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Girardi to be Voted Off the Island

By craig

Girardi's tenure as Marlins manager may be coming to an end.  At least according to two articles written in the Sun-Sentenial today, one is an op-ed piece.

Joe Girardi, who guided the surprising Marlins into playoff contention despite baseball's lowest payroll, will soon be out as manager after just one season.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Girardi's chances of returning next year are "zero," according to a source who has spoken with the Marlins' front office.

"I don't think there is any chance," the source said.

The front office is questioning some of his managerial decisions and honestly, some can be brought into question.  But that is true for all managers, though for some more than others.

The last straw for Girardi, 41, apparently was his ill-fated decision to bring back prized right-hander Josh Johnson after an 82-minute rain delay at Dolphin Stadium on Sept. 12.

"Not one of the smarter moves of the year," said the source, adding the Marlins' decision makers were "shocked" Johnson returned to the mound that night.

With the Marlins still clinging to wild-card hopes, Johnson tried to stay loose by playing catch with Dontrelle Willis in an indoor batting cage. That Johnson left four innings later with cramping in his forearm and was subsequently shut down for the year with a strained ligament did not help Girardi's case.

This was a surprising move at the time to HadMatter and myself, to have the young arm of Johnson re-warmup and pitch.  The article goes on to give some more accounts of questionable decisions, but I don't think these are the main cause for a possible dismissal of Girardi.

I still believe it, for the most part, comes down to this:

Nor has it helped that Girardi's tense relations with Marlins management have not improved. The rookie manager and General Manager Larry Beinfest "barely speak" and have "no relationship at all," the source said.

The organization can't have long term stability if the GM and manager don't at least have a working relationship.

...Girardi wants to control everything in a franchise where Beinfest and his scouting department run the show. So this really was a divorce waiting to happen from the day pitchers and catchers reported.

This part didn't help:

Yes, Loria was upset when Girardi asked him from the dugout not to yell at the umpires. But it was Girardi's bench lieutenant, Gary Tuck, that sent the situation into orbit and caused all the clubhouse commotion afterward.

"If you don't f------ like it, get someone else," Tuck shouted from the dugout to Loria.

Who talks to their boss like that, much less their boss's boss?

---

Girardi backed up Tuck in the yelling afterward.

Here is what it comes down to: Girardi is more than likely gone at the end of the season.

The way I see it playing out is that the Cubs will fire Baker and asked the Marlins for permission to talk to Girardi.  If the Cubs decide Girardi is the one for them, the Marlins will release him from his contract with the usual: We are very sad to lose him.  But we would never stand in the way of a man who wants to pursue his dream job and we wish him all the best and thank him for his service to the organization.

And the next round of interviews for the Marlins job, Beinfest will be consulted, which should have happened the first time around.

That's my guess.

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