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The Florida Marlins have had an impressive 2003 season and an amazing run to the top of the wildcard race in the National League. If they can hold on to their current two-game lead over the Phillies, do they have what it takes to make a 1997-like run to another World Series championship?

The Marlins' roster is full of surprise impact players and comeback kids. Dontrelle Willis came out of no where to post up all-star numbers, although he was almost snuffed from the squad by Cubs manager Dusty Baker for his own Kerry Wood. Willis is 13-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 games this season, as well as two complete game shutouts.

Let's not ignore his other contribution to the Marlins -- Dontrelle also has a homerun and four RBI on the year. He hit a homerun before Randy Johnson did ... I mean, doesn't that count for something?

Back to the basics ... When Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez signed with Florida in the offseason for $10 million, people criticized his decision and were thinking along the same lines as Bob Eucker was in the classic film "Major League II." "So the Rangers are going to let Pudge go in free-agency. Obviously, Texas is thinking ... I don't know what the hell they're thinking!"

Rodriguez has put up slightly low numbers for him, but fairly respectable numbers compared to most of the other good defensive catchers in the game, hitting .301 with 16 homeruns and 83 RBI. And let's not forget that Pudge is one of the best defensive catchers in the game, another facet to Florida's winning secret.

The Marlins' pitching staff of Willis, Brad Penny (13-10, 4.11 ERA), Josh Beckett (8-8, 2.93), Mark Redman (14-9, 3.70), and Carl Pavano (11-13, 4.32) is strong and has held up all year long. Florida has been known in the last few years for its pitching, but had never had anything to push it into postseason contention. Now, however, the offense is there and has done the job throughout 2003.

Jeff Conine has been one of the contributors to the Marlins' newly-resurged offense and is also one of the "Comeback Kids." Conine is one of the members of Florida's 1997 championship team and was acquired midseason from Baltimore. His numbers are decent this season, 18 homeruns and 90 RBI, but were enough to help Florida stay in contention with the injury to Mike Lowell.

Speaking of Lowell, he is expected back at the end of the week, which gives Florida a serious push into the playoffs. Lowell is once again having a monster year and was, as it always seems, atop the trade rumors for just about every team in need of a third baseman.

Barring a Philadelphia run, the focus turns to the playoffs for the Marlins, who will face San Francisco in the first-round of postseason play. This match up doesn't look too encouraging for Florida, but if the Marlins' offense shows up, the series may be closer than you would think.

In the best-of-five first-round, Florida will most likely use Willis, Penny, and Beckett with Willis and Penny starting twice in the series, if it is extended to five games. That is a trio of pitching terror rivaling that of the Oakland A's threesome of Mark Mulder, Barry Zito, and Tim Hudson.

The Marlins' offense will feature Conine, Lowell, Rodriguez, Juan Pierre, Juan Encarnacion, and Derrek Lee. And don't forget the Marlins' suddenly "shut 'em down" bullpen, featuring Brandon Looper and the midseason-acquired Ugueth Urbina.

With that, it is prediction time. Obviously, Florida is seriously undermatched against San Francisco in a first-round showdown. However, anything can happen in baseball, as we saw last year with the apparent fluke Anaheim Angels' title run. My pick is a Florida first-round victory, of course depending on if they even get in over the Phillies, who are a mere two games behind the wildcard-leading Marlins.

If Florida does beat Barry Bonds and the Giants, the next challenge is presumably the juggernaut Atlanta Braves, who will like face either the Houston Astros or the Cubs in the first series. Surprisingly, the Marlins might have the edge when it comes to pitching, but their offense is no comparison to Atlanta's.

This may be where the Marlins bow out. It will have been a very successful season for Florida, though, and this success may lead to a nice land in the free-agent signing period in December.

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