Miami Marlins players are definitely feeling the absence of their manager, who was suspended for five games after making controversial comments about Fidel Castro.
The Fish are hosting the Houston Astros in their fist home game since manager Ozzie Guillen's suspension.
The team suspended Guillen despite his apologies after Time Magazine reported he said he loves Castro and respects him for staying in power for so long.
Before Friday night's game, the Marlins clubhouse filled with national attention. Gaby Sanchez plays first base, but now he is in the center of the attention on Guillen's remarks.
"Has it been especially tough on you?" Local 10's Andrea Brody asked Sanchez.
"It has, just because I'm having to answer a lot, and being really the only Cuban on the team, I'm having to answer a lot of questions and doing that," Sanchez said. "It's one of those topics where it makes it easier just knowing what he wanted to say."
Sanchez was born in Miami, the son of two Cuban immigrants. Since Guillen's controversial comments, Sanchez finds himself being more ambassador than athlete.
"I know what he was trying to say. I know what he was wanting so say, so it was easier for me knowing what he was trying to do. I can feel for the community," Sanchez said.
There was a mixture of emotions among the other players, some choosing to ignore the situation, while others defended Guillen.
"Do you feel the mood shift?" Brody asked player Logan Morrison.
"I haven't looked over my shoulder. I don't know if anybody else on the team has. I'm pretty sure they haven't, but I think we're still positive. It's, what, seven games in. We've come too far. We can't lose our composure," Morrison said.
"We all know what kind of guy Ozzie is and what kind of character he is, and we all deep down know that the way it came out is definitely not the way I think he meant it," player Donnie Murphy said.