As Sunday afternoon gave way to evening, it became clear that the Florida Marlins season is on the brink of disaster. The Marlins lost again to the Chicago Cubs, dropping 2 of 3 this weekend and falling to 3-7 in their last 10 games. The Fish have hung in there all season, against the odds and doubted by many, they refuse to go away. They led the NL East for the majority of April and May, and spent the dead of summer rotating between 2nd and 3rd place. Now as autumn approaches, the Marlins find their playoff hopes slowly slipping away. As of Sunday night, they are are 4 1/2 games behind the NL East leading New York Mets.

The remaining schedule for the Marlins isn’t easy either, outside their division they are one the road to face San Fransisco, Arizona, and St. Louis. No part of that schedule will be a gimme. On top of that, the Marlins have 6 games each against the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Lets not forget though, this is a team with the lowest payroll in baseball, and it is not even close. They have defied the odds all season and showed that they are in fact a team that is very talented and under appreciated. So lets look at the plus side of this situation. The Marlins have 6 games each against the bottom feeding Washington Nationals and the slumping Atlanta Braves. Not only that, they have those 6 games each against the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, the two teams they are chasing.

The Marlins destiny is in their own hands and it is entirely within their ability to succeed and reach the playoffs. I for one believe they can do it, I still think this team can make the playoffs. They have the advantage that most teams don’t, they have the power to determine their own playoff fate. Defeat the teams below you in the NL East when you face them, and beat the teams you are chasing. It can be done, and I think it will be done.