Random Thoughts

It's put up or shut up time for Marlins fans. Buy your tickets, start showing up to games in May and August, and stop whining about everything. No - not all 25 guys will be back next year (seriously - how many of you "fans" could name more than 10 guys?), but they'll have a solid team. If the Marlins can't draw after this year, I think they will, but if they don't, this will probably doom major league baseball in South Florida for good.

It seems like everyone in town is a Marlins fan right now (there's enough teal to make you sick). Most of them will tell you they've been supporting the team "forever" (which means since at least mid-October). I'm a little frustrated with it already, but hopefully they'll buy tickets. It does make me a little sad though, because people like me will miss out on what made baseball in Miami so unique in the past - you could always walk up (except when Dontrelle started) right before the game and buy tickets whereever you wanted right then. If you just wanted to see the game, you could find something in the Outfield Reserve or the Fish Tank. If you wanted great seats, there were almost always Founders Club or Batters Box seats. Those days are probably over, but it is fun to see kids in the parks playing baseball (and not soccer or some other foul game that only serves to desecrate the field.

Check out Rich's Weekend Baseball BEAT for a Roger Clemens - Josh Beckett piece. Of everything from this World Series, the most memorable thing for me was Clemens' last pitch and the ovation and curtain call he received coming off the mound. Of all the memorable sporting events I have personally witnessed, this was far and away the most memorable of all.