Posted October 7, 200519 yr http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins Marlins add A's coach to list of managerial candidates By Juan C. Rodriguez Staff Writer Posted October 7 2005 Ron Washington was two days into his drive from the California Bay Area to Opelika, Ala., when he received a call from the Marlins. It was Jeffrey Loria, his old minor-league owner, inviting him to South Florida for a chat. "To be honest with you, I haven't come down off my high yet," said Washington, the Oakland Athletics third-base coach and Florida Marlins managerial candidate. "The way things were going all year I felt like maybe I would get an opportunity to go in and interview to become a manager. It happened quite quick. Mr. Loria called me right away." Washington is one of four more candidates for whom the Marlins sought and received permission to interview for the post Jack McKeon vacated Sunday. Thursday, the Devil Rays gave first-base coach Billy Hatcher and third-base coach Tom Foley their blessing to interview for the job. The Braves also gave bench coach Fredi Gonzalez the go-ahead to speak with the Marlins when the playoff schedule allows. Though the Braves and Astros are off today, Gonzalez won't meet with the Marlins until sometime between the Division Series and League Championship Series assuming they advance. A former member of the Marlins' big-league coaching staff and long-time manager in their minor-league system, Gonzalez is well versed in organizational matters. He's already completed a preliminary overview of the team's offseason needs and challenges with 13 free agents. "We've had a lot of good guys here go on to other organizations," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "He's done a great job for us and deserves the recognition." Gonzalez already has interviewed for the Pirates job, a position that appears earmarked for former Dodgers manager Jim Tracy. Ken Macha, who recently vacated the Athletics' post, also will interview in his native Pittsburgh sometime this weekend. He could also work his way onto the Marlins' list, but Gonzalez and Yankees bench coach Joe Girardi are considered the frontrunners. According to an industry source, the Marlins view Girardi as the "perfect guy, perfect fit" for their situation. Asked if the job is Girardi's for the taking, the source said "no doubt," adding that Loria "really likes him." Lou Piniella still intrigues the Marlins' braintrust but he is viewed as too pricey. While Piniella earned an average of $3.25 million per year in his last deal with the Devil Rays, the Marlins should be able to hire a rookie manager, even one as respected as Girardi, for between $500,000 and $700,000 per year. Among those who will make his case for the job is Washington, 53, a former infielder who starting in 1977 spent 10 years in the majors with five different teams. His playing career ended in 1990 with the Loria-owned Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers. "We got along rather well," Washington said. "I think he had a lot of respect for my knowledge of the game and I'm so happy he's giving me this opportunity just to come in and talk, even if nothing materializes." Washington's scheduled interview Tuesday will come days after personally surveying the devastation of Hurricane Katrina on his native New Orleans for the first time. Washington's home and those of several family members were destroyed. After the storm, Washington took a three-day leave of absence to help relocated his displaced family members relocate from Alabama shelters. He arrived in Opelika, where his wife's family resides, Thursday evening and planned to visit New Orleans today. "As long as the season was going on I had something occupying me," Washington said. "Now that I'm taking this long ride back?My brother-in-law went up in there last weekend and with the damage they saw I am dreading it. I don't know how much of a shock it's going to be when I see it?All we can do from that point is try to get out of there what we can and start rebuilding." Washington plans to rebuild on the same land. However, he's prepared to uproot for good if the area ever faces a similar crisis. "I will be moving to another state," he said. "Where I don't know because I've never looked on the map to even think about moving someplace else. New Orleans is where I'm from and New Orleans is all I ever thought about. I'm going to give it one more try and if anything like this happened again I would have to just get out of there, and hopefully it could be Miami." Those are two names I hadn't heard yet.
October 7, 200519 yr The only thing significant about this at all is that, for just one second, I thought Foley corresponded to Mick Foley of WWF glory, and that would be awesome.
October 7, 200519 yr The only thing significant about this at all is that, for just one second, I thought Foley corresponded to Mick Foley of WWF glory, and that would be awesome. so did i :mischief
October 7, 200519 yr Since Lou is gone and the new owner is cleaning house, they may also be interested in securing coaching (as opposed to managerial) positions elsewhere. Not to say they wouldn't be interested in being the skipper but let's face it the Marlins have a raft of job openings to fill.
October 7, 200519 yr Who is the minority candidate? Washington? pretty much, yep. Does Freddi Gonzalez count too?
October 7, 200519 yr billy hatcher is also a minority candidate. he was a pretty good defensive outfielder when he played in the game, would probably be a very useful coach for us.
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