Marlins' June Looks Just Like 2011
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Marlins are looking a lot like the 2011 Florida Marlins in the month of June.
Last year, the Marlins finished with a 5-23 record in the month of June. The disastrous June put the Marlins too far behind to catch up and become a serious playoff contender for the rest of the season. It also led to the firing of manager Edwin Rodriguez. The Fish finished the season with a 72-90 record.
Fast forward to this year and the Marlins are once again in a June swoon that may end up just as bad as 2011. With four games left in the month, the Marlins are currently 5-17 in June. If the Marlins lose out over the next four games, they'll finish 5-21 in June.
The Marlins' woes come from the batting order and the pitching rotation. The Marlins' bats have been anemic throughout the month, with the team scoring 1 run or less on seven different occasions. Out of those seven games, the Marlins have been shut out three times in June.
Looking at the top of the batting order, the Marlins bats have become allergic to hitting the baseball.
Leadoff hitter Jose Reyes was one of the lone bright spots through the middle of the month, but over his last 10 games he's hit just .220, has drawn 5 walks, and has struck out seven times.
Hanley Ramirez has finally started to hit better from the three spot in the lineup. Ramirez has hit .286 over his last 10 games, but has no home runs and just 4 RBI's over the same stint. Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is struggling throughout June.
Stanton is hitting just .167 over his last 10 games and has seen his average drop from roughly .297 when June started, to just .271 as of Tuesday.
The Marlins' free fall has seen them fall all the way to a tie for dead last in the NL East as June comes to a close. It doesn't get any easier for Miami easier, at least schedule-wise.
Miami will finish off a series against the St. Louis Cardinals this week; then play a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies starting Friday. The Marlins then head on the road for six games against Milwaukee and St. Louis before the All-Star break starts on July 8.
