MIAMI (AP) — For any tape-measure-minded Miami Marlin, a three-digit sign hangs above the center field seats, advertising the distance from home plate as 502 feet.

It's a sign of trouble.

Eager to show how far they can hit the ball in their new park, the Marlins are hardly hitting at all.

They began the season confident they had assembled a contending club to christen their home. They ended the month last in the NL East with an 8-14 record, and poor hitting was the primary culprit.

One theory holds that the spacious ballpark has messed up the Marlins' talented hitters, because they're trying too hard for homers. The distance to the outfield fence is a daunting 386 feet in left-center, 418 in center and 392 in right-center.