FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Far be it from me to criticize a franchise that has won more World Series' than any team in baseball aside from the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox since its inception in 1993.  However it is absurd to me as to why the Florida Marlins still exist.

Granted like I said they have won two championships (1997, 2003) and seem to have an excellent grasp on scouting and developing their own talent as well as that of the rest of baseball.  But honestly when is enough, enough with this franchise?  In a sport where over the last four years attendance records and revenue streams are off the charts, this team still can't seem to get its head on straight.  I'd rip into the sorry fan base, but I can absolutely understand their genuine apathy.

Everyone knows the deal with them, spend, win, break up team and deal for prospects... and lather rinse repeat as needed.  Ask Joe Girardi what a joke this franchise is, he came in with the expectation of having at least a competitive club in 2006 and then they deal off the likes of Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Carlos Delgado.  Ask the fan base how they felt after the team axed Girardi after overachieveing with that team. 

It is just astonishing to me how a team that only has a $15-20 million payroll then feels the need to slash it further by dealing its best two players in Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.  Yes the Detroit Tigers did give up some very valuable prospects in this transaction, both in quantity and mainly in starter Andrew Miller and outfielder Cameron Maybin whom the Marlins may be able to build around to make a run with a young team in the future as they did back in 2003.  However this deal for the Tigers (and excuse the phrase) might look like the Red Sox Beckett and Lowell deal on "steroids." 

This is clearly an excellent move for the Tigers and it'll be great to see Cabrera and Willis hopefully flourish even more in an atmosphere of winning and a city that cares very passionately about its baseball.  If nothing else this deal will certainly make up for Jimmy Leyland sticking around out of the kindness of his heart to manage the 1998 Marlins.

But I can't help but look at the Florida Marlins today without turning to MLB and asking where exactly does this end?  Why is this team allowed to perpetually do this and continuously operate some semblance of a major league club?  When does the commissioner's office lower an ultimatum that says, "get a new stadium, move your team or else we will come in an cease and suspend operations."  The Marlins aren't the only culprit of this in baseball or an over-expanded sports landscape in all of the "four-major" professional leagues, but it has already reached the point of being beyond ridiculous with this club.

Besides didn't some owner named Walter O'Malley just get voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame for moving the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles exactly 50 years ago?  Just a thought.