Pitcher’s memory present
Players reflect on missing star
MIAMI— The game Jose Fernandez had his heart set on starting went on without him Tuesday, not but without widespread consideration of what could have and should have been.
As much as any present star — Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, ClaytonKershaw— Fernandez’s memory was a presence during All-Star festivities thisweek.
Starting, and starring in, this gamehad been on Fernandez’s mind since at least around this time last year, and he made no secret about it to those close to him.
“No doubt he would’ve been an All-Star,” Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said Tuesday in the home clubhouse atMarlins Park. “He would’ve found away to be the starter. The last five starts would’ve probably been one-hitters, so he would’ve forced the issue.”
The only formal ingame acknowledgment of Fernandez came in the middle of the fourth inning, during a video tribute of the organization’s AllStars through the years on the Marlins board.
The other reminders were everywhere: the orange wall, adorned with his name and number and signed by thousands since it went up last fall, on the West Plaza; Fernandez’s locker with all of his belongings, preserved behind a piece of Plexiglas, in the home clubhouse; and individual tributes from AllStars, including specially made cleats featuring Fernandez’s image, worn by Nationals star BryceHarper.
Fernandez and two others died when he crashed his boat off Miami Beach early in the morning of Sept. 25. A state report determined Fernandez was at fault, driving too fast in the dark while legally drunk and with cocaine in his system. Park video
Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., a first-time All-Star and Fernandez’s friend when they were Tampa-area high school stars, mentioned only Fernandez by namewhen referencing the“hundreds” of peoplewhohelpedhimget where he is — family and friends, coaches and teachers.
“I have no doubt that if he was here he’d be starting and he’d be electrifying this building tonight.”
When the All- Stars move out and the Marlins move back in and the baseball season resumes, the daily reminderswon’t necessarily be as obvious. But they’ll still be there.
“He’s on my mind every day. Every single day,” Loria said. “It’s just something that doesn’t disappear, I’m sorry to say.”