Originally Published: October 1, 2009

Kiss 'Em Goodbye: Florida Marlins

1997. 2003. 2009? The six-year thing didn't happen -- 2010 won't, either

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By Buster Olney, Baseball Prospectus and Insider staff
ESPN Insider

Insider's series on MLB teams that are out of the playoff race continues with the Florida Marlins, who may well have the best all-around player in baseball in Hanley Ramirez -- but are not yet ready to make another postseason run. To see an archive of Kiss 'Em Goodbye, please go here.

Baseball Prospectus' preseason PECOTA projection: 71-91, fourth place
Current record: 85-74, third place

The six-year theory (1997, 2003) should have gotten them another championship in 2009. It didn't. Patterns: apparently unreliable in baseball.

To read Buster Olney's take on what went wrong for the Marlins and what's next, plus items from the rumor mill, number-crunching analysis from Baseball Prospectus, a draft recap and whom to watch in spring training, you must be an ESPN Insider. Insider

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Kiss 'Em Goodbye on ESPN Insider

Insider and Baseball Prospectus now ask: What went wrong for each MLB team, and what may the future hold? We'll be covering the playoff teams as they're eliminated, and finish off with what the World Series champs need to do to improve (hey, there's always something).Insider

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The Playoff Teams (as eliminated)
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