Update: Marlins sans Hanley Still Suck

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald has the update:

Ramirez was hitting just .243, nearly 100 points lower than his league-leading .342 average in 2009, when he landed on the disabled list for the second time this season. Despite his off season, the Marlins have tanked in his absence.

The Marlins are 50-39 in games Ramirez has started and an abysmal 9-33 when his name has not appeared on the lineup card. 

With Hanley, the Marlins are a bubble team; without, they are the 1962 Mets. Think of how wide the disparity might be if Hanley were playing to his usual standards (1899 Cleveland Spiders, anyone?).

Hanley's absence is not the only reason for the Marlins' struggles (Josh Johnson's injury is also quite significant, as the Marlins haven't even been able to come up with a consistent replacement; instead they have trotted out a panoply of replacement-level starters). Nonetheless, next time you find yourself arguing with some mouth-breather who wants the Marlins to trade Ramirez, you've got the perfect rebuttal.