Marlins Fire Controversial Manager Ozzie Guillen

Perhaps the most predictable dismissal of a manager in the American League happened two weeks ago when the Boston Red Sox got rid of Bobby Valentine. Now the most anticipated firing of a National League manager has occurred as the Miami Marlins gave Ozzie Guillen his walking papers on Tuesday, one year into a four-year, $10-million contract.

A new name, new ballpark, new players and a new manager were part of the rebuilding process for the former Florida Marlins, who have won two World Series (1997 and 2003) but have also done a lot of losing since the club was founded in 1993. Part of the new identity was a manager in Guillen who spoke Spanish and who could be one of the “faces” of the franchise.

However, the longtime Chicago White Sox shortstop (and later their bench boss) is not shy about offering controversial opinions, and his flapping yap got him in trouble almost immediately.

In April, Guillen was quoted as saying he “loved” and “respected” Fidel Castro. In Miami, filled with refugees from the Cuban dictator’s island regime, he might as well have just soaked Little Havana with gasoline and tossed a lit match. Thousands marched on the new ballpark, demanding his firing and a boycott of the park and the team, prompting the manager to apologize several times — even coming back during a road trip to New York to address the Miami media in person.

Things blew over for the most part, and the club and the city got back to focusing on the field. Hanley Ramirez settled in, if somewhat uncomfortably, out of position at third base to accommodate another new and expensive signing, shortstop Jose Reyes. The Marlins even set a team record for wins in a month (21 in May). But by June, the club was starting to swoon.

Outstanding outfielder Giancarlo (formerly Mike) Stanton got injured, and the losing started to increase. Then in July, general manager Michael Hill started dismantling his squad. Ramirez went to the Dodgers while starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez was shipped off to Detroit, who would later advance to the 2012 World Series. Bullpen stalwarts Edward Mujica (Cardinals) and Randy Choate (Dodgers) were also traded away, and the team which was left behind started to lose even more.

They finished the 2012 season at the bottom of the National League East division with a 69-93 record. Amazingly, three teams in the National League were worse: the Colorado Rockies (64-98), the Chicago Cubs (61-101) and the truly horrible Houston Astros (55-107). Now Hill and president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest are back to square one. They need a skipper… perhaps they’ll select a less polarizing figure next time.