Marlins, Meet the Mets

The deadline has passed and the Florida Marlins will not become the San Antonio Sandspurs, or whatever the Texas city was going to call the team it tried to lure with promises of $200 million for a state-of-the-art stadium. Major League Baseball nixed the move, saying the Fish should stay where they are, and San Antonio withdrew its offer. Whether South Florida citizens, a benefactor, or -- heaven forbid -- the team itself will pay for a new venue here is still unclear. You may now resume your “Take the Florida Marlins, please” jokes. Meanwhile, the current home to MLB’s worst team has changed its name to Dolphin Stadium (dropping the s from Dolphins), which is located at 2269 Dan Marino Blvd. in Miami Gardens. We go through sports venues the way Barry Bonds goes through syringes: Miami Arena abandoned for the American Airlines Arena, the Orange Bowl forsaken for Joe-Robbie-Pro-Player-Dolphins-Dolphin Stadium.... In any case, the Marlins provide a week’s worth of opportunities to see some of the best baseball has to offer, beginning at 7:35 tonight with the first of three against Carlos Delgado, Julio Franco, and the rest of the first-place New York Mets. The series continues with early-afternoon games Saturday and Sunday. On Monday at 6:05 p.m., South Floridians get an opportunity to see homerun king Bonds and the San Francisco Giants in the first of three evening games. Tickets range from $6 to $90. Call 1-877-MARLINS, or visit florida.marlins.mlb.com.
Fri., May 26