Marlins Need Sizzling Streak in August to Counter Their July Slide
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In what became known as a massive mid-season meltdown, the Miami Marlins were mauled for12 straight games in July, the longest losing streak in franchise history and one of the worst of all time.
Once proudly in command of the final spot in the wild card race after June became the best month the club has ever experienced. But as the All-Star Game approached, the team went into a tailspin.
The Fish were hooked from the playoff pool, and they faced questions approaching the MLB trade deadline earlier this month. Were they a contender, or still one year away? Should they buy or sell when August 3 came calling? Would they stay the course and resist the urge to trade superior young talent for tested veterans who might be in South Florida for just a short vacation --- rather than an extended stay?
What Miami Did at Deadline Helped
Thankfully, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix decided that the risk outweighed the potential reward, leaving the team with it's core unit intact as they try to claw their way back into the Wild Card slot they once possessed.
But that 12-game streak is looming over their heads, and they must catch lightning in a bottle. A winning run of about 8-10 consecutive games would put them back into the comfortable spot they once rested in. And it would earn the squad's second-year manager, Clayton McCullough, a huge feather in his cap, as the skipper who sailed the team back to splendor.
The Marlins are currently 3.5 games behind their National League East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies (64-56), for the final Wild Card slot. The pair will face off in a three-game series next week, and obviously, it will be a very significant series for Miami (60-59). Preferably, the Fish will take a broom to the City of Brotherly Love and leave Philly with a sweep. That stretch would also fit in perfectly for the Marlins to reel off about 8 wins in a row.
They need to counter-balance the disastrous effects of their horrfic stretch in July. What about an August onslaught against the rest of MLB? It's still feasible for this team to make the playoffs, but they need to fire up soon and have a 'make-good' for their mid-Summer swoon.
Perhaps the club's manager said it best, when he broke it down to the simplest element of the game. It's one the young Marlins should take to heart, not getting wrapped up in the pressure of a pennant drive — just play.
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