You can read stories saying Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez is safe; you can read stories about him being fired very soon.
People are covering their bases. I guess that’s a guaranteed way of being “right”.
But all you need to do to get a grasp on the situation is look at history.
Fredi Gonzalez did a fine job with the Marlins and was fired. Joe Girardi won Manager of the Year and was fired. Jeff Torborg was a close friend of the owner and was fired.
Rodriguez is on a 1-year contract; he doesn’t have the name recognition that the team is going to want heading into their new ballpark next season; there are expectations of contention surrounding the team in 2011; and they’ve lost 18 out of 20 games.
Rodriguez got ejected from last night’s game—a 5-1 loss to the Rays—in what was likely one of his final memorable acts as manager.
It’s not Rodriguez’s fault that Josh Johnson and Hanley Ramirez have been injured; that John Buck and Omar Infante have been borderline train wrecks; that Chris Coghlan has hit so poorly and done a defensive tap dance in center field that he’s been demoted.
Rodriguez is a fall guy for a team that fires first and asks questions later—something with which I do not have a problem.
My question is: what were they expecting?
—
Another note about the Marlins, could they try something drastic like listening to offers for Ramirez?
They’ve listened before when the Red Sox came calling, but nothing came of it. They’ll listen on and trade anyone.
Ramirez is a viable alternative for teams that have been pursuing Jose Reyes and would extract a substantial amount even though he’s had a bad year and been on the disabled list with a back problem.
He’s signed through 2014, is guaranteed around $50 million and does not have a no-trade clause.
The Marlins have already fired a hitting coach; demoted a former Rookie of the Year; and are about to fire their manager.
If they’d like to drop a bomb in their clubhouse, trading Ramirez is the way to do it.
//
PAULLEBOWITZ.COM 