Posted October 20, 200519 yr Joe Girardi is no Jack McKeon. He's 33 years younger. His r?sum? is devoid of managing or front-office experience, much less the decades that accrued to McKeon. And Girardi doesn't smoke cigars, or anything else. But in naming Girardi their manager, the Marlins are gambling that a fresh face and style can inject new life into a club that turned stale last season and failed to reach the playoffs. Girardi, 41, agreed Wednesday to a three-year deal that's expected to pay him between $1.6 million and $2 million over the course of the contract. He'll be formally introduced this morning at Dolphins Stadium. Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said Girardi, who was a catcher for parts of 15 major-league seasons and spent the past season serving as bench coach for New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, ``is the right man to lead our team.'' ''I am extremely pleased to have Joe in our organization and I look forward to his input as we start focusing on next year,'' Loria said in a statement. ``Joe was known as an intelligent player with great leadership skills, and he will bring those traits to his new position.'' Said general manager Admin Beinfest: ``After several discussions with him, it became clear that not only was Joe ready to manage, but he is the right guy to manage the Florida Marlins.'' Girardi, who will become the Marlins' eighth manager, flew to South Florida on Wednesday night and was unavailable for comment. But several Marlins players said they looked forward to playing for him. ''I'm very excited just to meet with him and talk baseball with him,'' said the Marlins' 22-game winner, Dontrelle Willis. ``He's an experienced winner and he comes from a great organization that knows how to win. I think he's going to put that personality and that feeling in our locker room, so it's a good choice.'' Said catcher Paul Lo Duca: ``I think it's good to bring in a guy like that with a lot of excitement, a lot of pizazz. Guys will be able to relate a bit more [to the younger Girardi], so that should help.'' YOUTH MOVEMENT In Girardi, the Marlins go from having baseball's oldest manager in the 74-year-old McKeon to one of its youngest. Only Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge, 37, is younger, and Lenny Harris, who could be back on the Marlins' bench next season, is just 14 days older. But people in baseball said Girardi, who holds a degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University, where he was a three-time Academic All-American, has the smarts even if he lacks the seasoning. ''He's a very sharp guy,'' said ex-Marlin infielder Andy Fox, a teammate of Girardi's with the Yankees. ``He's highly intelligent and worked real hard to become the player that he was. He's got tremendous communication skills and knows how to communicate with players regardless of their personalities.'' Former Marlins pitcher Carl Pavano, who was with the Yankees this season, said Girardi brings ''a good mix'' of traits to the Marlins. ''I think he's a good fit,'' Pavano said. ``He's got the personality, gets the most out of his players and the respect out of his players. He's going to expect a lot and I think guys are going to want to play for him.'' Girardi also interviewed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for their managing vacancy. But he selected the Marlins while tendering his resignation with the Yankees, who gave him permission to talk to other teams. Girardi's baseball background includes 15 seasons spent as a catcher for four major-league teams, one in the Yankees broadcast booth, and a stint alongside Torre in the Yankees dugout. Girardi's lack of managing experience isn't considered a detriment to many in baseball. Ozzie Guillen had never managed before he took over the Chicago White Sox but has guided them to the World Series in just his second season. Bob Brenly had no managing experience when he got the job in Arizona with the Diamondbacks, yet guided them to a World Series title in 2001 in his first season at the helm. EXPERIENCE OVERRATED? ''The lack of experience I think can be overrated,'' said Brenly, who now works as a broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs. ``Speaking specifically of Girardi, this is a guy that caught and played for a variety of managers at the major-league level and sat at the right hand of Joe Torre. I think the experiences that he's had lend themselves well to taking that manager's seat [for the Marlins].'' It's unclear how Girardi will shape his coaching staff, but it's expected he'll be allowed to make most of his own choices. First base/infield coach Perry Hill is expected to return, and pitching coach Mark Wiley also could return. Wiley, who removed his name from consideration when the Seattle Mariners were in the market for a new pitching coach, said he had not spoken with Girardi, but expected to at some point. There has been speculation Girardi could surround himself with a couple of former managers, including Don Zimmer and Don Baylor. Former major-league first baseman Andres Galarraga is likely to receive consideration to become the Marlins' hitting coach. Girardi also could pick a bench coach, bullpen coach and third-base coach. Also unclear is the makeup of the team Girardi will inherit. With 13 pending free agents, the Marlins are expected to make changes, filtering in some younger players, such as outfielder Jeremy Hermida and starting pitcher Jason Vargas, to play with a nucleus of veterans. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/12947723.htm
October 20, 200519 yr Every time I hear or read some reporter, columnist, or media-type go on about the Marlins "thirteen pending free agents" I have to question what are that person's motives in making that declaration. In that list is counted guys like Quantrill and Mecir, who have both indicated they are retiring. AJ and Encarnacion, who everyone knows are gone. Then you look at the rest of the population and it's guys like Mike Mordecai, Lenny Harris, Ismael Valdez, Moehler, Easley, Alfonseca, etc. Not exactly the core players you have to worry about losing. There are, in my mind, only three maybe four that really matter - Conine, Jones, Gonzalez and Moehler. Maybe Easley and AA. And none of them, with the exception of possibly Jones are really tough to replace. Yes Girardi and Beinfest have their work cut out for them as they rebuild the team to compete in 2006. But it isn't the mountainish effort that some would proffer. And for myself, I'm sick of seeing it in print or hearing it in the media.
October 20, 200519 yr Every time I hear or read some reporter, columnist, or media-type go on about the Marlins "thirteen pending free agents" I have to question what are that person's motives in making that declaration. In that list is counted guys like Quantrill and Mecir, who have both indicated they are retiring. AJ and Encarnacion, who everyone knows are gone. Then you look at the rest of the population and it's guys like Mike Mordecai, Lenny Harris, Ismael Valdez, Moehler, Easley, Alfonseca, etc. Not exactly the core players you have to worry about losing. There are, in my mind, only three maybe four that really matter - Conine, Jones, Gonzalez and Moehler. Maybe Easley and AA. And none of them, with the exception of possibly Jones are really tough to replace. Yes Girardi and Beinfest have their work cut out for them as they rebuild the team to compete in 2006. But it isn't the mountainish effort that some would proffer. And for myself, I'm sick of seeing it in print or hearing it in the media. It's easier to say "13 free-agents" than to say "13 free-agents, two who are retiring, two we know are leaving, and maybe four the Marlins really care about." Accurate? Absolutely. Misleading? Maybe. But how many free agents would you like them to say we have?
October 20, 200519 yr good point marlins...... 13 free agents, makes it sound like "ya they got a new manager, but will they be able to compete cuz they have 13 free agents." hahahha when they mention that... its pretty much hatting on our team in my veiw...... and i dont like it....... notice when they say that none them say 2 are retireing....... and only 4 the free agents are are core playaz........ AJ's gone "vargas fills in" EN's gone "hermida fills in" a.gon's gone " we sign somebody" JONES WE MUST KEEP..... conine aint going no where the man is gonna retire as a fish..... we'll be fine
October 21, 200519 yr good point marlins...... 13 free agents, makes it sound like "ya they got a new manager, but will they be able to compete cuz they have 13 free agents." hahahha when they mention that... its pretty much hatting on our team in my veiw...... and i dont like it....... notice when they say that none them say 2 are retireing....... and only 4 the free agents are are core playaz........ AJ's gone "vargas fills in" EN's gone "hermida fills in" a.gon's gone " we sign somebody" JONES WE MUST KEEP..... conine aint going no where the man is gonna retire as a fish..... we'll be fine In one of the Marlins notes, Jones won't be coming back. He wants a 2 year deal,but I think they are debating on it. We might also have plans of getting back Looper from the Mets. Giardi sounds like a good manager, seems to be a pretty smart guy so I doubt he will make many stupid moves in the regular season.
October 21, 200519 yr Author When the casual fan hear's 13 free agents, they think of our entire starting lineup and rotation, they won't think of the insignificant bench guys and bullpen arms.
October 21, 200519 yr No one cares about the f***ing Marlins...just close this board already, you people are living in a fantasy world... LAS VEGAS MARLINS
October 21, 200519 yr Girardi is a class act. You guys will be happy to have him. Also, like Torre and Soscia, he's a former catcher. That means that he knows how to deal with pitchers. If you can deal with a pitcher's fragile ego? You can handle just about anyone else!
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