The Miami Marlins open the 2019 MLB season today against Colorado
![MIAMI, FL - APRIL 29: Billy The Marlin poses while being honored as the Ride of Fame Inducts 1st Miami Honoree Jeff Conine as part of worldwide expansion at Marlins Park on April 29, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for Ride of Fame)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fmarlinmaniac-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F487354047-850x560-2fd29214b7d4d754d211cf7e6aee9843.jpg)
The Miami Marlins open the 2019 MLB season today against the Colorado Rockies at 4 PM from Marlins Park. Will this year become one we all remember?
I don’t think I have ever been so excited for the start of a major league baseball season. For the first time in years, there is optimism that the Miami Marlins could be better than advertised. Being a fan of the team since its inception, I feel like a kid at Christmas.
As I have told many of my friends at this time every year, Opening Day should be a national holiday.
These Marlins, a healthy mix of youth and experience, will depend on the great unknown of the pitching staff, and a lineup that lacks a true power hitter.
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Everything about the past few weeks with this organization screams potential. A pitching staff that appears on paper to be much better than last season. A starting rotation that although got a jolt when pitcher Dan Straily was released, has the ability to be dominant. A batting order that could play small ball and use speed to its advantage.
And a manager in Don Mattingly who must deliver in his final year of his existing contract.
The Marlins may not make the playoffs, but they should certainly be exciting.
As David Schoenfield of ESPN.com wrote, the trades of the past year has left this team void of big-name talent, but this is also a team that could make us all watch them a little closer this season.
“The young rotation could at least make the Marlins interesting,” he stated. “The club released veteran starter Dan Straily — admittedly, as much about hoping another team would claim him and his $5 million salary as a desire to go with youth — and told Wei-Yin Chen, the team’s highest-paid player, that he will start the season in the bullpen.“The rotation will include Jose Urena (27 years old), Caleb Smith (27), Trevor Richards (25), Pablo Lopez (23) and Sandy Alcantara (23), who have 139 combined major league starts, 80 of those from Urena. Smith and Lopez had excellent spring trainings — yes, don’t overreact — and are two sleeper breakout candidates.”
Random thought of day: When you’re going through a build back like the #Marlins you need a complete buy-in from everyone from upper management coaches, players. That exists today more than the disconnect before. Still not a finished product, but moving in right direction. #RTOD
— Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) March 27, 2019
I could not agree more. If the front office’s goal last season was to stockpile young arms for the future, then mission accomplished. Not only did Derek Jeter and Michael Hill succeed, but the rotation is deep and the depth is still coming together. What’s not to like about this team in two ro three seasons on the mound?
The team took a chance on the future now with the move to release Straily. Everyone must now step forward. The bats must come alive and most of all, fans must come to the ballpark, where attendance was the worst in the Major last season.
Next. Jose and the Four Horseman: The Marlins rotation. dark
These Marlins will surprise us, I believe. And it all begins with Urena’s first pitch this afternoon.