Consistent winning matters far more than consistent broadcast for Miami Marlins

[Sean Millerick]

In case you haven't heard, the Miami Marlins have made some changes to their broadcasting team. 

Kidding! If you're reading this article, you're well aware. Hopefully, that's due to the fine reporting of Kevin Barral you sought out on this very website. But, unless you spend less time on social media than Clayton McCullough, it's probably also due to the absolute firestorm this has caused in Marlins social media circles. 

As for the changes? Personally, I think it's a mixed bag. However, I don't think it's unreasonable to see how one takeaway from the adulation Tommy Hutton received this year, and that Rich Waltz received for his one-inning return, was that less could be more in the booth. On the other side of things, I'd wager that even the most objective and seasoned journalists in this market could still be feeling pretty raw after a summer full of financially driven South Florida media firings. 

Kevin, Isaac and Ely discuss the Marlins parting ways with Kyle Sielaff after a two-year run as their television voice, plus the other familiar faces who won't be returning in 2027. https://t.co/EPNVcsfrLK

— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) October 11, 2026

 

In short, it's easy to see the Marlins wanting to improve their broadcasts. Based on his fine work this year, it's equally easy to see how Jack McMullen could be seen as an elite broadcasting asset that had to be kept no matter what. Unfortunately, it's also easy to understand how the Marlins remain an easy target any time they do something that could be argued—fairly or not—to involve finances. Even if every decision every MLB team makes tends to be about finances in some way.

Of course, the only reason any of this matters is that the Marlins don't win. 

Not more than they lose, and certainly not consistently. That hasn't happened yet. The last time the Marlins even had consecutive winning seasons was 2009. They've never made the playoffs in consecutive years. If you throw out 2020, as everyone but Bruce Sherman and the Dodgers do, Sherman has only had one winning season.  Suffice it to say, Khaled didn't exactly have the Marlins in mind when he dropped All I Do Is Win. 

Meanwhile, the Marlins are right near the bottom in terms of payroll. Just like the Guardians and Rays. Even the Brewers are well outside the Top 15 spenders. Yet all three are still playing in October.

Worse still, despite low spending, Cleveland and Milwaukee have had more winning seasons in the past decade than Miami has had in their entire history. Tampa is one short of tying that mark. Does anyone honestly think those clubs would receive this much flack if they culled their broadcasting crews? 

Zero chance. 

That being said, higher spending even without winning results would save Miami a lot of the fire they receive, and it must be said that timing is just as much to blame here. If this story broke after Thanksgiving? After a splash signing and/or Sandy extension? The rancor this news was met with drops dramatically. Unfortunately for the Marlins, baseball's calendar left them in the position of needing to make these moves first, and roster improvements second. 

Ultimately, it's clear to everyone, media pundits included, that things are getting better in Miami. The organization is building something and has been recognized for that. Yet until that starts resulting in those promised consistent winning, playoff caliber seasons? The Marlins will continue not to get the benefit of the doubt.

Winning is the cure all for this team, far more than any broadcasting or spending change. The sooner that happens, the better.

 

 

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