Fernandez wanted to 'eat the world' after Mattingly's speech

Don Mattingly certainly knows how to make a first impression.

The new Miami Marlins skipper addressed his club Tuesday during a closed-door meeting ahead of their first workout, leaving his young ace fired up to get to the mound.

"I went out to practice like I wanted to eat the world," Jose Fernandez told Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.

"I haven't been around a long time, but it (the speech) was the best."

The team has gone through seven managers since 2010, and Mattingly was brought in to establish some stability for an organization that has exhibited anything but in recent years.

The 55-year-old agreed to a four-year deal in early November, but said during his introductory press conference that he plans to be there for more than 10. Judging by the reception of his speech Tuesday, those in attendance would be happy with that type of longevity.

"The best speech I've heard in 40 years of baseball," one coach told Spencer.

The Marlins haven't finished above .500 since 2009 - a stark contrast from the Los Angeles Dodgers, whom Mattingly left after leading them to three straight seasons of at least 92 wins.

Though the skipper didn't reveal the details of his speech, he talked about the excitement of starting with a clean slate.

"Nobody's lost any games yet," he said. "Nobody's gone 0-for-4. I haven't made any terrible decisions yet. Everything's good right now. It's the start of something new."