‘Bottom feeders’ still unfazed
One of league’s worst in 2019, Miami silencing naysayers this year
The Miami Marlins have been the biggest surprise of the postseason so far.
They say they aren’t done, either.
In the playoffs for the first time since 2003, the Marlins swept the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card round and open their best-of-five series against NL East rival Atlanta on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park.
“We fully understand how good they are, and we have respect for them,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “But we think we can beat anybody, quite honestly. … We’re as good as anybody.”
The Marlins, losers of 105 games in 2019, have brought a youthful exuberance to the playoffs that has both surprised and delighted people around the league.
Even Braves star first baseman Freddie Freeman has enjoyed watching the Marlins rise from one of the league’s worst teams over the past few years to one of the last eight standing this season.
“I just see a passion and them having a joy for the game and things get crazy,” Freeman said. “People are hitting homers. People are throwing 100. You never know what’s going to happen. No one’s surprised to see those Marlins on the other side.”
The Marlins have fully embraced their underdog role and even had T-shirts made with the words “Bottom Feeders” after Phillies broadcaster Ricky Bottalico called them that early this season.
“He fired up the wrong people I’ll tell you that and we’re going to run with that,” Miami rookie outfielder Monte Harrison said. “So, if youwant to talk trashonus, talk trashonus. It’s perfectly fine. The Cubs did the exact same thing, look at where we at now.”
The Marlins are a perfect 7-0 in postseason series and won the World Series in 1997 and 2003.
While the Marlins have exceeded expectations, the Braves are trying to live up to theirs. Winners of the NL East, Atlanta ended a streak of 10 consecutive losses in postseason rounds by shutting out the Reds in a two-game sweep in the wild card round for their first playoff series win since 2001.
The Braves also won their division in 2018 and 2019 before falling in the NLDS.
“We want to move on past the NLDS,” Freeman said. “We won a series but it’s still just the Division Series. So, we’ve got somework to do. And we have chips on our shoulders from the last couple of years.”
Atlanta is looking for a big series from Freeman this year after he was hampered by a nagging elbow injury in the playoffs in 2019.
“He was hurt, there’s no doubt about it,” manager Brian Snitker said. “That guy laid it out there for us. I know it wasn’t fun for him. It was bothering him.”
He’s healthy now despite getting a slow start to the season after a bout with COVID-19. He’s an NL MVP candidate after hitting .341 with 13 homers, 53 RBIs and a NL-leading 23 doubles.
He’s also invaluable to the team as one of its veteran leaders in his 11th season with the Braves.
“He is some kind of special for all of us,” Snitker said. “Probably me more than most.”