JUPITER, Fla. — Sports’ ceremonial first day of spring bloomed with convincing optimism here a couple of hours north of Miami on Tuesday as the Miami Marlins’ full team took the field for the first time.
I say “convincing” because to doubt the Marlins is the norm and to be genuinely excited the aberration. A ballclub coming off a 69-93 season must work extra hard to sell a turnaround year. And when that team is seemingly buried under the lavish-spending Mets, Phillies and Braves in the NL East — all playoff teams last season — well, conveying genuine optimism is a Herculean task or one worthy of an Oscar.
The Marlins have done it.
