Redmond, Marlins weigh in on rule changes
JUPITER, Fla. -- Each season, the first day of Spring Training brings its share of challenges. A new wrinkle to the start of Marlins camp on Friday is the fact Major League Baseball is instituting pace-of-game rules.
Manager Mike Redmond was scrambling all morning to get the first day of workouts underway that he didn't have much time to review the changes. But as Spring Training progresses, the club will ingrain the revisions into its players.
"Pace of play was a big deal going into the offseason," Redmond said. "Obviously, the replay stuff [will change], where I don't have to go out on the field anymore to review a play, which is nice.
Video: Hot Stove talks MLB's pace of game announcement
"It's the first day of Spring Training, and there's a lot going on. Now you get rule changes. So we're going to have to read through that and make sure guys are familiar with what is going on. It will be an adjustment for some guys."
Closer Steve Cishek has concerns if a 20-second pitch clock is eventually adopted. It's not part of the 2015 revisions.
"I don't like it because I like to vary my times to the plate, even if there is no one on base," Cishek said.
Here are some of the highlights of the first day of Marlins camp:
• The Marlins woke up to 37-degree temperatures, but by the time they took the field early in the afternoon, it warmed up to the mid-50s. Redmond said the weather didn't impact the first day of drills. "It's cool, but it's not terrible," he said. "It would have been tougher if it were at 9 or 9:30 a.m. But we got everything in."
• Miami has 34 pitchers on its roster, but ace Jose Fernandez is on his own throwing program as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
• Kendry Flores is the only pitcher who has not yet reported. The right-hander is in the Dominican Republic settling a visa issue, which is only expected to delay him by a few days.
• Henderson Alvarez, Tom Koehler, Brad Hand, Jarred Cosart, Dan Haren, A.J. Ramos, David Phelps, Sam Dyson, Carter Capps and Justin Nicolino were among the pitchers to throw off a mound on Friday.
• Saturday is the annual Winter Warm-Up, which will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET at Marlins Park. Individual game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. and are available at marlins.com.
• The Marlins will work out at Roger Dean Stadium at 3 p.m. on Saturday.