Marlins Trying To Right The Ship
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – There's an old saying that when it rains it pours. If that saying is true, than the Florida Marlins may need to find Noah and his ark.
The Marlins are already without ace pitcher Josh Johnson, who is battling shoulder inflammation. Johnson has been on the disabled list, but hasn't started throwing again and no timetable has been set for his return to the rotation.
Slugger Hanley Ramirez, mired in a season-long slump, was put on the disabled list last week as well. His slump and absence in the lineup has hampered the Marlins' efforts to stay relevant in the NL East race.
Then Wednesday night, Marlins home run machine Mike Stanton was given the night off because he's been in a 1-14 slump that included 7 strikeouts.
"Sometimes he looks like Willie Mays out there," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "Other times, you wonder."
Stanton did pinch hit in the seventh inning, but struck out with the bases loaded. He singled home two runs in the ninth, but the Marlins still lost 3-2 in 10 innings.
Stanton is leading the Marlins with 13 home runs entering Thursday's matchup with the Atlanta Braves. But, he's also had 58 strikeouts in 193 at bats and is hitting just .254 on the season. With runners in scoring position, his average drops to .222.
But being in the major leagues for just one year, the Marlins have expected Stanton to eventually go through some growing pains.
"He's learning to be a hitter," Rodriguez said. "He has outstanding numbers for any major leaguer, but he has also been very inconsistent."
Don't point the blame at Stanton or missing Johnson and Ramirez for the fact that the Marlins are winless in June. The entire team is batting just .148 with runners in scoring position during the last 6 games.
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