The Season: They had their 2007 season a year later. In 2006, the Marlins had a remarkable year, winning 78 games despite an 11-31 start to the season, and an average team age of roughly 19.7 years old. Joe Girardi was recognized as Manager of the Year, then was promptly canned and replaced by Fredi Gonzalez. In 2007, almost the entire starting rotation had Tommy John surgery, and they slipped back.

The pitching was a little healthier in 2008, the players old enough to grow five o'clock shadow. The Marlins started well the first two months, struggled during the summer but are have been hot in September and will have a winning season. And they're still the youngest team in the NL.

High Point: Call it a tie between a 7-game winning streak in mid-May that gave them a three-game division lead, and a 9-game winning streak in September that guaranteed a winning season, and even put them on the cusp of the wild card race.

Positive Trends: Hanley Ramirez, age 24, had his third straight remarkable season at the plate, and his first 30-30 season. I don't watch the Marlins often, but people seem to think that his defence was better as well.

21-year-old Chris Volstad had an impressive spring training, then was called up in July and pitched great (6-4, 2.88 ERA)

The 2006 starting rotation returned:

• 25-year-old Ricky Nolasco, who lost much of the 2007 season with elbow problems, had a kick-ass year, going 15-8 with a 3.52 ERA, 186/42 strikeout/walk ratio
• 24-year-old Josh Johnson, who missed most of 2007 with Tommy John surgery, was fabulous in his return, going 7-1 with a 3.61 ERA, 77/27 strikeout.walk ratio
• 24-year-old Anibal Sanchez lost most of 2007 with labrum surgery. He was not so good in his return (2-5, 5.57) ERA, but 50 K's in 51 innings, and the fact he's still throwing overhand, is a positive

Pleasant Surprises: Jorge Cantu resuscitated his career by hitting 29 homers, 95 RBI

Mike Jacobs muscled up and hit 32 homers.

Joe Nelson, a 33-year-old journeyman reliever who missed all of 2007 with shoulder surgery, had an amazing season in middle relief (2.04 ERA in 58 games, better than a strikeout per inning)

Disappointments: Jeremy Hermida, still only 24, took a big step backwards, batting only .248 with 17 homers.

Although his overall numbers were decent, closer Kevin Gregg led the majors with nine blown saves.

The Predictable: The team was really young.

The few veterans they had (Luis Gonzalez, Paul LoDuca) weren't so good.

The team defence sucked.

Epitaph: There's not much to say about the Marlins, is there? They are young; they are talented. Like many others, I have come to believe that Larry Beinfest ranks among the best GMs in the game - I have also long believed that Jeffrey Loria is to the baseball establishment what Athlete's foot is to the baseball locker room. If or when they decide that they want to win, then there isn't any reason to think that they can't.

If we close our eyes for a second and imagine that Loria decides to open his wallet and go for it, the next step for Beinfest is obvious. The Tampa Rays finally figured out that you can't win with B.J. Upton playing short and Jorge Cantu playing third; as I mentioned above, Hanley Ramirez seems to have improved at shortstop, and if keeps it up that will be a big relief for management. But they still have Cantu playing third, and they have plenty of other defensive liabilities.

If the Marlins can somehow keep their stable of young, talented pitchers healthy, they can get real good real fast. But it's time for management to give the kids a break, and make some necessary improvements to the team defence.