Yasiel Puig's bar scuffle was against MMA fighter

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

Yasiel Puig has faced tough opponents throughout his Los Angeles Dodgers career. Wednesday night at a Miami bar, he faced an MMA fighter. 

Puig punched 26-year-old bouncer Anthony Garavito at Blue Martini in Miami. The video of the punch was shown to Miami police, but not released. 

Garavito last fought for 'Fight Time Promotions' in 2012. 

Miami police say after Puig exchanged words with his sister inside the bar, he was told to leave. Upon leaving, a scuffle with Garavito and other bar security ensued.

Puig left with a swollen left eye. Garavito had a minor cut on his lip, but refused to be treated by Miami Fire Rescue. 

No charges were filed. 

 

(Photo Credit: USA Today, Flickr)

Opinion: The Florida Panthers need to win now or make changes

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

The Florida Panthers recently changed ownership. The team is staying in South Florida, but should their coach and general manager? If they don't start winning immediately, the answer is no. 

Gerard Gallant was named the Panthers head coach in 2014. To date: 46 wins, 57 losses.

Dale Tallon was named the Panthers general manager in 2010. To date: 158 wins, 239 losses.

The Panthers are owned by Vincent Viola and Doug Cifu --- two guys who are passionate, very successful businessmen, and are absolutely all about winning.

Winning, though, isn't something the Panthers have been doing a lot of. 

The franchise's last playoff-series win came before ground was broken on their arena, BB&T Center, 19 years ago. 

There were league-wide expectations this season for the Panthers that they'd be playing postseason hockey. Plenty of games remain, but they currently find themselves in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings --- five points back of the final playoff spot.

The Panthers highest paid forward, Dave Bolland, will be benched for the second straight game Friday night. Tallon signed Bolland to a $27.5 million, five-year deal in 2014. Bolland has just seven goals in 71 games since arriving.

Gallant is the team's fourth head coach since Tallon became the Panthers GM in 2010. Peter DeBoer --- not hired by Tallon --- was fired in 2011. Tallon named Kevin Dineen head coach and then fired him 16 games into his third season. Peter Horachek took over for Dineen in 2014. Horachek coached the team's final 66 games and was then dismissed.

Do the Panthers have the right ownership? Yes.

Do the Panthers have the right combinations on the ice? It's hard to tell because they keep changing.

Do the Panthers have the right coach and GM? Win now or the answer is no. 

 

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Beckham's group may have changed the plan for Miami soccer stadium

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

It sounds like David Beckham's group may have scrapped the idea of building a soccer stadium next to Marlins Park.

Tim Leiweke spoke to CNBC's Jane Wells on Tuesday. Leiweke recently joined Beckham's group.  

"I think we have found a site, "Leiweke told Wells. "It's probably different than what people think we're doing, but we're gonna know in the next several days..."

Beckham has promised to bring an MLS team to Miami. We've heard about this for months. Actually, almost two years. 

Six weeks ago, Beckham reportedly told UK's Daily Star that Miami's new soccer club "should be up and running within six weeks." 

After Beckham was not able to secure waterfront land, a site next to Marlins Park became the group's prime target.

Leiweke mentioned to Wells that the group will meet with MLS and the board of governors next weekend.

Will an announcement of a new site come soon? We'll see.

At this rate, though, it may take another six weeks. 

 

(Photo Credit: AP)

Tommy Hutton fired: Marlins players, coaches couldn't handle the truth

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

"Players would go back and forth between the dugout and clubhouse just to hear what Tommy was saying," one source told me.

The Miami Marlins and Fox Sports Florida advised Tommy Hutton that his contract would not be renewed, a story first reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Hutton told Jackson, as well as talk-show host Dan Le Batard on 790 WAXY, he wasn't offered a real explanation as to why he was dismissed. 

"All I got was we've made a decision to go in another direction," Hutton told the Miami Herald. 

The exact reason as to why Hutton will not be returning is still unknown.

However, through multiple team sources, I've learned surprising details that add to the circus in the Marlins clubhouse I first reported on last week. 

During my weekday radio show on 940 WINZ and iHeartRadio, I noted the following details Tuesday afternoon:

Via multiple sources, I was told this past Marlins season was the absolute worst when it came to complaints. 

After games, on numerous occasions throughout the season, players would go up to team PR staff and owner Jeffrey Loria complaining about what Hutton said during the telecast. 

"Players would have their wife, girlfriend, family member, and even friends texting them things Tommy said," another source added.

There were also certain incidents where Loria wasn't happy with Hutton. Loria didn't like it when Hutton would talk too much about another team's player, another source told me. "Anytime (Hutton) would bring up a ballpark flaw, Loria would be very upset," the source said.

The complaints against Hutton happened at Marlins Park, on the road, and even on the team plane, I was told.

Did the players and coaches complaints, along with Loria's partial unhappiness in some of Hutton's remarks cause his dismissal? That's something we don't know.

Here's something I do know, though. Hutton should not have been fired -- and that's the truth.

 

(Photo Credit: Spokeo)

National baseball writer doesn't "buy" Fernandez report: Or does he?

By: Andy Slater (@AndySlater)

National baseball writer Ken Rosenthal wrote a piece late Sunday night on FoxSports.com saying you shouldn't believe what you hear about Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez. Problem: When you read Rosenthal's story, he believes it all. 

Rosenthal says he spoke "with four people connected to the Marlins." He writes his piece to follow up on "reports" (my initial report) about Fernandez's attitude.

Rosenthal's opening statement:

“For more than a week now, we’ve heard reports about how Jose Fernandez ticks off his Marlins teammates with his attitude and is disrespectful toward his bosses.

I’m not buying it.”

So, Rosenthal clearly says he isn't buying the "reports". Let me rephrase that again: My report.

However, later in Rosenthal's story:

“Is Fernandez outspoken at times when he perceives his superiors are not handling matters properly? Yes. Can he be high-strung and emotional, even come off as arrogant and cocky? Absolutely.”

And more:

“Oh, I don’t doubt that Fernandez has ticked off a player or two, and an executive or two as well. ”

The only thing Rosenthal doesn't seem to buy is something that hasn't been reported. He doesn't believe the Marlins would trade Fernandez solely because of his attitude issues. 

Also good to know Rosenthal is aware of the circus existing in Miami. 

“Come to think of it, maybe the Marlins should trade him. I’m starting to sense that we never will hear the truth about Fernandez as a pitcher and teammate until he escapes the circus that is Miami.”

 

(Photo Credit: MLB.com)