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Home , Bret Barberie, Carlos Zambrano, Chris Volstad, Doug Davis (pitcher), Jack McKeon, Jim Leyland

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8B THE PALM BEACH POST • SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2008 THIS WEEK’S MARQUEE MATCHUPS Tigers at Red Sox, Tuesday-Thursday Phillies at Mets, Tuesday-Thursday SUNDAY PITCH and his slumping Tigers Bet that potent lineup won’t face Boston in the Red Sox’s mind seeing this trio of Philly starters BY STAFF WRITERS JOE CAPOZZI AND TOM D’ANGELO first series at Fenway this season. — Moyer, Kendrick and Eaton.

Go to PalmBeachPost.com/marlinsblog for exclusive Marlins commentary. When Marlins players need help, Dr. Fish is on call

MIAMI GARDENS — There were 42,250 “Four to six weeks later, it was a great That’s where they feel comfortable. for his annual pre-season meeting. people at ’s Miller Park last June 2, transformation.’’ You work with them on their terms Treanor, who was a minor leaguer that year but only one guy sitting in the stands mat- Treanor went on to raise his bat- whether it’s over dinner, on the golf working out in big-league camp, remembers tered most for a handful of Marlins. ting average nearly 100 points on his course or at the stadium in the locker players walking into the room to see a sign Players call him “Fish,’’ way to finishing with a career-high room,’’ said Fishbein, a scratch golfer on the wall listing the mental exercise points which might seem like the .269 mark. who lives with his wife and two chil- in Fishbein’s program. 1 appropriate nickname for “Fish basically told me it’s a dren north of Chicago. At the very bottom of an 8 ⁄2-by-14 -inch someone affiliated with a confidence issue, not a skills issue,’’ “More often than not, they’re laminated sheet outlining his program were team called the Marlins. But Treanor said. very happy if I approach them. Some the words “2003 World Champions.” the monicker is only verbal Fishbein, 39, isn’t comfortable Fishbein guys are more introverted and would “I got a few chuckles but I wanted to alter shorthand for Dr. Jeffrey taking credit for a player’s improve- Has been the rather not seek out help. There’s still their belief system and not sell them on me- Fishbein, the Marlins’ team ment. He prefers to say he simply Marlins’ team a little bit of a stigma attached to it diocrity, ’’ Fishbein said. Joe psychologist since 2002. helps players channel their own skills psychologist but not much.’’ Eight month later, there were no chuckles. Capozzi That day at Miller Park, through mental exercises. since 2002. Several players don’t worry about On Oct. 15, 2003, after pitching four in- the doctor was in. And his of- In Treanor’s case, Fishbein said, that stigma. They know they can nings of relief in Game 7 of the NLCS, Josh fice had no couch. “We developed a pre- routine in the on- benefit by spending time with Fishbein. Beckett saw Fishbein standing in the locker Surrounded by Brewers fans with score- deck circle … When you walk up to the plate “The people who stay around are the ones room at , watching the final in- books and brews, Fishbein sat alone with his with a different belief about what you can do, who can handle the different types of emo- ning on as attendants began wheel- pen and notebook, jotting down ideas for a often it affects the outcome.’’ tions and the mental part of the game. That’s ing in cases of champagne. patient on the field — Matt Treanor, Fishbein won’t reveal which players he has what Fish helps with, giving yourself the best “Fish,’’ Beckett said, “you said this would who was struggling at the time with a batting worked with; he agreed to talk about Treanor’s opportunity, ’’ left fielder Josh Willingham said. happen.’’ average below .200. case because the catcher publicly credited “The mind is a powerful thing. He talks about After the Marlins beat the Yankees in the The Marlins won the game 5-2, and Fishbein for helping him improve last year. But training it and preparing it the right way. ’’ , players and staff signed the afterward “Fish” pulled Treanor aside in the during , Fishbein could be seen Of course, it helps when a psychologist can poster Fishbein had lectured on in Jupiter the clubhouse and asked to meet with him. chatting away with just about every player in back up his theories with a World Series . previous February. “We chatted for about an hour and I left camp — on practice fields, in the clubhouse, Back in February 2003, Fishbein gath- “I have it in a frame in my home office’’ him with some information to read that I’d even in the parking lot. ered the players on their first day of spring he said, “and look at it every day.’’ put together during the game,’’ Fishbein said. “My office is right here in the park. training in a conference room at Roger Dean [email protected]

DUGOUT CHATTER CATCHING UP WITH ... BRET BARBERIE 60 SECONDS By Tom D’Angelo Tom D’Angelo spoke with Marlins Injuries take early toll bench Carlos Tosca, who missed Saturday’s game to watch Just by staying healthy, the Phillies came his 18-year-old-son, Matthew, out of Week 1 as the team to beat in the a concert violinist, perform at NL East. The Mets losing Pedro Martinez New York’s Carnegie’s Hall. and ’s leaving before throwing a pitch are not good signs in a very How proud a time is this for you? competitive division. I’m very, very proud. I think it’s a beautiful thing Orioles set attendance low when someone is Baltimore drew 10,505 to Camden Yards passionate about Wednesday, almost 3,000 fewer than its something and previous low. This proves that the charm of a is disciplined new stadium eventually will wear off if cheap enough and has ownership continues to field an inferior that confidence product. Hope Marlins owner is in themselves to paying attention. go out and try to make a name for Carlos Tosca Zambrano kicking caffeine habit themselves. Cubs Is this his first time playing in was removed in the seventh Carnegie Hall? inning of his opening-day start because of cramping in his right He played in Carnegie Hall with his hand, the third time in four high school orchestra last year. This openers he has had cramping will be his first solo performance issues. The club has asked its outside of the area in which we live, ace to stop drinking so much which is just outside of Tampa. coffee and Red Bull and start downing more clear liquids. How does the son of a lifelong baseball /coach become a concert violinist? Davis makes heroic start My father-in-law was a concert Arizona’s Doug Davis started Thursday, six violinist and my son has just always days after being diagnosed with thyroid had a passion and an interest 2 cancer. Davis pitched 3 ⁄ 3 innings and took in doing it. He finally had an the loss in a 3-2 Reds win. He has one more opportunity to take it up and it’s schedule start before surgery Thursday to just great. remove the thyroid. Doctors say he’ll need Photo courtesy of Bret Barberie four to six weeks to recover. Bret Barberie, who retired from the majors in 1996, now is a private instructor in . ‘At 11 years old, I Do you play any musical made up my mind I was going to play baseball,’ he said. ‘This is fun, because I get to do it all over again.’ instruments? Ensberg’s welcome to NYC No. I can’t even sing in the shower. Yankees backup infielder Morgan Ensberg had a rough opening day in New York, and I understand Matt’s concert he didn’t even play. Ensberg received a is raising money for a special $50 ticket for talking on his cellphone while Living his dream foundation? driving home from . 1 We lost a 2 ⁄ 2 year old son to cancer Giants’ future not very bright in 1986, Carlos Jr. — C.J. Tosca. And _ we started a fund to help families The Giants fielded the fifth-oldest opening- with children with cancer and day starting lineup in the majors in 50 years. Bret Barberie says ‘It didn’t get any better’ than playing baseball for the Marlins. Matthew has decided to give all the Their starting nine averaged 34.218 years, _ proceeds from this concern to the which is actually a half-year younger than C.J. Tosca fund. their 2005 lineup, that had . The 2005 Yankees fielded the oldest opening By CARLOS FRÍAS day starters since 1958 with an average age Palm Beach Post Staff Writer of 34.862. He raised the brim of his helmet to stare into the stands, into a roiling sea of teal that flipped SCOUTING REPORT Pierre’s streak ends, again the turnstiles to 46,115 strong at Joe Robbie , NATIONALS and Jack McKeon have more in Stadium. Bret Barberie watched from the on-deck circle The Marlins visit new Nationals Park common than managing teams to a World for the first time for a three-game Series title. Both are responsible for ending as the masses responded with a collective groan when Scott Pose’s leadoff hit — what everyone series starting Monday, and they’ll long consecutive game streaks by Juan hope Ryan Zimmerman won’t give Pierre. Torre ended the most recent, at a thought was the first hit in Florida Marlins fran- chise history — was ruled an . them the same treatment did at RFK major-league leading 434 games, when he Stadium. Against the Marlins he is left Pierre out of the Dodgers’ lineup in the Barberie, the second baseman, came to the plate just trying to get something going against batting .316 with three homers and season opener. McKeon ended a string of 26 RBI in 42 games. 386 games in 2005 when he failed to put pitcher Orel Hersheiser. Pierre, then the Marlins , in the But the hairs that stood on the back of his neck field after a pinch-running appearance. told him this might be the most meaningful at-bat of his career. “I never got to play in a World Series, but that PROSPECT WATCH opening day had that feel that something special , RHP, MARLINS was happening,” he said. Volstad won his season debut Friday Throwin’ heat At 2:22 p.m. on April 6, 1993, Barberie, 25 at for Class AA Carolina, allowing two the time, dug in and lined a to center, the runs on six hits in six innings in a The most memorable moment first official hit in Marlins history. It was the first 6-2 win against Mobile. Volstad, of spring training was the Yankees of 14 that day, as Florida won 6-3. a Palm Beach Gardens High grad playing at Virginia Tech and interacting Barberie, now 40, remembers those early days who nearly made the team out of with the players and friends and with the Marlins fondly, days when the team had spring training, could make his the league’s fifth-best attendance, setting atten- OTTO GREULE/Allsport file photo family of last year’s shooting victims. Bret Barberie was Florida’s second baseman during major-league debut within the next dance marks the franchise has not reached since two months if the Marlins’ starters A very classy gesture. that first season. He clearly remembers that the Marlins’ inaugural season in 1993, recording the first hit in franchise history in their opening game. continue to falter. Opening day for America’s pastime inaugural opening day when the stadium ran out of hot dogs and programs, and his hit ended up in needs to be in the Americas, not his home. Asia. Sending the Red Sox on a the Marlins’ museum. Retired from active duty since 1996 after six “At 11 years old, I made up my mind I was STAT WATCH three-country, 16,000-mile road trip seasons in the majors, Barberie still remains going to play baseball,” he said. “This is fun, before they play their home opener is close to the sport. He is a private instructor in because I get to do it all over again.” Combined pitches inexcusable. Santa Clarita, Calif., and last season worked as a Those Marlins days were the time of his life, thrown by the playing baseball, partying on South Beach and 352 Marlins’ top four We can understand the Yankees, hitting and infield coach at Cypress Community College, which was the state runner-up in Califor- fishing. So good, in fact, that he’s leaning toward starters in their first Tigers, Mets and Red Sox topping the nia last season. leave sunny Southern California for these east starts of the season. Done in a 1 list for highest payrolls. But the White Mostly, he devotes his days to young players coast beaches in retirement. combined 18 ⁄ 3 total innings, that Sox at No. 5? Jerry Reinsdorf better from high school to junior college, who have ma- “It was like you were on vacation while you works out to laborious 19.2 pitches get more than 72 wins this season for jor-league aspirations. He trains local and interna- were playing, like you were living in a resort,” he per inning. If starters don’t reduce his $121 million investment. tional players who come from the Major League said. “It didn’t get any better.” their pitches soon, it will be another Baseball academies in Australia at a facility near [email protected] long season for the .