This week, Marlins owner Jeffery Loria had the opportunity to honor future Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox with some sort of gesture. He did not take it. The Marlins, in fact, were the only team not to give a tip of the cap to Cox, who, of course, is retiring after this season. Presumably, this stems from Cox's criticism of Loria from a few months ago.
Bobby Cox Snubbed By Jeffrey Loria, Who Continues To Be Baseball’s Least Likable Person
“I know that guy (Loria) is unpredictable, but …. after everything (Gonzalez) has done for that guy, are you s——- me? They have gone down to the end (of the playoff race) every year, playing their asses off. That guy doesn’t appreciate anything. He’s one of those guys that thinks you change (for the sake of change). He’s always wanting to fire the coaches, always. That’s his history.”
Cox, of course, was right. In 2006, Joe Girardi was hired as the Marlins’ manager, and despite a microscopic payroll of about $15 million, Girardi somehow kept the Marlins in playoff contention for most of the season. Loria couldn’t get along with Girardi, so he fired him.
The next man to take the reins was Fredi Gonzalez. Through three and a half years, Gonzalez guided the Marlins -- still with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball -- to a cumulative .497 record and winning seasons in 2008 and 2009. After starting the 2010 season with a 34-36 record, he was canned.
Perhaps Loria was just too baffled by the concept of a long-term manager to organize any sort of honorary gesture, or perhaps he’s just a jerk. Either way, he doesn’t deserve the overachieving efforts that this team has been providing year in and year out.
In any case, I can’t imagine anyone taking Loria’s side here. Loria’s actions suggested under-appreciation and unreasonable expectations, Cox said so, and Loria responded... well, just about how we expect him to respond at this point.
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