Still, the little homerfest rightly hinted at Florida's ability to be an exciting, power-hitting team this season. Goose bumps bloom at the sound of a hit such as that, when a big crowd roars as one at the crack of the bat. Only baseball gives you that. The Longbills seemed downright charmed later on, in the ninth, when the home team tied the score 5-5 . . . on a balk. With his remarkably long goatee he resembles a Biblical figure, maybe Moses.
Balks are almost as rare in baseball as players turning down raises.
When you get one that forces extra innings, you feel like running to play the quick-pix. The fact the Marlins' ninth season ultimately launched with a loss probably is not an altogether bad thing. When the Dolphins drop their opener, it's panic time. This is the unhurried luxury of having 161 more games. I trust this lineup to plate runs, but the starting pitching staff beyond Ryan Dempster, who looked shaky Monday, is stunningly unproven.