Mets flatten Marlins 13-0 in what sure appears to be a sign of things to come

SCOTT JACOBS

The average player in Major League Baseball makes $3 million. Alex Rodriguez makes close to $30 million. Supposedly, the Marlins rake in between $30 million to $60 million in revenue sharing. Their highest paid player is future Hall of Famer Kevin Gregg. You know, the closer. He makes $2.5 million. He’s never made an All Star team. He did however lead all full-time closers in walks last year. So, Florida’s highest paid player walked 40 guys in 84 innings pitched? So what! It’s not like he’s getting paid good money. In fact, no one on the Marlins is. And that’s the problem. Actually, it’s a real big problem.

With Florida’s payroll projected at a whopping $21 million this year, it’s a crime they’re allowed to play on the same ball field as other Major League teams. Even Tampa Bay puts up a payroll nearly twice as high.

Florida’s future pitching star (or what they hope to be, a great trade chip so they can bring in a really good prospect to open their new ballpark which they don’t deserve in 2011) Andrew Miller was terrible on the mound against the Mets. Five runs, eight hits, in 4 1/3 innings. Ouch. Now granted, the Mets are a very good offensive team. But 13-0?

When the biggest name on your roster not named Hanley Ramirez is 143 year old ex-Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez, and he’s willing to fade into oblivion on a horrible team instead of retire, you know the situation is bad. And that he should have retired.

So tonight’s 13-0 pasting was just a sign of things to come.

And if you’re keeping score at home, this is Florida’s starting rotation:

1. LH Mark Hendrickson
2. RH Rick Vandenhurk
3. LH Andrew Miller
4. LH Scott Olsen
5. RH Ricky Nolasco

A few years ago the Marlins sent out stud pitchers Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis and Brad Penny to the hill every fifth day. Once upon a time they had the most potent infield defensively in baseball in Alex Gonzalez and Luis Castillo. Florida used to have Mike Lowell manning third base. Now, Jorge Cantu is the man.You know what, you be the judge: this was Florida’s projected starting lineup by SI at the beginning of the year:

1. SS Hanley Ramirez
2. 2B Dan Uggla
3. RF Jeremy Hermedia
4. LF Josh Willingham
5. 1B Mike Jacobs
6. 3B Jorge Cantu
7. C Matt Treanor
8. CF Cody Ross

By the end of the year, one can only wonder if Florida’s 25 man roster chalk full of players who have no right being in the show, make up the worst baseball team ever assembled. Then again, they’ve got that 1998 Marlins team to catch first. But hey, at least when you head over to 1/900th full Dolphin Stadium you can watch the Marlins’ new gimmick: the manatees (Florida’s fat man dance team).

Yeesh, if you want to really care about this team you might want to start drinking now. Because this is going to be a long year in a quiet South Florida ball park. Can’t wait for 2011, when the team with two titles and no fan base gets their new stadium.

But feel free to continue cutting costs Florida. It’s not like anyone’s noticing.

As for the humiliation part, does that even mean anything to you anymore? No? I didn’t think so.

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