Florida Marlins: Previewing The Top 11 Series Matchups To Watch For In 2011
The Florida Marlins are entering their final season at Sun Life Stadium in 2011 and there is expected to be a fair share of series that will be special and memorable to the Marlins.
2011 is an end of an era for the Florida Marlins as they will be entering the final season with the usual uniforms, colors, nearly empty stadium (we hope), and the recognition as Florida's team.
In 2012, the Marlins be called the Miami Marlins with new uniforms, colors, a downtown stadium, and increased playoff aspirations.
Let's preview the 11 series that you should keep an eye for in 2011 (in chronological order), the final season of the "Florida Marlins" ......
April 1-3 Versus The New York Mets (Final Home Opener at Sun Life Stadium)
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Yes indeed, the final home opener at Sun Life Stadium will feature the Marlins against their rival New York Mets. What makes this series interesting is the fact that it takes place on the weekend versus the usual early week Opening Day.
The change to a late week start gives the Marlins a chance to have a rare showing of at least 30,000 fans each of three games, especially since the Met games draw a share of Mets fans.
The Marlins will likely roll out their ace Josh Johnson on Opening Day while Mets roll out Mike Pelfrey considering they will be without two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana for the first half of the season.
April 12-14 Against The Atlanta Braves (Dan Uggla and Fredi Gonzalez Reunion)
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The Florida Marlins will be on the road against the Atlanta Braves in a series that reunites them with their former manager Fredi Gonzalez and former second baseman Dan Uggla.
How odd is it to see the pair on the same team not named the Marlins? Odd enough, considering they are on a division rival team now.
This series is vital for the Marlins to see if they can show that they don't miss their power hitting second baseman from 2006 to 2010 nor their manager from 2007 to 2010.
A sweep here will have many fans jumping ship before the season ever got going, maybe, but it's a frustrating start to say the least.
April 15-17 Against The Philadelphia Phillies (The Fearsome Foursome)
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Considering the Phillies early season schedule which includes two off days (both on Mondays) prior to facing the Marlins, they could potentially face the back end of rotation but have to end up facing either Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee as the #1 starter on the Sunday game.
For the Marlins or any other team it'll be hard to avoid facing Halladay or Lee in a series. The Marlins put their bats to the test against the Phillies' spanking new starting rotation that features four aces (Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, and Hamels).
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May 9-11 Versus Philadelphia Phillies (Up Close Look at Starting Rotation)
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Another Phillies series, except this one brings the Fearsome Foursome to South Florida for a NL East showdown. Hopefully, Roy Halladay doesn't repeat his perfect-game like he did last season against the Marlins.
The fact that the Phillies are bringing what is the arguably the best starting rotation in the history of baseball will draw crowds out at Sun Life Stadium for this series.
May 20-22 Versus The Tampa Bay Rays (Interleague Series Opener)
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The Tampa Bay Rays did lose some pieces this offseason from their 2008 and 2010 AL East Division titles. Carl Crawford, Rafael Soriano, Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Carlos Pena all joined new teams.
However, the Rays added oufielders Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon which should make the series a bit more competitive. Don't forget that the Rays still have David Price and Evan Longoria as their cornerstones of the franchise.
The good thing the Marlins have going for them in this Grapefruit Series is the fact that they might have the better starting rotation in Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco, Javier Vazquez, and Chris Volstad over a questionable Rays rotation expected to be headlined by David Price, James Shields, and Jeff Niemann.
May 24-26 Against The San Francisco Giants (Defending World Series Champs)
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This is a no-brainer, the Marlins will head to San Francisco to face the defending NL and World Series champs in the Giants.
However, we are forgetting someone, yes, the Marlins will face fan favorite and former Marlins Cody Ross for the first time since he was claimed by Giants last summer.
Will Cody Ross go off and show the Marlins they should've held on to him? He probably already did in the postseason by winning NLCS MVP but it will interesting to see if he does it against them.
The Giants will also field one of the better starting rotations in the National League with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner leading the way.
June 7-9 Versus The Atlanta Braves (Fredi and Uggla Return To Miami, Florida)
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Strange to see this Kodak moment between Dan Uggla and Fredi Gonzalez at a press conference announcing Uggla's arrival in Atlanta.
A year ago this would have been a photoshopped nightmare and outrageous, but a year later the Marlins have given the Braves a Bobby Cox successor and a power hitting second baseman to help them move toward their goal of a World Series title.
We might get a standing ovation from the Miami crowd to see Uggla returning but one thing we hope is that Uggla whiffs in his return to South Florida.
Homeruns, especially those that prove game winning will have fans booing at Loria from his near dugout seat and questioning the front office for why Uggla was even traded to a division rival.
June 24-26 Versus The Seattle Mariners (Home Series To Be Determined)
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While it is a interleague game between the Seattle Mariners, Ichrio Suzuki, and Felix Hernandez, the bigger storyline in this series is whether it will be played at Sun Life Stadium or elsewhere such as a Puerto Rico (unlikely due to following series at Oakland), Tropicana Field, or even in Vancouver at BC Place Stadium (also unlikely due to renovations).
A U2 concert affects where this game will be played but at least it serves a reminder that we can't wait until the new Marlins stadium opens in 2012.
July 1-3 Against The Texas Rangers (Against The American League Champs)
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The Florida Marlins head to Arlington, Texas to face the Texas Rangers, the 2010 AL Champions. Last season, the Marlins were swept the Rangers and it's only fitting the Marlins get their revenge and perhaps turning the favor against them.
The Rangers might have lost Vlad and their ace, Cliff Lee, but they've reloaded with Adrian Beltre and a rehabbing Brandon Webb.
Considering the hitter-friendly conditions of Rangers Ballpark, we might just see Mike Stanton and Hanley Ramirez have a ball in this park by hitting a few home runs.
August 4-7 Versus St. Louis Cardinals (Final Four Game Home Series at Sun Life)
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Many things come to mind in this series, the Marlins face a veteran manager in Tony LaRussa, one of the best hitters in he past decade in Albert Pujols along with a lineup featuring Matt Holiday and Colby Rasmus.
And let's not forget the starting rotation that features a three headed monster at the top in Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, and Jaime Garcia with Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse filling it out.
This series also marks the final four game home series at Sun Life Stadium and the second four game series with the Cardinals in 2011.
September 26-28 Versus The Washington Nationals (Last Home Series at Sun Life)
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Of course, the final home series at Sun Life Stadium will be perhaps the most important one of the Marlins season.
The Marlins will be playing their last three games of the season which could put them in the playoffs or they may be perhaps out of the playoff race and just playing for memories at a lame duck stadium which has been notorious for its empty seats in the upper deck.
However, I don't expect for there to be quite the sendoff as the Yankees did for their ancient Yankee Stadium in 2008.
Instead, there might be the above average crowd with a celebratory final change to the home counter signaling the end of their tenure at the stadium and the end of the Florida Marlins era.
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