It's almost the end of February. To the general American public it signifies the end of winter and coming spring.
To American sports fans it signifies the coming of MLB spring training camps and a new baseball season.
Normally a new baseball season is met with expected story lines and almost the same expected World Series contenders every year. This upcoming baseball season however is being met with unusual anticipation thanks in part to the wild off season that preceded it.
The big spenders this time around weren't named the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. This time around they were the Miami Marlins.
Yup, the Miami Marlins. A team that had to be forced to spend more by both the league and the MLB Players Union a couple of years ago has suddenly become the man with the big wallet in the hall. It's astounding to think of this happening as an outsider, it's even more the case if one is Marlins fan.
As insane as it sounds, that's where the Marlins are standing right now. With a new stadium (whose business arangement is being investigated by the federal government) opening and a new cast of characters in manager Ozzie Guillen, pitchers Heath Bell, Mark Buehrle, and Carloz Zambrano along with shortstop Jose Reyes joining the team the Marlins have completely remade their image within a few months.
Not only have Marlins been capable of this makeover so quickly, they have had their hand in a couple of othe big off season moves.
They were most likely a no-trade clause away from landing the crown jewel of the free agent class in first baseman Albert Pujols along with pitcher C.J. Wilson before losing both to the Los Angeles Angels. They were heavily recruitng defected Cuban player Yoenis Cespedes before he decided to sign with the Oakland Athletics.
These moves alone would have made this off season interesting. It wasn't the only major move done though.
There was first baseman Prince Fielder's sudden signing with the Detroit Tigers.
There was Texas Rangers' winning the bidding to land Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish.
There was Boston Red Sox president Theo Epstein essentially trading himself to the Chicago Cubs to do the same job there. The Red Sox also hired manager Bobby Valentine to replace Terry Francona.
Even today the Athletics signed outfielder Manny Ramirez to a one-year contract despite him having to serve a 50-game suspension for voilating the MLB drug policy first.
These happenings along with the possibility of a new playoff format in which two Wild Card teams would have a play-in game being implemented this season have made this season one to look forward to.
Even with all this happening the main story will be the Marlins. The league thinks that enough to feature them on the Showtime cable network and for them to be the home team on THE Opening Day game against the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals to start the season. They aren't just the headliners in a slew of Opening Day games in one day, the stage is theirs alone.
What this does also is to make the National League East arguably the toughest division in the MLB. These new look Marlins along with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves, and the Washington Nationals have made the NL East into a division with four legitimate contenders (sorry New York Mets.) It won't all be sunshine though.
Much like the Miami Heat after their 2010 off season coup, there will be as much scrutiny as there is hype surounding the Marlins. There will be questions as to whether franchise player Hanley Ramirez truly accepts his expected move to third base to facilitate Reyes. There will be eyes watching to see if a clubhouse filled with lively characters like Bell, Guillen, Zambrano, and outfielder Logan Morrison will be able to coexist. The team will be battling a history of lowly fan attendance and of holding fire sales after quick success. They will also be battling the noteriety of a federal investigation and of their owner Jeffrey Loria (just ask the city of Montreal.)
While the Marlins will be the new belle of the ball this season, they will be the other new beauties there as well.
That alone makes this season worth watching.
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