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SALT LAKE CITY — Three stories that remind us why we watch sports in today's From Left Field.
1. After Fernandez's death, an incredible tribute
Jose Fernandez, the Miami Marlins All-Star pitcher who died at the age of 24 this weekend, was honored by his teammates in a pregame ceremony before the team played the Mets Monday. All players wore Fernandez's jersey, and the mound had Fernandez's #16 printed on it to remember the late pitcher.
Marlins leadoff hitter Dee Gordon took a first pitch batting right-handed with Fernandez's batting helmet on, then switched to his usual left-handed stance. That's when he did this:
That's Gordon's first home run of the season, and the tears flowed from teammates and onlookers alike.
Gordon said this after the game:
2. Brawling AL East
While the Marlins were understandably bawling Monday, the Yankees and Blue Jays were brawling.
After a series of beanings in the first and second inning, and merely warnings from the home plate umpire, the benches emptied when Luis Severino his Justin Smoak in the leg with a fastball. This looked like real malice in this fight: players ran to the diamond quickly.
The Yankees came back to win the game (and held on!), 7-5.
3. Boris Diaw at media day
Diaw, the newest French member of the Utah Jazz, had his personality on full display at the team's media day Monday. Diaw is a big fan of coffee, even taking his espresso machine to the Grand Canyon.
[\#TBT one of the best place to drink an espresso at sunrise. #whatelse](https://www.instagram.com/p/BKrcbmQAM7p/) A photo posted by Borisdiaw (@diawboris) on
Well, the Jazz's social media team also had him try some coffee here. And it appears he likes it:
We welcome Boris wholeheartedly to Utah.
