Unlike 2003, Marlins must dig deeper.

Publication: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service)

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COPYRIGHT 2005 South Florida Sun-Sentinal

Byline: Dave Hyde

MIAMI _ No one in the Florida Marlins' clubhouse agreed. Maybe no one will agree, period. But here goes: From the standing start of Tuesday, Aug. 23, I think the Marlins making the playoffs this season would be a bigger athletic achievement than making them from this same spot in 2003.

"2003 was bigger, maybe because it was my first time," pitcher Josh Beckett said.

"This would be great, but nothing compares to the first time," owner Jeffrey Loria said.

"The bigger achievement was 2003 just because no one thought we could do it," third baseman Mike Lowell said. "This year, if we make the playoffs, a lot of people are going to say they picked us. On paper, we should be a lot better than we are. And we're getting there."

And so it went. Some didn't take sides,...

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