“You gotta be here” – That is the 2008 marketing slogan for the Fl
orida Marlins. As much of a baseball fan that I am, there are only two reasons to go see the Marlins play, Hanley Ramirez, and the Manatees (the cheerleaders, while still somewhat intriguing, have grown old). The only time I have seen Dolphin Stadium filled to capacity for a baseball game was during the World Series in 1997 and 2003, and this years team has no chance of makeing it there. How did it get to the point where the only reason to go to the game is either to see the other team play for cheap, or to see a bunch of fat guys dress up and make fools of themselves?
It all boils down to two reasons:
-and-
2) Jeffrey 
Loria has no soul
This man is the perfect example of why teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Dodgers should not have to pay any luxury tax. He creates a team with an extremely low payroll, watches them lose, takes money from the other owners, and puts nothing back into the team. If this blue print is not followed, severe actions must be taken (for instance, firing Joe Girardi after winning manager of the year for taking a bad team and some how making it good).
While trading Miguel Cabrera this offseason definitely depleted the talent of the team, the most valuable asset they lost was Dontrelle Willis (yes, the pitching staff may be better, but he was the face of the franchise). Willis was the Marlins version of Torii Hunter, just a guy playing the game for fun, trying to win every time out there. What impressed me most about Willis was his participation in the community. Everyone in South Florida loves him. This was the best Marketing the Marlins could get. Not only were they deceiving the general public by depicting the Marlins, and in turn, their owner, as loving and caring, but it brought people out to the ballpark. Many? No, but enough.
Now that Dontrelle is gone, who’s to replace him? Jorge Cantu? Mike Jacobs? Luis Gonzalez? While they may bring more to the playing field, none offer a whacky pitching motion, which, sadly, is the most interesting part of watching Willis play.
What is there for the Marlins to market this year? Why should we, the consumer, have to there? Is it the fact that they will only enjoy a few more years leeching off Wayne Huizenga, or the fact that Alex Rodriguez makes more than the entire team? There is no reason for anyone to go and watch the Marlins play this year. Marketing for the Florida Marlins has to be one of the toughest jobs out there today.
