THE BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL

Florida Marlins 76-34

McCabe.com – With 52 games left in season 14 we at McCabe Magazine wanted to take a look at the best team in baseball. The best team is the Florida Marlins (76-34) followed closely by the Arizona Diamondbacks (71-39), Oakland Athletics (72-38), and the St. Louis Cardinals (64-46) according to the last McM power rankings.

The Marlins are going through the NL like General Sherman’s march to the sea and the burning of Atlanta during the final days of the civil war. Florida has the best record in baseball and leads the NL South by 20 games. The Marlins offense is led by Centerfielder Jimmy Taylor (333 BA) and Rightfielder Santos Gonzalez (39 HR, 93 RBI). But the real stars of the team from South Beach is the pitching staff. Florida leads the ML in team ERA 3.03, OVA 241, Hits allowed (897), HR allowed (103), SLG allowed (363), Saves (41) and tied for 2^nd with a team WHIP of 1.25. The ace of the staff is 17-1 Thumper Maddux (WHIP 1.03 ERA 2.03) followed by starting pitchers Mitchell Banks 10-4, Benito Ordonez 12-2, and Tyson Garcia 9-5. These number 2, 3, and 4 starters will be number ones on any other staffs in baseball. The Marlins have a closer by committee with spot starter Ed Vernon leading the squad with 12 saves.

Domination

How dominant has the Marlins been? They had the best record in baseball in season 13 (105-57) and made the postseason every year since season 4, seeded 1^st seven times, 2^nd twice, and 3^rd once. Florida won the World Series in seasons 5, 6, and 7. They also won the NL pennant in season 11 but lost the World Series to Boston 4-1.

Starting Rotation

Player	Position	G	GS	W	L	IP
Thumper Maddux	SP1	23	23	17	1	152.2
Mitchell Banks	SP2	23	23	10	4	143.1
Tyson Garcia	SP3	21	21	9	5	118.1
Benito Ordonez	SP4	22	22	12	2	136.2
Trey Fyhrie	SP5	29	17	8	7	98

Lineup

Order	Player	Position	G	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
1	Jimmy Taylor	CF	101	27	10	11	54	12	0.333
2	Pedro Perez	2B	110	24	11	15	57	29	0.322
3	Julian Ramirez	3B	93	9	1	5	22	0	0.298
4	Santos Gonzalez	RF	108	14	2	39	93	0	0.277
5	Darrell Powell	1B	99	12	1	26	65	0	0.256
6	Ryan Norton	C	79	8	1	17	45	0	0.283
7	Kip Peterson	LF	102	16	4	7	33	14	0.249
8	Stu Miceli	SS	99	19	3	8	40	0	0.279
9	Clark Crespo	DH	99	23	3	16	74	15	0.301

How was the team build (off season moves)

Date/Time	Player	Pos	Age	Action
3/3/2012 3:57	B.J. Wasdin	1B	18	Drafted
3/3/2012 3:57	Mike Meluskey	2B	18	Drafted
3/3/2012 3:57	Alex Dillard	2B	22	Drafted
2/9/2012 21:53	Dave Richardson	2B	33	Added to 40-Man Roster
2/3/2012 21:31	Al Segui	P	33	Added to 40-Man Roster
2/1/2012 23:43	Ed Castellanos	C	33	Traded to MIN
2/1/2012 23:43	Al Segui	P	33	Acquired via Trade
2/1/2012 23:43	Dave Richardson	2B	33	Free-Agent Signing
2/1/2012 8:01	Neifi Aparicio	C	35	Contract Extension
1/30/2012 16:24	Kip Peterson	LF	32	Added to 40-Man Roster
1/30/2012 15:32	Kip Peterson	LF	32	Free-Agent Signing
1/30/2012 14:21	Placido Ortiz	1B	35	Added to 40-Man Roster
1/30/2012 14:21	Lariel Nunez	SS	31	Added to 40-Man Roster
1/30/2012 11:59	Placido Ortiz	1B	35	Free-Agent Signing
1/30/2012 4:21	Lariel Nunez	SS	31	Free-Agent Signing
1/28/2012 9:49	Darrell Powell	1B	28	Contract Extension
1/28/2012 9:49	Hamish Gibbons	P	28	Arbitration Signing
1/28/2012 9:47	Ed Vernon	P	32	Contract Extension
1/12/2012 21:46	T.J. Madson	2B	26	Left via Free-Agency
1/12/2012 21:44	Danny Evers	P	29	Contract Renewal
1/12/2012 21:43	Hawk Barker	RF	38	Left via Free-Agency
1/12/2012 21:43	Luis Rivera	CF	36	Left via Free-Agency
1/12/2012 21:43	Pedro Borbon	P	37	Left via Free-Agency
1/12/2012 21:43	Harry Silva	SS	31	Left via Free-Agency
1/12/2012 21:43	Donaldo Palmeiro	LF	29	Left via Free-Agency
1/12/2012 21:43	Nash Riske	P	36	Contract Renewal
1/12/2012 21:43	Walt Toombs	P	34	Contract Renewal
1/12/2012 21:43	Ed Castellanos	C	33	Contract Renewal