The Marlins yesterday “bid farewell” to Sun Life Stadium with the team playing its final game there before “moving to its new ballpark in Little Havana,” according to Anthony Chiang of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. A crowd of 34,615 attended the Marlins game against the Nationals and “just like in the team's first-ever game, a knuckleball from Charlie Hough to batterymate Benito Santiago began the festivities.” The flashback theme “was prevalent throughout the stadium,” with Marlins “greats being shown on the big screen in between innings.” Postgame festivities included the Marlins' all-time team being unveiled, as well as the “Top 10 memories in franchise history, and were capped off by Jeff Conine installing the two World Series flags on the site of the new ballpark.” The team at the end of the fifth inning “made its move official as the current squad, led by manager Jack McKeon, joined owner Jeffrey Loria in left field.” Together, they “ended the countdown and tore down the final number to signal the end of the Marlins' run at Sun Life Stadium” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 9/29). In Ft. Lauderdale, Juan Rodriguez noted players “from just about each of the club’s 19 seasons in Miami Gardens were present,” as well as the “first owner Wayne Huizenga and team president Don Smiley.” Loria presented each member of the all-time team "with a framed Marlins jersey and all addressed the crowd” (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 9/28). Marlins President David Samson: “The last rain delay. The last time sweating. The last time being in a football ballpark. The last time playing on a field that has cleat marks on it, and hash marks and dash marks, and other teams’ logos -- the last time ever feeling as though we are not in a place that is actually our home.” In Miami, Clark Spencer notes some of the “loudest applause was reserved for McKeon” (MIAMI HERALD, 9/29).
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: In West Palm Beach, Greg Stoda notes the Marlins yesterday named Ozzie Gullien as their new manager, signing him to a “four-year contract worth $10 million.” Loria at the press conference said, "Welcome to a new era in Marlins baseball. Read my lips. I am very happy." Loria said that the “re-branding of the franchise as the Miami Marlins will begin in November,” but Stoda writes it “started Wednesday” with the introduction of Gullien (PALM BEACH POST, 9/29). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes, “There’s no downside to Ozzie. No downside for fans. No downside for players who want a fun atmosphere. … There's no downside for anybody, except perhaps club owner Jeffrey Loria, who just made Ozzie one of the highest-paid managers in baseball.” Still, Gullien will get “a ton of publicity for a publicity-starved team,” and will “give the new era a fresh voice” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 9/29). Meanwhile, the Marlins are “expected to spend anywhere from $70 million to $80 million, though that figure could go higher" if Loria "authorizes a greater infusion.” Samson said, “It is absolutely going higher than it is this year ($57.7 million). Our player payroll will be higher than it has ever been in franchise history.” But he added, “Do I think it’s going to be $100 million? I do not” (MIAMI HERALD, 9/29).
FISH TALES: Yesterday's edition of ESPN2’s “Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable” featured host Dan Le Batard talking with Zoo Miami Communications Dir Ron Magill about the Marlins putting aquariums in their new stadium. Le Batard said it is a great idea until RF Mike Stanton "hits a 100-mile-per-hour foul ball into an aquarium, and then all of sudden the kids are watching a bunch of fish flop on the field.” Magill said this is “not really” good for the fish because they are “extremely sensitive to vibrations." Magill: "I don’t know how you’re going to tell anybody that you’re not going to sense those vibrations in those tanks. There’s going to be a lot of trial and error and probably several fish species they’ll go through before they settle in on something ... They’ve got some serious challenges ahead of them to keep those fish alive and healthy.” Le Batard jokingly said, “But only seven or eight people are going to go to the games!” Magill replied, “Not the first year! By the second year, yes, but by the second year the fish may be dead!” (“Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable,” ESPN2, 9/28).
