Miami Marlins clubhouse reveals healthy dynamic between teammates this season
MIAMI, Fla. -- Fantasy football leagues. Celebratory handshakes. Team dinners.
Since spring training, the Miami Marlins have grown into a tight-knit group with a complementary mix of inexperienced and veteran players.
When All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton and outfielder Reed Johnson got struck by consecutive errant fastballs last Thursday, Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee led the charge in clearing Miami's bench.
This past weekend on a FOX Sports Florida telecast, general manager Dan Jennings spoke of that bond the organization -- from owner Jeffrey Loria to president of baseball operations Michael Hill -- hoped to develop.
"We tried to create a family atmosphere and you try to do that by putting the right players inside a clubhouse, and you don't know how that's going to turn out until the season starts," Jennings said. "This group of guys in my 27 years -- I don't know if I've ever seen a group grow or come together as a family like these guys have."
It all starts with the clubhouse at Marlins Park, which the players call home from April through September.
As Grapefruit League action wound down in March, equipment manager John Silverman showed a floor plan to the guys with the most service time. They were given first picks of locker choice.
Infielder Jeff Baker, in his 10th season but first with the Marlins, took the first locker on the left closest to both the entrance and kitchen. He gets to watch everyone arrive and socialize with media. On the other end towards the stereo and bathroom are catchers Jeff Mathis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
"The veterans always tend to for the most part find themselves on one end or the other," right-handed reliever Bryan Morris said. "For that reason they like to see the guys when they come in. Most of the time though as the season goes on the clubhouse forms itself, shapes itself."
PERKS OF THE SPOT
Before Silverman asked what lockers they would like, Mathis told Saltalamacchia about his space from the previous season. If they chose to be next to each other, which they did, they would be able to discuss strategy and also have an empty locker in between them to keep additional boxes of gear.
That luxury isn't afforded to shorter-tenured players like those on the left-hand side of the clubhouse. This stretch includes everyone from Ed Lucas to Christian Yelich to Andrew Heaney.
Guys like Morris, left-handed reliever Dan Jennings and right-handed reliever Carter Capps are packed like sardines. By September call-ups and expanded rosters, space is limited.
"We were there in the past," Mathis reminisced. "Me and Salty both put in our time."
Mathis' proximity to the speakers makes for prime real estate. Although he doesn't dictate what music plays all the time, he does get to the park early enough to control the selection through batting practice.
Classic rock and country, featuring artists from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Tim McGraw, are typical pregame choices. If the ballclub wins, it's not unusual to hear the stylings of A$AP Rocky and Drake postgame.
"It depends on who's pitching that day and what they want to hear," Mathis said. "I ask the starting pitcher, especially when it gets close to game time, what they would like to hear."
Left-handed reliever Mike Dunn and Steve Cishek flank the other side of the entrance with close views of the televisions that hang in the middle of the room. Near them you'll find right-handed pitchers Nathan Eovaldi, Brad Penny and A.J. Ramos, where it's just a short walk away from the kitchen.
The trio of Morris, Jennings and Capps are too far away to read the scores on the TVs unless sitting on the reclining chairs in front of the screens. Baseball games are usually playing, but other leagues like NASCAR and NFL get airtime as well.
"Sometimes we don't want to watch what's on TV," Dunn said laughing.
EVOLUTION OF SPACE
Interestingly enough, the clubhouse shape has changed over the years in order to facilitate communication and promote a united atmosphere.
Upon his call-up with the Colorado Rockies in 2005, Baker remembers the Coors Field clubhouse being so spread out they could throw a football around. It was three times the size of the visiting one, which is among the biggest in the majors.
Marlins Park's resembles a teardrop. At Sun Life Stadium, it was the customary rectangle of a football locker room. Yankee Stadium is considered the Taj Mahal.
"I'd say the newer ones -- right, wrong or different -- are trying to go into a circle," Baker said. "Everyone wants the idea of 'It's a circle, it's continuous. We're all in this together.' I think they're trying to go a little more space-conscious. Most of them are trying to make it more intimate, so you are spending more time with your teammates."
Even with this updated layout, it isn't perfect. Blind spots are inevitable. Mathis jokingly laments his inability to see McGehee or Johnson around the corner from Stanton.
The shape is conducive to allowing movement and creating cohesion.
"That's one thing here we've done a really good job of," Baker said. "We're fortunate. I've played on teams that do have cliques, and it's fine when you're on the field, but the bottom line is you're showing up for a 7 o'clock game at 1 (p.m.) and you're leaving at 11:30 at night. You want to make sure you have more to bonding and in common with the guys than just going out there and competing for nine innings. To be honest with you, that's when it becomes work. Right now it's not work. You come in, have fun, play a game and hang with your teammates."
NOT SO CLIQUE-Y
As a veteran, Baker makes it a habit to move around the clubhouse and talk with guys. One second he's poking fun at Yelich, the next he's sitting in Saltalamacchia's chair catching up with Mathis.
Saltalamacchia himself can be found walking by singing along to a tune. Mathis hands out caps he had made for each member of the team. Center fielder Marcell Ozuna gets teased for wearing a t-shirt with a cartoon bear version of himself holding a broken bat.
Morris, who was acquired in early June, was given a locker where there were once empty spots surrounding it. Now, he, Capps, Jennings and righty Sam Dyson share tight quarters.
"The funny thing is as much time as we spend in the clubhouse we're very rarely just sitting at our locker," Morris said. "We may not be doing much of anything at certain times, but we're always kind of moving around a little bit. If I spend more than 10-15 minutes in my chair, I'm either not feeling good or something's going on."
It's only natural groups of infielders, outfielders or pitchers tend to gravitate to the same areas of the clubhouse because of their shared schedules and drills.
The relievers, for example, arrive at the ballpark around 1:30 p.m. and play catch at 3. They're back in the clubhouse by 3:20 and return to the field 40 minutes later to stretch before batting practice.
Is it done on purpose? Is there a benefit to it?
"It's nice to have everybody over where you can discuss things, talk about your outing or whatever," Dunn said. "It's good in that aspect."
A few of the Latin players like infielder Donovan Solano, Ozuna and utility player Jordany Valdespin are situated on the other side of the speakers. Ace Jose Fernandez's locker remains cluttered -- yet relatively untouched -- in the tail end across from Mathis.
Dunn, Cishek and Ramos returned to last season's lockers. Ever since Dunn can remember, it has been the pitcher's corner. As players come and go, though, it does change a little. This is also where right-handed reliever Chad Qualls, now with the Houston Astros, once sat in 2013 is a starting pitcher.
Much has been said about how well this year's Marlins club gets along. Perhaps part of the reason the players have overachieved is because of their fondness for each other.
"The one thing, especially being an older or veteran guy, is there are a lot of dynamics being in the clubhouse," Baker said. "One of the biggest things you have to do -- you never know what one individual might have going on off the field, so you always want to touch base with them whether it's saying hello or busting their chops on something. Just to try and make it so they feel comfortable.
"You can get tied in with how big locker rooms are nowadays. You could sit in one spot and not see the guy until you're out on the field. You might not see him in BP, might be a pitcher (and) next time you see him in the dugout. You just try to take a big space and make it a melting pot to get to know different people."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
