Marlins Lack Any Punch From Lineup
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Marlins are inept this season, but the true problems facing manager Mike Redmond could possibly overwhelm even the greatest of managers.
The Marlins are dead last in runs, batting average, slugging percentage, and home runs. Not surprisingly, the Marlins have the National League's worst record. It's not from Redmond not trying to spark some type of offense from his lineup.
Redmond has put together 38 different batting orders in 40 games trying to find something to spark the anemic offense. The Marlins' only star, Giancarlo Stanton, has been in and out of the lineup and the team has tried seven players in his cleanup spot, five different leadoff hitters, seven number two hitters and 11 different players in the number seven spot in the lineup.
The Marlins went into Wednesday night averaging 2.8 runs per game, lower than the franchise record set in 1994. The team batting average of .222 would also be a record.
"We definitely have some guys that are struggling," Redmond says. "We need guys to step up. It's not something you need to tell them. They look up there on that big board and can see where they're at. We know we're capable of more offense than this."
This season has quickly become a tryout camp, and on Wednesday rookies Derek Dietrich and Marcell Ozuna batted third and fourth for the second game in a row. Both have fared well in brief stints, with Ozuna hitting .300 after 13 games and Dietrich batting .400 after four games.
"I'm excited to be out there in the lineup and try to contribute every day," Dietrich says. "Wherever they want me to hit I'm going to treat the at bat the same way. Hopefully I'll get the job done."
If he doesn't, he probably won't bat third for long. Redmond expects to keep tweaking.
"Tomorrow could be a totally different lineup," he says.
One change is assured, with catcher Jeff Mathis starting Thursday for the first time this season. That will make it 39 lineups in 41 games.
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