Marlins Jon Berti adds element of speed to the lineup

The Marlins feel the need for speed with Jon Berti in the lineup.

I remember as a youngster playing football video games where John Madden would say that “speed kills” as stars would run past defenders to score touchdowns. I never thought I would use a football reference in a baseball story, but here I am doing just that as I talk about the Miami Marlins and their need for speed at the end of the 2019 season.

The Marlins are the only MLB team that has not cracked the 100-home run plateau this season, which speaks to the franchise’s need for power hitters and more pop in the middle of the lineup in South Florida. Manager Don Mattingly made no apologies for the team’s lack of power prior to the…