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Fish Bites: Miami Marlins prepared for Opening Day in D.C.

Following an offseason with several trades, roster moves, and front office controversy, the Miami Marlins are prepared to begin the season with a three game series against the Nationals in D.C. Plus links on Jose Fernandez, Ricky Nolasco, and Miguel Olivo.

Greg Fiume

- JUPITER: Miami Marlins closer Steve Cishek humble and thankful for opportunity - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

Coming from a hockey hotbed in the Northeast, Steve Cishek relies on faith and a diving sinker to give the Marlins a reliable closer. Cishek is excited to be the Marlins' new closer, but still feels for Heath Bell, who was traded during the offseason. "I felt for him because I can’t imagine — he’s been doing an unbelievable job for years now and to have a young guy step in ..." Cishek said. "I feel like every person at some point in their career is going to have that happen, no matter what position you’re in."

- Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton might thrive as lone slugging threat - Miami Marlins - MiamiHerald.com

Giancarlo Stanton faces a difficult challenge as the Marlins' only proven power threat. But history might be on his side.

- Miami Marlins sign Miguel Olivo as backup catcher | www.palmbeachpost.com

The Marlins have turned to a familiar face for help behind the plate. Miguel Olivo, who played for the Marlins in 2006-07, signed a major league contract Friday to back up catcher Rob Brantly.

- Dave George: Miami Marlins fans will have to be creative to... | www.palmbeachpost.com

Curling into the fetal position is not a good look on opening day. After two consecutive last-place seasons, however, and with the strong possibility of another on the way, fans of the Miami Marlins are understandably squeamish.

- Miami Marlins face many challenges this season, from the gate... | www.palmbeachpost.com

There’s no sugarcoating the challenge the Marlins face as they prepare to open the season Monday in Washington. They lost 93 games last year with veterans — including a handful of All-Stars — who had proven they could win. This spring, much of their stripped-down roster consists of youngsters with little experience and journeymen rejected by other teams. "We have our work cut out for us,’’ said Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, a Marlins special assistant. "We’re going to have to scratch and claw.’’

- Opening Day starter Ricky Nolasco a reliable presence atop Miami Marlins' rotation | marlins.com: News

Seniority made the decision a rather easy one. Then again, so did Ricky Nolasco's years of service and previous success. There was really little drama in the selection of Nolasco as the Marlins' Opening Day starter. "It means a lot," Nolasco said. "It means that everybody in this room, including coaches and staff, is confident that you will be about to go out there for this first game and set the tone for the season. Obviously, if you do good or bad, it's not going to set the tone, but it's just the confidence that people have in you to be able to take that ball. It's an honor for all starting pitchers."

- Perfect Wade LeBlanc, Placido Polanco power Marlins over Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs | marlins.com: News

Wade LeBlanc and the Marlins shined with a 7-0 shutout against their Triple-A affiliate New Orleans Zephyrs on Saturday. LeBlanc was perfect through four innings, striking out three Zephyrs batters.

- Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals - April 1, 2013 | MLB.com Preview

Although in very different places within the organizations and on the field, the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals will open the season and a three game series on Monday. Ricky Nolasco will be on the mound for the Fish. "Great pitcher," Redmond said of Strasburg, who will face Nolasco. "I've been watching video on him since I got hired. It'll be a great challenge for us. They've obviously got a pretty good team. We'll have our work cut out for us. But I'm excited. We'll be ready for it."'

- Miami Marlins call up top prospect Jose Fernandez | marlins.com: News

Jose Fernandez is on the Marlins' Opening Day roster after all. Miami's decision to promote its top prospect was made largely because of injuries to the rotation. The startling transaction came on arguably the wildest day before a season opener in franchise history. "This has been tugging at us a little bit," Beinfest said of how quickly to promote Fernandez. "We watched him in big league camp. We watched him last year. We watched him go down to the Minor Leagues. He's been just outstanding."

The financial mess at Marlins Park: inside the numbers - Business - MiamiHerald.com
The operators of Miami’s baseball team hoped a new ballpark would save them. Instead, it has exacerbated already glaring problems. This article features a quote from Michael as well insight on the financial problems of Marlins Park.

Around The League

- MLB.com staff predictions for '13 season | MLB.com: News

As the season begins, a panel of 20 writers and reporters, studio analysts and executives from MLB.com were asked which clubs would advance to the postseason and which would eventually be crowned the World Series champion.

- Johan to have season-ending shoulder surgery Tuesday | mets.com: News

Johan Santana will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery on Tuesday, the Mets announced after their final Grapefruit League game of the season against the Orioles on Saturday. Santana has a re-tear of the anterior capsule in his left shoulder, and it will be his second such surgery in 2 1/2 years.

- Projected Opening Day lineups for all 30 clubs | MLB.com: News

Projected Opening Day lineups for all 30 clubs.

- Yankees victorious in return to West Point | MLB.com: News

The popular phrase, "Go Army. Beat Navy," is all over the campus at West Point, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi cannily tried to find a way that it might benefit his team. Army is so fixated on Navy, quipped Girardi, that the Yankees might just get their own free pass on Saturday.

At Fish Stripes

- 2013 Miami Marlins Season Preview: Predicting the Marlins' wins - Fish Stripes

Here at Fish Stripes, we have sat back and projected all of the Miami Marlins' win totals. How well does the team add up in the end? Are the Marlins doomed to a terrible season in 2013?

- Fish Stripes 2013 Top Marlins Prospects: #13-15 - Fish Stripes

Our Fish Stripes Top Marlins Prospects List continues with numbers 13-15, featuring pitcher Mason Hope, outfielder Jesus Solorzano, and third basemen Zack Cox.

- 2013 Miami Marlins Season Preview: Why watch the 2013 Marlins? - Fish Stripes

The Miami Marlins are not going to put out an excellent product in 2013. By all means, it is going to be a difficult season. So why should fans go out and watch this team next season?

- Fish Stripes 2013 Top Marlins Prospects: #16-18 - Fish Stripes

Austin Brice, Kolby Copeland, and Avery Romero make up the 16-18 range in this year's Fish Stripes Top 20 Prospects

- Miami Marlins promote Jose Fernandez to Opening Day roster, Nathan Eovaldi and Hendeson Alvarez to DL For Shoulder Injuries - Fish Stripes
Due to injuries to Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez, the Marlins have promoted top prospect Jose Fernandez to the Opening Day roster and slotted him to pitch fifth in the rotation to start the year.

- Why is Jose Fernandez's promotion a bad thing for the Miami Marlins? - Fish Stripes

The Miami Marlins promoted Jose Fernandez to the starting rotation on what appears to be a permanent basis in 2013. In the second part of the series, we ask why this could be a huge negative for the Fish in 2013 and beyond.

- Why is Jose Fernandez's promotion a good thing for the Miami Marlins? - Fish Stripes
The Miami Marlins promoted top pitching prospect Jose Fernandez to the major league roster, and they plan on keeping him around the entire year. In a two-part series exploring both sides, we ask why this move is a good thing for the Marlins.

- Miami Marlins Jose Fernandez promotion: Fish Stripes author reactions - Fish Stripes
The Miami Marlins have promoted top pitching prospect Jose Fernandez to the major league roster, and the crew at Fish Stripes has an opinion on the matter. Check out the Fish Stripes reactions here!