And Swim as the Tide Turns You Around and Around
This one wasn't quite fair was it? The Cleveland Indians, seeking to end a 49-year championship drought, up against the Florida Marlins, who had been existence for 4 years before arriving in the '97 Fall Classic. The most memorable part of this series was the terrific Game 7 commemorated by the Sports Illustrated Cover shown above. Game 7 was the 2nd longest Game 7 in World Series history and represented the first championship triumph for a team that qualified for the post-season as a Wild Card. As I mentioned the taint that existed in my mind regarding the 2002 World Series, this World Series also has a bittersweet memory for me and other baseball fans because of what occurred immediately after the champagne had dried on the World Series trophy.
The Marlins began a firesale of their payroll by getting rid of Manager Jim Leyland, Gary Sheffield, and other high-priced stars. In the 1998 season, the Marlins finished with a 54-108 record and at 5th place in the NL East. Somehow the Marlins have managed to win two World Series in their first 10 years in existence, but after each one they have immediately sold off a majority of the players who guided them to those titles. Perhaps there is no franchise that better expresses the modern realities of baseball economics.
Labels: Baseball
posted by Justin @ 10/15/2006 04:12:00 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Was the fire sale really a bad idea? The Marlins would win their next World Series six years later, which isn't that bad of a turnaround.
The trades would directly get them Derrick Lee (for Kevin Brown) and AJ Burnett (for Al Leiter). And following the line of trades, the Marlins acquired Mike Lowell, Juan Pierre, Carl Pavano, Brad Penny, and Dontrell Willis by the guys they sold off.
Now, Jeffrey Loiria is certainly evil. And the sheer gall for one of the richest owners in baseball with a team in one of the largest media markets (Miami) to sell off his team because of the "economic realities of baseball" just disgusts me. It's even worse that anyone even believed him.
More importantly, I hate this Series because the Orioles lost to the Indians in the ALCS because Tony F'n Fernandez hit a home run in the 11th inning off Armando Benitez, who went 0-2 with a blown save in the ALCS and an ERA of 12.00. Not that I'm bitter.
warehouse-dmb
tuegel
Definitely a good Series, even though my team ended up with the short end of the stick.
p.s. Sheffield is a wanker
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