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Random evidence of a cluttered mind

Howard represents NBA desperation outside Miami

 

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Today: Marlins All-Star pitchers. With rookie Jose Fernandez having been selected in Saturday night’s All-Star roster announcement show, here are previous Marlins pitchers who also have made the All-Star team. Result refers to how they did in the game:

Year Pitcher Result
1993 Bryan Harvey 1-1-0-0-0-2
1996 Kevin Brown1-0-0-0-0-0
1997Kevin Brown 1-1-0-0-0-0
2000 Ryan Dempster DNP
2003 Dontrelle Willis DNP
2004 Armando BenitezDNP
2004Carl Pavano2-3-2-2-0-1
2005Dontrelle Willis1-2-2-2-1-0
2009Josh JohnsonDNP
2010Josh Johnson2-0-0-0-0-2

Note: Numbers left-to-right for results are innings, hits allowed, runs allowed, earned runs allowed, walks and strikeouts. A Marlins pitcher has never started, won or lost an all-star game.


What South Florida sports fans are talking about:

1. DWIGHT HOWARD

NBA’s star free agent joining Houston: Basketball’s Powerball number rolled in Friday night with Howard’s decision. Can we refer to the Lakers as “Loss” Angeles now that Howard left after one season? Yes. But should we call the Rockets instant title contenders for pairing Howard with James Harden? Let’s not get carried away, OK?

2. MARLINS

Fernandez, recent surge lead major turnaround: Rookie phenom Jose Fernandez was named Saturday to the NL All-Star roster, and Miami had a 19-11 record since May31 entering the weekend, best in the majors over that span. Disenfranchised fans were complaining how hating Jeffrey Loria had become slightly more of a challenge than usual.

3. TENNIS

Wimbledon wraps up Sunday: After Saturday’s women’s final proved riveting only to Sabine Lisicki’s and Marion Bartoli’s families, Sunday’s Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray men’s final inspires actual interest, with the Brit Murray a fan favorite. I don’t wanna say Djokovic could be in trouble, but the chair umpire appears to be Queen Elizabeth.

4. PANTHERS

Cats lose longtime fixture Weiss: Stephen Weiss, an 11-year Panther and club’s all-time leader in games played and assists, signed with Detroit. Florida made the playoffs only once in Weiss’ time here and lost in the first round. His new Red Wings teammates will try to explain to him the totally foreign concept of “winning a playoff series.”

5. HEAT

Champs’ summer-league team begins play this week: Miami is one of 22 NBA clubs sending youthful rosters of developmental players for 11 days of competition in Las Vegas. The safest bet in all of Vegas? That none of the Heat’s players in the summer league will be a major contributor as Miami seeks its third title in a row next season.

By Greg Cote

gcote@miamiherald.com

• Answer: Rapper Snoop Dogg sent out his support to defrocked Patriot and accused murderer Aaron Hernandez. Question: What makes you say marijuana use can addle the brain?

• The Reds’ Homer Bailey pitched the season’s first no-hitter, and the second of his career. How weird that a pitcher would be named Homer. Heck, how weird that anybody would be named Homer!

• Answer: Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez of Hialeah bought Lamborghinis for him and his brother, a Rolls-Royce for Mom, a Bentley for Dad, and a boat for his brother. Question: Can you think of an athlete who is a good bet to be broke some day?

Hip-hop mogul/sports agent Jay-Z slams rival baseball agent Scott Boras in a new song. Cannot confirm Boras will answer in a rap record of his own.

• The Texas Rangers signed Manny Ramirez, 41, to a minor-league contract. Remember when “Manny Being Manny” was sort of charming? At this point, Manny being still here is sort of annoying.

• Baseball umpire Brian Runge was fired for a failed drug test. The reasoning: Umpires are bad enough sober.

• Heat president Pat Riley, while with the Lakers in 1989, trademarked the word “Three-Peat.” I think I might owe Pat for the unauthorized use just now.

•  Parting thought: Retired Bobby Bowden has accepted a marketing/promotions role with Florida State. His first suggestion: Drop the school’s politically incorrect Seminoles nickname and henceforth refer to all FSU teams as the Dadgumits.

Visit Greg’s Random Evidence of a Cluttered Blog daily at MiamiHerald.com and follow on Twitter @gregcote, on Instagram/upsetbird and on Vine/Greg Cote.

Read more Greg Cote stories from the Miami Herald

  • Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during the New York Yankees Photo Day on February 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida.

    In my opinion

    Greg Cote: With suspensions looming, MLB faces a midsummer nightmare

    What once was America’s Pastime by acclimation prepares for its showcase midsummer break on the nation’s biggest stage, in prime time, in New York.

  • In this Jan. 25, 2013, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard dunks during the first half against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles.

    IN MY OPINION

    Greg Cote: Dwight Howard made right move despite loyalty questions

    It occurs to me I happen to be living my life as if change was bad, though of course I know it usually is not. This wasn’t planned; it just worked out that way. Grew up in the same house in Hollywood. Worked for the same company since back when carrier pigeons delivered the news. Married to the same wonderful woman all this time.

  • MIAMI, FL - JUNE 14: Jose Fernandez #16 of the Miami Marlins throws a pitch during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Marlins Park on June 14, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Steve Mitchell/Getty Images)

    IN MY OPINION

    Greg Cote: Andy Murray, Marlins’ Jose Fernandez strike a blow for the good guys

    Sports became a game of good vs. evil, somewhere along the line. Maybe it was around the time player arrests began to feel like an official statistical category, or when “PEDs” entered the lexicon as an acronym for cheating. Whatever it meant to be an athlete got tarnished and tangled in morality. What used to be our escape from real life — sports — became just a reflection of it, and one that too often made us want to look away.

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Greg Cote
gcote@miamiherald.com
Known for his wit and sharp insight, Greg Cote has been a Herald sports columnist since 1995. He previously covered the Dolphins, University of Miami football and major sports events including Super Bowls, the World Cup and the Barcelona Olympics. Cote and his infamous 'Upset Bird' present the ever-popular NFL predictions page every Friday during football season. More

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