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Miami Herald

Sport

Greg Cote

Greg Cote: Miami Marlins season was a miracle, but the way it ended is lesson in work still ahead

Atlanta Braves' Travis d'Arnaud hits a two-RBI double to take a 3-0 lead over the Miami Marlins during the third inning in Game 3 of a National League Division Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

What ended for the Miami Marlins on Thursday was an unexpected delight, an exhilarating ride. Out of nowhere, a team makes the playoffs after losing 105 games the year before? After starting this season with half the roster quarantined with COVID? No way.

The self-described "Miami Bottom-Feeders" were a feel-good surprise for the ages, fashioning one of the most remarkable, memorable seasons in South Florida sports history.

But the way that season ended this week?

Atlanta Braves' Freedie Freeman (left) and Marcell Ozuna score on a RBI-double by Travis d'Arnaud for a 3-0 lead over the Miami Marlins during the third inning in Game 3 of a National League Division Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Maybe that was a good thing. Needed.

Losing three National League Division Series games in a row to be swept by the Atlanta Braves _ 9-5, 2-0 and then 7-0 on Thursday _ was a slap of reality (as well as this franchise's first time ousted in eight all-time playoff series).

It fairly shouted the reminder that, while this was a season of notable progress that inspires hope for Marlins fans, the ground-up rebuilding of this franchise is a work in progress, the construction not finished.

Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna hits a RBI-single to score Ronald Acuna for a 1-0 lead over the Miami Marlins during the third inning in Game 3 of a National League Division Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

The season introduced the arrival of these Marlins as competitive.

Then the Braves reminded anybody watching of the difference between competing and contending.

Miami didn't get swept because Sandy Alcantara hit Ronald Acuna Jr. with a pitch in Game 1 to rile up the Braves.

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna scores from first on a double by Freddie Freeman for a 5-0 lead over the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning in Game 3 of a National League Division Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Miami got swept because Atlanta is clearly better, mostly at bat but pretty much everywhere.

No excuses, Miami had the three starting pitchers it wanted in the NLDS, with Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and then Sixto Sanchez. It wasn't enough. Not nearly.

The Braves' power-laden lineup was too much. (And underlining Miami's work left to do, of course, is that Atlanta happens to be an NL East divisionmate, meaning this nemesis will be a roadblock until the Fish find a way around that).

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright delivers against the Miami Marlins during the first inning in Game 3 of a National League Division Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Thursday, Sanchez was not sharp and lasted only three innings, tied for his shortest outing of this late-starting, coronavirus-shortened MLB season. He gave up four hits, four runs and walked three.

A four-run third inning powered by Marcell Ozuna's RBI single and Travis d'Arnaud's two-run double chased Sanchez and was the only support Braves starter Kyle Wright would require.

What really stood out, though, was Miami's modest lineup in terms of offense, especially relative to the Braves' mighty batting order.

Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies goes into home past Miami Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro for a 6-0 lead on a Dansby Swanson RBI-single during the fifth inning in Game 3 of a National League Division Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

I love that the Fish are stockpiling strong young arms as a blueprint, but more and bigger bats will be needed moving forward. It should be an offseason emphasis, a priority in free agency. It will take spending, an increased payroll, to help make that leap from competitive to contending.

Thursday's second straight shutout loss saw Marlins batters 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position, leaving seven men on base. That included leaving the bases loaded in the third inning when second baseman Jazz Chisholm grounded out. (I hesitate second-guessing a manager's decision, but, given the 4-0 hole in a literal must-win game, I wonder if Don Mattingly _ who should win manager of the year _ might have pinch-hit for Chisholm, a rookie making his first postseason appearance, one who'd hit .161 in limited action during the season).

So much about this season felt like a watershed for this Marlins club.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sixto Sanchez watches as Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud hits a two-RBI double to take a 3-0 lead during Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

The first playoff berth in 17 years.

The first winning season record since 2009.

Let's be real, too though.

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker tips his cap, celebrating with his team as they advance to the NL Championship Series by defeating the Marlins 7-0 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. The Braves completed their second consecutive postseason series sweep. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

The final won-lost record, including postseason, was 33-32. That's a pretty good team, not a great one. And there is little question the much-shortened season and expanded playoffs aided in the Marlins getting this far.

Having said that, going from a 105-loss season in 2019 to the second round of the playoffs in 2020 is its own miracle, no equivocation or asterisk required.

This was the third year of the Derek Jeter era, the major rebuild. It is ahead of schedule. Jeter wanted to install a change in culture. This season makes that seem palpable.