Florida Marlins Sticking to Usual Formula for Success

The Marlins have made a habit of finding diamonds in the rough.

Year in and year out, they always seem to put together one of the best rotations in the league—even if at the beginning of the year you did not know a single one of their names.

Remember the 2006 season when Scott Olsen, Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, and Anibal Sanchez all won over 10 games in their rookie campaign?

Being a huge Marlins fan, it never crossed my mind that maybe the key ingredient to the Marlins success was "steroids." 

I pondered this accusation, and here is what I have come to believe:

The Marlins organization is by far one of the best in baseball. They have a game plan, and they stick to it. They trade big names for prospects, and then develop those prospects into great players that make for a competitive team.

No organizations ever feared the Marlins much because they knew they could eventually trade for the Marlins players.

But, with a stadium on the horizon for the Fish in 2012, and the long-term contract of Hanley Ramirez, it looks like the Marlins may mean business for a long time.

Now people are scared. And unfounded accusations of the Florida Marlins pushing steroids to its players are flying around with fans of other teams quick to say, "Yes! That must be it!"

The first player accused I will examine is Hanley Ramirez. The argument was made that Hanley did not hit for power as a minor leaguer and exploded onto the major league scene. Here are some things to consider:

1. Hanley was under the age of 20 as a minor leaguer. Power is generally something that comes with age.

2. When Hanley entered the minor leagues, it would more than likely be his first time using a wood bat. There is a large learning curve for a player making that transition. (If anyone knows if they use wood or metal bats in the Dominican Republic, please tell me. I could be wrong here.)

3. Hanley was always touted as a huge prospect. He was the number one prospect in the Red Sox organization before his trade to the Marlins. His success has come as a surprise to no one.

4. Hanley does not take his winters off. He spends it in the gym working out daily. This past year he was able to add 20 pounds. If you did not like his power numbers before, you will not like them this year.

The next player attacked was Jorge Cantu. It was argued that he had never enjoyed the kind of success that he had last year before joining the Marlins. Here are a few things to consider:

1. In 2005 while with the Devil Rays, Cantu hit .289 with 28 home runs and 117 RBI. Cantu's 2008 was similar with a .277 average, 29 home runs, and 95 RBI. It was not unprecedented for Cantu to have such a good year.

2. Before joining the Marlins in 2008, Cantu began a new offseason strength workout. He began working out underwater and he credits this for refinding his success. What is important to note is that Cantu has always had the ability to do this. He just happened to be with the Marlins when he refound his stroke.

The last player accused was Emilio Bonifacio. Yeah, the guy who has played a full six games with the Marlins.

1. The writer of the accusing article said Bonifacio is "crushing" the ball. I have watched all but one Marlins game. At no point has Emilio "crushed" a ball. Against the Nationals, he compiled a home run and a triple simply because Lastings Millege has no idea how to play center field. The majority of his hits have been infield hits or soft liners into the outfield.

2. After I refuted the original power argument against Bonifacio, I was told steroids also affect speed. The scout who found Bonifacio told the Diamondbacks organization he was one of the fastest players he had ever seen. When that scout got a job with the Nats, he insisted they demand Bonifacio in the Jon Rauch trade. His speed has always been there.

It is not like it was a huge surprise when Bonifacio got to Florida and could run around the bases like no one had ever seen before. There is only one player faster than him in the MLB, his name is Ichiro Suzuki. I see some similarities, do you?

3. Before accusing a guy of steroids, let him play more than six games!

I believe I have already vindicated these three guys, but in case I have not, consider this: Hundreds of players have tested positive since MLB has created its new drug policies. A 50-game ban has been put in place for the first positive test of steroids.

Only one Marlins major league player has ever tested positive. His name was Henry Owens. You probably have not even heard of him.

If the Marlins had this systematic use of steroids occurring in their organization, more of these guys would be popping up positive, right? Tell me I am not crazy here.

In my mind, the Marlins are legit. Feel free to hate on us, but the season is only six games old. If we were in last place and Hanley, Jorge, and Emilio were having good years, would anyone be saying this? The answer is no. The Marlins offense has been good, but its bound to cool off. Our pitching is what's going to keep us successful.

See you in October.