Miami Marlins Meltdown: Six Takeaways From Atlanta

6. Baseball is 162 games…thank heaven for that!

46 games down, “only” 116 to go. This would be even tougher if it were the NFL. But its baseball, and it is a season in which we look for signs of progress more than counting wins. That will be less of the case later in the season once this group of younger players take on bigger roles. There will be more expected of them as they prepare to make a bigger leap in 2019. As I wrote recently, this season is about getting past some bad and unfortunate contracts, the lingering on-field impact of Jose Fernandez‘ passing, and trying out a bunch of players that can compete to be members of a playoff-caliber team a bit down the road.

Some fans are quick to say the Marlins are “tanking” this season. I don’t think that’s the case at all. I think they are willing to risk having a few games slip away in order to showcase some of the players that are jamming up the payroll right now.

Today’s agony was a short-term setback for a team that may be on the way toward real improvement. It just didn’t work out today.

Next: Straily Sets Down Braves

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