The South Florida Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) announced their annual Florida Marlins award winners today. The Most Valuable Player is outfielder Preston Wilson (six votes). The Rookie of the Year is pitcher Chuck Smith (eight votes). The Most Improved Marlin is first baseman Derrek Lee (six votes). The “Charlie Hough” Good Guy Award is given to the member of the Marlins who fosters the most positive relations with the media. The winner of this year’s award is Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell (five votes). Nine members of the South Florida Chapter of the BBWAA voted for this year’s awards. The results of the voting were announced by the president of the BBWAA South Florida Chapter David O’Brien.

Preston Wilson homered twice to lead the Marlins to a 10-1 thrashing of the Arizona Diamonbacks. Wilson’s 4 RBI’s gave him 100 for the season, only the fourth Marlins to reach 100. Ryan Dempster pitched 8 strong innings allowing only an earned run while striking out 9. Derrek Lee’s three hits included a homerun and Mark Kotsay drove in 2 runs on three hits.

The Marlins rebounded from a 6-3 eighth-inning deficit to defeat the Reds 7-6 on Mike Lowell’s solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Marlins took a 3-1 lead in the sixth on a RBI single by Derrek Lee and a sacrifice fly by Mike Redmond. The Reds struck back with four runs in the seventh on a RBI single by Sean Casey and a three-run home run by Dante Bichette. The Marlins tied the game with three in the eighth, as Mark Smith hit a pinch-hit double off the left field wall, Derrek Lee scored on a throwing error by Chris Stynes and Luis Castillo hit a RBI single to score Smith. Marlins starter Ryan Dempster allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 7.0 innings while Dan Miceli earned the win in relief.

Mike Lowell and Derrek Lee each hit 3-run home runs as the Marlins opened the second half of the season with an 11-9 victory at over the New York Yankees. Despite the $85 million difference in payrolls, the Fish have more wins than the defending world champions. The Marlins also moved within 3 games of the New York Mets, who currently occupy the NL’s wild card spot. Marlins pitching struggled, including starter Brad Penny, who allowed three runs in five innings. The Marlins loaded the bases several times, yet the Yankees struggled to capitalize on those opportunities. The Marlins lead from the begining, thanks to six Marlins having two hits. One of them, Preston Wilson, also scored three runs and stole two bases. Antonio Alfonseca, who was not named to the All-Star Game, pitched 1-1/3 innings to earn his league-leading 29th save.

Cliff Floyd hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the bottom of the 10th to give the Marlins an 8-7 victory over the Cubs, sweeping the series, and elevating the Fish to .500 (38 wins, 38 losses). The Marlins jumped to an early 3-0 lead on a Derrek Lee walk with the bases loaded and a Dave Berg 2-RBI single. But the Cubs responded with 5 runs off starter Ryan Dempster, who struggled today, despite striking out 8 in 7 innings. In the Bottom of the 7th, Mark Smith and Derrek Lee each hit 2-run home runs, giving the Marlins a 7-5 lead. But once a gain the Cubs countered, evening the score at 7-7. But in the bottom of the 10th, Floyd homered, giving the Marlins a 3-game sweep of the Cubs.

Preston Wilson hit a grand slam as the Marlins routed the New York Mets 9-1. Alex Fernandez pitched 6 strong innings allowing one run on five hits and hitting the go-ahead two-run double in the fourth. Derrek Lee and Alex Gonzalez singled in the fourth and scored on the Fernandez double. Braden Looper, Dan Miceli, and Antonio Alfonseca shut the Mets out for the last three innings. Luis Castillo, in his second game back from the DL went 2-3 with two walks, two runs, and three stolen bases. A crowd of 33,401 was the second largest crowd of the season.

The Marlins scored 11 runs on 11 hits, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 11-4. Jesus Sanchez earned his first win of the season, allowing six hits and four earned runs in five innings. Derrek Lee and Danny Bautista each homered. But the struggling Alex Gonzalez had the most important hit of the game, a two-run single with the bases loaded. Luis Castillo continued his steller play, going 2-4 with two walks, scoring three runs. With the win, the Marlins moved into a first place tie with Montreal in the National League East.

Despite being penciled in as the Marlins’ starting catcher, Ramon Castro failed in his effort to remain with the major league club and was optioned to AAA Calgary. The 24 year old, viewed as the team’s catcher of the future, was supposed to start for the team, even if he struggled. But the success of Mike Redmond and Sandy Martinez, and the preference of the starting pitchers doomed Castro, who struggled this spring. Manager John Boles announced that the the club is “done with that nonsense …. We spent last year protecting people. We want to win.” Mark Smith, the team’s best hitter this spring, was sent to the minor league camp because the team could not find room for him on the major league roster. The move guarantees that Derrek Lee will make the team as a bench player, since Kevin Millar was named the starting first baseman. Brant Brown appears to have edged Mark Kotsay for the starting right-field job. Reid Cornelius was also sent to AAA Calgary.

The Marlins completed re-signing all of the players on the 40 man roster. Derrek Lee signed for $225,000, a $40,000 salary cut. Should Lee fail to make the major league roster, he would earn $204,000. Luis Castillo signed for $390,000 while Mark Kotsay settled for $324,000. Mike Redmond signed for $245,000. The Marlins payroll stands at $19 million.

The Marlins lineup for the Spring Training opener against Tampa Bay will be: Luis Castillo, 2B; Alex Gonzalez, SS; Cliff Floyd, DH; Preston Wilson, CF; Mike Lowell, 3B; Mark Kotsay, RF; Derrek Lee, 1b; Brant Brown, LF, Ramon Castro, C. The starting pitchers for the first 8 spring training games will be: March 3 at Tampa – Alex Fernandez (2 innings), Jesus Sanchez (2), Brad Penny (2), Brian Edmondson (2), and Armando Almanza (1), March 4 vs. Baltimore – Reid Cornelius, Jared Camp, Braden Looper, Hector Almonte, and Dan Miceli, March 5 at Baltimore – Vladimir Nu