Marlins the class of the NL East........

Unbelievable………. The Florida Marlins are actually getting a new Ballpark. The retractable roof stadium will sit about $37,000 and be ready for play in 2012. The Orange Bowl will be demolished and the ballpark will be built on that site.

The Marlins have endured more than a 10-year process to get this thing through. We have watched them twice build a championship team only to have to dismantle it each time, in large part because of where they play. There was no way to draw fans or players to a ballpark that featured heat, humidity, and multiple rain delays as its most prominent aspects.

The Marlins front office has shown in the recent past that they can build a championship team even in the worst of circumstances. You wouldn't think of calling the Marlins the class of the NL East, but they have been. They have won more Championships then any of the other NL East teams in the past few years. The Phillies won last year, The Braves "Dynasty" only won 1 time, and the Mets haven't won in 23 years.

They will be the last of the NL East teams to get a new building (even the Expos / Nationals got one.) Now, having a new facility with all the amenities of the other thriving franchises with a retractable roof to prevent heat, humidity and rain delays, the Marlins have a chance to build both a team and a fan base and keep them.

To suggest that this franchise can now become a perennial power is not a stretch. In the coming years you will now see some major stars not only looking to vacation in south Florida, but looking to play there too.

Gonna miss the Orange Bowl though. Some great football memories there. Jets Superbowl III, great undefeated Dolphins team of '72. Classic Orange Bowl games. Dough Flutie "Hail Mary" to Gerard Phelan........., I'm sure you all have your own. - Paul Leume

Paul Leume is a MLB columnist from Montreal, Canada. Paul, a one-time beat writer covering the Montreal Expos for the Montreal Gazette is a proud grandfather of 3 girls and now spends his time offering his thoughts and prospective on Major League Baseball on a variety of blogs and websites throughout Al Gore’s internet.