Do not flame me, but I believe Marlins will win the series--here's why!

[joeybee12]

I now only have a passing interest in the game since the Red Sox are out, but I believe the Marlins will win.

I am not looking at statistics, nor am I looking at pitching line-ups, etc.

It is because I was in Europe during the first few games of the play-offs, and lousy CNN Europe ONLY showed one clip from American sports for a few days, and it was the final out of the Marlins-SF series when SF tried to score in the bottom of the ninth. Incredible throw, and incredible play.

I started thinking there was something in the air that meant it was their year.

[soleft]

1. How much advantage do NL teams have at home

with their pitchers being used to hitting and AL pitchers looking like spazzes?

[joeybee12]

2. Probably not much, especially since there are 4 games in NY this time

But that's my opinion--anyone think otherwise???????

[soleft]

3. didn't help Atlanta in 96

but was it supposed to?

[joeybee12]

4. The stupid announcers and sportswriters ALWAYS talk about this

difference, but I've never seen any stats to show that the NL pitchers have added anything, or that the AL pitchers have blown something.

[sleipnir]

5. Florida in 6

I called it at the beginning.

Florida in 6....

They have the better team, they don't "expect" to win, they're scrappy (which I love) the have the BEST manager alive in baseball, I've said it all season, don't count out the Marlins, they come back with a drop of a hat. OH and Ivan Rodrigiuez, enough said, his arm is too much of a presence, he killed the Yanks last night with that amazing pick off on third.

Florida can't match NYY on status players, but they've got the underdog spirit and they've rolled each team they've met. They annihalited Chicago, when the Cubs should have finished them off after the 3-1 set. Of course, SF was the biggest challenge, Chicago just got really lucky to make it that far, sorry but true..

Watch for Florida to stick it to NY tonight, Pettit is too tired, he'll collapse in probably the 5-7th and Florida will pounce with a multi-run inning that breaks NY's back.

Mark my words, Florida in 6

[joeybee12]

7. Didn't they have the second best record, even though they were the...

...wild card?

Thought I heard that?

But I also believe there's a certain something--spark, if you will--that you can see in teams that win it all. I just think the Marlins have it right now.

[soleft]

6. Did I see Pudge kiss Urbina last night at the end of the game?

Has that been discussed here?

[sleipnir]

8. Yep,

It was one of those "European" sorta kiss on the side of the mouth. He didn't land a smacker on his lips, but it was interesting how quickly the cameras cut to something different....

[soupkitchen]

9. I did notice it

Knew it was a cultural kiss. But thought it would get more attention. First man to man kiss in professional sports I've ever seen.

[trumad]

10. I thought it was great

Hispanic as hell.... Oh but I'm sure the homophobes were having a field day!

[joeybee12]

11. Well, it was Fox--suprised they didn't shoot the guys after that!

We are sooooooooooooooo unenlightened!