Entering this current series, the Mets hold an edge over the Marlins, with an all-time record of 209-189. However, you probably would not have guessed that given how much of a pain in the ass this young organization has been for us since they were born in 1993.
Back in their inaugural season, the Mets took the season series handily, 9-4. However, the Marlins won the season series in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Dave Milicki and Pete Harnisch were no match for the likes of Jeff Conine. The Mets then flipped the script and won the next three season series from 1997 through 1999 before splitting in 2000. And that would be the last season in which the two division rivals would only square off 12 times per year. Beginning in 2001 with schedule reconfiguration, the Mets and Marlins would begin matching up 18 or 19 times per season for a more compelling rivalry.
The Mets took the season series in 2001 and 2002 before going 7-12 vs. Miami in 2003, thanks in part to two losses coughed up by Armando Benitez. In 2004, the Marlins feasted on the Mets, taking 15 of 19 games. Led by Pedro Martinez allowing just 2 runs in 3 starts, the Mets took the 2005 series. They also took the 2006 series, but then again, we beat up on everybody that year.
In 2007 and 2008, despite winning the season series, the Mets got the short end of the stick, getting eliminated by the Marlins on the last day of the season and in their last game at Shea Stadium. This is really the source of the bad Marlin taste in our mouths. That the Marlins beat the snot out of us in 2009 and 2010 didn’t help matters, but then we split in 2011. In 2012, thanks mainly to R.A. Dickey, we owned the Marlins, but they bounced back and handed us our hats in 2013. We took the season series each of the last three years, but not without a few heartbreakers, like several walk-off Mets losses in 2014, an extra innings soul crusher in 2015, and a 1-0 loss to ruin Matt Harvey‘s best start of 2016.
This year’s edition of the Marlins doesn’t appear to have the pitching to compete for a playoff spot, but their lineup is one of the strongest, top to bottom, in the National League. It’s balanced, features power, speed and smart veterans who can give Mets’ pitchers fits. Shutting this team out is virtually impossible. Like last night’s game, there are going to be a lot of slug fests between these two teams this year. The Mets are going to have to hold their own in this series, and this time, without the help of Dickey on the mound.
Still have vivid memories of chanting “Get off our field” after the Last Game at Shea.
Miami really does have a solid, balanced lineup. The rotation will pitch them out of games all season.
They don’t just have a nice, balanced lineup. They have a lot of career Met killers like Martin Prado and Christian Yelich.
Here’s what grinds my gears about the effing Marlins: they play like dogs against everybody else, but against the Mets, every game is the 7th game of the World Series. Did you see the celebrations over the weekend? I’m all for celebrating a walkoff, but geeze…sometimes you do have to act like you’ve been there before, y’know?
Charlie, for whatever reason this team always saves its best for us. Maybe they’re bitter that there are so many transplanted NY Mets fans in the stands of their home games.