It was another rough day for baseball in South Florida. For the Marlins, Jose Fernandez the only spotlight that can be found on the roster pitched a great first start only to have it taken away by a bad closing effort from the defense. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Steve Cishek only had to get one out to secure the win for Fernandez but instead lets up a liner from Marlon Byrd down the 3rd base line and it would prove to be the walk off RBI single. Just when it seemed Miami might get something good, it finishes expectedly bad.
Yes it's early and there's still a lot of baseball, but already through two series and the Marlins only have one win to take away from it. Clearly Marlins fans are right to boycott going to games, this team is the worst in baseball. Lots of prospects, inexperienced staff and an All-Star, Giancarlo Stanton, that in some time will start to check out from the season. The only reason for me to go is to check out the other teams, already got my ticket behind home plate to watch the Upton brothers come to town. It will most likely be a batting competition for which one will have the most RBI's and highest batting average at the end of the series. Plus my friend who's a Braves fan says beers and driving is on him, so there's that. But if you are actually going to the games expecting to get a great baseball night in, night out I envy your commitment. Right now I've got none of it until this team and organization can prove they have the fans and city's best interests in mind.
In the Gables, the Hurricanes didn't fare much better. After tying the 3 game series with #5 Florida State last night 6 - 0 and bringing hope back to Alex Rodriguez Park, Miami went back to looking sloppy at the plate and committing errors in the Infield resulting in Runs. It was tied at one a piece in the second inning, then a wild pitch from left hander Andrew Suarez got the ball rolling for FSU, then a couple of singles and an error later it's 5 - 1. Miami, 21 - 14, now sits at the bottom of the ACC Coastal Division behind Duke with a conference record of 6 - 9; and for the first time in decades might actually miss out on the NCAA Tournament this season. Hurricanes fans are slowly losing faith in head skipper Jim Morris who is a legend in Canes Baseball, but it seems he's losing his touch and now faces an angry fan base demanding a winner. And rightfully so, over the past couple of years Morris has not been able to make a deep run into the postseason resulting in early exits and missed opportunities with exceptional talent. Now as names such as Dale Carey, Brad Fieger, and David Thompson struggling to get their footing halfway through the season, it's up to Morris to find the winning solution in an equation that has so many question marks and variables it would make any mathematician scratch his head.
With baseball out of the picture, it's up to the Miami Heat to keep Miami sports fans in the green; not to mention the Miami Hurricanes currently undergoing Spring Practices. But ever since the emergence of the Canes basketball program and the Heat's streak, it would seem Miami has officially moved on from America's favorite past time. If both teams have any hope of keeping their fans changes will need to be made, and most importantly, they'll have to REALLY shake the boat to gain back popularity. Two things that don't seem to be coming anytime in the near future.
Keep It Classy
