So much for the blueprint.
After dedicating much of their offseason energy and spending dollars to shoring up the bullpen, the Marlins saw it go up in smoke on day one when David Phelps -- perhaps their best reliever in 2016 -- gave up two home runs in a 4-2 loss to the Nationals.
Then again, it was only Opening Day -- game No. 1 of 162.
But the outcome wasn’t how the front office envisioned it. They received a strong start out of Edinson Volquez only to see it go to waste when Phelps couldn’t protect the 2-0 lead he inherited in the sixth.