"I don't know about the word 'disappointment,'" Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said after the Marlins failed to sign Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes. "We wanted to add another quality player. We tried on Pujols. We tried on C.J. Wilson. We tried on Cespedes.
Yes, the Marlins tried to sign Cespedes, and yes, for just a second, half of the league thought he would be batting against pitchers within baseball's premier pitching-loaded division. However, early in the week, manager Ozzie Guillen said that Cespedes was "no sure thing", and that you "never know what is going to happen". Not being afraid to express his opinion and make his voice heard, Guillen thinks the team he has today is good enough to compete with just about any of baseball's toughest opponents.
-New Marlins' minor league hitting coordinator Barry Moss has also spent some time in Hollywood, recently playing the role of a scout in "Moneyball". Moss was able to interact directly with most of the main characters throughout the film. Moss has said that his "first love was always as a hitting coach".
-Anibal Sanchez, who was effective and efficient in 2011, is focused on preparing for the upcoming season. It is a big year for Sanchez, who will become a free agent after the season.-Former Cub Carlos Zambrano is anxious to pitch for the Marlins this season, and grateful for the opportunity the Marlins have given him. The Cubs will be paying most of the remainder of Zambrano's contract. Zambrano, too, could use free agency as motivation.
-Shortstop Jose Reyes is still bothered by the lack of interest during the off season by his former team, the Mets. While the Marlins aggressively pursued Reyes, the Mets showed no interest. Reyes has been seen with a different haircut, according to comply with Marlins policy, since.
-Despite being injured for the majority of 2011, Josh Johnson is determined and confident after an off season of workouts and bullpen sessions. Johnson is seen as the key to the Marlins' success as many. Johnson is the ace of a rotation that has high hopes of getting deep into games.
-It has been determined that the Marlins will be featured on Showtime's "The Franchise". The show will definitely be entertaining, with the unique personalities of Ozzie Guillen, Logan Morrison, Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Zambrano being featured.
-According to multiple sources, the number of people who have entered the online lottery to try and be eligible to purchase up to two opening day tickets is up to 52,000. The Marlins play the St.Louis Cardinals on April 4 to open their new stadium.
-If the way they were joking around is any indication of how their chemistry will be throughout the season, Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez will be best friends on the left side of the infield, just as they appeared to be at the Marlins' charity golf tournament yesterday
-Hall of Fame catcher and former Marlins announcer Gary Carter passed away last night in Palm Beach. Carter had been battling cancer since May of 2011.
Around The League
-Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn underwent a 14 hour procedure on Wednesday to remove cancer cells located inside his cheek.
-The New York Yankees are still engaging in talks, trying to trade pitcher A.J. Burnett. Burnett has most recently been linked to the Pirates.
-Mets pitcher Johan Santana is set to throw a bullpen session today, the first time he has thrown a baseball since September.
-Once again, the Phillies are the early favorites to win the NL East and the World Series.
At Fish Stripes
-Jeffery Loria has owned the Marlins for quite some time. How successful has he truly been?
-The Marlins have drafted several young players, but some are not turning out the way they had hoped.