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The Marlins still yearn for more cheap, controllable, high-upside talent to elevate their farm system to an elite level and lay the foundation for sustainable success. Stinking against major league competition this season is a critical step in that process. We don’t need to call it “tanking,” but let’s just say—behind closed doors—Miami’s front office will tolerate plenty of 2019 losses if it means selecting near the top of the 2020 MLB Draft and maximizing their 2020-21 international bonus pool. Fish Stripes will be monitoring this “race” for you (and creating new merch inspired by it).
FanGraphs ran performance projections for every team prior to Opening Day, but also continues to provide rest-of-season projections as the real games get played. See below for details regarding the five worst teams, including the Marlins, Orioles, Royals, Tigers, and Blue Jays.
Tigers
2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 37-85, minus-240
2019 projected record and run differential: 52-110, minus-283
Upcoming schedule: 8/20-8/22 at Astros, 8/23-8/25 at Twins, 8/27-8/29 vs. Indians, 8/30-9/2 vs. Twins
Detroit went 2-5 since last week resulting in losing a win off their year-end projections. They’re so bad they have a shot at history.
Orioles
John Means did not allow a hit through five innings, but things quickly unraveled in the sixth. The Orioles made too many mistakes in a 5-4 loss to Kansas City https://t.co/RjlIRULqLc
— Camden Chat (@CamdenChat) August 20, 2019
2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 39-86, minus-262
2019 projected record and run differential: 53-109, minus-306
Upcoming schedule: 8/20-8/21 vs. Royals, 8/22-8/25 vs. Rays, 8/27-8/28 at Nationals, 8/30-9/1 at Royals
The Orioles lost all six of their games since last publication and are on an eight-game losing streak. They lost three games off their final win total, the greatest single-week loss I can remember since I started doing this column.
Royals
2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 45-80, minus-112
2019 projected record and run differential: 61-101, minus-138
Upcoming schedule: 8/20-8/21 at Orioles, 8/23-8/25 at Indians, 8/26-8/29 vs. A’s, 8/30-9/1 vs. Orioles
The Royals went 2-4. Their year-end numbers did not change.
Marlins
An uncomfortable but important read...The Marlins have ZERO great hitters so far in 2019. We haven't seen evidence that this front office understands how to develop impact bats or discover them on the open market.
— Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) August 19, 2019
Meanwhile, old friends are thriving. https://t.co/AKTZ2FIkTd
2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 45-78, minus-146
2019 projected record and run differential: 60-102, minus-188
Upcoming schedule: 8/20-8/22 at Braves, 8/23-8/25 vs. Phillies, 8/26-8/29 vs. Reds, 8/30-9/1 at Nationals
The Fish went 1-5 and lost two games off their final projections. They stand just a game back of the Royals for third right now with the same number of wins but two fewer losses.
Blue Jays
2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 52-75, minus-53
2019 projected record and run differential: 68-94, minus-71
Upcoming schedule: 8/20-8/22 at Dodgers, 8/23-8/25 at Mariners, 8/27-8/28 vs. Braves, 8/30-9/1 at Astros
The Jays won just two of their five games and dropped two to the Mariners, who dropped out of the Tank Race Five for the time being after winning five games last week.
For those of you who want a Cliff’s Notes version, MLB Network’s Quick Pitch stole a little of our thunder with this graphic Monday evening:
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