Clayton McCullough Needs to Start Being Held Accountable for Some of His Managerial Decisions

Let's be honest: the 2025 Miami Marlins were never built to contend with the Braves or Dodgers. But, they also weren't built to be a complete afterthought either. And yet, here we are, 57 games into the season, with a 23-34 record that feels like it could have easily been 29-28 if not for some questionable managerial decisions.

At some point, we have to stop giving Clayton McCullough a free pass just because it's his first year as manager of the Miami Marlins. We have to start asking the real questions. First and foremost, what exactly is he doing to help this team win baseball games?

The most obvious issue is his inability–or refusal– to keep any sort of consistency in the lineup. Not once this season has the Marlins run out the same lineup two games in a row. Not once. A few hours before their game against the Colorado Rockies on June 2, the Marlins rolled out their 58th different lineup of the season.

For a team that lacks elite star power, consistency should be a non-negotiable. Instead, McCullough is treating each day like Spring Training. Players don't know where they are or even if they're playing. That makes it impossible for any baseball team to get into a rhythm.

Poor Pitching Decisions and a Shaky Bullpen Strategy Are Fueling the Collapse

Let's look at Kyle Stowers, who was thriving in the two-hole just a few weeks ago, The guy who was hitting .308 with an OPS of .850 over a 15-game stretch, but since being moved around–batting fourth one day, sixth the next–his average has dropped to .281 and he's slugging under .230 since May 20. You can't ask hitters to produce when they're constantly yanked around in the order like pawns on a chessboard.

It's not just the offense, either. McCullough's leash on his starters is getting shorter by the week, and it's killing his team and bullpen. On May 24 against the Los Angeles Angels, McCullough elected to pull Cal Quantrill after just 3.1 IP and a total of 46 pitches thrown, but he reasoned that there were two runners on base. Last time I checked, you don't ever pull a starter early in a contest because he faces some traffic on the bases, because it will tax your bullpen.

However, after Ronny Henriquez came in and cleaned up the mess left by Cal Quantrill, Janson Junk followed with five strong innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen. It almost looked like that was the plan all along. The problem is, the Marlins’ bullpen is already stretched thin, having logged the third-most innings in the majors (231.2 IP). They're wearing down, ranking 24th in ERA (4.58) and tied for 25th in WHIP (1.45) alongside the Colorado Rockies.

Look, no one expected McCullough to turn this team into a playoff contender overnight. But what fans did expect was a manager who'd learn on the job, show some flexibility, and give the roster a fighting chance. Instead, it feels like he was indeed the third choice/candidate for the Marlins, as two different managers (Craig Albernaz and Will Venable) told the Fish "no" during this past offseason.

The decisions made by Albernaz and Venable have only reinforced to Marlins fans why no one seems eager to manage this team. But would a shift in direction—and a willingness from owner Bruce Sherman to finally open the checkbook—really change things? History tells us that it would be better than just standing there with your hands in your pockets or just using your money to make stadium renovations.

The Marlins aren't just bad. They're underachieving. And when that happens, some of the blame has to go to McCullough, but the other part of it has to go to the front office. McCullough needs to take this job–and his decision-making–more seriously. Because if he doesn't, there's no reason to believe this team's second half will look any different from what is currently going on.