Five reasons to come out to Marlins Park in 2015

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Sep 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (left) celebrates with second baseman Donovan Solano (right) after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

We are exactly three weeks away from Opening Day at Marlins Park, April 6 where the Miami Marlins will play host to the Atlanta Braves to officially launch the best six months of the year.

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It goes without saying that the revolutionary stadium nestled in Little Havana is as unique as they come. When you attend a game at Marlins Park, there is always much more to do than sit in your seat for three hours and watch a ballgame. That’s obviously the main feature of the trip, but before the day is done there are myriad other attractions one must seek out to truly own the experience.

Since it opened in 2012, Marlins Park has deflected plenty of ridicule from baseball “purists” and, um, haters, for lack of a better word. They’ve said it’s a disgrace to baseball, that it’s tacky, it’s not a traditional baseball stadium that almost all the other MLB teams have constructed to celebrate the game’s rich history (which is an incredibly dumb argument because Miami is a city unlike any other, and the team is one of the youngest in baseball; the Marlins don’t have 120 years of heritage for which to attone.)

Here are five reasons why you should check out Marlins Park in 2015, and see all the beautiful ballpark has to offer.

Next: START SLIDESHOW (use left and right arrows to navigate)

Aug 16, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez (37) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Henderson Alvarez

Remember when the Marlins made that trade with the Toronto Blue Jays a couple years ago, and everyone around baseball complained that the team was just dumping away its expensive players and got almost nothing good in return? (Of course you do, you were one of those people.) Well, the Marlins got Henderson Alvarez who, at the time, looked nothing if unimpressive based on his numbers pitching for the Toronto in 2011 and ’12.

Give the Marlins front office its dues for seeing a diamond in the rough in Alvarez. After he recovered from his injury in 2013, he immediately helped Miami and cemented himself as a solid middle of the rotation starter. That season of course culminated with his no-hitter on Closing Day (also my birthday — cool brag) and in 2014 Alvarez assumed the role of the Marlins ace after Jose Fernandez‘s elbow injury.

Alvarez was so good last year that he earned his first All-Star nod and actually received Cy Young votes, finishing the season with a 2.65 ERA and a league-best three complete game shutouts. A guy who two years ago ne’er a Marlins fan knew his name, Alvarez has quickly become a fan favorite and all signs point towards him throwing the first pitch of the regular season at Marlins Park on April 6.

If you can only make one game this season, make sure it’s Opening Day. Not only are the Marlins opening the season against a bitter division rival in the Atlanta Braves, but you get to see the Alvarez eephus pitch to start the ballgame, and one of the more exciting young pitchers in the National League kick off another season of Marlins baseball.

Next: The new guys

Mar 10, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins third baseman Martin Prado (14) at bat against the Washington Nationals during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The New Infield

I’m not going to sit here and rehash all the moves the Marlins made in the offseason; you already know who the new players are. I am, however, going to note just how much of an improvement the team looks to have acquired over the warm bodies that manned the infield in years past and why the new faces should make the Marlins a much, much better team.

Michael Morse > Garrett Jones

But you already knew that.

Dee Gordon > Donovan Solano/Jeff Baker

No disrespect to Solano and Baker, but both are utility bench players at best and have no business seeing hundreds of plate appearances per season. Baker was actually the Marlins Opening Day second baseman last season, a move I would normally ridicule, but Mike Redmond gets a pass because the Rockies had a left hander on the mound that day and Baker bats righty, so I’ll let that one slide.

Martin Prado > Casey McGehee

“Hits McGehee” wasn’t all that bad last season, but his power evaporated and his defense was dreadful so I’m not upset the Marlins traded him to the Giants. Prado, who came over from the Yankees, has much more pop in his bat and plays slick defense at the hot corner. One of Prado’s perks is his versatility. He is penciled in as the Marlins full-time third baseman, but he can play almost anywhere in the infield, as well as in left. He can also bat all over the lineup; ideally second, fifth or sixth, so Redmond will have plenty of flexibility with his new veteran.

Next: Party in left field (no, not THAT party)

May 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) smiles in the dugout during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Jose’s Heroes

Even though Jose Fernandez will spend the first couple months of the season rehabbing from his Tommy John surgery, the small section of stands in left field shows their Fernandez pride and flash their “K” cards every time a Marlins pitcher whiffs a batter, for every single regular season game.

The section becomes even rowdier on nights when Fernandez is pitching, but don’t let his mid-June or July return apprehend your excitement. Signing up for a Jose’s Heroes ticket package nets you a new special Jose’s Heroes t-shirt each month and a meet-and-greet with Jose himself, in addition to a full season of live games and the strikeout card.

It’s an awesome promotion, and it’s incredibly affordable. Now, I’m not a member of the Marlins PR department and my job isn’t to sell tickets to my readers, I just think you’d be hard pressed to find a more budget-friendly, perk-driven ticket package anywhere else in the league. Seriously, it comes out to something close to $6 per game, and you get to meet Jose Fernandez.

Which segues nicely to my next feature…

Next: The return

May 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Return of Jose Fernandez

If his recovery remains on schedule, Jose Fernandez will be back on a major league mound between June 15 and July 15. That timetable likely gives fans at least three full months to watch the Marlins ace pitch, which is a spectacle worth the cost of admission on its own. Bonus points if the team is still right in the mix of the playoff race when he returns, and there’s a very good chance of that happening.

When Fernandez is back in a Marlins uniform, all will be right in the world once again. I have no doubt that games Fernandez starts will be among the best-attended games this season, regardless of the team’s position in the standings. Remember Jose’s last start of 2013? The game where he hit his first home run which led to the infamous Chris Johnson/Brian McCann incident? The fans showed up in droves to watch a last place, soon-to-be 100-loss team just because Jose Fernandez was on the mound.

I expect to see every single Marlin Maniac reader at Marlins Park in June or July when Jose comes back. Let’s sell the place out, 37,000-strong.

Next: The outfield

Aug 16, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich (L) Miami Marlins center fielder Marcell Ozuna (C) and Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (R) celebrate their 2-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Best Outfield in Baseball

Christian Yelich. Marcell Ozuna. Giancarlo Stanton. Ichiro Suzuki.

Nowhere in Major League Baseball will you find a better combination of outfielders on a single roster. Yelich, Ozuna and Stanton combined for the best WAR of any starting outfield last season, and there’s no reason to think any of them will miss a beat in 2015. The addition of Ichiro as the fourth outfielder is just icing on the cake. Ichiro could probably start full-time on many MLB teams right now.

After Stanton signed his record-breaking contract in November, the target was placed firmly on his back. I don’t think he will succumb to the pressure of living up to a huge contract like players in the past have. Stanton is still right in the middle of his prime, and you could even argue at age 25 he hasn’t arrived at his prime yet. That’s an amazing thought and one that should inspire Marlins fans to come out to games and see their MVP do marvelous things, along with the other three members of the best outfield in Major League Baseball.

Follow Marlin Maniac on Twitter @MarlinManiac for all your Miami Marlins news, opinion and analysis!

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