Archive for the 'Offseason' Category

Bullpen coach Steve Foster (Australian for “Get up Pinto”) and third base/outfield coach Bo Porter (known to many fans as “Windmill”) declined the Marlins contracts for next year, meaning the Fish are now in the market for a first base coach, a third base coach, a bullpen coach, and a pitching coach. Only bench coach Carlos Tosca, hitting coach Jim “Hack-Hack” Presley, and bullpen coordinator Pierre Arsenault are staying on Fredi Gonzalez’s staff next season, baring a Perry Hill-like spring training resignation.

I think it’s safe to say that most Marlin fans will not miss Porter, who was constantly criticized for sending almost any runner home in almost any situation.

In other news, the Marlins released pitchers Dave Davidson and Scott Proctor. Davidson was picked up off waivers in April, then only pitched in 1 game for the Fish in May before being DFA’d, picked up on waivers, and then sent back to the Fish when he was found to be injured. Scott Proctor didn’t even make it that far, injuring himself in spring training and missing the entire season.

Additionally, infielder Andy Gonzalez and pitch Dallas Trahern were outrighted to AAA New Orleans.

Fox and Wiley out

The coaching positions for 2010 have officially been decided with Fredi and most of his staff being retained. Note that I said most. Mark Wiley, who’s been the pitching coach since 2008, and Andy Fox, who’s replaced Perry Hill as 1st base/infield coach just before the 2007 season began, were not offered contracts today and will not be retained. Both have been offered other positions within the organization but it has yet to be seen if they will accept them. All other coaches were given 1-year renewals on their contracts.

One possible replacement for Wiley is former Braves pitching genius Leo Mazzone, who has been looking to get back into baseball since being released by the Baltimore Orioles after the 2007 season.

Fredi Gonzalez

Fredi Gonzalez will remain manager of the Marlins according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Rosenthal cites a major-league source while Spencer cites a team source. Rosenthal also said that Fredi’s job was never in any real jeopardy. Fredi’s contract runs through 2011.

While many of us have issues with Fredi’s handling of the bullpen at times the overall sentiment amongst Marlins fans and the media seemed to be that there was no reason to fire Fredi, especially if it was because the team didn’t make the playoffs as some reports were saying.

Clark did state that the coaches’ jobs were still in the air.