Okay, so the other day I was digging through some old baseball cards and it got me thinking about the 2012 Florida Marlins. What a weird, one-off season that was, right? New name, new stadium, big free-agent signings… and then it all kinda fizzled. I decided to do a deep dive and really figure out that roster. Here’s how I went about it:
Started with the Obvious
First, I grabbed my phone and just did a basic search. You know, just typing in “2012 Florida Marlins roster”. This gave me a quick overview, the big names jumped right out – Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Heath Bell. But I wanted more than just the headliners. I wanted the whole picture.
Digging Deeper
So, the initial search gave me a good starting point, but I needed details. I started looking at different websites, bouncing between a few to cross-reference information. It’s like putting together a puzzle, making sure all the pieces fit. One site might have a guy’s full stats, another might have a blurb about a mid-season trade I’d forgotten about. I wanted it all!
Building My Own List
Instead of just relying on what I found online, I started my own document. A simple spreadsheet, really. I listed all the players I could find, then started filling in columns for things like:
- Position
- Games Played
- Key Stats (like ERA for pitchers, batting average for hitters)
- How they joined the team (draft, trade, free agency)
- Any notes (like injuries, mid-season call-ups, etc.)
It felt like a real research project! I mean I love baseball history!
Getting into the Weeds
The real fun (and the challenge) was tracking down the guys who only played a handful of games. You know, the September call-ups, the guys who filled in for injuries. That’s where I really had to scrub through game logs and transaction reports. It was a grind, but I was determined to get every single player who put on that Marlins uniform in 2012.
The Final Product
After a few hours of work, I had a pretty comprehensive list. I’m not gonna lie, it felt pretty good to have put it all together myself. It wasn’t just about having the names; it was about understanding the whole roster, the guys who were stars and the guys who were just passing through. It really gave me a new appreciation for that strange, memorable season in Marlins history.
It is pretty amazing. Now I get it clear.
