Miami Marlins: Cure for the Ailing Braves

If 27 innings over the course of 3 days were not enough to douse any type of excitement for the new baseball season, an extra inning of prolonged disappointment may have done the trick. Edwin Jackson surrendered the game-winning run in a game that felt lost before the top of the first inning was finished. The Marlins surrendered four runs in the top of the first inning thanks to Jarred Cosart’s inability to locate his pitches. For the second consecutive start, Cosart was hit hard, and for the second consecutive start, his on field demeanor was rattled under pressure. Against the Mets, his look of disbelief when he was removed from the game was followed by today’s look of frustration at home plate umpire Eric Cooper’s refusal to give a wild pitcher borderline calls.

Jared Cosart is quickly becoming the Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Marlins, oh – except for the all-star level performance.

The Marlins spent the weekend leaving men on base and avoiding timely hitting and pitching. The Braves limped into town and used the Marlins as a rebound series. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fredi Gonzalez was smoking a cigarette and asking for a sandwich after the game. Speaking of which, recent reports have suggested that Gonzalez is the odds on favorite to be the first manager fired this year. If this series, and the 2015 Marlins, proved anything is that the players dictate the team performance. Firing Gonzalez this year will do the same as firing Mike Redmond last year: nothing. The Braves are an old mediocre team that ran into an endlessly, frustratingly, ever heartbreaking Marlins team.

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One of the most frustrating parts of this game were the comments made by Eduardo Perez late in the game. The suggestion that the Marlins shouldn’t hang their heads but look at the positives of staying in the game and showing heart by coming back to tie it made my blood boil. This Marlins team should be embarrassed and collectively hanging it’s head. I suppose this is the type of analysis the Marlins hoped for when Tommy Hutton was forced out this offseason.

What is the fix? Who knows, but it probably starts with better players. The only thing that is certain is that asking Don Mattingly and Barry Bonds to make chicken salad out of chicken manure is both naïve and a waste of fans’ time. Jose Fernandez can’t pitch every inning and Dee Gordon can’t hit every at bat. Until the Marlins become serious about having end-to-end big league talent on its big league roster, we will be treated to gems like the ones we saw this weekend.

On a day when the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers were both in playoff action the Marlins dropped yet another regular season game. Unlike last year when the Marlins had the sports landscape to themselves before May arrived, this year’s team will likely be competing for fan attention for a few more weeks. Good luck trying to lure fans in if this type of play continues for much longer.

The Marlins are well on their way to another disappointing season; at least they can say they are consistent. The only good news is that the Marlins only have 76 more opportunities to lose at home.