Jeter’s Marlins could become a good team — but when?
The Phillies had just become the latest visiting team to win a game in Miami, and from the top of baseball’s food chain, $330 million man Bryce Harper tried to be kind as he assessed the low-budget, low-expectation Marlins.
“They’ve got a good pitching staff,” Harper said. “They’re young. They’re energetic. It’s going to be a good club.” But when? For the rebuilding Marlins, this season is about trying to get closer to competitive, and in the standings there’s little sign of progress.
Starting with a loss to Harper and the Phillies, the Marlins dropped six of their final seven games before the All-Star break, which left their record at 33-55, by far the worst in the National League. The Marlins are assured of their 10th consecutive losing season, and even by the franchise’s low standards, this season’s .375 winning percentage is bad.
At the break a year ago, they were 41-57 (.418). Two years ago, shortly before CEO Derek Jeter’s group bought the franchise and began to reboot, the Marlins reached the break at 4146 (.471). They are on pace for only the third 100-loss season in team history, and the first since 2013. This is improvement? Maybe. There are reasons for encouragement. Young starters Sandy Alcantara, Caleb Smith, Pablo Lopez, Trevor Richards and Jordan Yamamoto have all showed signs they can be part of a winning staff, and the rotation ranks seventh in the majors with an ERA of 3.86. Alcantara made the All-Star team, and Yamamoto has been a pleasant surprise, going 3-0 with a 1.24 ERA in his first five major league starts.
Performances have been spottier among everyday players, with first baseman Garrett Cooper (.848 OPS in 186 at-bats) and catcher Jorge Alfaro (.274 batting average) giving the strongest indication they should be part of Jeter’s long-term plan.
The Marlins rank last in the NL in runs, triples, homers, walks, on-base percentage and slugging. And while Jeter’s group has made progress in efforts to fortify the farm system, there appears to be little imminent offensive help in the pipeline.