I mean, they’re up 13 wins last season to end with a better record than the postseason-qualifying Dodgers. That direction?

Or do you mean how they’re developing prospects acquired from trading off their “stars,” just like the route taken that led to the 03 team?

I mean, in all honesty, I think adding payroll now is ridiculous. Marginal wins are worth more than their cost only when they push a team’s record from “average” to “contender” or “contender” to “favorite.” On the face of it, we fit the former situation; unfortunately, we play in a division comprised of three “contenders” already. That means you can either spend a ton and become a “favorite” or spend some but get even less for your money than the average team, in terms of playoff odds increase.

Now, the fact that payroll is so low makes the grand total to become a “favorite” a fairly reasonable number, in terms of baseball teams at least. That’s what gets people so upset, and I absolutely understand it. But I’ve come to terms with the fact that that simply won’t happen. So when presented with the options of spending not-enough-money and having a perennially average team that looks worse due to strength of division (a la the Orioles of the 2000s), or shedding payroll for prospects such that the team follows their development cycle and ranges from league-worst to championship-level, I’ll take the latter. And if you take the latter, you lose the position to get angry at the low ends, because you’ve bet on years like that paying off down the road.

Which comes around to your original question. Do I think this team is heading to a championship? Well, considering only 1 team can win in any year, presuming a championship is foolhardy. But do I think this team is heading towards being a championship contender? Yes, yes I do. Probably even moreso than the 03 team was. But that’s looking out to, say, 2012 or so. I think it’s absolutely possible that this organization will christen its new stadium with a championship season.

(…they better.)

The goal, of course, is to produce quality players for the team. But while there is always the direct route, it’s also possible to acquire quality players in exchange for prospects. Two ways to the same goal, neither decidedly better than the other.

So what does the farm system have to show for itself? Let’s go around the diamond, shall we?

Baker: acquired via trade for homegrown Jason Stokes. Point: farm system.
Cantu: acquired via free agency. Point, uh, cash.
Uggla: acquired via Rule 5 draft. Personally, considering Rule 5 is minors only, I’d call it farm. Take it how you wish.
Hanley: acquired via trade for homegrown Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, who himself was acquired via homegrown trade. Double point for the farm, and really this should just end the conversation when you consider the successes of the players involved.
Bonerface: he sucks, but technically he was acquired via trade for homegrown Scott Olsen and homegrown Josh Willingham. Point farm system (though it may be a negative point)
Hermida: homegrown. Point farm system.
Ross: acquired via cash. Point cash.
Coghlan: homegrown. Point farm system.

And then you look at guys likely to be starting next year like Gaby (homegrown) and Maybin (acquired via trade for homegrown Miggy and Dontrelle, himself acquired via trade for Rule 5 Alfonseca and Clement, himself acquired… well, you get the idea; point farm)

Rotation, well let’s see…

JJ: homegrown. Point farm system.
Volstad: homegrown. Point farm system.
Nolasco: acquired via trade for Juan Pierre, himself acquired for.. well, this one goes back even longer than the Detroit trade… but considering it involves the homegrown Charles Johnson not once, but twice (first to get Piazza and then later after rejoining the team to get Pierre] that’s big farm system points.
Anibal: acquired via the previously discussed Boston trade. Point farm system.
West: homegrown. Point farm system.
Miller: acquired via the previously discussed Detroit trade. Point farm system.

You want to go bullpen maybe?

Lindstrom: acquired via trade for homegrown duo Vargas and Bostick. Point farm system.
Nunez: acquired via trades that trace back to Delgado. Point cash.
K-Lero: free agency. Point cash.
Hopper: acquired via previously discussed Detroit trade. Point farm system.
Penn: acquired via trade for homegrown Andino. Point farm system.

I’m sure I’m forgetting people but I think you get my… well, point. Sure, guys you draft come from the farm system; but guys you trade your prospects for come because of the farm system. As in, if we didn’t have a killer farm system, we’d never have gotten Hanley or Maybin or Nolasco or, sadly, Bonerface. Those kinds of deals are every bit as much a success as turning draft picks into starters.

So yeah, guys will get dealt… but we get guys in return for them! That’s how trades work. And guess what? It’s those guys who are going to be on the World Series team. Honestly, do this kind of lineage on the 2003 team. You get fewer farm system points, but that’s because of Huizenga buying everybody in the 90s. But it’s those guys who got traded off at the turn of the century who make up the 03 team.

I know it’s great to have guys who stick around for a long time… but let’s be honest: lifers do not exist anymore. It’s time we stop pretending they do. Everybody leaves some time. If you want to grow attached to guys, do what I do and follow the minor leaguers. I’ve said this before but honestly: what’s the difference between following a guy for six years from call-up to free agency, and following a guy for six years from rookie ball to arbitration? Hell, they’re more accessible, more down to earth, and you get to watch them for a lot less (well, when they’re in Jupiter at least). Just like with the farm system: just because we take a different route doesn’t mean we don’t get to the same end.

I think it was Scott Olsen who once said, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I… I took the ‘one less traveled’ by – And that has made all the difference.”

I think I’ve made that point about three times now. That you continue to either ignore it fail to understand it is no longer of my concern.

And yes, this is exactly how it was done before, only with more high quality guys to join the final push than just Miggy and Dontrelle.

But yes, as long as Loria is here, the NL East only has three franchises in it. That’s why at this time last year, the Loria Era Marlins were the only current ownership situation in the division with a World Series.

But hey, I’ll make you a deal. How about you put your money where your mouth is, so to speak, and cut ties with the Loria Marlins. I mean, you say they’re not even a franchise, so what do you care? And then, if there’s another Loria-owned World Series, we never have to hear from you again; but if he leaves without winning another, you can come back and I’ll leave.

The way I look at it, this place is titled “FishStripes: A Florida Marlins fan blog.” Everybody gets mad at how things are going or being run from time to time, but for as long as you think this team is hopeless and not even worthy of being called a franchise, you give up your status as a fan. Obviously I don’t run this place, and even if I did, I couldn’t actually enforce any of this, so you’re free to do whatever you want. I’m just saying, from the other side of the screen, this petulance is as boring as it is ill-founded.