The way of the Marlins: It’s all or nothing
Just three days after social media had itself a laugh at pictures of an approximate 35,000 vacant seats at Marlins Park for a Wednesday matinee between the Marlins and the Phillies, Edinson Volquez went out and tossed the sixth no-hitter in franchise history.
Since the Marlins’ birth as an expansion team in 1993, no Major League franchise has thrown more no-hitters than Florida’s National League team.
Such is life around the Marlins.
Although this is a franchise bound in the negative, over their first 25 seasons, the Marlins have delivered goods many other franchises have not.
Yes, there are plenty of oddities when it comes to the Marlins.
Take, for instance, the no-hitters.
The Marlins, since Al Leiter threw the first one, have six of them. Cleveland, Baltimore, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Toronto all have no-hitters in their histories, yet none since the Charlie Hough threw his first knuckleball at Joe Robbie Stadium in 1993.
Marlins leading 10-2 in 9th. Looks like a lot of folks have left to beat the rush hour traffic. pic.twitter.com/WQfJejzaIA
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) May 31, 2017
Atlanta, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Texas, Colorado and Tampa Bay have just one during that span.
The San Diego Padres, who started up in 1969, have yet to throw one. The Mets didn’t get their first no-no until 2012.
The Marlins may not partake in the postseason all that much.
Yet when they do, they take it all.
In 24 seasons, the Marlins have been to the playoffs twice. Both times, the Marlins went in as a wild card.
Both times, the Marlins won the whole thing.
By winning the World Series in 1997 and 2003, the Marlins have the same amount of championships — overall — as the Mets, Royals and Blue Jays and one more than the Angels and Diamondbacks.
Six Major League teams have yet to win a championship including the Rays, Rockies (who came into the league with the Marlins in 1993), Astros, Brewers, Mariners and Nationals/Expos.
Since 1993, the Marlins have more championships than everyone but three teams: The Yankees, Giants and Red Sox.
As with the Marlins, St. Louis has won the World Series twice since 1993.
It has been a while since the Marlins have had the opportunity to play for a title.
The Marlins’ postseason drought is now at 13 seasons with it looking like it will be extended to 14.
Only Seattle has been out of the playoffs longer, the Mariners not advancing since losing to the Yankees in the 2001 ALCS.
MARLINS VS. BASEBALL SINCE 1993
NO HITTERS
6: Miami/Florida Marlins
5: San Francisco, Philadelphia (Roy Hallady had a perfect game against the Marlins in 2010)
4: Los Angeles Dodgers (Ramon Martinez no-hit the Marlins in 1995), Boston, New York Yankees, Seattle
3: Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Houston, Minnesota, Washington (Jordan Zimmermann no-hit the Marlins in 2014)
2: Cincinnati, Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis, Detroit, Arizona
1: Atlanta, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Texas, Colorado, Tampa Bay, New York Mets
0: Cleveland, Baltimore, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Toronto, San Diego*
(*) — The Padres have yet to throw a no-hitter in their franchise’s history
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS
5: New York Yankees
3: San Francisco, Boston
2: Florida Marlins, St. Louis
1: Chicago Cubs, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Chicago White Sox, Anaheim Angels, Arizona, Atlanta, Toronto
CURRENT POSTSASON DROUGHT
15 years: Seattle Mariners
13 years: Miami Marlins
10 years: San Diego Padres
This story was originally published June 5, 2017 at 11:46 AM with the headline "The way of the Marlins: It’s all or nothing."