The Miami Marlins hit the road for the next nine games, which will give their grounds crew some time to revive the fading turf at the team's new ballpark. The grass has been turning brown because the retractable roof was closed more than anticipated in April.

Miami Marlins’ turf off to slow start along with the team

The Miami Marlins hit the road for the next nine games, which will give their grounds crew some time to revive the fading turf at the team’s new ballpark. The grass has been turning brown because the retractable roof was closed more than anticipated in April.


“I would say the sod had as difficult an April as the team did,” team president David Samson said Monday.


That’s not good, because the Marlins went 8-14 in the season’s opening month.


The ballpark has drawn mostly favorable reviews, and the roof helped avert rainouts Sunday and Monday. But because the weather has been unusually wet for April, the grass hasn’t gotten much sun.


During the Marlins’ trip, the grounds crew will try sun lamps to help the grass, Samson said.


“Other retractable-roof ballparks had to make adjustments for at least one or two years to get their field right,” he said. “We had hoped to get it right the first time. So far it’s not right. We’re going to keep working and experimenting and finding a way to make it better.”


Samson said the Marlins remain confident natural grass can be successful in the ballpark, even though the roof will be closed for most games.