The 2002 season was one of transition. The parent club Florida Marlins were sold to Expos owner Jeffrey Loria, and along with the ownership change came a complete shake-up in the coaching staff.
Loria replaced veteran manager Dave Huppert, and coaches Frank Cacciatorre and Jeff Andrews with his own personnel from Montreal, including first-year manager Eric Fox, and coaches Matt Raleigh and Tom Signore.
Additional Photos
The new staff had just a few weeks to meet and evaluate their new organization. The transition was made more difficult with 48 different players to play for the team – 10 more than the previous record – and 22 different players were placed on the disabled list.
By late July the team finally began to adapt. The team was the healthiest it had been in months and the Marlins made several trades that sent top prospects Justin Wayne and Ryan Snare to Portland. As a result the team won nine consecutive series for the first time in team history.
Although the 63-77 overall record was disappointing, several players stood out. Second baseman Jesus Medrano (.297, 39 steals) and left-handed pitcher Nate Robertson (10-9, 3.42 ERA) were named to the All-Star team. Baseball America named Medrano as the best base-runner and the best defensive second baseman in the league.
First-round draft pick Adrian Gonzalez batted .266 with a team-leading 17 home runs and 96 RBI. Robertson and Nate Bump (7-6, 3.38 ERA) led the pitching staff throughout the year. Both threw three complete games and both threw a complete-game two-hitter. Tim Hamulack was solid in the bullpen with an 8-4 record, six saves and 2.88 ERA.
Both Wayne and Robertson received September call-ups and made their major league debut with the Marlins.
Randy Rigsby had one of the single best games in franchise history on July 11 at New Haven when he belted three home runs. He joined Alex Gonzalez, who achieved the feat in 1997, as the only two Sea Dogs players to hit three homers in a game.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
