Valentine Talking to Marlins

[Party]

Bobby V is going to be the Argument Coach. Whenever Fredi doesn't like a call and wants to make a point, he'll unleash Bobby V.

lulz
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Also, this hasn't been mentioned yet, but Fred still has his family in Atlanta during the season and Bobby Cox is gon retire after 2010. Just a thought.

[Bobbob1313]

Also, this hasn't been mentioned yet, but Fred still has his family in Atlanta during the season and Bobby Cox is gon retire after 2010. Just a thought.

This is a good point, and somewhat similar to Joey G and the Yankees. Fredi could be the next in line there.

[Metes]

I'm sure Fredi is at the top of the list in Atl. And why wouldn't he go there if offered the job? It's prudent for the Marlins FO to consider other options.

[Swifty]

I guess this is more relevant here than in its own thread:

Despite baseball's smallest payroll, Florida Marlins' front office had higher hopes

By JOE CAPOZZI
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, October 03, 2009

PHILADELPHIA — Former Chicago Cubs All-Star Mark Grace stopped by the Marlins' dugout before Saturday's game to congratulate manager Fredi Gonzalez and bench coach Carlos Tosca.

"You guys had a great year. You should be real proud of yourselves,'' said Grace, a Fox broadcaster.

With the smallest payroll in the majors, the Marlins will finish the season today with the third-best record in franchise history. But that's no cause for celebration in the eyes of the front office.

"We're disappointed we're not going to be playing next week,'' baseball operations president Larry Beinfest said before Florida improved to 87-74 with a 4-3 win over the Phillies. "The goal is to make the playoffs, so from that perspective, we are disappointed.''

The Marlins made one move at the trade deadline - acquiring first baseman Nick Johnson in a trade that cost Florida just $142,076.

Might they have made the post-season if the front office spent a little more money to acquire a veteran starter or another key player?

"I don't think so. Maybe it's bad personnel decisions,'' Beinfest said with a laugh. "We were just purely too inconsistent, in my opinion, to make it.

"I don't want to sound like we're terribly disappointed or unhappy, because that's not the case. We never want to be satisfied not making it. We've never used payroll as an excuse.''

The front office will start discussing the 2010 season later this week, but some of the first changes could come to the coaching staff. The fate of the coaches - a decision traditionally made in the final weekend of the season - won't be made until later this week.

"They've done an unbelievable job, and I'd love to have them all back,'' said Gonzalez, who became the winningest manager in Marlins history Saturday when he moved ahead of Jack McKeon with his 242nd win.

Absent this weekend is owner Jeffrey Loria, who usually attends his team's final series. Roster decisions about the team's 13 arbitration-eligible players will be made once Loria gives payroll parameters, which aren't expected to change much.

"Will we have our challenges as far as the payroll? We will await the payroll from Jeffrey and meet those challenges,'' Beinfest said.

"I know there's going to be speculation, and rightfully so, given the way we have operated in the past and some of the challenges we have to meet with our payroll.''

The biggest inconsistency, Beinfest noted, was with the starting pitchers, all of whom will return to form the 2010 rotation. Less certain is the return of arbitration position players such as second baseman Dan Uggla, who could get at least $8 million.

"He is in line for a large pay raise, which he has earned,'' Beinfest said of Uggla. "We'll take a look at that and figure out how we want to move ahead.''

Players believe they can learn from this season and take a big step in 2010.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins...amer_1004.html

Despite third-highest win total, Florida Marlins not happy with season

BY CLARK SPENCER
CSPENCER@MIAMIHERALD.COM
PHILADELPHIA -- Even though the Marlins will finish with the third-highest win total in franchise history, Larry Beinfest said the organization is ``disappointed'' that the club failed to reach the playoffs.

``I don't want to sound like we're terribly disappointed or unhappy because that's not the case,'' said Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations. ``But you never want to be satisfied not making [the playoffs].''

Beinfest pointed to uneven seasons by some of the starting pitchers, along with a high-scoring offense that wasn't consistent enough, as the primary reasons for the team's inability to make the postseason.

``You look back at the year and there's a lot of things you can say `there's three or four wins there,' '' Beinfest said in an end-of-season discussion with reporters who cover the team on a daily basis. ``If you look back at the whole year, you can say that's a win there and that's a win there. But that's baseball. That's happening everywhere. So I don't think we can definitely say `if we would have done this we would have made it.' ''

Beinfest said he and his staff would start addressing offseason roster moves after they receive a 2010 payroll figure from owner Jeffrey Loria.

OTHER END OF YEAR DISCUSSION

• Starter Ricky Nolasco's slow start and subsequent demotion to the minors ``completely floored us,'' Beinfest said.

• Beinfest said that the organization feels corner infielder Gaby Sanchez and minor-league first baseman/left fielder Logan Morrison are ``ready'' for the majors and would battle for jobs in spring training.

COACHES AWAITING CONTRACTS

Contracts for next season have not yet been extended to members of the coaching staff.

Those decisions would be made after the season, Beinfest said.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez, who is under contract through the 2011 season, said the coaches have done a good job and he wants them back.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/ba...y/1265495.html

And then a blurb from Olney's insider re: Valentine and his possible landing spots:

Florida Marlins: This is a bit of a stunner, but there have been signs of unrest within the Florida organization with the current staff. Despite the fact that the Marlins approached 90 wins this season, the Florida coaches have been told they will not know their future until later this week; some are sensing an odd vibe coming from owner Jeff Loria, at a time when the Marlins have started conversations with Valentine. And if you just assume Loria is a status-quo type of guy, don't forget he fired Joe Girardi after one season in which Girardi was named manager of the year.

Maybe the conversations with Valentine will turn out to be just a flirtation. Maybe it'll be something much more serious than that. Maybe Loria -- who has always had an affinity for products of the New York

My take: unless Fredi is going to be made the fall guy to placate Hanley that the 2009 garbage (like the stupid hair policy) is gone and done with, Bobby Valentine is probably going to be offered a consulting position as insurance against another skid like our May of this year. It also sounds, guardedly, like the run this year has whet the appetite for a run next season.

[Namaste]

I know a managers influence on a baseball game is overrated but I will not shed a tear when Fredi goes to ATL to manage the Braves.



In fact, I might smack one out.

[Swifty]

I think Fredi has tremendous potential with a team that spends cash and puts together a complete lineup. I look at him like the new Jim Tracy. That I want him out of here doesn't necessarily mean I'm thrilled about him going to Atlanta.

[Swifty]

John Heyman's the first person to not only report that we're talking to Valentine, but also that Fredi's job is in jeopardy.

Marlins mulling managerial change

Story Highlights
Owner Jeffrey Loria is reportedly considering replacing Fredi Golnzalez
The Marlins are 87-74 under Gonzalez despite a league-low $36 million payroll
ESPN.com is reporting that Bobby Valentine is discussions with the Marlins

By Jon Heyman, SI.com
The Marlins' 87-74 record through Saturday is their best under Fredi Gonzalez in his three seasons as manager.
Daniel R. Harris/Icon SMI

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is said to be less than satisfied with his team's standing, and in a fairly shocking development is apparently considering replacing well-regarded manager Fredi Gonzalez, who has been widely praised for his performance this season.

The Marlins are 87-74 under Gonzalez despite a league-low $36 million payroll, but people familiar with the situation say Loria believes the team is good enough to have made the postseason.

"A lot of people think the Marlins overachieved, but the one person who counts thinks they underachieved," said one person familiar with Loria's thinking. "He's upset that the Marlins didn't make the playoffs.''

Reached in New York, Loria said of the managerial situation, "I don't really have any comment. I don't talk about rumors, and you know that. Talk to (GM Larry) Beinfest.''

Beinfest couldn't be reached immediately, and other Marlins people did not immediately return calls.

Bobby Valentine, who has been hired as an analyst at ESPN.com, is reported by that entity to be in discussions with the Marlins about a job. The position wasn't specified but Valentine is interested in managing and has always been a manager. Valentine didn't return a phone call, but a source said he is talking to multiple teams.

A source said the Indians have contacted Valentine for their managerial opening. The Indians are in the process of forming a short list, a person familiar with that situation said.

Valentine took the Mets to the Subway Series in 2000 and won a Japan League title with Chiba Lotte. The Nats could have some interest in him, as well, though they may keep interim manager Jim Riggleman. Valentine's contract with Chiba Lotte expired after this past season, and he is now working in TV. Valentine made $4 million a year with Chiba Lotte, which would be a high price for the small-budget Marlins to match.

Loria once fired Joe Girardi after he won the Manager of the Year award, so his standards are fairly high -- although in that case he and Girardi had a personal falling out. Gonzalez was brought in to replace Girardi in large part because his personality meshed better with the front office. Gonzalez, who is signed through 2011 after inking a two-year extension before this season, has been considered a 2009 Manager of the Year candidate, although the Rockies' Jim Tracy is now regarded the heavy favorite.

The Marlins have consistently outperformed their payroll, which is annually either lowest or second lowest in baseball, under the management team of Loria, Beinfest and their well-regarded scouts. However, they are a very young team this year, and very few people expected them to make the playoffs even though Loria from the start has reportedly said that was their goal.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...#ixzz0SziaRsU2

[Beef]

Ehe

Leave me alone, bother Beinfest!

[Bobbob1313]

Jeez. We gon win 88 games and fire our manager.

Maybe this means the Bonerxperiment wasn't all Beinfest's idear?

[Metes]

It's hilarious that Fredi is made out to be the fall guy for a front office that refuses to act like they run a major league franchise.

[Chewford]

We won 88 games even after the retarded trades Beinfest made, not Fredi's fault he was dealing with Bonifacio's OBP instead of Willingham's. It's also not his fault we started the year with frickin Cameron Maybin on the team. We had no business winning 88 games, and yet we look for a manager because we "only" won 88?

[Metes]

"A lot of people think the Marlins overachieved, but the one person who counts thinks they underachieved," said one person familiar with Loria's thinking. "He's upset that the Marlins didn't make the playoffs.''

When my car doesn't start, because the tank is empty and I refused to fill up, I'm going to rip out my air filter, because clearly it has failed me.

[Chewford]

Lol @ spending as little as possible to field an MLB team and then getting upset when they miss the playoffs.

When Steinbrenner missed the playoffs, he was at least justified in getting pissed.

[Omar]

Going to have to agree with everyone's sentiments wondering why this is happening. Seems like a really stupid decision to sack a manager who is coming off of his best season for a guy that hasn't been in the MLB for a few years. He also didn't exactly win a handful of rings when he was here, either, so I'm not sold that he'd be that much better.

[Metes]

It's all preemptive, considering the writing's on the wall about 2011 and Atlanta.