Limiting mistakes vital to Marlins' success

WASHINGTON -- Executing the little things looms big for the Marlins in their hopes to building toward being a contender.

The team lacks the firepower offensively to overcome too many mistakes.

Miami's has got off to a fast start at the plate. But as the season settles in, the club will likely be involved in plenty of close games.

In the Marlins' two losses on their homestand, they committed more than one error.

"Those are things we need to work out," manager Mike Redmond said. "We've talked a lot about eliminating our mistakes, offensively, defensively, and pitching as well. Really, that's the key from an average year to a great year. We have to make the plays.

"We talked about that all spring, 27 outs. We're not going to be able to be good enough to give teams more than that. The nights that we do, we're probably going to be in trouble. We have to make the plays. That gives us the best chance."

The miscues are not just in the field. Already, a few pitchers have been unsuccessful dropping sacrifice bunts.

"Offensively, we have to situational hit," Redmond said. "We've got to be able to drive runs in. That's the key. That's something we've struggled with in the past."