The Florida Marlins are off today; the calm before the storm of a big series in Citizens Bank Park over the weekend. (and a good day to recuperate from the hangover of last night’s loss)  With those hated Phillies also off today it ensures that Florida will maintain their 1/2 game lead (2 in loss column though) in the NL East.  It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to figure out that whoever wins this series will be in first place come Sunday night.  I still don’t know how the Marlins have made it to late May without seeing the division champs once yet, but they will meet twice in the next two weeks.  And perhaps the best news for the club is that yours truly is NOT going to be in attendance for any of the games! (for the record, the Fish have gotten destroyed all three times I’ve seen them play in Citizens Bank Park).

All joking aside this is the biggest series of the year for the Marlins. If they come out of this weekend in first place, it means they will have won a series against a very hot team in their building.  The Phillies demolished the Rockies this week, and Ryan Howard is suddenly coming alive at the plate.  When he, Rollins, Utley, Burrell and Victorino are all clicking, they have the best lineup in the entire NL, and one of the top 3 in all of baseball.  Now their starting pitching on the other hand, outside of Hamels, is very inconsistent.  Their bullpen, which was a weakness for them the past few years, is one of the team’s strong points this year. Lidge has completely turned his career around thus far and has been unbelievable. (Hey! A good lineup, OK starters, and a good bullpen…hmm…sound like any other team we know of?).

The Marlins and the Phillies have played some close and entertaining game the last few years. I can still remember Hanley’s slide to tie the game with 2 outs in the 9th from last year like it was yesterday. But for the first time in a few years, these two teams will be playing with equal talent levels, and pretty much equal records.  It will be a fun series to watch, no doubt, and I think the Marlins can pull out 2 wins. One thing is for sure, you will see the top 2 offensive middle infields in all of baseball go head to head this weekend, and someone whose last name starts with a ’U’ will hit a home run. Ramirez is due for a big series, and I really feel that he will do something special this weekend.  He didn’t like what big-mouth Rollins had to say about him last year, so I’m sure he will have some extra motivation. On to Philly.  Let’s go Marlins!