Marlins continue to search for answers after another shutout loss

A 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night has the Marlins at their lowest point in franchise history and searching for answers.

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly told reporters on Wednesday night following the team’s 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays that he couldn’t remember a time when he had been in this kind of situation. A seven-game losing streak, a ninth shutout of the season, 10 wins and 31 losses and the worst start in Marlins franchise history.

It all sounds like a really bad Stephen King novel and there is some truth to the situation down in South Florida being a horror story. From a team that looked like it could compete with anyone during the Grapefruit League in March to being compared to some of the worst teams in Major League history.

This is not the kind of story Mattingly and the team’s front office wanted to write this season, but the pages are short when you cannot write anything positive on a nightly basis and picking out the little things to cheer about gets old and stale. It isn’t even comical, like the lovable losing Cubs of years gone by or the Cleveland Indians who waited and waited for decades to be a contending franchise.

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"These are the Miami Marlins – the worst team in Major League Baseball. As Joe Frisaro of MLB.com explained, “During the prolonged slide, the Marlins have scored eight total runs, and they have not scored more than two since beating the Cubs, 6-5, on May 6 at Wrigley Field.”That’s not painful, rather that is excruciating."

The loss also gave the Marlins another series loss, having fallen to their in-state rivals from the west coast. There is no easy way to get out of this, as Mattingly explained following the game.

"“You’re going to have to keep erasing games, and get back to business, and keep working,” Mattingly said. “I don’t think there are any magic words at this point that are going to totally relax everybody, that we’re going to all of a sudden start swinging the bats. We’re going to have to individually come here and be better.”"

Where were you the last time there was a run?
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) May 16, 2019

This might be a case where we trot out the script from The Natural and discuss losing as a disease and hope the second coming of Roy Hobbs finds his way into the Marlins dugout. Any infusion of adrenaline would be welcomed. Lighting fire to bats with the hot of igniting some power/
It is going to take more than a few steps forward to get the 25-man roster and the coaching staff out of this mess.

"“I’m seeing a bunch of guys grinding, but trying to do too much,” said shortstop Miguel Rojas.Rojas came out of the game in the fifth inning with back spasms and has been listed as day-to-day.“We are trying to do a lot with one at-bat. It’s really frustrating when you are going on a bad streak like that. When you have runners in scoring position, you’re trying to do too much. You’re trying to hit a homer, instead of just putting the ball in play and letting the guy behind you do the job, too,” he added."

The Marlins try to make it happen once again, to break the cycle and add some runs on the board when the team hosts the New York Mets on Friday. Trevor Richards tries to end his personal winless streak when he faces Jacob deGrom.

News and Notes: The Marlins have recalled pitcher Jarlin Garcia from Triple-A New Orleans and sent Elieser Hernandez back to the Baby Cakes.

"Per Andre C. Fernandez of The Athletic, “Miguel Rojas day-to-day with back spasms. If an IL stint is required it could prompt the return of JT Riddle.”"

Also, as reported by Joe Frisaro, Drew Steckenrider did meet with Dr. James Andrews. The diagnosis is a flexor strain and rest is recommended. The reliever will not need surgery.

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