Now is the time ...
If they weren't the Marlins, a more fitting name for Miami's big-league team might be the Chameleons.
Once again, they are changing colors.
The Marlins on Thursday rolled out new uniform colors and a re-designed "M" logo, one more cosmetic touch in a total franchise makeover as new owners Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter continue to distance themselves from the past.
So out goes the orange uniforms introduced by previous owner Jeffrey Loria when the team moved into Marlins Park in 2012.
In comes, officially, Caliente Red, Miami Blue, Midnight Black and Slate Grey _ a scheme that is kinder to the eye. The block "M" logo _ one that featured five colors _ is also giving way to a curvier, more stylish "M."
"The logo and colors aim to capture the rich baseball history, diversity, and energy of the area," the Marlins said in a release. "The pairing of Miami Blue and Caliente Red pop off of the base color of Midnight Black, energizing the script and giving the logo an electric and vibrant look emblematic of the Miami energy and nightlife."
All of it means that hard-core Marlins fans, whose closets and drawers already contain T-shirts, caps and whatnot from the team's early years when the primary color was teal, must now find room for more outdated souvenirs.
Laurence Leavy (a.k.a. "Marlins Man") said he will continue to wear his orange Marlins jersey and visor at sporting events he attends around the country _ at least for the time being.
"Then I'll see how I feel," Leavy said. "I might change next year."
Leavy said he would have preferred the Marlins return to their past by going back to teal, a "unique" color among Major League teams.
"There are a lot of teams that have red, white and blue," said the Marlins' most identifiable fan. "Baseball is about tradition and history, and the Marlins, for some reason, don't believe in that."
Leavy said it's probably no coincidence that the new colors are similar to those found on the flags of baseball-crazy countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic _ not to mention the U.S.
The Marlins have launched a marketing campaign geared toward South Florida's Hispanic community as they try to fill seats. The Marlins had the lowest attendance in the majors last season and have dealt with poor crowds for years.
Then again, the Marlins haven't won for years, either _ another issue that new ownership is trying to rectify through a massive player rebuilding effort. The Marlins' nine-year drought since their last winning season is the longest dry spell in the majors. They haven't reached the playoffs since 2003.
