The Florida Marlins' June swoon didn't just affect the team's position in the NL East standings. It has also had a significant effect on the Marlins' local TV ratings.

According to Sports Business Daily, Marlins games are pulling in a 2.31 local rating this season, down 26 percent from 2010. 

Florida's rating is in the middle of the pack among other teams, but its total viewership of 37,000 households per game is the fifth worst in MLB. That's down 23 percent from 2010.

Only fellow bottom-feeders Houston, Oakland, Washington, and Kansas City are drawing fewer household viewers this season.

South Florida sports fans rarely make time for losing teams, so those numbers should surprise no one. Add in the fact that the team had been competing against Miami Heat playoff games for the first two and a half months of the season, and it's easy to see why the Marlins are struggling to attract TV viewers.

At least the Marlins aren't alone in their ratings struggles. Fifteen other teams have posted lower ratings this season, while only 13 teams have seen higher ratings.

Maybe if the NBA lockout drags on into basketball season, the Marlins could give LeBron James a shot at third base (unless he joins Dwyane Wade taking orders at a KFC). He might not make a great baseball player, but at least everyone in America outside Miami will tune in to root against him.

David Hill is a Miami native and cofounder of Marlins Diehards, the only Florida Marlins blog with perspective on the eccentricities of Marlins fandom.