Ramos can’t conquer omelet challenge

LOS ANGELES — A.J. Ramos on the Marlins’ off day in San Diego earlier this week set out to do something few have accomplished. Turned out he didn’t have the stomach for it.

Before the team departed for Los Angeles on Thursday, Ramos and fellow pitchers Tom Koehler and Steve Cishek had breakfast at the Broken Yoke Café. For those familiar with the Travel Channel series Man vs. Food, the name might sound familiar.

Host Adam Richman filmed an episode there and took on the ironman omelet challenge. Ramos tried to do the same. For the distinction of getting his name and photo on the wall, and a T-shirt, Ramos tangled with a six-pound, 12-egg omelet smothered in chili and cheese, three potatoes worth of home fries and two biscuits the size of two hockey pucks stacked together.

“They make it and then the guy walks around with the platter and says ‘Challenge,’ and they ring a bell,” said Ramos, who had an hour to polish it off. “I was eating and 20 minutes into it people started coming over to see what I was doing. It was kind of embarrassing.

“When they brought it out it was on a damn pizza pan. I ate all the eggs. Usually I’ll eat six or seven eggs normally when I’m working out or training, but 12 eggs was pretty beastly, especially when I got to the potatoes and they started making me full. My stomach was hurting the rest of the day.”

On the show, Richman polished off the meal in 32 minutes. One of the employees revealed more than 10,000 people had attempted the challenge since the restaurant opened in 1979.

About 400 had been successful.

“It was really good with the chili and everything, but when you eat that much of anything it started tasting pretty bad,” Ramos said.

Once he no longer has to deal with the physical demands of being a majorleaguer, Ramos said he wouldn’t mind taking a crack at Richman’s gig.

“Definitely,” he said. “I have to train a little better for it.

“I have to expand my stomach. I could mentally do it, but physically I couldn’t stuff anymore into my stomach. Itwas awful.”

Mathis could join club soon

Catcher Jeff Mathis (collarbone) is scheduled to catch nine innings for Triple-A New Orleans on Sunday and Monday. He could join the Marlins as soon as Tuesday. First baseman Logan

Morrison (knee) has been logging at-bats as the designated hitter in extended spring games.

He’ll begin playing defense next week. Fellow first baseman Casey

Kotchman (hamstring) should begin a rehab assignment nextweek. Right-hander Nathan

Eovaldi (shoulder) tossed a 40-pitch bullpen session Saturday.

He’ll throw another one Monday.

Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) has not yet returned to the mound since his setback.

He is throwing off flat ground.