If the Miami Marlins continue on their current pace, they would do something that has not been seen since the 1800s.
With all due re2pect to Derek Jeter, his demands that the Miami Marlins improve, and improve immediately, are fairly unreasonable. Yes, he is used to success, having become used to nothing but winning during his time as a member of the Yankees. However, the Marlins are not going to be confused with the Yankees in virtually any capacity.
The biggest problem with Jeter’s demands that the Marlins improve immediately is the roster. The Marlins are 9-24 heading into action on Monday, which is actually one game better than their expected record. Of course, when the offense scores a total of 91 runs in 33 games, averaging just 2.76 runs per game, wins are going to be hard to come by.
As such, it is not a surprise that the Marlins are on pace for some truly dreadful numbers. Based on their record entering Monday, Miami is on pace to win just 44 games. They are also on pace for a run differential of -358, a mark that had not been seen since 1898 St. Louis Browns, and would tie for the 11th worst run differential in major league history.
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The fault for that horrific run differential rests squarely on the lineup. Marlins pitching has been respectable this year, posting a 4.76 ERA, most of those issues coming with the bullpen. The lineup, meanwhile, has produced a mediocre .221/.284/.318 batting line.
In a way, this is not a surprise. The Marlins had jettisoned their best players in Giancarlo Stanton, J.T. Realmuto, Christian Yelich, and Marcell Ozuna. In return? They received a lot of prospects with a potentially high ceiling, but a lower floor as well. Right now, not only are few of those prospects showing that they were worth the cost, but those that reached the majors, like Lewis Brinson, have flamed out.
Chances are, the Marlins will not have such a historically awful season. They may challenge the 2003 Tigers in regards to their won-loss record, but their run differential has to improve at some point. Either the bullpen gets better, or the offense will actually score some runs at some point. The Marlins cannot remain this bad – can they?
Derek Jeter is expecting results from the Miami Marlins. Right now, the only results that are happening have them on pace to have a run differential so bad, that it has not been seen since the 1800s.