Florida Marlins Downfall Is Foreshadowed

With XM Radio and Orioles broadcast commentator Buck Martinez and others already raising a red flag of caution over the Marlins dubious defensive play, baseball analyst Troy E. Renck has joined the chorus with yet a further warning that the team may be headed for a fall from its lofty perch atop the National League East.

"...There are chilling warnings that a serious regression awaits," says Renck in Sunday's editions of The Denver Post. "The Marlins rely too much on the home run, which could spell doom.

"Why? The Marlins rank second in strikeouts in the National League and have the third fewest walks. When those big swings turn into a big breeze, they figure to collide with a long losing streak. That's particularly true for a team whose pitching ranks in the middle of the pack (4.41 ERA) and owns baseball's worst fielding percentage (.977).

"This is a fun team to watch. It's just doubtful that it will hold true come mid-September."