Managerial Despair in South Florida
As the 2022 Major League Baseball regular season draws to a close, the Miami Marlins must now search for a new manager for 2023 and beyond. After a disappointing past couple of seasons, team management and current manager Don Mattingly reached a mutual agreement that he would not return after a seven-year run in South Florida.
Having accumulated a cumulative win-loss record of 439-586, the man long-known as “Donnie Baseball” currently stands as the winningest manager in franchise history, as well as having managed the most games overall.
Shocked is a good way to describe how Marlins faithful felt when now-former CEO Derek Jeter resigned prior to this season. But there were still high hopes for the team after the unexpected run to the NL Wild Card in 2020. At the time, it was a great move for Miami to hire him, even though there was some uncertainty whether the rebuild would bring the Marlins back to contention. However, over the past few months, many have believed that it may be time for a change.
After the lockout ended, the Marlins made some big moves. Avisail Garcia is a proven veteran, and Jorge Soler was the reigning World Series MVP. Combined with the top up-and-coming rotations, those veteran outfielders could really add some punch to this lineup.
Unfortunately, it was not to be, as Garcia struggled through much of the season. Not only that, but injuries took their toll as well. The first big blow came just before the All-Star Break when Jazz Chisholm Jr. suffered a back injury that ultimately ended his season. That was just the first domino to fall. After that, it just seemed like everything went downhill.
One Person Can Make a Difference
It’s no big secret that the Miami Marlins have a long-term reputation for poor management. It wouldn’t be overly shocking if many big names are omitted from the search. Being the optimist I am, I see it as just another chance for the front office to redeem itself by plotting through this crossroads. From my point of view, one particular person is a perfect fit to turn things around in South Florida.
Long-time baseball veteran Joe Maddon recently lost his job as manager of the Los Angeles Angels, but he also has a strong track record and pedigree behind him. After his first stint in Anaheim, a number of hitters blossomed. Then, he went on to manage the Tampa Bay Rays. At that time, the Rays were not much more than a punchline, but Maddon brought a new attitude there, and the team has been on the rise ever since.
But the story does not end there. The veteran manager then moved on to the Chicago Cubs. Fans on the North Side were desperate to finally end their ongoing jinx of not getting anywhere in the postseason. Remarkably, Joe was able to guide that team to a World Series Championship after 108 years of bad luck.
Joe Maddon’s unique personality and managerial skills and techniques have made him very well-respected across baseball for his unique personality. Virtually everywhere he has been there was a major transformation from loser to winner. His “oddball quirks” seem to jumpstart players to establish a new culture. In my opinion, that’s exactly what the Miami Marlins need to recoup the majority of their alienated fan base.
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