Diamond Dreams Miami Up & In

In this episode of Diamond Dreams Miami: Up & In, we’re joined by special guest FIU Head Baseball Coach Rich Witten as we gear up for the 2025 college baseball season, set to begin Friday, February 14. Coach Witten gives us an inside look at the Panthers’ offseason preparations, the players to watch, and his expectations for the team this year. We also talk about FIU teams of the past, includi...

For Episode 103 we hang out with Jonathan Escarza.  We talk about opening day at Diamond Dreams, and bringing the little back to little league.  Also, why our kids can't truly enjoy the Marlins. Is this situation worse than 1998 and 2004? The Super Bowl is set. Who is our favorite to win, and how far are the Dolphins from getting themselves to a position to make the big game.  We dive into boxing...

Happy 2025 everyone! We are back with Episode 102.  We talk about the Marlins spending $0 in free agency, and what we can expect from the team this season.  Also, should the Yankees trade for Luis Arraez?  If you've been listening to this podcast, you know the answer to that. In the NFL, will the Chiefs repeat?  Will this be the Lions year? We talk NFL Playoffs, and we talk about the Dolphins.  Wh...

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays from the Up & In family!  On Episode 101 Mike and Armando talk about the unexpected death of Rickey Henderson, one of the greatest of all-time, and a favorite of the both of them.  Also, what are the Marlins doing? Will the A's do better, and have better attendance than the fish? With each passing day, the non-signing of Juan Soto is looking...

Up & In hits the century mark! 100 , and first off we want to thank the loyal listeners who have supported us from day one.  It means so much to us every time some of you reach out to tell us about an episode you just listened to, or with an opinion about a certain topic.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!   On episode 100, we talk about Juan Soto signing with the Mets over the Yankees.  Will t...

Up & In is back with episode 99.  We are one shy of the century mark.  We talk about Aaron Judge and his second MVP award.  Will he mentally recover from his slow postseason, and costly error in the World Series?  We also dive into Juan Soto and where he may end up.  Will the Yankees pay up?  Will be head over to Queens?  The Dodgers strike again with a deferred contract.  Who else will they s...

It's Election Day in America.  We will know who the 47th President of the United States is tonight...maybe.  We talk about the election, and what to expect tonight.  Also, World Series talk.  What went wrong for the Yankees?  What changes should they make?  Will they keep Juan Soto? Will fans remember Aaron Judge's season as a success, or a failure? The Dodgers are champs. We talk about what they...

Mike and Armando preview the World Series that MLB was dreaming about this entire season, The New York Yankees vs. The Los Angeles Dodgers.  The old school rivals are squaring off in the Fall Classic once again, and for the first time since 1981.  This World Series features some of the biggest stars in baseball, including the two biggest in Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.  This is a battle between...

Welcome to Episode 96 of Up & In.  Mike and Armando talk about both league championship series: Yankees-Guardians and Dodgers-Mets.  While it looks like the Yanks and the Dodgers have the upper hand after three games, do the Guardians and Mets have it in them to stage a comeback and make the World Series?  We also present six potential future hall of famers.  Find out who we think is a shoe-in...

Mike and Armando talk about the Yankees advancing to the ALCS.  Stanton got hot, Judge not so much, but what can we expect from the Bronx Bombers in the LCS?  Is a World Series in their future? The Mets definitely got hot at the same time, and now await the winner of the Dodgers-Padres series.  We go into who came up clutch for the Mets, and what went wrong with the Phillies.  Luis Tiant passed aw...

Armando and Mike talk Dolphins and Canes football on Episode 94 of Up & In.  The Dolphins went from Super Bowl contender to possibly drafting in the top 10 in 2025.  Can Miami salvage their season?  Who's to blame for the current mess? Chris Grier? Mike McDaniel? Both? Listen to what we think.   Also, the Miami Hurricanes have been looking solid so far.  Can they run the table and make the pla...

We are getting closer and closer to Episode 100! On Episode 93, we talk about cheating in little league, and how to combat that.  We also get into the bad Miami weather, and dealing with the schedule changes.  The MLB Postseason is getting closer, the Yankees are in, the Marlins are trying to win at least 60-games, and Shohei Ohtani is about to make history.  Mike and Armando get into a lively dis...

We pay tribute to James Earl Jones, the film legend who passed away this week.  He starred in a lot of great movies, including two very beloved baseball movies "Field of Dreams" and "The Sandlot".  His monologue at the end of "Field of Dreams" as author Terence Mann, is one for the ages.  May he Rest in Peace.   Little Leaguers can either love baseball, be in between, or not like it much.  Mike an...

Mike and Armando are back with Up and In Episode 91.  We talk September baseball and how a slump, or hot streak can make or break your entire season.  What teams could surprise everyone in this last month? We also dive once again into analytics, and how that old school baseball feel may win you a playoff game, or two, or three.   Also, a bit of WNBA, and DD Girl's Softball.  That and much more on...

Episode 90 of Up & In goes into Aaron Judge's and Shohei Ohtani's historic seasons.  We didn't get to witness Babe Ruth, and have read about him and many other legends in the history books.  We all have a chance to watch what Judge and Ohtani are doing.  Will Judge break his AL home run record? Will Ohtani be the first player to get to 50/50?  We also talk Greg Maddux, and what was revealed in...

This is episode 89 of Up & In with Armando Alvarez and Mike Quintana.  We talk first week of school.  The traffic is back, so are the early mornings, but with that comes routine.  Are you happy summer vacation is over?  Also, the fall little league season is upon us.  Mike also talks about his 12u team and their road to Cooperstown.  Jazz Chisholm is hurt.  Can the Yankees find a way to keep h...

Mike and Armando are back after a much needed vacation.  On Episode 88 we talk about where we went with our families, and some very cool experiences.  We dive into the Jazz Chisholm trade, and how he's adapted quickly to the Yankees.  Also, what's up with Gleyber Torres?  The Marlins look very different than they did at the beginning of the season.  Will we see them call up some of their top prosp...

Archbishop Coleman Carroll Head Baseball Coach, Steven Suarez, joins us once again on Up & In.  We talk about his team's turnaround this past season, and all the projects he's been working on and completing at the school.  We also discuss the differences between baseball when he played it, to now.  The baseball All-Star Game just took place, as well as the highly anticipated Home Run Derby.  S...

Up & In talks about the Yankees struggles, and how they can get back to their winning ways.  Will they finally part with Aaron Boone?  Mike has a great suggestion for manager.  We also talk U.S. Soccer, and why the USMNT dropped the ball when they didn't hire Jesse Marsch.  Also, will the Heat make any moves this offseason?  And we talk about the Presidential debate, and the fall out from Bide...

Armando and Mike are back with Episode 85 of Up & In.  We talk about the Panthers' championship, and ask, are the Dolphins next?  We disagree of what's ahead for the Dolphins.  Which one of us do you agree with?  Also, some trades we may see at the MLB Season's halfway point, and some teams that may get dangerous when we get closer to October.  Willie Mays' passing reminds us of the importance...

Mike and Armando select their AL and NL All-Star Teams on Episode 84 of Up & In.  Some surprises, some tough selections, but we made our choices.  Do you agree?  Any snubs?  We also talk about all the rain in Miami this week, and how it's affected every outdoor baseball practice.  Also, Disney trips, the famous Planet of the Apes monkey meme "Oh no! Ohhhh no!", and much more. 

Mike and Armando talk Yankees baseball on Episode 83.  The Bronx Bombers are playing like the World Series frontrunners right now.  Who's to laud for their success?  Is it their offense?  Their stellar pitching?  All of the above?  We go through what's going right for them, and some impressive player stats.  Also, the Bronx Zoo Documentary exposes a lot of wrong that went on with the 1990 Yankees....

Up & In is back talking MLB. Why the San Diego Padres acquisition of Luis Arraez is the best of 2024. Aaron Judge is on an absolute tear.  Is 99 the favorite for MVP at the moment? His teammate Juan Soto may have something to say about that. We discuss why signing him now is a great move for the Yankees. Ronald Acuña is out for the year. Do the Braves make some moves, or play out the rest of t...

Up & In welcome MMA fighter, DD dad, and owner of Stunnas Fit, Gabriel "Stunna" Varona.  We cover a number of topics including his experience with his son playing Little League, his Mixed Martial Arts career, and about his amazing training facility.  He talks about the importance of recovery, the methods he implements to do so, and how big a part someone's mental state factors into achieving t...

Mike and Armando talk about the Luis Arraez trade to the San Diego Padres.  The Marlins are at it again, and we are not happy.  Who will get traded next?  Will they be able to make this work, and put a smile back on the fans' faces?  Or will this be another Marlins disaster?  We also talk about Ohtani's interpreter pleading guilty, about the now viral home plate collision during the Braddock vs. C...