Here’s how Le Batard responded when the Marlins gave up a home run to open the season
With the way the Miami Marlins’ season started Thursday, Dan Le Batard couldn’t help but laugh.
Marlins starting pitcher José Ureña gave up a home run to Chicago Cubs center fielder Ian Happ on the first pitch of the sesaon, the start of an eventual 8-4 loss.
Le Batard’s ESPN radio show “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” based in Miami, had producer Billy Gill on site at Marlins Park for the game, giving a moment-by-moment breakdown leading up to the first pitch of the game. Once Gill said Happ took Ureña’s first pitch deep to right field for a home run, Le Batard proceeded to break out into hysterical laughter in the show’s studio.
“Welcome Derek Jeter!” Le Batard bellowed between laughs. “And that concludes our Marlins coverage for the season!”
The joy Dan Le Batard gets from the Cubs hitting a home run off the very first Marlins pitch of the season is the best thing you'll hear this Opening Day. "Welcome Derek Jeter...that concludes our Marlins coverage for the season!" pic.twitter.com/tEVR9UhQWN
— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) March 29, 2018
Le Batard has not been shy about how the Marlins’ new ownership — led by principle owner Bruce Sherman and CEO Jeter — has been running the franchise.
He had a testy interview with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on his radio show in December after the Marlins’ began slashing payroll by trading top players Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna and Dee Gordon. Christian Yelich was traded shortly afterward as well.
The Marlins return to Marlins Park for the second of four games against the Cubs at 7:10 p.m. Friday.
This story was originally published March 30, 2018 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Here’s how Le Batard responded when the Marlins gave up a home run to open the season."