Fish Bytes

Guillen sends out thanks in Tweets

      Ozzie Guillen, who abstained from Twitter throughout much of the season, used it on Tuesday to offer his thanks in the aftermath of his firing as Marlins manager.

      Translated from Spanish, here's what Guillen said:

      "Thank you to my family and my great friends for the wonderful support, to my sons and my wife, and my countrymen for their support."

      "To the fans that support me and to those who are happy as well, my respect and affection."

      "In life there are worse things and I've lived bad moments in my life. This is one more of that. I will overcome with the suppot of my own."

      "Better things or worse things may come, but thanks again for your support in this bad moment, but not the worst."

      "I am calm with my own, with my head held high, real high."

      Guillen, who was informed of his dismissal in a phone call moments after his plane touched down in Miami this afternoon after a trip to Europe, did not return phone calls or text messages.

Valentine, Lowell not candidates to replace Guillen

     Eliminate Bobby Valentine and Mike Lowell from the list of prospective replacements for fired manager Ozzie Guillen. Sources said Valentine is definitely not a candidate and Lowell said in an email response that, at this time, he is not interested in managing. Jeff Conine said a month ago that he, too, was not interested in managing at this time.

      "For me, managing is not on my agenda at this time," said Lowell, a popular former Marlin. "I continue to root for the Marlins and wish them great success."

      Valentine, who was recently dumped as manager of the Red Sox after one season in Boston, has also been ruled out, a source said. Loria wanted Valentine as his manager in 2010 when Fredi Gonzalez was fired and again last fall when the Marlins looked to replace Jack McKeon. Guillen ended up landing the job instead.

       Mike Redmond, a former backup catcher for the Marlins who managed last season at Single A Dunedin (Toronto Blue Jays) is a candidate. Others will also be interviewed, but no announcement is expected to be made until after the completion of the World Series.

       Guillen wasn't the only member of the field staff to get the heave-ho on Tuesday.The Marlins also decided not to retain hitting coach Eduardo Perez, pitching coach Randy St. Claire, first base coach Gary Thurman and bench coach Joey Cora.

       The Marlins plan to bring back infield coaching guru Perry Hill, who underwent knee surgery to correct a problem that led to his resignation.

Marlins fire Ozzie Guillen

    Ozzie Guillen is one and done.

    The Marlins fired Guillen on Tuesday after just one season. President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said the team would now begin a search for what will be the eighth manager in Jeffrey Loria's 12 seasons as team owner. The Marlins will have their fourth different Opening Day manager in four years at the start of the 2013 season.

    Guillen's Marlins went just 69-93, good for a second straight last-place finish in the National League East.

    The Marlins signed Guillen last fall to a four-year, $10 million contract. They'll be responsible for the remainder of that deal, or $7.5 million over the next three years. As a result, the Marlins will likely turn to a younger and, therefore, less expensive manager to replace Guillen.

    "After careful consideration following the disappointment of the 2012 season, we decided to dismiss Ozzie," Beinfest said in a prepared statement. "Our maagerial search begins immediately and our hope is that a new manager, along with roster improvements, will restore a winning culture."

    Sources said that Loria, as well as some members of the front office, didn't care for the clubhouse culture that was created under Guillen.

    More changes to the coaching staff could be forthcoming. Given that bench coach Joey Cora has long been Guillen's right-hand man in the dugout with the White Sox and Marlins, it would seem highly unlikely he'll be retained.