The Marlins' Dan Jennings "has been asked to resume his duties" as full-time GM after also serving as manager since mid-May, and a full-scale search for his replacement "is underway," according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Jennings is signed through' 18, and team President David Samson said that there is "no internal tension surrounding the team's chain of command" (MLB.com, 10/6). In Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis notes Samson yesterday conceded that the "unorthodox move" of installing Jennings as manager "was a mistake." The choice of Jennings, who had never managed above the high school level, "was criticized throughout baseball." Samson: "Do I regret doing what we did? I think it's hard to say that I don't because it did not have the desired result on the field, it did not accomplish what we expected it to accomplish. So, do I regret coming to that conclusion? Yes, I do. I regret everything that doesn't work. I think he did the best he could given the fact that he was put in a less than ideal situation." Davis notes it remains to be seen "whether Jennings wants to return to the front office or seek a job outside the organization" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/7).
IT STARTS AT THE TOP: The AP's Steven Wine noted since Jennings began with the Marlins in '02, there has been "considerable stability at the team's executive level." But that "could change if the Marlins don't start winning." The next manager will be team Owner Jeffrey Loria's seventh since June '10. Samson, who has been with the club for 14 years, said, ''It's very difficult to believe we keep getting all these chances from Jeffrey. I'm not sure we'll have an option to do it the time after this. He looks at empty seats; he looks at team performance and looks at the job the baseball people do, and he's not happy with the results.'' Wine noted little change "is expected in Loria's payroll next year." The Marlins "ranked next to last" in MLB this season at $69M (AP, 10/6). In Miami, Clark Spencer notes Loria "wasn’t on hand" for yesterday's season-ending press conference. Loria was "rarely seen at games the final two months of the season." But he "will be a major presence -- if not the only one that matters -- in the months ahead as the Marlins try to return to relevance" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/7).
TEAR DOWN THE WALL: Samson said that the club will "move the fences" at Marlins Park next season, and is "working on a plan to bring them closer to the plate in some areas and lower them to a level that would enable outfielders to make leaping catches ... on potential home run balls." Samson: "The thought of a left fielder jumping in the Clevelander (nightclub) is sort of awesome to me" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/7).
