Fish Bytes

Snip Snip: See Jose Reyes lose his hair (w/video)

    Marlins shortstop Jose Reyes went to the barber for the first time since 2007 on Friday, and the event was televised on MLB Network. Reyes cut his hair in order to comply with the team's grooming policy. But instead of sweeping the dreadlocks into the garbage, they'll be auctioned off on eBay over the coming week, with the proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida.

     Here's the snip-by-snip video (courtesy MLB Network):

Reyes' "dreads" headed to Make-A-Wish

      Looks like Jose Reyes has his head -- not to mention the hair atop it -- in the right place. The Marlins' new shortstop is not only complying with team grooming policy by cutting his hair, but is donating his locks to charity.

       The beneficiary: the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida.

       Reyes will have his long dreadlocks snipped off at 6 p.m. Friday, and it will be televised live on MLB Network. But the ropy locks won't be broomed away and forgotten like any ordinary hair. They'll be put up for sale on a weeklong auction on eBay, with proceeds going to the charity that benefits kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

       Reyes last cut his hair in 2007.

        

News and Notes: Cespedes, Anibal, Hanley and Oviedo

    As workers and dignitaries took turns laying sod at Marlins Park on Thursday, team president David Samson spent time with reporters discussing baseball topics. Among them:

    -- While the Marlins continue to negotiate with Yoenis Cespedes, the Cuban outfielder hasn't scheduled a visit to Miami to tour the ballpark. "I'm not sure he is going to visit," Samson said. "If it can be arranged and he wants to come see our ballpark and see Miami, it would be great. From our standpoint, we're aggressively negotiating a contract." Teams are currently allowed to negotiate, but not finalize a deal, with the free agent. "He has not been officially unblocked by governmental entities that need to do whatever they need to do to allow him to be employed in the United States. But MLB has given the right to teams to negotiate with him and come to a conclusion. But, again, our offseason is not dependent on signing Cespedes at all. This is an interesting player."

   -- Samson said Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly Leo Nunez) will "probably not" start the season with the Marlins based on a number of variables that make it difficult to predict his status. Oviedo is continuing to work through legal hurdles in the Dominican Republic that are needed for him to return to the United States and play in the majors. "I hope that things get cleared up and we'd love to have him in camp and getting ready for the season," Samson said. But Samson said there's a chance that Oviedo could face disciplinary action from Major League Baseball because "there was an acknowledged violation of the law" by the pitcher, who had pitched under an assumed name. "If you ask me will he be at spring training, my answer would be 'probably yes,'" Samson said.

   -- Samson said Hanley Ramirez has taken batting practice in the Dominican Republic and the initial reports have been good on the third baseman, who underwent shoulder surgery after the season. "Looks great, feels great, ready for Opening Day," Samson said of Ramirez. "We think he'll be ready to go (for the start of spring training). He is swinging a bat. He took some B.P. We'll see what happens when he reports, but we feel pretty good."

   -- Samson said the team has no plans to negotiate a contract extension with Anibal Sanchez, who will be eligible for free agency after the coming season. "We're going to let him go through the season," Samson said. Sanchez and the Marlins will face off Friday in an arbitration hearing to determine the pitcher's 2012 salary. Sanchez is asking for $8 million. The Marlins will be arguing for $6.9 million. Emilio Bonifacio will have his hearing next week.

   -- First baseman Gaby Sanchez was unable to break glass -- which is a good thing -- when he threw baseballs a few weeks ago at the team's backstop aquarium. Sanchez was brought out to test the fish tank to make sure it could withstand the impact of a baseball. "He threw a ball as hard as he could against the tank, and it didn't even make a mark, and nothing moved inside the tank because we have an extra layer of glass in front," Samson said. "No ball will hit the tank as fast as Gaby threw it."

   -- Samson said about 1,000 tickets "at most" will be available through the lottery for Opening Night. Fans must register online to be included in the lottery.

Marlins announce lottery-like process for Opening Day tickets

       If you wish to attend the Marlins' April 4 opener in their new ballpark without purchasing a season-ticket package, it won't be easy. But, apparently, it won't be impossible.

       Here's how:

       The Marlins announced today that those wishing to purchase single-game tickets for Opening Night can do so by registering online, now through Feb. 20, at marlins.com/openingnight. After the registration window closes, according to a team release, "fans will be selected at random based on available inventory. Selection does not guarantee tickets. Those selected will be notified by February 28."

       Basically, at this point, the Marlins aren't sure what the allotment of Opening Night tickets will be because they're continuing to sell season-ticket packages. The number I was hearing tossed around about a month ago was about 2,000, but the actual number could end up being less than that.

       In addition to Opening Night ticket plans, the Marlins also announced today that tickets to the pair of exhibitions against the New York Yankees -- on April 1 (1:10 p.m.) and April 2 (7:10 p.m.) will go on sale on Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. Fans will be able to purchase tickets to those two games exclusively online through marlins. com.

       Approximately 25,000 tickets will be made available to the April 1 game; 30,000 for the April 2 game.

       As for all other regular-season games, single game tickets will go on sale March 3 at 10 a.m., either through marlins.com or the Marlins Park Ticket Office.

Jose Reyes haircut to be televised

     There's a connection here. I'm just not sure what it is. On Friday -- one day after the Marlins will begin laying sod at their new ballpark -- new shortstop Jose Reyes will have his lengthy dreadlocks snipped off on MLB Network.

     That bit of news was tweeted last night by Chris Leible, one of Reyes' representatives. Leible said more details will follow.

     When Reyes signed with the Marlins in December, he said he would have no trouble complying with the team's mandate on short hair. "No problem at all," Reyes said then. "That's not going to affect me and the way I play the game. I've got to cut it off, no problem."

     Seeing as how the Marlins are paying him $106 million over the coming six seasons, it would seem to be a rather small concession for Reyes to make. Besides, he has no choice. Nor would he be the first Marlin to be de-locked before the start of spring training. Josh Johnson, Hanley Ramirez and the player formerly known as Leo Nunez (i.e. Juan Carlos Oviedo) were all taken to the barber's chair when they showed up at camp with excessive hair growth.