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I should start this by explaining that I come from baseball crazed island in the Caribbean called Puerto Rico. Baseball fans know Puerto Rico as the place that gave the world Roberto Clemente and Roberto Alomar. The rest of the world collectively asks "What the hell is Porto Rico?".
On April 1, 2014 MTV2 premiered their new show Off The Bat from the MLB Fan Cave. Boy did the series start off with a smash! Our own Giancarlo Stanton filmed a segment with one of their hosts, the lovely Melanie Iglesias. What did Giancarlo smash?
Jose Fernandez had no problem with the way the way the Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez stood and admired his 430-foot solo home run off him in the sixth inning Monday night. In fact, the only thing exchanged afterward were smiles and good-natured trash talking between two guys who became friends after playing together in last year's All-Star Game.
As reported by Miami Herald colleague Barry Jackson, minor league third baseman Colin Moran has a knee injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for three weeks. Fortunately for Moran and the Marlins, there are no tears. According to the Marlins, Moran has a MCL sprain in his left knee. Moran was expected to start the season at Single A Jupiter, and the Marlins are in no great hurry to have their top draft pick of a year ago in a big-league uniform by the end of the season.
-Casey McGehee keys Marlins’ rally past Rockies in 8-5 win | www.palmbeachpost.com
Sometimes a player’s contributions can be found throughout the box score. Other times they are hidden, coming in ways that are difficult to find. On Thursday at Marlins Park, Casey McGehee’s fingerprints were all over the Marlins’ 8-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies in ways that were clear and some not as obvious.
-Miami Marlins: Greg Dobbs nearing pinch-hit milestone - Sun Sentinel
One of the Marlins’ 14 hits in Monday’s 10-1 win over the Rockies was a Greg Dobbs pinch-hit single in the sixth. Dobbs can boast 96 career pinch-hits, tying him with Dave Clark and Greg Norton for 12th on the all-time list. He’s all but sure to become the 12th plays since 1974, according to STATS LLC, to reach triple figures.
-Miami Marlins: Mike Redmond close to using replay challenge Tuesday - Sun Sentinel
Manager Mike Redmond used his first replay challenge Wednesday. On two occasions Tuesday he came close. The first play was in the second, when Garrett Jones scored from first on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia double to left. Rockies' catcher Wilin Rosario had the plate blocked, which under the new rules is a no-no unless the catcher has the ball.
-Dobbs approaching pinch-hit milestone | marlins.com: News
Greg Dobbs is close to joining some exclusive company. The Marlins veteran already holds the distinction of being the Major League's active leader with 96 career pinch-hits. With four more, he would be just the 12th player in the history of the game with at least 100.
-Stanton keeps Marlins' bullpen on alert | marlins.com: News
It's not often relievers in the bullpen take cover on a home run. But not every home run packs the turbo-charged boost of a Giancarlo Stanton blast. On Wednesday night, Stanton ripped a laser shot to right field that not only made it over the wall at Marlins Park, it caromed off an auxiliary strip, and almost bounced and hit Mike Dunn.
Around The League
-The Rays' young pitching trio has big-time potential. | SportsonEarth.com : Marc Normandin Article
The Tampa Bay Rays are hoping this year's pitching trio -- Alex Cobb, Matt Moore and Chris Archer -- will live up to their huge potential, unlike 2010's core of Matt Garza, James Shields and David Price. All three are young and cheap to boot.
-Duda earns spot as everyday first baseman | mets.com: News
No more sharing time, no more mixing and matching. Starting Friday, Lucas Duda will be the Mets' starting first baseman.
-Papi Twitter takeover set for Fenway Park opener | MLB.com: News
David Ortiz will be tweeting via @MLB, @RedSox and @davidortiz on Friday morning from 8:30-10:30 ET, and fans will be able to send him questions to answer in his own inimitable fashion. Fans will get to see Ortiz at his house and at Fenway Park as the Red Sox prepare for their game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
-David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia headline most popular jerseys | MLB.com: News
Two members of the World Series champion Red Sox -- designated hitter David Ortiz and second baseman Dustin Pedroia -- are at the top of the current list of most popular Major League Baseball player jerseys at the outset of the 2014 regular season.
At Fish Stripes
-Jose Fernandez's spectacular 2014 debut - Fish Stripes
The Miami Marlins were hoping for another strong season out of Jose Fernandez, and his 2014 debut versus the Colorado Rockies gave the Fish exactly what they wanted to see.
If the Miami Marlins' season opening series against the Colorado Rockies is any indication of what to expect from the Marlins bats in 2014, then Miami can expect a dramatic increase in wins.
-Nathan Eovaldi's start: A tale of two fastballs - Fish Stripes
Miami Marlins starter Nathan Eovaldi looked as though he was heading towards a career mark in strikeouts on Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies. What worked and did not work for him that night?
-Miami Marlins' first instant replay illustrates kinks in the system - Fish Stripes
Marlins skipper Mike Redmond made history on Wednesday night by making the club's first challenge using Major League Baseball's new instant replay system on a call at second base.
-Miami Marlins' Ed Lucas has surgery, rehab may be delayed - Fish Stripes
Miami Marlins' infielder Ed Lucas, who began the season on the disabled list, had surgery on his left hand on Wednesday. Lucas' rehab may be delayed because of the procedure.