It's his money and he's going to do what he wants with it. Yes, Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria has fired another manager. Joe Frisaro of the MLB.com reports that Ozzie Guillen has been fired after just one season at the helm of the Miami Marlins.
In recent times since purchasing the Marlins in 2002, Loria has fired:
- Joe Girardi
- Fredi Gonzalez
- Edwin Rodriguez
- Ozzie Guillen
I used to feel badly for Jeffrey Loria. An art dealer by trade, Loria was owner of the Expos who were failing in Montreal, spending no money and making no money. He worked out an elaborate deal with Major League Baseball where the plan was to contract the Expos, Marlins owner John Henry would buy the Boston Red Sox, and Loria could in turn buy the Marlins.
The reason I felt badly for him because Major League Baseball ended up selling the Expos to the current Washington Nationals ownership for three times what Loria got for it.
Now, I realize that the reason the Montreal Expos failed very well could have been Loria's "invest nothing" plan. He took that plan to Miami and screwed up the Marlins. Just when it looked like he might have finally learned his lesson, he dismanted the Marlins. Now he has fired his manager.
Why am I using the word "he?" Doesn't the General Manager make such decisions? Nope, not in Loria's world. It's his money and he will play the way he wants to with it. Until Loria is willing to let baseball people make baseball decisions, the Marlins will remain a laughingstock of Major League Baseball.
