The Miami Marlins are off to a 3-10 start at the onset of the 2015 MLB season and were just swept by the New York Mets. The latest rumors suggest changes could be on the way as soon as this week after many viewed this National League club as a postseason contender.
Manager Mike Redmond may be in danger of losing his job if the team doesn't get back on track in an upcoming three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Redmond has managed the Marlins since the beginning of the 2013 and owns a record of 142-195.
"According to sources who have heard rumblings, Redmond is on the hot seat and the the organization is already bouncing around possible replacements. One possibility: Wally Backman, the Mets' Triple A manager," writes Spencer.
Miami opened the season getting swept by the lowly Atlanta Braves, who traded away most of the star players on their roster as they enter a rebuilding period, which got the Marlins off on the wrong foot. They then lost seven of their last nine against the Braves (in the second series), Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets. Spencer notes owner Jeffrey Loria is "not happy with the team's play," further indicating a drastic move could soon occur.
Slugger Giancarlo Stanton's comments over the weekend likely didn't help Redmond's case either.
"We're not really giving ourselves a chance, it feels like," he said, via ESPN. "We've got a positive vibe, but [something] is just not there.
"The fire is not there, it seems like. You always want to have it. But when you're out there and it's game time, it's just nothing there."
However, it's hard to place the entire blame on Redmond considering the team's top players aren't performing or are unavailable. Their top two starting pitchers, Jose Fernandez and Henderson Alvarez, are on the disabled list and have been unable to provide their All-Star contributions. The starting rotation - featuring the newly acquired Mat Latos, Dan Haren and David Phelps - has suffered as result, logging a 2-8 record with a 5.23 ERA (26th in MLB) and 1.65 strikeout-to-walk ratio (27th).
Additionally, the entire outfield (Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna) has been underperforming, with the three batters combining for a .233 batting average, two home runs and 18 RBIs. Stanton and Yelich both signed long-term extensions prior to 2015, as did Redmond.
However, Spencer acknowledged Loria's candid, prompt and perhaps hasty dealings with past managers.
"History has shown that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria isn't shy about making managerial changes, as he canned Jeff Torborg in May of 2003, replacing him with Jack McKeon, after that eventual World Series team got off to a poor start. He also dumped Fredi Gonzalez in June of 2010 for Edwin Rodriguez when that team was struggling. He fired both Joe Girardi and Ozzie Guillen after just one season."
Redmond might be out of a job if the team drops two of three to the Phillies.
