Bobby Valentine Out of Contention for Marlins Manager Position
The rumours and speculation regarding Bobby Valentine taking over the recently vacated Florida Marlins managing position can finally be laid to rest. An inside source involved with the situation reported on Monday that the former New York Mets and Texas Rangers skipper is no longer being considered an option in replacing the recently fired Fredi Gonzalez.
This was confirmed by several other reputable news agencies, including FoxSports.com, SI.com and two local newspapers, The Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Attempts to reach the team for an official statement were unsuccessful.
The Marlins are now in a rather enigmatic position regarding the future leadership of their team. Interim team manager Edwin Rodriguez and Arizona third-base coach Bo Porter have both reportedly been interviewed for the position, but no actual decision has been voiced.
Valentine’s withdrawal from management possibilities stems from philosophical, rather than monetary, differences. Valentine and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria are good friends outside of Major League Baseball, and reports indicate that Valentine not being a candidate should not have any effect on that.
The Marlins have been without a true manager since Last Wednesday’s firing of Gonzalez. Gonzalez had initially been extremely successful as the Marlins’ manager, but has been blamed for being unable to generate victories in past seasons. When Gonzalez took over managing the Marlins in 2007, he was also given the honour of coaching the National League All-Star team. The following year, he was named The Sporting News Manager of the Year.
After 555 games under Gonzalez, the Marlins had a record 276-279 or a .497 winning percentage. Additionally, the team had been unable to finish atop their division or even secure a wild-card playoff berth. The Marlins were true to that statistical form this season, and are currently 35-40.
If interim manager Edwin Rodriguez is able to get the team to perform, he could secure the position for himself given the lack of presented interest and interviewing currently going on. Unfortunately, the Marlins have been only 1-4 since Gonzalez’s release, and were swept by the Padres in their most recent series. Prior to being called up, Rodriguez was serving as the manager of the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs and is now the first Puerto Rican-born manager in MLB history, though it is uncertain for just how long his managing days will last.
Rodriguez formally interviewed for the job on Saturday afternoon. Arizona’s Bo Porter, the only other candidate and the Marlins' third-base coach from 2007-09, interviewed for the job on Friday. Porter has no managing experience, while Rodriguez has managed several minor league teams.
Loria’s only comments regarding the managing situation were: "We have to do what we have to do, and that's process. Right now, Edwin is the manager. We'll see what happens."
The Marlins will seek to bounce back from their sweep against division rivals New York Mets. The series is being played in Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico, which would make victories even more special. Marlins losses could result in Rodriguez being unceremoniously removed from his current position on his own native soil. The Marlins have not lost five games in a row in over a year, and reaching that mark would nullify any chance Rodriguez has of taking over full-time in Florida.
The Mets, currently second in the NL East, are doing their best to spoil Rodriguez’s homecoming. They will be starting one of their best pitchers, R.A. Dickey, against the Marlins’ struggling Ricky Nolasco. Dickey is 6-0 with an ERA of 2.33 in comparison to Nolasco’s 6-6 record and ERA of 4.92. The Mets will still be without Angel Pagan, Carlos Beltran, and Rod Barajas, while the Marlins acclaimed young roster will be at full strength. In the end, it will be a game of how well the Marlins can hit Dickey to make up for the inevitable runs Nolasco will give up.
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