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Please Mr. Tomahawk Chop a little love for Carlos Delgado. Let's not completely overlook this signing (and i'm not saying that you did). But .... this move puts the Marlins as the best team in the National

League East, and perhaps the entire National League. (Note - I haven't read Jayson Stark ... i'm stuck reading instant-replays.com)

Let's look at some of the facts:

The Marlins are the last NL team to win the World Series, with a team that is largely the same as it was two years ago.

You are right when you say that Delgado isn't going to a hitter friendly park, but I would hardly compare Sky Dome to Coors Field. Last year he hit 32 and 99 and only played in 128 games. The year

before, he was arguably the best hitter in the AL putting up 42, 145 and hitting over .300.

Last year Delgado hit behind an injured Vernon Wells and in front of Josh Phelps. Toronto had no true lead off threat, the second best hitter on the Jays last year may have been either Frank Catalonnoto or Reed Johnson. I wouldn't recognized Reed Johnson if he pissed in the

urinal next to me. (Could go so many places with that analogy, but for everyone's sake I won't)

Plug Delgado's numbers into a line-up with names like Pierre, Lowell, Cabrera, and Conine, and you're looking at a rather nasty line-up to go with some rather talented pitchers. The Marlins got a rather

impressive lefty bat to go into a batting order that really needed a power hitter.

As you correctly point out the key to Florida this season will be pitching. If any two of Florida's starters, Beckett, Willis, Burnett, and Valdez, can pitch well -- and let's not underestimate the affect

that Leiter will have on them -- the Marlins are shaped to dethrone the Braves and win the National League again.

If not, at least Delgado will end his playing days in Miami -- and the Marlins will be better than the Mets.

-Jack Prosnit 1/31/05