Miami Marlins cannot hide behind glitz of their new ballpark - Part 1
Two back-to-back losses in the 2012 Major League Baseball regular season take discussion back to real evaluation of the Miami Marlins. Spending $191 million on three players during off-season purchases means unless vindication of the decision actually comes
about in the form of great season performance, lashing out at the management will be an obvious reality.
More than the home-run sculpture, swimming pool and retractable roof, it is their performance that can sustain their euphoria for longer period of time.
Clueless and tricked, hitters in the first game against St. Louis Cardinals disappointed the Marlins. Until Jose Reyes recorded his first hit in the seventh, Marlins’ offence was as bland as it had been without Reyes.
It seems amid excitement about the new ballpark, real issues were gone. For example talent in few areas was amassed but an idea of to what extent greatness of a player relates to the support he gets from other players was ignored.
Can Reyes draw maximum if he is to be handicapped by a dismal show from batters on the plate? Can he steal singles, something for which he boasts a tremendous career record, when hitters on the plate will only harden his quest for them?
Diversity in expertise is so important a component in success that overlooking it is akin to a disaster for few players who can otherwise stand out for the side.
Both Reyes and Hanley Ramirez are great at shortstop but since inclusion of Reyes has sent Ramirez to third base, it will potentially create a role conflict. This will equally demoralise Ramirez for having to fine tune his artillery from the start.
Moving on, no care was accorded as to who is going to generate hits for base-runners. Having Reyes for this was great, but job was done with him there alone? Are there no plan B if he has a rough day and who is to become the saviour then?
They had ample time in Spring Training and had even witnessed time and again as to how immensely they will suffer in the season if offence replicates the same show there.
Perhaps sell out stadiums they were sure to experience were enough for the club to go with in the season. After all, it is attendance that matters most to the club and thus the extra million dollars.
Fascination of retractable roof, swimming pool and other novel entertainment opportunities added to the ballpark has been intended to bring fans even when Marlins' performance will leave no reason for them to come there.
They were successful in achieving this in the first game as 36,601 fans thronged the stadium while they lost the game. Fans were overwhelmed with one of the rarest luxuries in Marlins they were able to experience and thus thoroughly missed an idea of where
their team stands in terms of other clubs.
They say fantasies are fads and moment they appear in reality is a moment they lose the charm. After a reasonable number of sell out stadiums, fans will start growing sick. Roof they draw so much pleasure from now will become just a matter of reality for
them. Air-conditioned atmosphere will no more be a dominant factor in their decision to watch the games there. Instead humiliation they fear their team will have in their home ground will discourage them.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Continued in Part 2
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