, 110 HR, 409 RBI, 1x All-Star

OF Juan Pierre: .303 BA, 167 SB

No. 10: Charles Johnson (1994-1998, 2001-2002)

BA: .241
OBP: .324
SLG: .418
H: 467
HR: 75
RBI: 277
R: 204
SB: 1
2x All-Star
3x Gold Glove

Johnson was one of the best defensive catchers of the 1990s, as he won three Gold Gloves with the Marlins, throwing out at least 40 percent of would-be base stealers in each of his full seasons with the team.

He also accomplished the rare feat of winning the Gold Glove in his rookie season.

Despite a poor batting average, he did have above average power for a catcher, with 18 and 19 HR seasons while with Florida.

No. 9: Josh Beckett (2001-2005)

Wins: 41 (fifth)
Losses: 34 (seventh)
Win Percentage: .547 (sixth)
ERA: 3.46 (first)
ERA+: 118 (first)
WHIP: 1.235 (first)
Ks: 607 (fourth)
K/9: 9.0 (first)

Those numbers above are not quite what the Marlins had in mind when the drafted Beckett out of high school with the second pick in the 1999 draft.

After being fast-tracked to the majors, he made his debut at 21 years old, going 2-2 with a 1.50 ERA, 24 Ks, and 24 IP in four starts. He was seemingly on his way to stardom.

Blister problems took over, however, and Beckett was never able to put together a full season in his five years with the team.

That said, his stellar numbers when healthy, along with his amazing five-hit shutout in Game 6 of the 2003 World Series to clinch the title for the Marlins is enough to put him on the list.

No. 8: Kevin Brown (1996-1997)

Wins: 33
Losses: 19
Win Percentage: .635
ERA: 2.30
ERA+: 177
WHIP: 1.063
Ks: 364
K/9: 7.0
2x All-Star

Despite spending just two seasons with the Marlins, Brown did more than enough to cement his place as one of the best the franchise has ever had.

In his first season with the team, Brown went 17-11 and had a NL-best ERA of 1.89 as he finished second in the NL Cy Young voting.

The next season he posted a 16-8 record and helped lead the team to the playoffs and eventually a World Series title.

He was dealt following that season to the Padres for uber-prospect Derrek Lee, which turned out to be a fairly decent trade for both sides.

No. 7: Jeff Conine (1993-1997, 2003-2005)

BA: .290 (seventh)
OBP: .358 (eighth)
SLG: .455
H: 1005 (second)
HR: 120 (sixth)
RBI: 553 (second)
R: 447 (fifth)
SB: 15
2x All-Star

He may be Mr. Marlin in the eyes of Marlins fans, but I'm afraid Conine is no higher than seventh on my list.

That said, Conine was the definition of a solid player, never putting up spectacular numbers, but consistently playing an integral role in the Marlins' success.

From 1994-1996, Conine was at his best, averaging .304 BA, 23 HR, and 94 RBI, making a pair of All-Star appearances and garnering MVP consideration twice.

No. 6: Gary Sheffield (1993-1998)

BA: .288 (eighth)
OBP: .426 (first)
SLG: .543 (first)
H: 538
HR: 122 (fourth)
RBI: 380 (sixth)
R: 365 (ninth)
SB: 74 (eighth)
2x All-Star
1x Silver Slugger

Fun fact: Sheffield came to the Marlins in the deal that sent eventual MLB save leader Trevor Hoffman to the Padres.

He served as a potent bat in the middle of the Marlins order throughout his time in Florida, but he took his game to the next level in 1996 with a .314 BA, 42 HR, 120 RBI season, setting a career high in HR and finishing sixth in MVP voting.

He was the first real superstar player the Marlins ever had, and had he stayed longer he would be much higher on this list.

No. 5: Mike Lowell (1999-2005)

BA: .272
OBP: .339
SLG: .462
H: 965 (third)
HR: 143 (first)
RBI: 578 (first)
R: 477 (second)
SB: 21
3x All-Star
1x Silver Slugger
1x Gold Glove

Before he became a staple at third base for the Red Sox, Lowell was one of the most underrated sluggers in all of baseball in his time with the Marlins.

He topped 20 HR four times and 100 RBI twice in his time with the team, hitting over .270 in each of his full seasons except for his last year in Florida. He did, however, win the Gold Glove that season.

In the end, he was part of the deal that brought Hanley Ramirez to the Marlins, and he went on to win a pair of rings so it worked out for everyone involved.

No. 4: Dontrelle Willis (2003-2007)

Wins: 68 (first)
Losses: 54 (first)
Win Percentage: .557 (fifth)
ERA: 3.78 (third)
ERA+: 111 (second)
WHIP: 1.359 (fifth)
Ks: 757 (first)
K/9: 6.7 (sixth)
2x All-Star
2003 NL Rookie of the Year

For as much as Willis has struggled in Detroit, he was simply amazing in his five seasons with the Marlins.

As a rookie, his herky jerky delivery and filthy slider took the National League, and the MLB for that matter, by storm, as he made the All-Star team as a rookie and all eyes were on him each time he took the mound.

Two years later, he had probably the best single-season pitching performance in Marlins history, with a line of 22-10, 2.63 ERA, 170 Ks as he led the league in wins, CG (7), and SHO (5) and finished second in Cy Young voting.

He left the Marlins as the teams all-time wins and strikeout leader, and here's hoping he figures things out in Detroit and gets his career back on track.

No. 3: Luis Castillo (1996-2005)

BA: .293 (sixth)
OBP: .370 (fifth)
SLG: .356
H: 1273 (first)
HR: 20
RBI: 271
R: 675 (first)
SB: 281 (first)
3x All-Star
3x Gold Glove

Castillo is the Marlins career leader in games played, and he was the catalyst atop the teams lineup for 10 seasons.

He stole over 20 bases six times, twice leading the league in that category and setting a career best in in 2000 with 62 swipes.

Aside from his speed on the bases, Castillo also played a terrific second base, winning three consecutive Gold Gloves from 2003-2005.

He also had a very memorable 35-game hitting streak in 2002, as he used his speed to make a serious run at Joe Dimaggio's mark, racking up a number of infield singles to keep his streak alive.

No. 2: Hanley Ramirez (2006-2009)

BA: .316 (first)
OBP: .387 (third)
SLG: .531 (third)
H: 771 (sixth)
HR: 103 (ninth)
RBI: 313 (tenth)
R: 470 (third)
SB: 164 (third)
2x All-Star
2x Silver Slugger
2006 NL Rookie of the Year

Ramirez, despite only playing four seasons, is currently one of the best players in the majors and he is already the most complete player to ever don a Marlins jersey. As his career progresses, he will inevitably cement his place as the best player in Marlins history, but for now he is second.

He won his first batting title this past season, with a .342 average, and also broke 100 RBI for the first time in his career with 106. He also finished a distant second to Albert Pujols in MVP voting.

No. 1: Miguel Cabrera (2003-2007)

BA: .313 (second)
OBP: .388 (second)
SLG: .542 (second)
H: 842 (fourth)
HR: 138 (second)
RBI: 523 (third)
R: 449 (fourth)
SB: 17
4x All-Star
2x Silver Slugger

Cabrera was consistently great in each of his five seasons with the Marlins, as he made an immediate impact as a 20-year-old rookie, hitting cleanup in the playoffs for the eventual world champs.

In his four full seasons with the team, he averaged an impressive line of .318 BA, 32 HR, 115 RBI, as he quickly became on of the games premier hitters, and has continued that success in Detroit.

For his stellar four and a half year stretch, Cabrera is my choice for best player in Marlins history, but soon enough Hanley Ramirez will hold that distinction.