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The Miami Marlins are making all the wrong kinds of history to start the 2018 season.
- The Miami Marlins added yet another embarrassing mark to their 2018 season on Wednesday, getting outdrawn by one of their minor league affiliates.
- The Marlins brought in just 6,150 fans to witness their home loss to the New York Mets, while the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp hosted 6,960 patrons for their home opener.
- It's just the latest crushing moment in an already brutal season for the Marlins franchise.
The Miami Marlins have not had a great start to the 2018 season, but the team reached a new low on Wednesday night when their attendance was less than one of their minor league affiliates - the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
As noted by ESPN's Darren Rovell, the Marlins' attendance during their 4-1 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday night was just 6,150, while 6,960 fans showed up for the Jumbo Shrimp's home opener the same night. The lagging attendance numbers are nothing new to the Marlins, leading to some depressing images of empty stadium seats.
To make matters worse, the Marlins' poor attendance numbers to start the year have come against a string of nationally popular opponents that should have been solid draws, including the Cubs, Red Sox, and Mets. If the Marlins can't get fans to come out for those games, it's tough to imagine them doing better when the Cincinnati Reds are in town for a three-game series.
The Marlins knew they would have a tough year ahead of them, but things have gone even worse than that for the team since Derek Jeter purchased the franchise in 2017. Since then, the Marlins have gutted their roster of star power, most notably sending reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees for prospects that will cost much less against the team's books.
In what can now be seen as a sign of things to come, the very first pitch the Marlins threw was sent out of the park in a shockingly comical moment to start the year, and things have really only gotten worse from there. Fans have revolted, even the infamous "Marlins Man" who had held season tickets with the team since the franchise moved to Miami.
Now, the Marlins ownership group is attempting to claim citizenship in the British Virgin Islands as a part of a bizarre legal strategy that could even further alienate the local community.
All told, fans heading to watch the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp instead might have the right idea - the double-A team won their home opener 9-5, and offers a $1 beer night. Compared to the Marlins, that seems like a better experience for your average Florida baseball fan.