OK, so in my last post I talked about Joe Girardi returning to Dolphin Stadium, but I neglected to write about the return of Alex Rodriguez. I thought it would be nice for him to play in Miami, where he lives and grew up, but had no idea that he has not played a game here since high school. That's what he says, and while I haven't been able to verify that there was never an exhibition game in this area, he definitely never played a major league regular season or playoff game here. The Mariners played here the year after he left, the Rangers played here the year after he left and the Yankees played in the World Series here the year before he arrived.
So the best player in baseball returning to his hometown is a really big deal. Even Joe Girardi, who lives here in the offseason, said that he attended one Miami Heat game this winter. On his drive home, he noticed a huge billboard congratulating Alex on his MVP season.
Alex said he thinks he set a record with how many tickets he bought/left for people -- about 150. Among them, he said he is particularly excited about his wife, his mother and his high school coach attending.
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, who fired Girardi after the 2006 season, spoke to Girardi on the field. This was after we talked to Girardi, but according to Loria: "I just welcomed him back. I just wished him well, shook his hand, welcomed him back and wished him good luck."
A couple players talked about facing the team now managed by their former manager.
Matt Treanor said he loved playing for Joe and expected him to get another managing opportunity: "Absolutely. It's hard to get an award like Manager of the Year and not get another chance down the road.
Dan Uggla said: "I think he definitely deserved to get another chance managing."