One Marlin's Star Does Not A Championship Make

I love Bleacher Report. Have I ever told you that?

But this story, while fair in regards to just how good Caleb Smith is, is just off base for one simple reason. 1 player does not make a championship. And the Marlins and Derek Jeter are just not there yet. In fact, let’s face it… they’ll never be there.

BR has a good story about Jeter and how the Marlins got Caleb Smith from the Yankees and all of that.  Here’s some of that:

“In November 2017, the Marlins acquired Smith, along with first baseman Garrett Cooper, from the Yankees for right-hander Michael King and $250,000 in international bonus-pool money.

King has yet to make his MLB debut or throw an inning in 2019 after he suffered a stress reaction in his throwing elbow prior to spring training.

Smith, meanwhile, owns a 2.11 ERA, a ludicrous 0.89 WHIP and has averaged 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings for the Marlins.

It’s only May, but the 27-year-old is building an NL Cy Young case.”

And that’s all fine and good… but what does that mean for the Marlins team itself? I mean, the whole reason why Jeter wanted this team was so he can make some big changes and bring the team a championship. But since taken over, he’s managed to release any iconic management or front office name, sell off their top stars to just shine elsewhere… um Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton to name a few… and look at the standings…

So yeah BR, say that Derek Jeter fleeced the Yankees when they got Smith all you want. Isn’t the whole idea of getting good players is so you can win? They’re not winning.  Hell, I was at Marlin’s Park when I was in Miami a few weeks ago. There were more Cubs fans than Marlins fans. They play like a Triple A team. There’s no life.

There’s actually no reason to go there. I walked up to the ticket office and spent 20 bucks on good seats. They are hemorrhaging money and there isn’t 1 solid star to root for. It was embarrassing.

Look, I come off harsh here. Smith is good, there’s no question. But it doesn’t matter. If the Marlins can’t win, no one cares about Caleb Smith. No one… except for Smith himself, Smith’s mom and Bleacher Report.