Preparing for the Move

Tonight is University of Miami Family Night at Joe Robbie Stadium, something the Marlins have done in the past but tonight takes on a different feel since the Canes football team is moving here come August.

Charleston Southern? Who?

Anyway, little more green mixed in with the orange seats here in Miami Gardens, a lot of UM facility, students and alums taking in the game.

Sebastian the Ibis is down on the field taking photos with Billy the Marlin, a little ironic since these two mascots will be switching venues in the coming years. Sebastian gets to stay, Billy has to move (although I'll believe in Marlins Park at the Orange Bowl when I see the cement being poured. And even then I may be a tad skeptical).

As far as baseball goes, not much change from Friday night. Marlins throwing out the same lineup it did last night, save for pitcher Ricky Nolasco going instead of Mark Hendrickson.

Padres making quite a few changes to the lineup, trying to get something going. The Fathers have lost four of five and 13 of 16. In past five games, Pads have scored 15 runs.

-- Here are tonight's starting lineups:

Marlins: Amezaga CF; Hermida RF; Ramirez SS; Jacobs 1B; Cantu 3B; Uggla 2B; Gonzalez LF; Rabelo C; Nolasco P

Padres: Giles RF; Iguchi 2B; Gonzalez 1B; Kouzmanoff 3B; Edmonds CF; Greene SS; Bard C; McAnulty LF; Peavy P

-- Nice run by Big Brown, no? First horse since 1929 to win out of the 20 slot. Definite shame to see Eight Belles (which placed) break both front ankles after the race and have to be euthanized almost immediately. Always hate to see that.

-- Throwing out the first pitch: On Frozen Pond favorite Mayra Veronica (called one of 100 sexiest women by FHM back when FHM was around). Bad pitch, but who cares? The Marlins, I should add, need more Mayra Veronica.

This was not the first time she threw out the first pitch when I covered a Marlins game. Some of you may remember this post from back in the day.

-- Tomorrow should be a good time at the ballpark. Padres' Greg Maddux going for his 350th career victory against the Fish. Start time at 1:10. What else you got going on?

-- For those Marlins fans who enjoy visiting cyberspace, The Herald is about to launch a new blog just for the Marlins. Clark Spencer, Mike Phillips and myself will opine on everything Marlins at Fish Bytes. Coming soon to a neighborhood computer near you.

Should be up and running by the time I cover the Marlins in DC next week. So keep your eyes peeled.

-- Padres lineup doing a bit of damage tonight...three runs for SD in the first two innings...Marlins get two in the first off a Mike Jacobs homer to left...

-- Still 3-2 here in the fourth, Jorge Cantu making a great defensive stop, running over to the founder's box seats behind third to get a Brian Giles popup, then spinning and throwing to a hustling Hanley Ramirez to cover third and get Paul McAnulty trying to tag up. Check SportsCenter for that one....

HOCKEY ALERT -- HOCKEY ALERT -- HOCKEY ALERT

-- Montreal trying to stave off elimination, leading the Philly Phlyers 3-1 with 7:22 left in the second period...

-- At the World Championships today, Panthers d-man Magnus "Magnum" Johansson gets a goal as Sweden upends Belarus 6-5.

-- And Olli Jokinen gets things going for Finland, his goal gave the Fins a 2-0 lead on Germany and turns out to be the game-winner, Finland dropping the VWs 5-1...

Now, back to your regularly scheduled baseball game...

-- Marlins trail 6-2, Peavy pulled after walking Luis Gonzalez with two outs in the sixth...

-- Back to hockey: Former Panther d-man Ruslan Salei (bounced out of playoffs by Red Wings) is going to play in the Worlds, joining Belarus on Monday...

-- Philly/Montreal tied at 4 with 7 minutes left...

-- Indians/Royals scoreless in the fourth...

-- Oh my: Flyers come all the way back, now lead Habs 5-4 with 3 minutes left. If Bullies when this one, someone in Montreal could get hurt...those fans/crazy drunks are nuts....sure the police horses are out in force in the old city as we speak...

-- Oh my II: The Marlins Manatees just did a routine on the field to 'Peanut Butter Jelly Time.'' No Dancing Banana here...

-- Announced crowd: 37,689...upper deck looks good and full so maybe...

-- Make it 6-4 Flyers...Habs were last chance for a Canadian Cup champ this year...

There's Something About Jennifer (Aniston)

Jennifer Aniston is in the House Joe Robbie Built Friday night as she and Owen Wilson are here filming a scene for their upcoming movie Marley & Me at the ballpark.

Since one of the other major stars of the flick is a dog (named Marley) it's only fitting they are filming at Bark at the Park night.

They filmed on the third base side of the lower bowl as it appears the scene revolves around the dog (Marley) getting loose and taking a premium seat down low. Owen Wilson and Ms. Aniston race down the steps to retrieve their pooch and herd him back upstairs.

The dog also gets loose and runs around on the field. That scene, again starring Ms. Aniston and Sr. Wilson, was filmed in left field during the ninth inning. The two actors chased the pup around the field, and it seemed like they all enjoyed it. Especially the dog.

PS: Marlins win, beating the Padres 6-4.

"[Aniston] definitely looked a lot better than I did,'' said left fielder Luis Gonzalez, who watched the scene unfold before going out to left for the top of the ninth. "I didn't know [the scene] was happening then or I might have run out there a little quicker to help her catch the dog.

"I would have jumped in front of Owen Wilson, grabbed the dog and handed it to her. That would have made a real hero, right? I should have screwed that whole scene up. What would they do, kick me off the field?"

Said manager Fredi Gonzalez of Aniston's 'running' ability: "She made some pretty athletic moves out there. She wasn't bad. .-.-. I knew they were going to do it, just didn't know what inning it would be. The umpires knew all about it so it was good. She's pretty athletic. She made some zig-zags out there.''

-- According to the Marlins, 754 dogs took in Friday's game -- don't know if the pooch who plays Marley was counted. You can be sure the Marlins jacked up their attendance numbers by counting Aniston, Wilson, the film crew and the extra Miami-Dade police officers brought in for the scene.

The Marlins say the Bark in the Park promotion benefited the Humane Society of Miami-Dade and Broward, so good deal there. Fans paid $12 to get up there in the upper deck, with an additional $6 per pooch.

-- This is not the first time Joe Robbie Stadium has been the backdrop of a major motion picture. The stadium's other film credits include Any Given Sunday, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Major League IV: The Indians Cough It Up '97.

Of course, the Orange Bowl has a much more varied and extensive film resume, but I really don't feel like talking about my old friend right now. Still painful. Here's a picture of what used to be the Best Damn Stadium in the Land as of Thursday morning. Sad, ain't it.

-- And who else but On Frozen Pond gives you a blog entry with Jennifer Aniston, Charlie Sheen and the Orange Bowl in it?

Don't even bother looking, there isn't one.

Too Few are Doing the Fish -- Live from the Joe

Covering the Miami Marlins tonight, and it appears we're going to have another Friends and Family night at the football yard.

Everyone's tired about hearing about the small crowds at Joe Robbie Stadium night after night I'm sure. But there has to be a reason -- or two, or three -- folks down here don't support this team.

You all know the Fighting Fish are a first-place club at the moment, right?

I plan to update this site during the game tonight, and was hoping to get some feedback on why fans -- the ones who live in South Florida -- don't come out to see the Marlins more often. Feel free to vote, for sure, but also leave a comment on why you do -- or don't -- like coming down to Joe Robbie Stadium to watch the team.

-- Crowd filling and settling in here at the Joe but still on the smallish side. The Dodgers, who haven't been in Florida since bailing on Vero Beach back on St. Patrick's Day, getting up and around on Andrew Miller. LADs get a run off three singles to left in the opening inning. In the second, LADs load 'em up with two outs, Matt Kemp singles in a pair to make it 3-0. Jeff Kent follows suit, singling into center to make it 5-0.

And the Marlins get the bullpen going....

-- Speaking of Vero Beach, the Dodgers plan on being in their new digs in Gretzkytown (AKA Glendale, Ariz.) come February. The Indians (2009) and Reds (2010) join the Dodgers out in Arizona, the Ohio teams moving to a new complex in Goodyear.

Last team training in Florida bring the citrus....

-- The Marlins trail 6-1 after a wild pitch, then something truly wild happened: The Mermaids, the team's scantily clad dance troupe, did a routine on the field in which they moved and grooved to Motley Crue's ode to adult clubs, Girls, Girls, Girls. 

Somewhere, a prepubescent teen asked "Dad, where's the Dollhouse in Fort Lauderdale? And can we go there sometime?'' No son, you can't. But at least we have the Mermaids!

-- Dan Uggla goes deep into the club seats....Marlins trail 6-2 heading to the fourth...

-- The line on Miller: 3 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 62 pitches, 33 strikes

-- Hockey friends Josh Friedman, Craig Minervini and Frank Forte all send their best to Panther fans out there...

-- I'm not watching it obviously, but Pens seem to be taking it to the Rangers at MSG. This would be Pitt's first win at the Garden this season if the Pens hold on. I picked the Rangers to win this series, a move I'm regretting with each passing moment of the series. Had Rangers been able to get that win in Game 1, things might be a bit different. Of course, had I covered hockey in Detroit and not South Florida, I'd be covering playoff hockey and not watching baseball in a football stadium in Miami.

-- Jorge Cantu leads off fourth with a double to center; after Luis Gonzalez singled, Mike Rabelo's sac fly to center makes it a 6-3 LAD lead...

-- Speaking of the Mermaids, this is how you celebrate winning some playoff hockey games. I have a buddy who is regional manager of a paper company in Scranton, Pa. Wonder if he goes to any of these games?

-- Going to bottom of fifth, still Vero Beach Dodgers 6, Jupiter Marlins 3

-- Hey hey, here come the Rangers....Nueva York puts up a pair of quick goals in the second period and tie up the Penguins 3-3...

-- And here come the Marlins....Jeremy Hermida drives in two with a broken-bat double to right...Hanley Ramirez (E3) and Dan Uggla (BB) come in, Hermida to third on a throwing error home...Marlins have pulled to within one @ 6-5...

And Jorge Cantu continues his big day...Cantu (profiled by Clark Spencer in today's Miami Herald) is now 3-for-3, his RBI single driving in Hermida and tying this thing at 6...Miller off the hook...

-- Just some great all-out baseball being played here at the Joe...those of you who haven't noticed ("and judging by the attendance, you haven't") are really missing out...

Dan Uggla just went 100 miles per hour and headfirst into the stands to grab a high popup...then, with two outs, Alfredo Amezaga races in to make a great stab and end the inning...just fun times here at the Joe these days...

-- Pens opening it up again, lead two once more...5-3 over the Rangers...

-- Oh, and we're still tied at the Joe @ 6...going to the top of the eighth...

-- Marlins score a touchdown in the eighth -- or at least catcher Mike Rabelo celebrated like he scored off a Dan Marino pass. With two outs in the inning, Mark Sweeney lines a shot into the right field corner...Blake DeWitt comes barreling around third looks to score, but Hermida's throw is right on line to Rabelo...the Marlins first-year catcher makes the catch, turns and gets run over by DeWitt.

Rabelo braced for the hit -- actually turned a shoulder into the hit -- and spiked the baseball (ala Pete Rose or Mark Duper) at home plate.

Good stuff indeed...

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