Jesus, Mary and Joseph!!
1st, they WIN a World Series with McKeon...and the next year, they had "differences of opinion"...and he was gone. THEN, Joe Gerardi WIN MANAGER OF THE YEAR and they decide to NOT REHIRE him. NOW, Freddi Gonzalez has THE LOWEST payroll by almost a country mile compared to anyone else...they are in the playoff race till the last week in the season...they win 87 games and end up 12 games above .500....and they wanna fire the manager???!! WTF!!!
Marlins may fire manager despite 87 wins
By STEVEN WINE (AP) – 20 hours ago
MIAMI — By most measurements, the Florida Marlins overachieved in 2009.
They finished six games out of first place in the NL East with baseball's smallest payroll. They were 12 games above .500 while outscoring opponents by six runs. They had the third-best record in franchise history even though four of their five starting pitchers performed below expectations.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez's job is in jeopardy anyway.
Owner Jeffrey Loria is upset the team failed to make the playoffs, and the Marlins have declined to say whether Gonzalez will return next year, even though he received a contract extension through 2011 just eight months ago.
ESPN.com reported Saturday that Bobby Valentine, an analyst for the network and a former major league manager, is talking with the Marlins about a job. He recently ended a six-year run as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League.
Valentine managed the Texas Rangers when Loria owned that organization's Triple-A team in Oklahoma in 1989-92.
A decision is expected later this week. Loria and team president David Samson didn't return phone calls seeking comment Monday.
During the season-ending series in Philadelphia last weekend, general manager Larry Beinfest offered a mixed critique of the season, but none of his criticism was directed toward Gonzalez. Instead, Beinfest praised the Marlins' effort and resilience, traits often considered the reflection of a manager.
"Their attitude, will and fight every day enabled them to win (87) games," Beinfest said.
They did it with a payroll of $37 million, while the division rival Mets, for example, finished 17 games behind Florida despite a payroll of $136 million.
Beinfest said the Marlins were too inconsistent with their starting pitching and offense, but the bullpen was a pleasant surprise and the bench was a strength.
"I don't want to sound like we're terribly disappointed or unhappy, because that's not the case," Beinfest said.
However, Samson said Loria is displeased. And the owner is known for acting quickly when it comes to changing managers.
Loria replaced Jeff Torborg with Jack McKeon in May 2003, when the Marlins began an improbable run to the World Series title. In 2006, Joe Girardi was fired after only one season, and shortly before he was chosen NL manager of the year.
Girardi brought a drill-sergeant approach to the job, while Gonzalez's low-key personality makes him more of a players' manager. Valentine would be another drill sergeant type manager.
The Associated Press: Marlins may fire manager despite 87 wins
1st, they WIN a World Series with McKeon...and the next year, they had "differences of opinion"...and he was gone. THEN, Joe Gerardi WIN MANAGER OF THE YEAR and they decide to NOT REHIRE him. NOW, Freddi Gonzalez has THE LOWEST payroll by almost a country mile compared to anyone else...they are in the playoff race till the last week in the season...they win 87 games and end up 12 games above .500....and they wanna fire the manager???!! WTF!!!
Marlins may fire manager despite 87 wins
By STEVEN WINE (AP) – 20 hours ago
MIAMI — By most measurements, the Florida Marlins overachieved in 2009.
They finished six games out of first place in the NL East with baseball's smallest payroll. They were 12 games above .500 while outscoring opponents by six runs. They had the third-best record in franchise history even though four of their five starting pitchers performed below expectations.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez's job is in jeopardy anyway.
Owner Jeffrey Loria is upset the team failed to make the playoffs, and the Marlins have declined to say whether Gonzalez will return next year, even though he received a contract extension through 2011 just eight months ago.
ESPN.com reported Saturday that Bobby Valentine, an analyst for the network and a former major league manager, is talking with the Marlins about a job. He recently ended a six-year run as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League.
Valentine managed the Texas Rangers when Loria owned that organization's Triple-A team in Oklahoma in 1989-92.
A decision is expected later this week. Loria and team president David Samson didn't return phone calls seeking comment Monday.
During the season-ending series in Philadelphia last weekend, general manager Larry Beinfest offered a mixed critique of the season, but none of his criticism was directed toward Gonzalez. Instead, Beinfest praised the Marlins' effort and resilience, traits often considered the reflection of a manager.
"Their attitude, will and fight every day enabled them to win (87) games," Beinfest said.
They did it with a payroll of $37 million, while the division rival Mets, for example, finished 17 games behind Florida despite a payroll of $136 million.
Beinfest said the Marlins were too inconsistent with their starting pitching and offense, but the bullpen was a pleasant surprise and the bench was a strength.
"I don't want to sound like we're terribly disappointed or unhappy, because that's not the case," Beinfest said.
However, Samson said Loria is displeased. And the owner is known for acting quickly when it comes to changing managers.
Loria replaced Jeff Torborg with Jack McKeon in May 2003, when the Marlins began an improbable run to the World Series title. In 2006, Joe Girardi was fired after only one season, and shortly before he was chosen NL manager of the year.
Girardi brought a drill-sergeant approach to the job, while Gonzalez's low-key personality makes him more of a players' manager. Valentine would be another drill sergeant type manager.
The Associated Press: Marlins may fire manager despite 87 wins
I'll bet he feels really secure!
