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10/03/2006: "Rolling the Dice for Ego"

As Marlins fans feared, yet expected, the team this morning fired Manager Joe Girardi. We've talked here before about this as a move driven not by need or performance but by ego, so I'm not going to flog that horse again. But you gotta believe there's a lot of guys in the Marlins front office - starting with the owner - who are working the beads pretty hard this morning, praying this all works out as planned.

Now that the ax has fallen, what does the move really mean? Presumably, sometime in the next few hours Fredi Gonzalez will be named the new Marlins manager. Gonzalez, currently on the staff of Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, has previous managerial experience in the minor leagues and spent a decade in the Marlins organization including three years as third base coach. He was also a finalist - and the choice of General Manager Larry Beinfest - for this job last year when he was beaten out by Girardi. Ironic in the face of the current situation is the fact that owner Jeffrey Loria overruled Beinfest to hire Girardi in the first place. So one could argue that this move is some kind of mea culpa on Loria's part and a redemption for Beinfest. However, Loria's ego will never let him say that.

What do we lose with Girardi? Certainly, he brought a no-nonsense attitude that worked well with a group of raw rookies. I can't imagine another manager who could slam Scott Olson up against a dugout wall when he was being an ass - and have it work. Joe will no doubt be introduced in the next few days as the new manager of the Cubs, and he'll bring pitching coach Rick Kranitz with him. That's probably the bigger loss, since Kranitz did amazing things with the Marlins staff. But even though they leave South Florida, the lessons they taught stay behind. The team will enter next season as a proven unit - still young, but with a year's experience under their belts. Hopefully, Beinfest will be given the free hand needed to pick up a few key pieces (a center fielder and closer would be nice), and the Marlins can put this episode behind them and move on. After all, managerial crises are nothing new for the Marlins - remember Jeff Torborg's mid-season sacking in 2003? That one turned out pretty good ...

Whatever the reason for the change, Loria is taking a huge risk. Joe Girardi did far more with this team than even the most optimistic pundits could have dreamed, and his reward is a pink slip. There is the distinct possibility he will be the first Manager of the Year to be fired after his winning season, and all eyes will be on the performance of the Marlins and Cubs next year, looking for any proof that Loria screwed up.

The deal is done, and now we move on. I just hope it all works out, because right now, Loria looks like the biggest ass on the block ...

UPDATE: The pussy didn't even attend the meeting where they fired Girardi - he left it to his henchmen. Spineless bastard ...

"Whatever I say is not going to help the situation," Girardi said when asked about any harsh words at his final meeting. "Pride is a dangerous thing in life. It's very dangerous. If you feel like you have to have your pride when you leave, [you're in trouble]. To me, the hugs, and the winning is enough for me. The hug from Dontrelle [Willis] on the field. The hug from Miguel Cabrera, Anibal Sanchez, Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla. That's enough for me."

Sounds like Loria could have learned a lot about pride from Joe - had he wanted to listen ...

UPDATE #2: Well, that didn't take long ... five hours after showing Joe Girardi the door, Fredi Gonzalez was introduced as the new skipper of the Marlins. All I can say is you got the guy you wanted, boys - you'd better pray it works ...