2003 Florida Marlins season

The 2003 Florida Marlins season was a season in American baseball. The Marlins were the National League Wild Card Winners, the National League Champions, and the World Series Champions.

Offseason

The Marlins pulled off some blockbuster deals during the 2003 off season, the most impressive being that of 10-time Gold Glove winning catcher Iván Rodríguez. They also traded catcher Charles Johnson and outfielder Preston Wilson to the Colorado Rockies for lead-off man Juan Pierre.

• November 16, 2002: Charles Johnson was traded by the Florida Marlins with Vic Darensbourg, Pablo Ozuna, and Preston Wilson to the Colorado Rockies for Juan Pierre, Mike Hampton, and cash (shortly thereafter, Mike Hampton was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Tim Spooneybarger).^[1]
• November 12, 2002: Matt Treanor signed as a Free Agent with the Florida Marlins.^[2]
• January 8, 2003: Todd Hollandsworth signed as a Free Agent with the Florida Marlins.^[3]
• January 28, 2003: Iván Rodríguez signed as a Free Agent with the Florida Marlins.^[4]
• February 13, 2003: Al Martin signed as a Free Agent with the Florida Marlins.^[5]
• February 15, 2003: Kevin Millar was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Florida Marlins.^[6]
• March 28, 2003: Al Martin was released by the Florida Marlins.^[5]

Regular season

Opening Day starters

• Josh Beckett
• Luis Castillo
• Juan Encarnacion
• Álex González
• Todd Hollandsworth
• Derrek Lee
• Mike Lowell
• Juan Pierre
• Ivan Rodriguez^[7]

Season standings

Sluggish start

Jeff Torborg, the manager at the start of the season, lead the team to a 16-22 start, one of the worst in the league. Adding to that, their three top pitchers A.J. Burnett, Josh Beckett and Mark Redman, had each endured injuries that season, but Beckett and Redman were able to return to finish the rest of 2003. On May 11, Torborg was fired and replaced with Jack McKeon, a fiery, 72 year old who began his managerial career in 1973 with the Kansas City Royals.

Midseason acquisitions

• Miguel Cabrera - 3B → called up from the AA Carolina Mudcats
• Jeff Conine - 1B → acquired from Baltimore in exchange for two minor league players.^[8]
• Dontrelle Willis - LHP → called up from Mudcats.
• Ugueth Urbina - RHP → acquired from Texas in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez and two other minor league players.^[9]
• April 30, 2003: Aaron Small was signed as a Free Agent with the Florida Marlins.^[10]

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

^[11]

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

^[11]

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Postseason

With a 4-3 win over the New York Mets on September 26, the Marlins clinched their second wildcard in team history, and finishing with an overall record of 91-71.

National League Division Series

The Marlins won the Division Series over the heavily favored defending National League champion San Francisco Giants. The series ended with a play at the plate with catcher Iván Rodríguez prevailing over Giants first baseman J.T. Snow. Coupled with a perfect throw from Conine and an amazing catch from Rodríguez, Snow was attempting to score by using a football type bulldozing move, but Ivan held on and the Marlins won, marking the first time that a post-season series ended with the potential tying run being thrown out at home plate.

NLCS

The 2003 National League Championship Series is arguably the most famous (or infamous, depending on whom you ask) post-season series in MLB history. On one side, the Florida Marlins, the miracle who, just a few months before, were at the cellar of the NL. On the other side, the Chicago Cubs, the "lovable losers", who, for the first time in a long time, were so close to victory. The Cubs jumped to a quick 3 games to 1 lead including 2 out of the 3 games in Miami, and were the sure favorites to take the series when it shifted back to Chicago. In Game five, an absolutely stellar performance by Josh Beckett brought the series back to Chicago, back to Wrigley Field, where the home team has always had the advantage. With the Cubs needing to win only one game, and having studs Mark Prior and Kerry Wood on the hill those two games, most people thought the Marlins hope was over. In Game Six, the Cubs enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 lead with one out in the 8th Inning, when it all fell apart , and the Marlins went on to win the game, tying the series. This was the game of the Steve Bartman incident. In Game Seven, Brad Penny drove it home for the fish, clinching their second pennant in 6 years.

2003 World Series

In the World Series, the underdog Marlins prevailed over the Yankees, 4 games to 2. This world series marked the 100th anniversary of the annual event, although due to the strike year of 1994, it was the 99th series played. Josh Beckett was named the World Series MVP.

Quote

Trying to win it all again. Posada, slow roller, right side. Beckett picks it up, tags Posada, and the Florida Marlins are World Champions. The Marlins have shocked the Yankees. Stunned New York. And this improbable team, improbable ride. They end up on top.

—Joe Buck, FOX Sports

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Carolina^[12]

References

External links

• 2003 Florida Marlins team page at www.baseball-almanac.com
• Florida Marlins on Baseball Almanac
• Florida Marlins on Baseball Reference