The Marlins are the model franchise!

I made this argument on EVHEI, and have been ripped off by the AJC AND ESPN's Joe Morgan. That's OK. Just as long as everyone knows that I started it on Ed Voyles Honda Extra Innings on Sports Radio 790 The ZONE!
The Florida Marlins organization, for as much grief as everyone gives them, is WITHOUT question the model franchise in baseball. The don't have the money the Yankees and RedSox have, but, if you look since 1919, the Marlins have JUST AS MANY World Series Championships as Boston and their championship percentage of times in the postseason that resulted in championships is WAY higher than the Yankees. Try 100%.
The Marlins when they started this THANG in the early 1990s decided to make a run at a title in 1997. They made the moves, used their depth to make trades and signed the right people and they claimed the title. Realizing that several players would bolt after the season, the team decided to fire sale most of the team's assets, but did so in such a way that they KNEW they would get the players back to make another run in a few years time.
They scouted and made the moves and eventually got back to the WS in 2003 where they beat the Yankees for the team's second title, more than the Braves have, more than the Phillies have, more than the Mets do in recent years. More than the Cubs. I could go on and on. Then they tried to keep the nucleus together for another run, even adding Carlos Delgado for the 2005 campaign, but soon realized a postseason berth was too far a reach. Once again a sale was had, but not as firesale as in 1997-98. This was on a smaller scale and the returns that they brought back moved their window up from 2009 to 2008 as a possible year to win it all. They are REALLY competing hard this season and if they continue to play well, could make the playoffs. Although 2009 is probably STILL the year they are targeting as Cameron Maybin will be ready to go next season.

If you were to say to me, a Braves fan, you will have a WS title every six years, and in between your team will be terrible, you you will CERTAINLY see signs of improving in year 4 and 5 before that title in the 6th year, would you take it, I WOULD SAY, "HECK YES!" The Marlins' scouting department takes players, uses them while they are GREAT and young, then flips them while their value is still through the roof for not just one or two parts that will be good and you have to trade them in 2 years, but for 4 or 5 parts that will be fantastic in 4 years. The law of averages tells you that of the 4 or 5 players you get, you may only get 2 or 3 GREAT ones, but I like those numbers better than only getting 1 or 2 players more "ready to play" and possibly both fizzling out. The Marlins are able to look into organizations real depths and see the true talent. That is why some teams are afraid to deal with them.

I realize that some people will say, "but the Braves won 14 straight division crowns," (heck I used to be one of them) but since 1997 when the Marlins won their first title, the Braves have been to one world series and were swept, while the Marlins have WON their second title, one more than the Braves. The post-season berths were nice, but never amounted to anything and the Braves currently seem to be idling in third place this season, and maybe next season too. The Marlins on the other hand, didn't make the playoffs the last two seasons like the Braves did not, but they appear poised to return to the WS next season while the Braves will be again in third or even fourth place in the division. The Marlins can go UP and DOWN, while the Braves appear to have plateaued with the team as it CURRENTLY stands.

Therefore I will take the Marlins and their system of keeping payroll down, keeping the kids out there and trading them off when they would make too much money. I like that way better than just outspending everyone because I like to root for the underdog or in this case, the Underfish.

Let's look at what the Marlins have done since December of 1996 to get where they are today....

They drafted Johan Santana Rule5 from Houston, but the general manager at the time traded him for NOTHING.

They traded a young Trevor Hoffman for Gary Sheffield because they had a guy named Robb Nen in the pen
already.

Had Kevin Brown and after he won them a title, flipped him for Derek Lee and AJ Burnette. Yeah. BOTH of those
guys.

Then after Lee won then a world championship, sent him to Cubs for a few players that would bring in a few
more....

Took a crap flash in the pan Matt Mantei and got Brad Penny and Abraham Nunez.

Got Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez +2 more for Beckett and Lowell (they wanted to give ANYONE Lowell
and couldn't have resigned Beckett.)

Replaced two-time WS winning 2B Luis Castillo with Dan Uggla via Rule5

Traded Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca fo Dontrelle Willis, Julian Tavarez +2

Cliff Floyd for Carl Pavano +5 others Preston Wilson (who they were going to lose) to Colorado for Juan Pierre and Hampton (for Spooneybarger) and Pierre was later flipped post-WS win for Sergio Mitre, Ricky Nolasco and Renyel Pinto

Then Carlos Delgado for Mike Jacobs +2, but they could have had Lastings Milledge.

FInally D-Will (couldn't resign after this season) and Cabrera (couldn't resign after this season) for OF
Stud Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo +3

These are just some of the moves. They also nabbed Paul Lo Duco from LA in essence for Brad Penny as he would command too much money
They shed Sheffield and a few others for Mike Piazza, then flipped Piazza when they couldn't resign him
The only thing the Marlins have done wrong IMO, is sometimes strengthen their division opponents, the Mets with Piazza, the Braves with Mike Hampton, etc.

But right now this team looks poised to make another two year run at a title. After that, Andrew Miller probably goes, some with Olson the closer, Dan Uggla, Jacobs, Willingham, and then down the line Maybin because after 2009, they have a title in 2015 to start thinking about....