Miami Marlins Make ESPN: Three Keys To Watch For

As some of the more alert Miami Marlins fans might have noticed, our beloved team hasn’t gotten a great deal of national spotlight over the years.

Unless of course, it’s to either ridicule penurious owner Jeffrey Loria or crack jokes about poor attendance numbers. To be fair, the two do tend to go hand in hand for the Miami Marlins.

But real attention? Coverage of the Marlins like they’re a real team with real players and real fans? That’s been a battle. Tonight though, the Fish square off against the New York Mets on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

And I’ll be honest- I’m pretty jacked. Cuban coffee will be made, sleeping in will be swapped out for accomplishment so I can enjoy the game in peace, caps and jerseys will be broken out. Happily tossing aside all past bitterness to embrace the ESPN love, even if it will be mostly bestowed upon the New York Mets fragile but golden rotation.

Marlins fans outside the friendly confines of South Florida can rejoice in being able to watch their team without resorting to apps or sports bars, and all fans can enjoy watching their team get the national treatment. Fans in Miami can just enjoy not having to deal with transplanted Mets fans in person- always a plus.

In any event, the ESPN spotlight is a great way to kick off the season. What follows are three key storylines to watch tonight as the two NL East rivals square off.