2011 Managerial Search Discussion: But Does He Know the Game??!?!?

[Swifty]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2LpJAD5AqQ[/ame]

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

The Marlins have not yet named a manager, but that hasn't stopped them from working on the coaching staff.

According to a source, the Marlins are among multiple teams that have contacted Perry Hill. Regarded among the game's premier infield defense instructors, Hill held that position with the Marlins from 2002-06. Just before the start of the 2007 season he left the game for personal reasons.

In 2009, Hill returned to the field as the Pirates' infield and first base coach. The Pirates exercised an option to retain his services in 2010, but Hill decided to move on. Because the Pirates would not let Hill, 58, out of the contract he stayed home last season.

Hill could not be reached Wednesday.

Both Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez swear by Hill, and the Marlins believe Gaby Sanchez would take a huge step forward defensively at first under his guidance. In addition, the Marlins want Hill mentoring top prospect Matt Dominguez, who's already a standout defender and will get a serious look this spring for the Opening Day third base job.

The Marlins' pursuit of Hill could signal their readiness to name a manager sooner rather than later. Edwin Rodriguez and Bo Porter are the two confirmed candidates vying for the job. Team President David Samson last week said the club could be ready to make an annoucement after the World Series, which ended Monday night.

If Hill agrees to rejoin the Marlins, third base/infield coach Joe Espada likely would be offered a position in the minor leagues. The Marlins promoted Espada from minor league infield coordinator to Fredi Gonzalez's big league staff before the start of last season. Espada, who replaced Andy Fox, also has served as hitting coach for low Class-A Greensboro in 2006 and advanced Class-A Jupiter in 2007.

Source: Marlins among teams pursuing infield guru Hill

[Ralph]

yea thats cool

[Ramp]

Bo Porter is new Nationals 3B coach

[emkayseven]

YES!!!!!!

Bo Porter, per Mark Zuckerman, has been named Natinals 3B coach. He's out!!!

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

With the World Series now completed, the Marlins appear to be closing in on naming their manager.

Indications are thesearch will lead the team back to where the season ended.

In recent days, speculation had beengrowing that therewere two finalists -- Edwin Rodriguez and Bo Porter.

But on Tuesday, the Nationals announced their staff, and Porter was named their third base coach.

With Porter out of the mix,the Marlins appear on the verge of announcing they will retain Rodriguez.There is growing speculation that Rodriguez will be named the team's manager on Wednesday.

Rodriguez posted a 46-46 record with the Marlins after taking over for Fredi Gonzalez in late June. For the season, Florida was 80-82 -- third place in the NL East.

Rodriguez is the first Puerto Rican-born manager in MLB history. The 50-year-old was promoted from being the Triple-A New Orleans manager on June 23.

A week ago, Marlins president David Samson said the team expected to make a managerial announcement after the World Series.

The Marlins will look to pick up the pace on naming a manager to get their offseason rolling. Once their manager is named, the team will look to round out its coaching staff.

Pitching coach Randy St. Claire is currently the only member of the 2010 staff under contract for next year.

Shortly after the season ended, the Marlins pursued Bobby Valentine, who withdrew from consideration a couple of weeks ago.

The Marlins also are hopeful to hire Perry Hill as their infield coach.

Marlins leaning toward Rodriguez

[Swifty]

Perry Hill!

Bring back Bone!

[Ramp]

So I guess it's edWIN!
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Joe Cap sez Perry Hill now expected to return

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

The Marlins won't be hiring a 10th manager in the franchise's 18-year history. They've determined the ninth will do just fine.

Tuesday, Edwin Rodriguez met with owner Jeffrey Loria in New York City, where he was offered and accepted the job to remain in the position he took over in June, when the club fired Fredi Gonzalez. An official announcement is expected Wednesday.

Rodriguez was managing Triple-A New Orleans when he assumed the reins on an interim basis. The Marlins announced he would keep the job through season's end in the aftermath of negotiations breaking down with Bobby Valentine. The Marlins went 46-46 under Rodriguez.

Pitching coach Randy St. Claire, who signed a two-year deal before last season, will return to Rodriguez's staff. Also coming back are Brandon Hyde (bench coach), John Mallee (hitting coach) and Joe Espada (third base coach).

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The Marlins also will announce the return of infield and first base coach Perry Hill, who was held the same position with the club from 2002-06.

Former third base coach Bo Porter, the other confirmed candidate for the job, accepted a position as the Washington Nationals' third-base coach. Porter interviewed for the Marlins' job in June, but finished the season as the Diamondbacks' bench coach under Kirk Gibson.

Rodriguez to remain Marlins manager

[MiamiHomer]

Yay

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Since JCR's looks pretty set in stone, I'm going to post that article in the news section.

[Ramp]

oh yeaaaa cabs are hereeee

Edwin Rodriguez is the Florida Marlins' interim manager.

That's not what the franchise announced Wednesday, but that's what it meant. Because all the Marlins did was extend Rodriguez's contract through next season.

It is, barring unforeseen circumstance, a clear sign that he's just holding the job until somebody else enters the picture in time to usher the team into its new stadium in 2012.

The probability is that the only way Rodriguez keeps the gig beyond 2011 is if he leads the Marlins to a playoff berth. And the odds of that happening are long unless the team pulls off monumental improvements in defense - "the No. 1 priority," Rodriguez called it during a teleconference - and relief pitching without springing leaks elsewhere.

It's no secret that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria hoped he'd be introducing a big-name manager (see: Bobby Valentine or Ozzie Guillen). He's not the kind of guy to give up on the pursuit of somebody he wants. The extension of Rodriguez's contract isn't a Loria surrender in that regard; it's a tactical retreat.

What the Marlins were under Rodriguez (46-46) was what they were under Fredi Gonzalez (34-36), who was fired in June. Both seemed to be liked and/or respected by the players. The culture of the team didn't change in the clubhouse - it was neither raucous nor reserved - and the Marlins' style of play wasn't appreciably different under Rodriguez than it was under Gonzalez, either.

But the Marlins insist they believe change is in the air.

"We kept coming back to Edwin," said Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest in describing the in-house evaluation of several candidates. "The way he handled the transition (and) garnered the respect of the players."

But why only a one-year extension?

"To start fresh," Beinfest said, ducking the question. "We just felt it was appropriate to move ahead. We'll go from there."

Except that it's less a fresh start than a probationary one.

Rodriguez, predictably, said he wasn't bothered by the Marlins' long delay in making their decision or by the length of the deal. Rodriguez said the team was "straight up" with him from the time he took over for Gonzalez by telling him he could be manager for "a day or a week or three months." Now, a year looks like forever.

"They gave me the chance to manage in the big-league level," said Rodriguez, who has been with the organization the past eight years. "I'm very confident I did the job I was asked to do. They're giving me the chance to prove what I can do in a full season. I'm very comfortable with that. The ball is in my hands."

Rodriguez said he'll set high expectations for a team featuring veterans Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla, emerging young players in Mike Stanton, Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison and Chris Coghlan plus ace starting pitcher Josh Johnson.

"We're going to win a lot of games," Rodriguez promised.

After watching San Francisco win the World Series with no better overall offensive talent than the Marlins, in fact, Rodriguez said he has "more reason to believe we have what it takes."

That's a giant leap considering Florida's shortcomings on defense and in the bullpen. The Marlins' starting rotation beyond Johnson also remains more potential than proven, and questions remain at catcher, third base and in center field.

There's a lot of fixin' to do, and Rodriguez is on a quick clock.

Beinfest was among those who persuaded Loria to give Rodriguez next season's opportunity. A selling point was Beinfest's appreciation of Rodriguez's familiarity with the Marlins' youngest players from time spent together in the minors.

"We're looking for them to grow up a little bit," Beinfest said.

Rodriguez has a year to see that they do.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/...s/1018625.html

Sounds about right

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

joecapMARLINS: Heard that Logan Morrison was the #Marlins player Jerry Reinsdorf wanted in a potential trade 4 manager Ozzie guillen @LoMoMarlins

/Twitter

[Ramp]

Reinsdorf is funny
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Also, I guess the media can say the Marlins had discussions about sending Logan Morrison to Chicago for Ozzie Guillen

[Bobbob1313]

This fucking bullshit Mickey mouse organization.