Through April, how 2024 Marlins compare to 1998 Marlins

[Ely Sussman]

More than a month into the MLB regular season, this is still on pace to be the worst team in Marlins history.

The toxic vibes surrounding the 1998 Marlins are unlikely to ever be replicated. Before the champagne could dry following the franchise's first World Series title celebration, most of that team's key contributors vanished via free agency or trade. From the get-go, there wasn't the faintest possibility of contending for a postseason berth despite having accomplished so much the year before.

Although the dysfunction of the 2024 Marlins will not elicit quite as much anger from the fanbase, this team is stunningly comparable from a statistical standpoint so far. A bevy of embarrassing records that have stood for more than a quarter-century are in peril of changing hands, and some of them already have through the first month of competition.

1998 Marlins: 54-108 record, minus-256 run differential

2024 Marlins: on pace for 37-125 record, minus-329 run differential

During March/April 1998, the Marlins went 9-18 with a minus-26 run differential. That included an 11-game losing streak, which is still tied for the longest such streak in Fish history. They had fallen eight games back of the nearest National League playoff spot.

During March/April 2024, the Marlins went 7-24 with a minus-63 run differential. That included separate losing streaks of nine and seven games in length, the former occurring at the very start of the regular season. They have fallen 9.5 games back of the nearest NL playoff spot even with the implementation of two additional Wild Card spots per league. All this despite having had the advantage of playing 18 games in their home ballpark (tied for the most of any MLB team). It's the worst 31-game start that the Marlins have ever endured.

The 1998 Marlins actually had a deep, respectable lineup early on. Outfielder Cliff Floyd (.260/.390/.542, 8 HR, 4 SB through one month) was their best all-around performer, but Gary Sheffield, Derrek Lee and Craig Counsell each had been hitting well themselves. Florida's .743 OPS was slightly better than the National League average!

The offensive disparity is hysterical. To repeat, .743 OPS for the opening month of the 1998 season. This year, meanwhile, the Marlins' leader in OPS among players to receive semi-regular playing time is...Vidal Bruján at .741. There are zero consistently good hitters in Miami right now. Quite a feat of futility while living in the universal DH era.

The 1998 offense cooled off soon after April ended in large part because of a May 14 blockbuster that sent away Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Jim Eisenreich and Charles Johnson. While Peter Bendix's front office will not be hesitant to trade productive veterans, it's fairly safe to assume that they'll wait deeper into the season before making moves of that magnitude.

The 2024 team is edging out 1998 in run prevention by a quarter-run per game, overcoming appallingly sloppy defense and a high volume of pitching injuries in the process. The '98 club would go on to allow the second-most runs in the majors (923); the current club is on pace to allow 909. If we are to conservatively pencil in Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Max Meyer for 45 more combined starts between now and season's end, there will be meaningful improvement.

 

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Hopefully, the 1998 vs. 2024 comparisons do not linger all season, but that is up to the Marlins to get their s*** together.

Through May '98, they had a 17-38 record. Another installment of this article series awaits next month if the Marlins still have fewer than 20 wins by then.

 

May 2024 schedule

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