MLB.com

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

"I think baseball realizes Josh Beckett (above) is a star," Marlins president David Samson. (AP)

MIAMI -- Shortly after the Super Bowl ended, we were quickly reminded that baseball season is just around the corner.

Major League Baseball ran an ad on CBS's "Survivor: All-Stars" that featured Josh Beckett, along with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.

The "I Live for This" ad showed the three inside a plush house, with Beckett and Jeter jawing good-naturedly about the World Series. Only this time, Jeter got the last word against Beckett, the Series MVP for the Marlins.

Beckett tossed a Wiffle Ball to the Yankees shortstop, who blasted a shot off a wall in the house.

Beckett's prominent appearance in the commercial is arguably the highest profile any Marlin has received in a national advertisement in the franchise's history.

"It's great," Marlins president David Samson said of the commercial that reached a wide audience. "I think baseball realizes Josh Beckett is a star. Florida is an important market and combining him with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, you really are pulling in a lot of different demographics. And you are promoting Opening Day in a way that's very good for baseball."

The Marlins are in the midst of a heavy promotional week as their annual caravan is making stops throughout South Florida.

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Jupiter, Fla., on Feb. 21. As defending champions, the Marlins are gaining more recognition than they have in the past.

The team is hopeful to springboard into the national spotlight and become a major market for the league. It's a challenge as the Marlins are rebuilding their fan base after years of disappointments and the devastating dismantling of the 1997 World Series squad.

"The Marlins and South Florida should be one of the most important markets for baseball," Samson said. "In order for it to be that way, we have to have success on the field and off the field. We've had the success on the field, two championships in 11 years.

"We are a successful on-field franchise. But the key is off-field success. Then we will get the national attention we deserve; the nationally televised games and the recognition that our market is a good market for baseball. That's what is still coming."

Samson applauds baseball for effectively promoting Opening Day minutes after the Super Bowl ended.

The Marlins return a number of stars from last season, and have added some talent that includes closer Armando Benitez, first baseman Hee Seop Choi and pitcher Darren Oliver.

"We are in position to win games this season, but you never know," Samson said. "Who knows what the season can bring."

Samson notes that last May ace A.J. Burnett was lost for the year because of elbow surgery and still the team won it all.

As the Marlins point toward the start of Spring Training, Samson's focus is on another significant date, March 15. That is the deadline for the team to finalize a stadium plan with Miami-Dade County. The team has until then to get a deal done or $73 million allocated by the county will instead go to convention development.

"My focus is off the field," Samson said. "We've got to get a facility and we've got to get that done in the next (44) days. Then I think you will see the entire Marlins organization move in a completely new direction.

Josh Beckett   /   P
	Height: 6'4" Weight: 190 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Splits Marlins site

"It is (44) days of hard work to make people understand the significance of a baseball team in South Florida. If there is no stadium there is no baseball team in South Florida, and that's a significant thing for everyone to wrap their arms around and understand."

Samson remains optimistic a deal will get done.

"I'm always confident. I told the President we will win the World Series," Samson said, referring to a prediction made to President Bush when the Marlins recently visited the White House. "I'm pretty confident."

2004 Caravan

(Note: Times, destinations and Marlins personnel tentatively scheduled to be at the events are subject to change.)

Wednesday, Feb. 4
2-3 p.m. Florida Medical Center at 5000 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
3:30-4:30 p.m. Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital at 1000 Joe DiMaggio Dr., Hollywood (33021).
5:30-7 p.m. Weston Youth Clinic at 20200 Saddle Club Dr., Weston 33327. Attending: McKeon, Banks, Tejera, Taylor.
7:30-8:30 p.m.: Hollywood Greyhound Track at 831 N. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach. Attending: Carl Pavano, Phelps, Spooneybarger, Neal, Bump.
9-10 p.m. Round-Up 99.9 KISS Country, 9020 W. State Rd. 84, Davie. Attending: Pavano, Phelps, Spooneybarger, Neal, Bump.

Thursday, Feb. 5
11-12 p.m. Bank United, Machado Ford, 1200 West 49th Street, Hialeah. Attending: Pierre, Willis, Mike Redmond, Mike Lowell.
1-2 p.m. Holmes Elementary, 1175 NW 67th Street, Miami.
3-4 p.m. Bank United, Kendall Branch, 12905 North Kendall Dr., Miami. Attending: Pierre, Willis, Redmond, Lowell.
3:30-5:30 p.m. Key Largo Community Park, 500 St. Croix. Attending: Pavano, Phelps, Bump, Mike Neu.
7:30-8:30 p.m. Miccosukee Resort, 500 SW 177 Ave., Miami. Attending: Pavano, Phelps, Bump, Neu.
7:30-9:30 p.m. Cafi Tu Tu Tango, Coco Walk, 3015 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove. Attending: Penny, Alex Gonzalez, Banks, Spooneybarger, Sciambi.
9:30-10:30 p.m. Autograph session at Coco Walk. Attending: Penny, Gonzalez, Banks, Spooneybarger.

Friday, Feb. 6
9-10 a.m. Springview Elementary, 1122 Bluebird Ave., Miami Springs.
10:30-11:30 a.m. Marlins en Miami Store, 3701 SW 8th Street, Coral Gables. Attending: Redmond, Gonzalez, Spooneybarger, Neal, Taylor.
11-12 p.m. Coral Gables Hospital, 3100 Douglas Road, Coral Gables (33134).
12-2 p.m. El Credito Cigar Company, 1100 SW 8th Street, Little Havana.
2-3 p.m. Bank United, Aventura Branch, 21155 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura (33180). Attending: Banks, Phelps, Bump, Rosenthal.
3:30-4:30 p.m. Publix, 1585 West 49th Street, Hialeah. Attending: Banks, Phelps, Bump, Rosenthal.
5:30-7:30 p.m. Frozen Ropes Clinic, 4390 SW 73rd Ave., Miami.
7-8 p.m. Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura. Attending autograph session: Redmond, Pavano, Penny, Gonzalez, Neu.
8-9 p.m. AMC 24 Theater, Aventura Mall. Attending: Redmond, Pavano, Penny, Gonzalez, Neu.

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.