Every number I look at for this team show a team that cannot win, or does not now how to win. They already fired their manager, Fredi Rodriguez, but his replacement is off to a 3-7 record since then. They had a losing record in interleague play. Have completed just one winning month in May when they went 15-14, and with an overall record of 37-43 they find themselves 9.5 games behind the division leading Atlanta Braves.
As an offensive unit they are hitting .264 which is the third highest mark among the National League teams. They have scored 374 runs by getting 721 hits. Both of those numbers are in the top five of the 16 team senior league. Of their hits 143 of them were doubles, 14 were triples, and 74 more were home runs. Those numbers have the offensive output of this team sliding back towards the middle of the NL clubs. They have struck out a very high 632 times, and have drawn 253 walks.
We start to see a lot of problems with the pitching staff. Beyond Josh Johnson who is 8-3 with a 1.82 ERA, the starting five have been pretty bad. The other four starting pitchers are 23-23 on the year. The staff ERA is pretty high at 4.07, and the staff has recorded 567 strike outs and issued 260 walks. Their closer, Leo Nunez, has converted 16 saves and has a 3-2 record with a 3.31 ERA.
The big questions about this team before the start of the season were if the starting rotation was strong enough, and if Cameron Maybin’s time had finally arrived. The starting rotation needs work, even after the lat spring addition of Nate Robertson; this is a unit that still needs a special something. Since Maybin has been optioned back to Triple A affiliate New Orleans Zephyrs, the answer to that question would appear to be no.
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