can expect too much quality service, as is

MIAMI -- Emotions were more subdued Tuesday night for the Miami Marlins, and their bats were, too.Still mourning the death of ace Jose Fernandez, Miami managed only six hits and lost 12-1 to the New York Mets.The game was the Marlins second since Fernandez was killed in a boating accident, and came one night after a heart-tugging victory over New York filled with tributes to their teammate.But Miami couldnt muster much against Noah Syndergaard (14-9).Im sure our guys are exhausted, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. But momentum is controlled by their guy. This cats got great stuff.Syndergaard struck out eight and allowed one run in six innings.Last night was a little different for us, he said. We just went out there tonight and competed. I feel like thats what Jose would have wanted us to do, with as much passion and heart as possible.The Mets totaled 19 hits, and Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes each hit his 31st homer. New York remained a half-game ahead of the Giants for the first NL wild card and 1 1/2 games in front of the Cardinals.We kind of got back to business as usual, Bruce said. Hearts are still heavy, and theyre going to be here. But we needed to win this game today, and we were able to do that.One more Miami loss or a San Francisco win would eliminate the Marlins from playoff contention. Major League Baseball said its possible Sundays scheduled game against Atlanta, canceled following Fernandezs death, could be made up if it still had postseason implications.For mourners at Marlins Park on Tuesday, there were nudges toward a return to normal. The Kiss Cam and organ music returned after a one-game hiatus, but the dugout dancers were still missing, along with the sea creatures that usually race around the warning track.Marlins players were back in their regular uniforms after they all wore Fernandezs No. 16 on Monday. But each jersey sported a patch with 16 on the sleeve, and the number remained stenciled on the back of the mound.Tom Koehler (9-13) allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings.It was different stretching, getting warm, it just had a different feel to it. Its hard to explain really, Koehler said. I think everybodys doing the best they can. Were not trained to handle anything like this.Dee Gordon, who hit a Hollywood-worthy homer in the first inning Monday, again got things going in the first. This time he reached on a bunt, stole second and came home on a single by Marcell Ozuna. But that was Miamis only run.The crowd was mostly quietly, except for transplanted New Yorkers. Bruce hit a two-run homer into the upper deck in right field in the second inning, and Cespedes hit an even more majestic two-run shot off the home run sculpture in the third.Lucas Duda hit a three-run double, and Curtis Granderson also drove in three runs for the Mets.MOURNING MARLINSSlugger Giancarlo Stanton said its important that the team pay proper tribute to Fernandez as they grieve.It has nothing to do with baseball, Stanton said before the game. If you care about life, if you have passion or loved ones or anybody, you can relate to this situation.A memorial service and public viewing for Fernandez are scheduled for Wednesday. Players will attend a Mass on Thursday.Fernandezs agent, Scott Boras, watched the game with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.ROOKIE MILESTONEYefri Perez came off the bench to single in the eighth for his first major league hit.Perezs locker is next to Fernandezs.I thank God for this opportunity, Perez said in Spanish. Youve been working so hard to fulfill that dream of getting your first base hit. But for us these have been difficult days -- to lose a great teammate like Jose. The joy he displayed on a ballfield and in this clubhouse, it is not the same without him.UP NEXTMarlins RHP Jose Urena (4-8, 5.95) is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday against RHP Seth Lugo (4-2, 2.61). China Shoes To USA . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. China Shoes Store . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. https://www.chinashoes.us/ . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Fake China Shoes . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Yeezy From China . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Grand final week. Anyone involved at the top level in our game aspires to be a part of it. Its an entirely different beast.As much as the game is the same, the ramifications come 6pm Saturday are so much more intense. For some, glory will reign. For others, dejection and what ifs will become all-consuming.Having come so close to tasting the ultimate success in 2009 and 10, grand final week has become a difficult one to bear.I recall the excitement of our playing group, our frenzied supporters and the exercise in futility at trying to treat it like a normal week. I remember the games themselves and the intensity at which they were played. I will never forget the tense last quarters where every contest became critical.Unfortunately, I also remember the heartache, the missed opportunity and hope for redemption that followed.Generally my feeling towards this week now is one of avoidance. Being a current player who still harbours dreams of winning a premiership, Im quite content being on the other side of the world, away from all the noise. Ignorance is bliss I guess you could say.I envy greatly the Bulldogs and Swans players who will take the field this weekend to the point of jealousy, and hope that 2017 evolves into the Saints shot at greatness.If Im feeling this way, I wonder to myself how must Bob Murphy be feeling? It seems every year there is a hard luck story associated with playing in the big dance. Im not sure many come as close, or have resonated with the football public than Bob this week.Bob and I have become great mates. Our wives hit it off last year in Ireland which is the prerequisite of any great friendship. When Bob went down in Round 3 this year, the football family collectively sighed and hoped that the lure of a flag in 2017 would dictate he played on.I didnt anticipate 2016 would be the year the Bulldogs broke their 55-year grand final drought but knowing the man and leader that Bob is, and the influence he has on that group along with Luke Beveridge and Eason Wood, Dale Morris, Matthew Boyd and Co, Im not surprised.Following the incredible preliminary final victory over the Giants, the outpouring of emotion by, and for, Bob was clear for all to see. Missing a grand final would be an incredibly difficult time for any player - it is no doubt magnified by Bobs history of coming so close previously, being a dedicated and decorated one-club player for 17 years and the opportunity to become just the second Bulldogs premiership captain.Placed in the same shoes, I would feel cheated. However, there is still an incredibly important role to play. He needs to ensure the group remains focused on the job, while still allowing for an element of enjoyment that accompanies grand final week. He will do his best to ensure the participating players are the story, not him.Bob will also no doubt have a role in the coaches box on Saturday, and will fulfill his role as captain. While hell feel extreme levels of disappointment, it wont show until after the final siren. He is just that sort of bloke.Of all the footballers Ive encountered in 16 years, he is perhaps the most balanced, the most worldly and well-adjusted. But even for him, this will be hard to swallow.Aliir Aliir finds himself in a similar situation, having been ruled out with a knee injury suffered against Geelong last weekend.dddddddddddd Given his tender age, he will be hopeful of another shot in what will hopefully be a long career, and given Sydneys abundance of talent and ability to seemingly challenge every season, few would argue that wont materialise. Nonetheless, those of us with more experience know how hard these chances are to come by.In American sports, those who have played even a few games during the season with the eventual championship winners are considered champions themselves regardless of whether they actually played in the title game. In that situation either Aliir or Bob would be premiership players come Saturday evening. Im not sure thats a model we would ever support in our sport, but it would somewhat soften the blow in situations such Bobs and Aliirs this week.Now to the players who will take the field on Saturday.Im not sure I can recall a more fascinating match-up. The Swans, full of genuine stars and role players, against the system and spirit of the Bulldogs. Thats not to say the Swans dont play with spirit. Both teams play a tough, relentless, pressure-filled style that requires nothing short of 100 percent effort, 100 percent of the time. Both teams excel at winning the contested ball and applying pressure when they dont.We can take it as written that both midfields in particular will bring that formula, so the key will be handling that pressure and using the ball efficiently.Both sides deploy ruckman devoid of a Nic Naitanui-like advantage at stoppages, so the battle in the clinches should be particularly fierce. I give the slight edge to the Swans in this area as Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery and Co. have the experience and size advantage. Once the ball gets on the outside however, the Bulldogs through Luke Dahlhaus, Caleb Daniel, Lachie Hunter and Jack Macrae have the legs to hurt the Swans mids, as GWS showed a few weeks ago.Neither forward line can expect too much quality service, as is usually the case in grand finals. The majority of delivery coming inside 50 will be what we call dirty ball, so the ability to create something out of nothing will be important.The Bulldogs generally employ a defensive zone in the back half, protecting dangerous space rather than playing directly on an opponent, which often has them in a position to win first possession. The danger for the Sydney forwards will be calling for the ball out the back when a teammate is rushed and under pressure. If the Swans forwards present at the ball and attack the contest as they did last week, they will be hard to contain.Then theres the Buddy factor.Lance Franklin enters the game in terrific touch so Dale Morris and Fletcher Roberts will play crucial roles.Up the other end, Im excited to watch Dane Rampe. He is uncompromising, great with the ball and rarely beaten. He looms as the most likely match-up for Jake Stringer.Franklin and Stringer appear the men most likely to catch fire and kick a winning score for their respective teams but as Clay Smith and Tom Papley proved last week, the finals are a time for unlikely heroes.My prediction: Sydney by three points. ' ' '