Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria is “getting pressure from his top baseball executives to fire” manager Ozzie Guillen because “they believe he has brought an unprofessional culture to the Marlins,” according to sources cited by Joe Capozzi of the PALM BEACH POST. One source was “under the impression that Loria might be the last member of the team hierarchy supporting Guillen.” ESPN’s Buster Olney on Thursday tweeted, “Marlins are aggressively seeking a replacement for Ozzie Guillen.” Capozzi reports Loria also is “considering changes to the coaching staff, possibly as soon as this weekend.” Loria leaves Sunday for Europe, but it is “unclear whether he’ll make a decision about Guillen and the coaches before he departs.” The Marlins’ front office was “supposed to meet with Loria in New York on Thursday to review the season and discuss changes for next year,” but that meeting “was postponed to Oct. 25.” A source said that “several members of the Marlins have complained to top team officials that Guillen is not the right man to manage the club because he does not do it with ‘integrity and professionalism.’” Complaints include “the constant clubhouse presence of Guillen’s three adult sons; Guillen’s frequent references to not being worried about anything because ‘I got my money;’ and his constant cursing” (PALM BEACH POST, 10/5). A source said that the “exasperation level among the club's baseball people is off the chart.” In Ft. Lauderdale, Juan Rodriguez reports Loria is “keeping everyone hanging.” The source said, "As far as they know, no decision has been made either way. Jeffrey is making this call, and for some reason he can't decide." Still, Rodriguez writes, “Dismissing Guillen might not go down well among Marlins players” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/5).
MIXED EMOTIONS: In Miami, Clark Spencer writes the Marlins “have plenty of work to do in order to improve in 2013.” The element that “went wrong” this season was “upper-level management -- meaning everyone from Loria to the front office -- grossly overestimated the team’s returning talent from the 2011 season.” Spencer: “Did the Marlins overpay for free agents Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell during their December spending spree? Very likely, yes." High-dollar free agents "are rarely bargains for any team.” Meanwhile, an aspect that “went right” in ’12 was the opening of Marlins Park, which is “eye-catching, to say the least.” Though it was “Death Valley for home run hitters, fans seemed to like the joint.” The ballpark was “worthy of high praise.” The product on the field, “not so much” (MIAMI HERALD, 10/5).
