Miami Marlins Morning Catch: Your Third Place Miami Marlins
Good morning, Marlin Maniac readers and welcome to Morning Catch, the daily morning news and notes column from MarlinManiac.com about your Miami Marlins.
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It’s hard, nearly impossible, to believe that the 2015 Miami Marlins are in third place in the NL East. In one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, it remains difficult to believe that the Fish aren’t cellar dwellers.
However, consistent play by Miami hasn’t placed them in third place. The cause of this placement is largely due to the struggle of the worst division in baseball, the NL East.
To examine this claim, let’s take a look at third place teams across the MLB as of Thursday, September 3rd:
AL East: Tampa Bay Rays (66-67)
AL Central: Cleveland Indians (64-68)
AL West: Los Angeles Angels (67-66)
NL East: Miami Marlins (55-79)
NL Central: Chicago Cubs (75-57)
NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks (65-69)
Evidently, the Marlins are by far the worst third place team in all of baseball. But to further prove the struggle of the NL East, the Marlins (along with the Braves and Phillies) would place last in every other division across the league.
So now, thanks to Atlanta’s nine game losing streak and Philadelphia’s consistently poor play, the Marlins have hopped to the middle, of their division that is. Despite the impressive season by the Mets, the NL East has proven it’s extreme disappointment.
Take this position with a grain of salt, because the Fish aren’t impressing anyone this year. A third place finish was entirely realistic at the beginning of the season, but not in this sense. At 55-79, no placement should bring fans satisfaction.
ICYMI: No forgiveness for Jeffrey Loria, Marlins sweep Braves, and Dan Jennings out as manager?
From Around the Web:
Mattingly in the mix to manage team next season — Kayla Lombardo and Jeremy Woo, SI.com
The Miami Marlins want Don Mattingly to be their manager next season, according to a report by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is reportedly fond of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ skipper and his managerial experience, and is strongly considering him as a replacement for Miami’s current-manager Dan Jennings.
Fox Sports’s Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that Jennings will be asked to return to his old role as general manager and forgo his managing duties next season. (Read More Here)
Marlins need to change to keep Giancarlo Stanton — Daniel Smith, Fish Stripes
Giancarlo Stanton is probably not a happy camper right now. The jewel in Miami’s crown was promised a playoff-caliber team, a winning culture in the dugout and a stable and competitive front office when he signed his mega-deal in November. Less than a year down the line, the club fails to boast any of those characteristics.
After being a trendy Wild Card pick at the start of the year, the Marlins might actually lose 100 games and they look destined to not sport a winning record once over the course of the entire season. (Read More Here)
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