Because a) preseason expectations are opinion, not fact, and different people have different predictions. If you thought they would win 90 games this year, they are significantly underachieving. Conversely if you thought they would win 75 games they are actually overachieving. Do you think they are overachieving? b) preseason predictions don't factor in injuries, minor league call ups, trades, etc. They are an opinion based on a roster snapshot in time. IMO they're worthless come opening day. c) a simple record does not tell the whole story. As evidence, I cite the 2023 MN Twins. They are losing tons of winnable games due to record-pace hitting futility, poor fundamentals, poor bullpen management, poor roster construction, lack of effort/caring, etc. If they were scrappy and losing tight games due to a lot of bad breaks, different story, but if we only judge them against the preseason predications we'd say all of those failures/flaws are acceptable because they are on pace to meet someone's preseason prediction. d) and perhaps most importantly, it lets the team off the hook. Instead of owning the 2023 failure the club and its defenders can say, "hey this is who we thought they were, nothing to see here" which basically guarantees 2024 will be just like 2023, 2022, and 2021.
So I guess I'll ask: given that the club is right on track toward your prediction, do you think this has been a successful season so far?