2033 PLAYOFFS CONT.

MONDAY, OCT. 10, 2033                   PAGE C1

MARLINS CLOSE ON NL TITLE
TWO WINS AWAY FROM WORLD SERIES, TALK STILL CENTERS ON SIZEMORE

BY LEE GANNON

SPORTSWRITER

MIAMI MORNING SUN

CHICAGO - THAT THE MARLINS  OUTSCORED THE CUBS 18-2 IN THE FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE NLCS IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE - MOST TALK STILL CENTERS ON THE FOURTH AND FINAL GAME OF THE DIVISIONAL SERIES.

FLORIDA MANAGER GRADY SIZEMORE IS BEING HAILED NEAR AND FAR AS CHIEF ORCHESTRATOR OF THE MOST WELL-MANAGED GAME EVER.

"BELIEVE ME, THAT'S LONG OUT OF MINE AND THE PLAYERS' MINDS," SAID SIZEMORE. "OUR FOCUS IS ON GAME THREE AND THE CUBS."

SIZEMORE HAS NOT SAID MUCH ABOUT THE 2-1 SERIES DECIDER, BUT HIS MANAGEMENT SKILLS HAVE BEEN UNDER HEAVY SCRUTINY, TO THE GOOD, AFTER HE BENCHED THREE-QUARTERS OF HIS INFIELD TO START THE PITTSBURGH GAME.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU START, IT'S HOW YOU FINISH," WAS ALL SIZEMORE SAID POST-GAME.

"WHAT GRADY DOES BEFORE AND AT THE END OF GAMES IS BEYOND BELIEF," AN NL SCOUT SAYS. "IT'S WHAT HE DOES MID-GAME THAT MAY MAKE HIM THE BEST MANAGER EVER."

EDITOR'S NOTE: SUN SPORTSWRITER LEE GANNON WILL DISSECT SIZEMORE'S STRAYEGY IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE.