To gain a little perspective on all this, let's travel back in time.

The Marlins played their first game ever in 1993. I was on hand for the inaugural game of the franchise, played at what was then called Joe Robbie Stadium. The Marlins won that opening game, beating the Dodgers behind the baffling knuckleball of the ageless Charlie Hough.

I doubt many of you can remember some of those early Marlin players, the ones who were cast-offs from other teams and played their hearts out in the sweltering humidity of a South Florida summer. These guys finished dead last but the fans loved them anyway.

I'm talking about guys like Orestes Destrada, who anchored first base and an unheard of second baseman named Brett Barbarie, who is still unheard of. I'm talking about a fleet-footed centerfielder named Chuckie Carr, who looked and acted just like Willy Mays Hayes in the movie "Major League."

I'm talking about an anonymous infielder by the name of Alex Arias and a right fielder named Junior Felix. I'm talking about an Opening Day centerfielder named Scott Pose, who hit over .400 in spring training and was back in the minors by Memorial Day.

Who are these guys?

They were the heart and soul of the Marlins' first team. Other names you might recognize from that first-year roster include Benito Santiago, Jeff Conine and Robb Nen. Other notables included an aging Dave Magadan and shortstop Walt Weiss, who collected the first RBI in Marlin history.

I wax nostalgic about these guys because I must have seen them play about 50 times that first summer. Considering the horrors of a Miami summer, that was no small feat and I suspect that may be a contributing factor in Loria's decision to try to get the Marlins out of Dodge as fast as he can.

Dade and Broward Counties have both balked at anteing up the funds to build the Marlins a new stadium with a retractable roof, something sorely needed considering the hazards of South Florida weather. Florida leads the league every year in rain delays, making going to the ballpark an iffy proposition for even the most devout fan. Further, the humidity is stifling. Attending a Marlins game in August is taking your life into your own hands, even after dark.

The net result is, the fans stay away in droves.

Another factor in the poor attendance is the history of the franchise itself. Huizinga opened the coffers, starting in 1995 and, by 1997, had assembled a competitive team that won the Wild Card, marched through the playoffs, and defeated Cleveland in a dramatic seven-game World Series.

In only its fifth year of existence, the Florida team had won it all. That's when the trouble started.

By May 1998, just about every player of worth was gone from the team as Huizinga initiated the biggest fire sale in baseball history. Moises Alou, Gary Sheffield, Devon White, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and fan favorite Jeff Conine were all traded away before May. The pitching staff was gutted as well.

Fans didn't take kindly to all this and it took a good five years to win back their loyalty. Then, in 2003, the Marlins came out of nowhere with a bevy of young, talented players and won the World Series for a second time. Enter Jeffrey Loria.

Loria stayed the course for two seasons, hoping to build on the 2003 success and get a new ballpark. It was not to be. Florida was competitive in 2004 but failed to make the post-season. Last year the team faded fast down the stretch.

As a result, Loria initiated a second fire sale. Only two quality players, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, remain on the Florida roster. This is not a team that will bring South Florida fans out in the heat and humidity of a summer night.

Chances are the Marlins will be gone by 2007, playing either in San Antonio or Las Vegas. It's a shame really.