The scars from a 5-7 season were still visible Friday afternoon, one day before the 2008 Miami Hurricanes begin official practices.
His body of work may not be there. Until this month, John Baker had never had an at-bat in the big leagues, so there isn't much major-league evidence to prove he can be the complete-package catcher the Marlins have sought.
There's a run in here somewhere. The Marlins clubhouse came back to life Thursday, the team returning from a long road trip and a three-day All-Star break to attack a playoff race with the same piñata approach that worked during the first 95 games: Close your eyes, swing hard, and hope to be showered with sweets.
IN MY OPINION | ISRAEL GUTIERREZ
ORLANDO -- Like he had never experienced a harder day of work in his life. That is the look Michael Beasley had on his face throughout his second day of pro-like basketball Tuesday.
IN MY OPINION
Big week. Rebuilding's most crucial first step begins this week. Rumors are coming faster than Ricky Davis mental errors. Dwyane Wade to Chicago for the No. 1 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, Tyrus Thomas and Larry Hughes? Shawn Marion to Los Angeles for Elton Brand? Miami moving Michael Beasley to Seattle for the No. 4 pick and a shot at drafting O.J. Mayo?
Beverly Hills this is not. No cigar shop run-ins with Arnold Schwarzenegger here. Dolphins camp this is not. No thunderous run-ins with Jake Long here. Here, at Miramar Regional Park on Thursday, Jason Taylor waits under the cover of a pavilion with about 170 children until he hears the all-clear horn that signals lightning is no longer in the area.
IN MY OPINION
It would have been an entirely inappropriate ending for these Hurricanes. To get swept out of the super regionals on their home field, where they'd never lost a super regional game until Friday, would've felt like the cruelest of practical jokes. Cruel enough where you would've expected Ashton Kutcher to leap from behind one of the ESPN television cameras and proclaim he put the ''U'' in Punk'd.
UM coach Randy Shannon