2003 Florida Marlins season

The Florida Marlins' 2003 season was the 11th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in the National League. The Marlins were the National League Wild Card Winners, the National League Champions, and the World Series Champions. They defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series in six games to win their second World Series championship. The Marlins became just the second team in baseball history to win a World Series championship despite being 10 or more games below .500 (as low as 19-29) at some point in the season; the other team was the 1914 Boston Braves.

2003 Florida Marlins
World Series Champions
National League Champions
National League Wild Card
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record91–71 (.562)
Divisional place2nd
Other information
Owner(s)Jeffrey Loria
General manager(s)Larry Beinfest
Manager(s)Jeff Torborg, Jack McKeon
Local televisionFSN Florida
WPXM
(Len Kasper, Tommy Hutton)
Local radioWQAM
(Dave Van Horne, Jon Sciambi)
WQBA (Spanish)
(Felo Ramírez, Luis Quintana)
< Previous season     Next season >

The Marlins would not return to the postseason until 2020.

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

National League East
NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
Atlanta Braves 10161 0.623 — 55–26 46–35
Florida Marlins 9171 0.562 10 53–28 38–43
Philadelphia Phillies 8676 0.531 15 49–32 37–44
Montreal Expos 8379 0.512 18 52–29 31–50
New York Mets 6695 0.410 34½ 34–46 32–49

Record vs. opponents
2003 National League Records

Source:
Team ARI ATL CHC CIN COL FLA HOU LAD MIL MON NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL AL
Arizona—2–52–47–210–92–55–110–93–34–24–24–23–39–105–143–311–4
Atlanta5–2—4–23–36–09–105–14–24–212–711–89–107–26–12–44–210–5
Chicago4–22–4—10–73–34–29–72–410–63–35–11–510–84–24–28–99–9
Cincinnati2–73–37–10—4–22–45–122–48–102–42–45–45–113–33–39–77-5
Colorado 9–100–63–32–4—4–22–47–125–13–42–52–43–612–77–124–29–6
Florida5–210–92–44–22–4—1–52–57–213–612–713–62–45–11–53–39–6
Houston1–51–57–912–54–25-1—4–29–83–32–42–410–63–32–411–711–7
Los Angeles 9–102–44–24–212–75–22–4—4–24–23–32–55–18–116–134–211–7
Milwaukee3–32–46–1010–81–52–78–92–4—0–66–34–210–75–11–53–135–7
Montreal2–47–123–34–24–36-133–32–46–0—14–58–113–34–27–01–59–9
New York2–48–111–54–25–27–124–23–33–65–14—7–124–23–34–21–55–10
Philadelphia2-410–95–14–54–26–134–25–22–411–812–7—2–44–33–34–28–7
Pittsburgh3–32–78–1011–56–34–26–101–57–103–32–44–2—4–22–47–105–7
San Diego10–91–62–43–37–121–53–311–81–52–43–33–42–4—5–142–48–10
San Francisco14–54–22–43–312–75–14–213–65–10–72–43–34–214–5—5–110–8
St. Louis3–32–49–87–92–43-37–112–413–35–15–12–410–74–21–5—10–8

Game log
Legend
Marlins Win Marlins Loss Game Postponed
2003 Game Log (91–71)

Postseason Game Log
Legend
Marlins Win Marlins Loss Game Postponed
2003 Postseason Game Log (11–6)

Sluggish start

Jeff Torborg, the manager at the start of the season, led the team to a 16-22 start. 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 72-year-old who began his major league managerial career in 1973 with the Kansas City Royals.

Midseason acquisitions

Roster
2003 Florida Marlins
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

  • 68 Donnie Rutledge
 Outfielders

Other batters

 Manager

Coaches

Player stats
= Indicates team leader

Starters by position

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

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
CIván Rodríguez144511152.2971685
1BDerrek Lee155539146.2713192
2BLuis Castillo152595187.314639
3BMike Lowell130492136.27632105
SSÁlex González150528135.2561877
LFTodd Hollandsworth9322858.254320
CFJuan Pierre162668204.305141
RFJuan Encarnación156601162.2701994

[11]

Other batters

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

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Miguel Cabrera8731484.2681262
Brian Banks9214935.235423
Mike Redmond5912530.240011
Andy Fox7010821.19408
Mike Mordecai658919.21328
Jeff Conine258420.238515
Ramón Castro405315.28358
Gerald Williams27314.12903
Chad Allen12245.20800
Lenny Harris13144.28601

[11]

Pitching
= Indicates team leader

Starting pitchers

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

Player G GS IP W L ERA SO
Carl Pavano3332201.012134.30133
Brad Penny3232196.114104.13138
Mark Redman2929190.21493.59151
Dontrelle Willis2727160.21463.30142
Josh Beckett2423142.0983.04152
A.J. Burnett4423024.7021
Justin Wayne225.10211.811

Other pitchers

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Michael Tejera5081344.6758
Tommy Phelps2763324.0043

Relief pitchers

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

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Braden Looper7464283.6856
Armando Almanza514506.0849
Tim Spooneybarger331204.0732
Ugueth Urbina333061.4137
Nate Bump324004.7117
Chad Fox212102.1327
Allen Levrault191003.8621
Blaine Neal180008.1410
Vladimir Núñez1403016.0310
Rick Helling111000.5512
Juan Alvarez90003.096
Kevin Olsen700012.7512
Toby Borland70001.864

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
Main article: 2003 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 Rodríguez 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
Main article: 2003 National League Championship Series

The 2003 National League Championship Series is arguably one of the most famous (or infamous) 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
Main article: 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 because there had not been a World Series played in what would have been its second year (1904), and the cancellation of all post-season play as a result of the strike in 1994, it was only the 99th World 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 stunned the Yankees, shocked New York, and this improbable team, improbable ride, they end up on top, winning in 6 games over the Yankees.

— Joe Buck, FOX Sports

Farm system
See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Albuquerque Isotopes Pacific Coast League Dean Treanor
AA Carolina Mudcats Southern League Tracy Woodson
A Jupiter Hammerheads Florida State League Luis Dorante
A Greensboro Bats South Atlantic League Steve Phillips
A-Short Season Jamestown Jammers New York–Penn League Benny Castillo
Rookie GCL Marlins Gulf Coast League Tim Cossins

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Carolina[12]

References
  1. "www.baseball-reference.com/j/johnsch04.shtml". Archived from the original on July 10, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
  2. "Matt Treanor Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Todd Hollandsworth Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "www.baseball-reference.com/r/rodriiv01.shtml". Archived from the original on July 1, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  5. "www.baseball-reference.com/m/martial03.shtml". Archived from the original on July 7, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  6. "Kevin Millar Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. Inc., Baseball Almanac. "2003 Florida Marlins Roster by Baseball Almanac". baseball-almanac.com.
  8. "The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Transactions: Florida Marlins Transactions". Retrieved December 6, 2006.
  9. "The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Transactions: Major League Baseball Transactions". Retrieved December 6, 2006.
  10. "Aaron Small Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. 2003 Florida Marlins Statistics and Roster Archived February 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Baseball-Reference.com
  12. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
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