Just a brief update on the inactivity involving the Marlins. Ozzie Guillen is still the team's manager. Larry Beinfest is still head of baseball operations. And owner Jeffrey Loria, upon whose shoulders rests any and all personnel decisions involving front office executives and members of the field staff, is overseas. He'll return late next week to conduct organizational meetings, at which time we should learn more.
Though I have nothing concrete on which to base this on, it is my belief that as more time passes, the greater the likelihood Guillen keeps his job. Some others I've spoken with share the same sense. The rest of the coaching staff is another story, and I would not be surprised to see changes made there. Coaches are under contract only through the end of this month. Guillen has three years remaining on his contract (to the tune of $7.5 million) and ditching him after one season might raise more questions about Loria's acumen in hiring managers than it would Guillen's ability to successfully manage a team. It becomes much more an indictment of Loria than it does of Guillen.
Only the Seattle Mariners have gone through more managers than the Marlins since 2002, the year Loria took over. Here's a look at the number of managers for each MLB team since '02. (Notes: I counted only managers who either started a season with a team or managed at least 50 games. Jack McKeon is counted twice. The list does not reflect current vacancies or hires made since the end of the regular season, such as Bo Porter in Houston and Terry Francona in Cleveland):
Mariners 8, Marlins 7, Cubs 6, Orioles, 6, Diamondbacks 5, Reds, 5, Royals 5, Brewers 5, Mets 5, Blue Jays 5, Astros 4, Indians 4, Tigers 4, Dodgers, 4, A's 4, Pirates 4, Nationals 4, Rangers 3, Red Sox 3, White Sox 3, Rockies 3, Giants 3, Rays 3, Braves 2, Yankees 2, Phillies 2, Padres 2, Cardinals 2, Angels 1, Twins 1.
Given the fact the Marlins barely qualified as a major league outfit after the July dispersal of six members from the Opening Day roster (including three of the four infielders) and late-season injuries to key fixtures Emilio Bonifacio, Logan Morrison and Giancarlo Stanton, it's hard to assign blame to Guillen for what was an unqualified disaster of a season. The blueprint was bad, period.
With the Nationals/Expos and Orioles ending lengthy playoff droughts, the Marlins moved closer to the top of the heap of teams that have gone the longest without appearing in the postseason. Here's a listing of each MLB team and number of years since last playoff appearance:
Royals 27, Pirates, 20, Blue Jays 19, Mariners 11, Marlins 9, Astros 7, Mets 6, Padres 6, Indians, 5, White Sox 4, Cubs 4, Angels 3, Red Sox 3, Dodgers 3, Rockies 3, Twins 2, Rays 1, Phillies 1, Brewers 1, Diamondbacks 1. All others: 0.
