Fish Stripes - Jose Fernandez has passed awayCovering the Marlins every day in our own wayhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52814/Screen_Shot_2018-12-07_at_12.32.35_PM..png2016-10-19T11:42:51-04:00http://www.fishstripes.com/rss/stream/128128672016-10-19T11:42:51-04:002016-10-19T11:42:51-04:00Jose Fernandez wanted to stay in Miami
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<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This was evident for a long while. </p> <p id="1iLJ7m">It’s no secret Jose Fernandez loved Miami. He said it often. His actions reflected it. </p>
<p id="ZPBcaq">When it came down to discussing his future, though, Fernandez’s time with the Marlins appeared to be limited. Fernandez is represented by Scott Boras, who encourages his clients to test the free agent market. </p>
<p id="W7py0q">As a result, he declined Miami’s $40 million extension offer when Fernandez was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. It seemed the Marlins would consider trading Fernandez before he was eligible for free agency.</p>
<p id="SKrMrR">Regardless, Fernandez <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article108717512.html">enjoyed pitching</a> in Miami enough that he might have considered changing agents if Boras was unable to get a deal with the Marlins done, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.</p>
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<p id="7EpuWA">An associate said even though Fernandez liked and respected Boras, he wanted to stay in Miami longterm and was considering taking meetings with other agents, concerned that Boras might not be able to strike a longterm deal with Miami.</p>
<p id="ubtZa9">He was due to become a free agent in 2018.</p>
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<p id="KKuc6n">While Boras’ relationship with the Marlins hasn’t been positive, most notably after the Marlins demoted outfielder Marcell Ozuna and delayed his arbitration eligibility, he has been able to get deals done in the past. Wei-Yin Chen, a Boras client, signed a five-year deal with the Marlins last off-season. </p>
<p id="xV3PwN">As Jackson <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article108717512.html">points out,</a> it’s unclear whether Fernandez would have truly considered working with a new agent as a result of his relationship with Boras. But still, Fernandez seemed committed to staying with the Marlins. </p>
<p id="YEwF56">Fernandez was Miami’s ace and almost certainly would have received an extensive contract when he was eligible. He was routinely in high demand and a large market team might have capitalized on the opportunity to add him to its rotation. </p>
<p id="kvyNXm">Fernandez passed away in a boating accident toward the end of the season, leaving the Marlins without a leader and top starting pitcher. This is just another example of how much he loved Miami. </p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2016/10/19/13330990/jose-fernandez-wanted-to-stay-in-miamiScott Gelman2016-10-13T11:02:53-04:002016-10-13T11:02:53-04:00Heat, Panthers honor Jose Fernandez
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<figcaption>Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Nobody is forgetting. </p> <p id="ZvV62I">Miami Marlins baseball season might be over, but nobody is forgetting about Jose Fernandez. </p>
<p id="OHjX8O">On Tuesday, the Miami Heat wore special shirts honoring Fernandez. Fernandez’s initials were printed on the back, and his number is circled and bolded:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT">@MiamiHEAT</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/F5WzR0aFUO">pic.twitter.com/F5WzR0aFUO</a></p>— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/786016899029143561">October 12, 2016</a>
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<p id="yPVg8D">Some Marlins players have attended Heat games in the past, and Tuesday, second baseman Dee Gordon decided to make an appearance. He wore his Fernandez shirt for the outing:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/FlashGJr">@FlashGJr</a> wearing his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> shirt. <a href="https://t.co/WNCMdww2b0">pic.twitter.com/WNCMdww2b0</a></p>— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/786000973109927936">October 12, 2016</a>
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<p id="RgkmIv">The Heat have proven to be more classy organizations in professional sports, and their desire to support Fernandez and the Marlins further proves that point. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thinking about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> tonight. <a href="https://t.co/MwhjPXJC80">pic.twitter.com/MwhjPXJC80</a></p>— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/785998031762096128">October 12, 2016</a>
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<p id="RLJrU1">The Heat weren’t alone, though. Tonight, the Florida Panthers are set to honor Fernandez:</p>
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<p lang="nl" dir="ltr">Tonight, we honor José. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/YIsFJNBmg9">pic.twitter.com/YIsFJNBmg9</a></p>— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlaPanthers/status/786562432999297024">October 13, 2016</a>
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<p id="rDNE3B">Fernandez passed away in a boating accident before the end of the season. Throughout the league, teams honored Miami’s All-Star starting pitcher by hanging his jersey in their respective dugouts and holding a moment of silence before the start of games. </p>
<p id="ihFcRB">The Miami Dolphins had a game scheduled on the day Fernandez passed away and held a moment of silence before it started. </p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2016/10/13/13269520/miami-marlins-jose-fernandez-heat-panthersScott Gelman2016-09-29T13:44:44-04:002016-09-29T13:44:44-04:00When baseball can no longer serve as a distraction
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<figcaption>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="s695sd">In September of 2001, the Seattle Mariners were nearing the finish line in what would become a record-tying 116 win season, and as a young, bright-eyed baseball fan in Washington State, I was enjoying every second of it. </p>
<p id="wOQS5m">During breakfast I would gobble up the newspaper box score (no smart phones back then, kids) like it was Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Around the fraternity table there would be a daily discussion on the sheer epic nature of what we were witnessing. The crafty southpaw Jamie Moyer threw another gem. Edgar Martinez with another clutch double. Japanese “rookie” sensation Ichiro Suzuki made another amazing play. The hits kept on coming that season and never seemed to let up. </p>
<p id="BluLaw">The Mariners, a team who had only been to the playoffs three times in their (up to that point) 24 year history and had never reached the World Series, were going to win a championship. </p>
<p id="HTY0Qr">Then, 9/11 happened, and everything in baseball, everything in the world, ground to a halt.</p>
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<figcaption>The Mariners “celebrate” clinching the AL West shortly after 9/11.</figcaption>
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<p id="4ij5ly">Baseball would start back up again, but it would never be the same for the Mariners. Whatever momentum they had built up through six months of the regular season had abated, and though they were able to slide past a good Cleveland Indians team in the ALDS, they ran into the Yankees dynasty buzzsaw and were defeated in five. They have not been to the playoffs since.</p>
<p id="j8bnuk">I firmly believe to this day that if 9/11 had not occurred, the Mariners would’ve won a title that year.</p>
<p id="C8EGuG">For the Marlins, the balloon had started to deflate before this past Sunday. Injuries had racked up, the depth was sorely tested and only the struggles of the other teams in the NL wildcard race kept them within hailing distance.</p>
<p id="ZWPpvK">With José Fernàndez’s passing, the balloon popped completely. There are three games left in the regular season, but for the Marlins, it might as well have ended Sunday morning. </p>
<p id="pQWtn9">Baseball, as with all sports, can be one of life’s great welcome distractions. If you’re having a tough day at work, flipping on the game when you get home and getting lost in the action is proven therapy. We come to the game not only to enjoy it for it’s own sake but to forget about whatever else is bothering us in the outside world. With the proliferation of fantasy sports and around the clock coverage, it’s easier than ever to make baseball a part of your daily ritual.</p>
<p id="PfwaHS">Sometimes, as with 9/11, the outside world comes charging in and baseball simply can’t ignore it. Other times, a part of the baseball world comes crashing down, and things can’t help but be different.</p>
<p id="4wL9oF">José’s friends, family and teammates are gathered today on the off-day to say their final goodbyes to a great man. Then, this day will be over, and many of us will be left with thinking about what could’ve been. We will never see José throw a perfect game. We will never see José raise a championship trophy. We have been robbed of a career’s worth of highlights and gifs, moments both heart-lifting and heart-wrenching, and nothing we can say or do will give us the chance to have him back.</p>
<p id="pTKl49">Nobody wants to really move forward without him, but that’s exactly what the Marlins are tasked to do, and how they go about it will shape the destiny of the franchise.</p>
<p id="OnU6eT">The next three games are irrelevant, but then comes the off-season with it’s evaluations, bandying numbers back and forth with free agents and their representatives, and finally, training together for the upcoming 2017 season. The Marlins have the tall but not impossible task of adding pieces to this club to make it competitive going forward.</p>
<p id="qOp4tI">You don’t replace José Fernàndez, the man or the baseball player, forget about that. Re-signing Martin Prado was a good start, but if Loria and company are serious about supporting the remaining players on this club and serious in their desire to bring another title to Miami, then they will see an immediate need to surround the core of the franchise with as much talent as dollars and willingness allows.</p>
<p id="yQtPUe">Rest assured, there will be plenty of discussion regarding that on Fish Stripes in the days and months to come. Today, however, is not the day to delve too deeply into it. Baseball will once again become that welcome distraction for Miami Marlins fans, perhaps sooner than you think.</p>
<p id="i9x7UC">Just not today.</p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2016/9/29/13108848/when-baseball-can-no-longer-serve-as-a-distractionThomas Bennett2016-09-28T11:21:30-04:002016-09-28T11:21:30-04:00Marcell Ozuna, two un-named teammates declined to get on boat with Fernàndez
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<figcaption>Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="oo2kaf">As more information continues to come out about Saturday night and the fatal boat ride that ultimately took José Fernàndez’s life, we have learned that as hideous as Sunday’s tragedy was, it had the potential to be even worse.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fernandez had asked Marcell Ozuna to call him Sunday morning to make sure he'd get to the ballpark in time: <a href="https://t.co/4aszdPtzr0">https://t.co/4aszdPtzr0</a></p>— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByJamesWagner/status/780780358866534400">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="qTU4pB">According to the Miami Herald, Fernàndez had asked several of his teammates, including Marcell Ozuna, to join him on the boat that evening, and almost all of them had told him it was a bad idea.</p>
<aside id="Pm9ejG"><q>“That night I told him, ‘Don’t go out,” Ozuna said. “Everybody knew he was crazy about that boat and loved being out on the water. I told him I couldn’t go out that night because I had the kids and my wife waiting for me.”</q></aside><p id="2d1Jrw">Fernàndez had told Ozuna to text him if he wasn’t at the ballpark by 10:00 am because he was concerned he wouldn’t make it to Marlins Park in time for the game. Fernàndez was seen at the American Social Bar and Kitchen prior to embarking on the fateful journey with his two friends, Emilio Macias and Eduardo Rivero. </p>
<p id="uQETur">Rivero’s friend, Will Bernal, had also cautioned against the trip.</p>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
</div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKyZuAogmGW/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Our last phone conversation and text messages last night. I feel sick to my stomach. Everyone is talking about Jose Fernandez but you died trying to be there for him and be a good friend. This doesn't sit with me well. I write this with the heaviest heart I've ever had. I just lost Tony and now I lost another best friend. I can't get over this nightmare. I already miss you and our daily conversations. You died being a great friend. You went to be with Jose and help him when he called you. I tried so hard to tell you not to go out on that boat. It didn't feel right and we both knew it. I'm choking on tears writing this, you don't deserve this. We were just talking about life at the Marlins game and how precious it is. I can't believe you are gone. The pain I have is unexplainable. I feel guilty that I didn't do a better job of trying to convince you not get on that boat. You told me just so I know in case something happens. You had a gut feeling and that is killing me. I love you bro, you'll always be the little brother I never had. I'm in shock, I'm still waiting for you to call me or txt me. We were so excited to celebrate your birthday in Vegas. You were loved by many and I'll do my best to stay involved with them. Lauren and I will keep you in our prayers. Rest In Peace brother. Love you little bro Eddy Rivero @e_greeneyes #rip #mybrotherfromanothermother</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀# Will Bernal (@willbernal) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-09-25T17:36:57+00:00">Sep 25, 2016 at 10:36am PDT</time></p>
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<p id="B2a9Kj">It’s important to make clear that at this point, while we know that it was José’s boat, the Kaught Looking, we do not know who was driving nor do we know for certain that alcohol played a factor, so I would caution anyone from speculation in that regard until further details emerge.</p>
<p id="7oW1Hb">Had teammates acquiesced to Fernàndez’s requests that they join him on the boat, we could’ve been looking at a disaster of unfathomable proportion. </p>
<p id="eLgJ1m">As hard as it is to imagine today, things could’ve absolutely been worse for the Marlins organization, Miami fans abroad and uncounted friends and loved ones. </p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2016/9/28/13090036/marcell-ozuna-two-un-named-teammates-declined-to-get-on-boat-with-fernandezThomas Bennett2016-09-27T20:54:02-04:002016-09-27T20:54:02-04:00Funeral plans for Jose Fernandez announced
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<figcaption>Funeral plans for Jose Fernandez have been finalized. | Ronald C. Modra/ Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Details here.</p> <p id="Yh2Pzn">Funeral procession plans for Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez have been officially finalized, according to Local 10 News. The 24-year-old ace tragically passed away on Sunday morning after a boating accident off of Miami Beach. </p>
<p id="hvV1jn">The procession will be open to the public Wednesday, and if fans want to be part of the procession, they must go to the West Plaza at Marlins Park. The procession will begin at exactly 2:16 p.m. ET. The procession will travel from the West Plaza to Ermita de la Caridad (Shrine of Our Lady of Charity) in Miami, where a blessing will be said. </p>
<p id="aXqMdC">After the blessing has been said, the procession will travel to Saint Brendan Catholic Church. A viewing open to the public will take place from 4:00 pm until midnight. A funeral for Fernandez will be held on Thursday. </p>
<p id="esJIaO">This funeral will be private, so the public is not invited to attend Fernandez’s funeral. Marlins President David Samson talked about remembering Fernandez before Monday’s game. “It’s our job to make his life matter, so we’re going to do that forever, and forever starts today.”</p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2016/9/27/13084300/funeral-plans-jose-fernandez-announcedDylan Goldman2016-09-27T11:31:02-04:002016-09-27T11:31:02-04:00Here is exactly how the Marlins honored Jose Fernandez
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<p>In case you missed it.</p> <p id="jhhLPC">The Miami Marlins played a baseball game Monday night, honoring Jose Fernandez before, during and after the contest. Here is exactly how they did it.</p>
<p id="XSwYQG">It started with this pre-game ceremony:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins">@Marlins</a> held a special ceremony in honor of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoseFernandez?src=hash">#JoseFernandez</a> prior to Monday's game at Marlins Park. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/1OPMrYyrEJ">pic.twitter.com/1OPMrYyrEJ</a></p>— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/780557708961296384">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="pAaVzX">Giancarlo Stanton did everything possible to get the Marlins ready to play:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Giancarlo818">@Giancarlo818</a> offers some parting words to pay respects to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a>: <a href="https://t.co/Xe2MPo9qRf">https://t.co/Xe2MPo9qRf</a> <a href="https://t.co/D8LAdT8YhH">https://t.co/D8LAdT8YhH</a></p>— Cut4 (@Cut4) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cut4/status/780557853987745792">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="BSVIjt">Everyone gathered around the mound:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins">@Marlins</a> huddle around the place where José was untouchable. <a href="https://t.co/USpadeW6im">https://t.co/USpadeW6im</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/5IprV0LBMr">pic.twitter.com/5IprV0LBMr</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/780563114206957568">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="yHtPRZ">They honored him in the dugout, too:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Forever his spot. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/bsTata3Kyt">pic.twitter.com/bsTata3Kyt</a></p>— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/780588430971383810">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="YQHoaT">All night, the official Marlins Twitter account used Fernandez GIFs:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">To the 8th!<br><br>We lead New York, 7-2.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoFish?src=hash">#LetsGoFish</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/BFCie1UWYk">pic.twitter.com/BFCie1UWYk</a></p>— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/780591133332090881">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="vpAZMM">Each Marlins pitcher touched the back of the mound. Every Marlin wore No. 16:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Long live No. 16. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/VOQ8OwEMOo">pic.twitter.com/VOQ8OwEMOo</a></p>— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/780593081871720448">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="8hWOFf">The crowd got into it, too:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Jose, Jose, Jose" chants as game ends with Marlins players at the mound. <a href="https://t.co/VTT3bCK20K">pic.twitter.com/VTT3bCK20K</a></p>— Will Manso (@WillManso) <a href="https://twitter.com/WillManso/status/780600644596035585">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="FeLbJf">Right after the game, the Marlins walked back to the mound and dropped their hats:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Marlins formed a circle around the mound in Miami and left their hats behind after their victory tonight. <a href="https://t.co/0CozNGleKJ">pic.twitter.com/0CozNGleKJ</a></p>— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jared_Carrabis/status/780600762732863489">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="svghPR">When the game ended, they went right back to the mound:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chills. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/Nh4wp7066f">pic.twitter.com/Nh4wp7066f</a></p>— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/780607993343643649">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p id="QilKCl">Dee Gordon had a big night:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I don't have kids, so hitting a HR for Jose Fernandez is the best moment of my life" - Dee Gordon after the <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins">@Marlins</a> win. <a href="https://t.co/AtU0ZfQkLP">pic.twitter.com/AtU0ZfQkLP</a></p>— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSportsFL/status/780613574192271360">September 27, 2016</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gone, but never, ever forgotten. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JDF16?src=hash">#JDF16</a> <a href="https://t.co/Se5cAmJgiV">pic.twitter.com/Se5cAmJgiV</a></p>— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/780611079369924608">September 27, 2016</a>
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https://www.fishstripes.com/2016/9/27/13074888/here-is-exactly-how-the-marlins-honored-jose-fernandezScott Gelman2016-09-26T18:03:19-04:002016-09-26T18:03:19-04:00Jeffrey Loria says no one will ever wear #16 again
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<figcaption>Photo by Joe Skipper/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Marlins’ owner hinted at officially retiring Jose Fernandez’s number.</p> <p id="wWVrUj">Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said before today’s game that no one will ever again wear number 16 for the Marlins, according to <em>New York Times</em> baseball writer Tyler Kepner. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jeffrey Loria: no one will wear #16 for the Marlins again.</p>— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerKepner/status/780512693715345408">September 26, 2016</a>
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<p id="B84ze7">This comes from Loria after much speculation from Marlins fans that the team would retire Jose Fernandez’s number after he passed away in a tragic accident on Sunday. </p>
<p id="yT1y0H">The eventual retiring of the number 16 will be one of many ways the Marlins will continue to honor Fernandez and what he meant to not only the Marlins organization and the city of Miami, but also to all of Major League Baseball. </p>
<p id="BWJsTB">Loria has definitely had plenty of critics over the years as the owner of the Marlins, but this time he did the right thing in deciding to retire Fernandez’s number. </p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2016/9/26/13065298/jeffrey-loria-says-no-one-will-ever-wear-16-againConnor Newcomb2016-09-26T14:20:34-04:002016-09-26T14:20:34-04:00Jose Fernandez is really gone.
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<figcaption>Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Continuing to process our new reality.</p> <p id="mA9PlZ">The first thing I saw when I woke up yesterday morning and picked up my phone was that I had an email from a producer for BBC World News. He wanted to know if I would do a pre-recorded Skype session, as a Marlins fan and editor here, "paying tribute" to José Fernàndez. Confused and still brain-fogged, I noticed more notifications. I read through a couple texts and skipped the rest: Something unfathomable had happened. I hopped out of bed, poorly assuaging my wife that everything was fine and raced to turn on the TV. I checked twitter sources for confirmation while I waited for SportsCenter to come back on: The first couple were not good enough, but then, Clark Spencer and Ken Rosenthal had both confirmed. A somber round table of panelists appeared upon my TV screen.</p>
<p id="78Dqvl">It was true. José Fernàndez had died.</p>
<p id="EyfWYD">Now, after having sifted through countless tweets, articles and videos, working at my day job and simultaneously engaging in the conversation with the Fish Stripes staff about what to write, what was appropriate, what was not, editing articles, and finally, simply sitting in front of my computer crying at the dining room table next to my wife, we’ve arrived at day two...and it still doesn’t feel real to me.</p>
<p id="D8I6FE">Like I still expect to see José Fernàndez appear on the mound today.</p>
<p id="iwJ0EF">I know, rationally, of course, that isn’t going to be the case. Human beings are interesting creatures when it comes to coping mechanisms. One of said mechanisms that I employed yesterday was diving into my work. I must confess, some moments were more successful than others.</p>
<p id="1IYzYn">You’ve probably seen the comparisons by now. Fernàndez, overnight, has become this generation’s Roberto Clemente or Thurman Munson; a player whose career and life was cut tragically short before their due time. Clemente played in 17 seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Munson in 10 for the New York Yankees. José would only end up playing parts of four seasons, but no one would deny him his rightful place amongst those two superstars. He may yet still <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/could-jose-fernandez-win-the-cy-young-posthumously-184406369.html">win the Cy Young</a>, after all.</p>
<p id="of4Omb">What makes this so tough for everyone, even if you aren’t a Marlins fan or even a baseball fan, is that José was <strong>such</strong> a good person. He was heavily involved in Miami area charities. He was accessible for the fans. He took extra time out of his day to spend time with kids at the ballpark before Sunday home games. He saved his own mother from drowning. In an era where it is no longer common place, he handed out hugs and kisses to his teammates with affectionate ease.</p>
<p id="VxORtb">Life was not easy for him growing up and José could’ve easily had a grudge against it. Instead, he wore his love for life on his sleeve and shared it with everyone he came across.</p>
<p id="JRw0yX">It’s almost cliche at this point to say that some light has gone out of the world, but it doesn’t make it any less true. What makes it devastating for us that are left behind is that, while we know that there were those who brought light with their lives in the past, and those yet to come who will bring light in the future, José Fernàndez was the light of <strong>our </strong>times, of <strong>our </strong>lives, and the world that we know is a lesser place with his passing.</p>
<p id="QtSqu4">To paraphrase Giancarlo Stanton: Rest easy, Niño.</p>
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https://www.fishstripes.com/2016/9/26/13046026/jose-fernandez-tribute-marlinsThomas Bennett