February 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist David Hyde
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It's goofy. It's risky. It's a multi-colored, multi-layered, 73-foot-high surprise that tickles your eyes, teases your mind and makes your stomach break into a smile. Or not. Purists will hate it in a baseball chapel. Opponents will denounce it in their workplace. "What do you think?" Marlins president David Samson said as I stood, arms folded, head tilted, translating the home run sculpture that sits over the outfield wall at the team's new stadium. I love it. I absolutely love it."
February 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Marlins are weeks away from playing their first games in Marlins Park, but PlayStation offered the first animated look Wednesday on how it will look in game action with the stands full of fans with a sneak peek of MLB 12 The Show. The graphics are excellent, and the trailer, just over a minute long, offers a glimpse of the unique features of the park, including fish swimming in the tanks behind the plate and the home run extravaganza going off with jumping marlins, flying gulls and lights flashing."
February 8
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Emilio Bonifacio became the second player in a week to beat the Miami Marlins in arbitration. Coming off a breakout season, Bonifacio's camp successfully argued he deserved a $2.2 million salary this season instead of the $1.95 million the Marlins wanted to pay him. The speedy Bonifacio, who in 2011 made $425,000, likely will open the campaign as the club's starting center fielder. Monday, starter Anibal Sanchez learned the three-person panel sided with him as well, awarding him $8 million instead of the club's $6.9 million offer."
February 8
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Yoenis Cespedes isn't a major leaguer yet, but he arrived at Miami International Airport Tuesday afternoon looking the part. Sunglasses. Studs in both ears. Pendant with his number 51 around his neck. And an ensemble of white shirt, slacks and loafers sans socks fit for Ocean Drive. It didn't take onlookers long to unsheathed their cell phones and aim them at this posh import from Cuba via the Dominican Republic. Granted a travel visa, Cespedes is here for among other reasons to meet with Miami Marlins officials, who will host him Wednesday. No introductions will be necessary. From owner Jeffrey Loria on down, the Marlins have made no secret about coveting the Cuban defector they see as"
February 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes is scheduled to land in Miami Tuesday afternoon. According to an American League source from a club that's been monitoring his free agency, the Marlins likely will be his future employer. Cespedes is expected to meet with club officials Wednesday. Though the U.S. Treasury's Department of Foreign Assets Control must unblock Cespedes before he can play professionally here, he is able to negotiate and come to terms with the club of his choosing. Team President David Samson last week said they were aggressively negotiating with Adam Katz, Cespedes agent from the Wasserman Media Group. The AL source said all indications are the Marlins have the inside track to"
February 6
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Anibal Sanchez would have loved to sign a multi-year deal with the Miami Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now!, but the alternative isn't bad. Monday, Sanchez learned he won his arbitration case against the club. Friday, the two sides went before a three-person panel, which decided Sanchez merited the $8 million he sought rather than the $6.9 million the Marlins wanted to pay him. Sanchez's arbitration award is the largest ever given to a starting pitcher. Jered Weaver lost to the Angels last year, but still earned $7.365 million. Other notable starting pitcher salaries decided by arbiters: Freddy Garcia in 2003 beat the Mariners, getting $6.85 million rather than $5.9 million and Oliver"
February 4
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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As far as fundraisers go, this one was off the scale for its distinctiveness. In 2008, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida raffled off a special edition Porsche Cayman, one of 777 produced worldwide. Their most recent benefit rivals and arguably tops it. New Marlins shortstop Jose Reyes live on MLB Network Friday night cut off his signature dreadlocks to comply with the club's keep-it-tight hair policy. Rather than sulk about his first trim since 2007, Reyes used the opportunity to make a difference. "It's a little bit emotional because I've spent three years with this hair, but at the same time I understand this is a rule of my new team, the Miami Marlins," said Reyes, before"
February 3
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Just over a month before the first exhibition games are played, Marlins Park is taking the pivotal step from building to ball field. Amid the pungent aroma of fertilizer, local politicians and Marlins officials laid the first few pieces of sod along the third-base line Thursday to begin installation of 110,000 square feet of Bermuda sod, which will take three days to complete. The Marlins envision a lush lawn that they can turn into a true home-field advantage. The plan is to keep the grass relatively long, about ¾-inch, to create a slower field than they had a Sun Life Stadium to exploit team speed and benefit their pitchers and fielders."
January 31
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said don't go to sleep on the Braves, but he characterized the Marlins the "biggest threat" to his club's run at another National League East title. Manuel's exact quote, as reported by CBSPhilly.com: "If you look at it on paper, you have to say the Florida Marlins are the biggest threat," Manuel said. "But I don't ever underestimate Atlanta. Chipper Jones said after the season that they have to be more consistent offensively, and they have some talent on their team. They have one of the best center fielders in the National League, talent-wise, and people haven't seen their young pitching, and they can sneak up and surprise us. Florida is getting a new"
January 25
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Marlins on Wednesday announced they signed well-traveled outfielder Austin Kearns to a minor league deal with a invite to spring training. Kearns, who turns 32 in May, last season with the Indians batted .200 with a .589 on-base plus slugging percentage in 59 games (150 at-bats). A right-handed hitting corner outfielder, Kearns since making his making league debut with the Reds in 2002 has played with four different organizations, including parts of four seasons with the Washington Nationals and two separate stints in Cleveland."
January 21
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The questions were all but entirely personality-related. When the Marlins introduced him as manager, nobody asked President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest if Ozzie Guillen stuck with starters too long or sacrificed too much. It was all about Guillen's makeup — his forthrightness, his charisma, his verve — and how it would mesh with an organization that couldn't make managerial marriages last with other more docile men. Known for his ceaseless supply of sound bites, Guillen's work as a tactician arguably has been obscured. Two of his former American League Central counterparts expressed great respect for him as a strategist. "Sometimes people lose sight of the fact of what a smart"
January 17
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Juan Carlos Oviedo has a $6 million contract waiting for him this season. That's not what he's looking forward to most about returning to the major leagues. What he desires above all else is to slip into a jersey with his real name between the shoulders, take the mound, look heavenward and smile. During spring training last year, Oviedo's father died without ever having seen his son pitch under his proper surname. Just before season's end it was revealed Oviedo had played his entire professional career as Leo Nunez. The Marlins placed him on the restricted list, and Oviedo immediately returned to his native Dominican Republic. Tuesday, the Marlins and Oviedo agreed to the one-year, $6"
January 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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In spite of the buzz out there about owner Jeffrey Loria meeting Scott Boras, who represents unsigned free agent Prince Fielder, the Marlins' position on the slugging first baseman has not changed. According to a source who has spoken with their front office, they have not begun pursuing Fielder. The soon-to-be free agent to monitor is Yoenis Cespedes, who on Thursday will begin a winter ball stint with the Aguilas of the Dominican league. Marlins President David Samson during his weekly segment on 790 The Ticketsaid the Marlins are prepared to make a strong run once Cespedes gains his Dominican residency and Major League Baseball declares him a free agent. "Aggressive right to the point"
January 8
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Dave Hyde
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He was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. He was suspended six games for arguing with an umpire. He was separated from teammate Derrek Lee in one dugout incident and from Michael Barrett in another. He gave up five home runs in a game last August, went to the clubhouse, packed his bags and left mid-game, telling clubhouse attendants he was retiring. He hasn't pitched since. Carlos Zambrano still isn't the No. 1 babysitting job for Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen. Not when Hanley Ramirez plays every day."
January 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Mike Berardino
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Mike Lowell regularly used to slam his batting helmet to the ground on close calls at first base. Josh Beckett fired his glove off the dugout wall plenty of times. Kevin Brown and Alex Fernandez did their share of bat-wielding damage to the clubhouse televisions. I mean, come on, it's not like this Marlins franchise has been populated by Boy Scouts these past two decades. It's not like angry baseball "snaps" haven't been part of the equation during those two championship runs. "Ultracompetitiveness," Marlins baseball czar Larry Beinfest calls it. It's the same sort of thing that makes Brandon Marshall fire a football at the sidelines or sets off Ed Jovanovski until he's barking two inches"
January 6
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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New manager Ozzie Guillen wasn't in the fold long before dropping a note in Larry Beinfest's suggestion box: Get Carlos Zambrano. The club's president of Baseball Operations, Beinfest did just that. Thursday, the Marlins announced the acquisition of Zambrano and cash from the Chicago Cubs for Chris Volstad. Zambrano waived his no-trade clause, as well as the $19.25 million option for 2013 that would have triggered if he finished among the top four in next season's National League Cy Young balloting. Asked multiple times about Zambrano's history of on- and off-field outbursts, Beinfest kept referring to the pitcher's long-standing relationship with Guillen."
January 6
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Marlins really wanted left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle. But a member of his family isn't welcome anywhere in Miami-Dade County. It's because 18-month-old Slater Buehrle is an American Staffordshire Terrier — a type of pit bull — and keeping one is illegal in Miami-Dade. So Mark Buehrle, who signed a four-year, $58 million contract in December, is settling his family elsewhere."
January 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Marlins have landed the additional starter they sought, and it didn't cost them a big piece off their major league roster or a top prospect. According to multiple sources, the Marlins have agreed to acquire temperamental right-hander Carlos Zambrano and a wheelbarrow full of cash from the Cubs for Palm Beach Gardens native Chris Volstad. The deal is pending approval from the Commissioner's Office since more than $1 million is being exchanged as part of the transaction. The Cubs remain on the hook for all but $2.5 million of the $18 million owed Zambrano, who is entering the final season of a five-year, $91.5 million extension. The Marlins will pay Zambrano, 30, roughly the same salary"
January 4
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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It's not as splashy as signing as Heath Bell, Jose Reyes or Mark Buehrle, but the Marlins added another free agent who already has shown his worth to the club. According to a source familiar with the deal, Greg Dobbs and the Marlins have agreed to a two-year, $3 million contract. Dobbs has to undergo a physical before the contract officially is announced."
January 3
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Hanley Ramirez has fallen well short of embracing a move to third base to accommodate fellow Dominican countryman and National League All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes. That appears to be changing. In a Spanish Associated Press story out of Santo Domingo, Ramirez made his most definitive statement to date that a move to third would not be an issue. "I've spoken with [manager Ozzie] Guillen and what we want is to win with the Marlins," Ramirez told the AP on Friday during batting practice at Quisqueya Stadium. "When January comes, we're going to see what happens with the position change and everything else. If it's third base, fine. Wherever they put me to win, I'll do it.""