Getting Ready For Opening Day

MIAMI, Fla.–Opening Day is less than a week away for the Miami Marlins and a lot of people don’t know if the team is ready for what is predicted to be in their near future. The first pitch of the Marlins season will be thrown next Monday, April 3rd. Marlins fans hope that their team can find a way to pull it all together in the next few days before that first pitch is thrown.

The Marlins have struggled through most of the preseason and after taking a look at the first week of their regular season schedule, critics are skeptical that it won’t get much better. The opening week consists of six away games in seven days, where the Marlins will play two very good teams. Their first matchup against the big bats of the Washington Nationals will take place at National’s Park. The pitching matchup for that game is out and looks to be a challenging one for the Marlins. The Marlins will be starting Edinson Volquez, who had a rough 2016 season with an ERA of 5.37. For the Marlins to get a win in Washington, it is going to take great pitching because it’s no secret that the Nationals have a very explosive offense, led by one of the best in the MLB, Bryce Harper. Harper has been killing it for the Nationals during Spring Training, registering a batting average of .308 and leading the Spring League with eight home runs. If the Marlins pitchers can figure him out and slow him down, it might provide their pitchers a much needed mental boost.

Immediately following the Nationals game, the Marlins will travel to New York to play a great pitching team in the New York Mets. So, an upset over the Nationals on Opening Day would supply some momentum going into their second game. An unexpected victory in New York would give them two wins that most people would have thought to be impossible.

Trump will not throw Nationals Opening Day pitch

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – President Donald Trump will not throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day for the Washington Nationals due to a scheduling conflict.

Trump has declined the team’s invitation for Monday, when the Nationals will host the Miami Marlins, a team spokesman told ESPN reporters on Tuesday.

Photo Credit: Sporting News

Presidents have occasionally thrown out the ceremonial fish pitch at baseball games for more than 100 years on Opening Day in Washington.

Trump may throw Nationals Opening Day pitch

According to a new POLITICO report, the president could be seen on the mound on Opening Day, continuing the long-standing presidential tradition.

Photo Credit: The Comeback

President Trump is reportedly “in talks” to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals’ Nationals Park on Opening Day, according to Luke Russert dispatch seen in Tuesday’s POLITICO Playbook.

Trump has participated in the baseball tradition in 2006 when he threw the first pitch at the start of a Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees game at Fenway park, but this would be the first time doing so as president.

Strasburg chosen as Opening Day starter

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Manager Dusty Baker admitted on Sunday morning that Stephen Strasburg will start for the Washington Nationals on Opening Day. Although Baker had been reluctant to publicize the Nationals’ plans for their rotation to open the season, math gave away the secret. Wednesday afternoon, Strasburg is scheduled to make his next start. Five days after that is April 3, opening day against the Mar

Photo Credit: Washington Post

lins at Nationals Park.
“I know you guys can count,” Baker said. “Yeah, he’s slated to start Opening Day.”

By owning up to this, Baker made official what Max Scherzer’s troubled knuckle made likely six weeks ago. Despite his injury trouble being seemingly resolved, it forced the reigning Cy Young Award winner to race the calendar, which he lost. While he was planning not to miss a turn through the rotation, he was a few days short of being ready to start the first game of the season.

Conclusion To The Fernandez Investigation

MIAMI, Fla.- The six-month investigation revolving around the death of Marlin’s Star pitcher, Jose Fernandez has finally come to an end. On the morning of September 25, 2016 the baseball world was shocked after learning about the tragic death of Fernandez and his two friends when their boat was found flipped, just off the shore of Miami. The sudden deaths left many people with unanswered questions.  Many Marlin fans expressed their grief by questioning why Fernandez was driving around in his boat so late at night, at such a high speed, so close to the shore.  They were clearly distraught over the fact that he was so young and appeared to be very well liked and was undoubtedly one of the best young players in the game today.

Last Thursday, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions finally ended their investigation and answered some of the questions that people have been waiting for. The final toxicology report confirmed that alcohol and drugs were involved in this tragic incident.  Fernandez had a blood alcohol level of .147 and a presence of cocaine in his system at the time of the crash.

In light of this information, it shows that Fernandez was in the wrong of multiple boating law violations, told to us by ESPN.  These violations consisted of Boating Under the Influence, Reckless or Careless Operation of a Vessel, Manslaughter, and Vessel Homicide.  This conclusion to the investigation most likely means that there will now be legal battles between the Fernandez family and the Maritza and Maria families, the relatives of the two young men that were also on board the boat.

The entire matter is a sad and disappointing incident that no one ever wants to hear about.  Three young lives were lost during this terrible occurrence and one talented baseball player will never get to truly show just how great he could have been.

 

-Aidan Gould