The Marlins' Opening Day crowd fell well short of a sellout, with many empty seats throughout the ballparkGETTY IMAGES
The "rebranding Marlins are trying to be super fan-friendly" this season, and that philosophy was clear when P Pablo Lopez, in uniform, was "greeting fans stepping off an escalator" before Thursday's season opener against the Rockies, according to Greg Cote of the MIAMI HERALD. Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said, "We get the fact that we have to continue to mend relationships in the community." Cote notes the Opening Day crowd of 25,423 was "well short of a sellout," with "empty blue seats all around the upper decks and beyond the outfield." The Marlins "badly need a face of the franchise to replace" Jeter, and this season will be about "watching for stars to emerge, looking for signs, for hints of promise in the Marlins' grand plan" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/29). Jeter said of Marlins fans, "We want our fan base to come out and support our guys, get to know our players. I think they will enjoy getting to know them and, more importantly, they're going to enjoy how our team goes about playing the game." He added, "We have spent the last 18 months trying to repair the relationship with the community. Contrary to popular belief, we're not in a war zone down here. I think people felt as if we're down here getting destroyed and I cannot leave my house. When I have gone out and about in Miami, spoken to different groups, people are supportive. But I think they are watching to make sure that we keep the promises ... we make. ... We have gotten support. We need more, bottom line" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 3/27).
LITTLE TO OFFER: In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes following the Marlins' 6-3 loss, it is clear why the Marlins "marketed their new ballpark food and new ballpark feel" during the offseason. Hyde: "That's the thing about a rebuild. It sounds right on paper. But try living it day to day" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 3/29). In Miami, Jackson & Wilson note the Marlins entered the season with an Opening Day payroll of $76.1M, the league's third-lowest, and 47% of it is going to P Wei-Yin Chen and 1B Martin Prado. The team's payroll "places them ahead of only" the Rays with $61.9M and the Pirates with $74.3M (MIAMI HERALD, 3/29).
