But the Marlins, who are enjoying their first year in a new stadium that came equipped with a dome, have been able to shirk sweltering temperatures at most points this year.
"When we're in Miami, we have a roof — we don't have to worry about the hot weather," shortstop Jose Reyes said from the comfort of the cooled clubhouse on Wednesday afternoon, before a drenching batting practice and a game that saw some players cramping up. "Hot weather — it's always good."
Reyes said he'd take hot days over cool any time, and he wasn't the only one.
"I'd rather pitch when it's warmer," said starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, who just missed the heat wave by throwing in Tuesday night's Red Sox win. "I'd rather be out there sweating. I'm not a fan of coming in after you've thrown an inning in the cold weather and you're really not sweating."
Buehrle knows a thing or two about pitching — the 13-year veteran threw a no-hitter in 2007 and a perfect game in 2009. But neither was at his comfort temperatures. The no-hitter was in 40-degree April weather, and the perfect game was on a 69-degree July night.
Most players agreed that heat isn't too much of a factor, as both sides are facing the same challenge.
"You get a little tired, but we're all playing out there — it's no excuse. We'll all deal with it," outfielder Austin Kearns said. "You just try to stay as cool as possible in between innings."
And, for the Marlins, the humidity is a reminder of what every day at home could be like.
"You've got to tough it out," reliever Randy Choate said. "It stinks, but we played in it all last year, so I'm glad to only be playing in it for two days than for a whole season."
Even Miami manager Ozzie Guillen was laughing it off, and Choate suggested Fenway find a way to put up a roof real quick.
For one night at least, Fenway Park was like Miami Marlins Stadium in all its glory — minus the bobblehead museum, built-in fish tanks and home run extravaganza, that is.
