They don't want to be quoted about it, but several Marlins officials are reportedly upset that former Florida manager Joe Girardi offered advice last July that Phillies right-hander Jon Lieber credits for turning around his season.Girardi and Lieber, former teammates and still close friends, talked after the Marlins rocked Lieber on July 31, and Girardi told him what Marlins hitters were saying about his "flat" pitches. Lieber (at left, talking to his 7-year-old son Jared), heeded Girardi's advice and went 5-3 with a 3.38 ERA in his last 11 starts, including two wins against the Marlins.
"If you think a friendly conversation cost us the wild card, you're sadly mistaken," Girardi, who feuded with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, told the Palm Beach Post. "They're acting like I sat people down and gave signals away."
Added Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis, "To be honest, I don't think it's a big deal. If we lost the wild card by two games, I'd have a bigger problem with it."
What do you think?
3 comments:
i'm sure this is one of the factors that led to his firing. he gave this advice to an opposing player with 6 weeks left in the regular season. what was he thinking: that lieber wouldn't pitch against the fish the rest of the season........ if anything, he should have been trying to get into his head, but since he and lieber were friends, he should have just kept his pie hole closed and not offered any advice at all ( or maybe he thought he was next in line for charlie manuel's job)
I think Lieber offered Girardi a ride in his gas-guzzling, souped-up monster truck in return for some advice. Who could turn that down?
Sorry to stray off topic Scott, but what's all this about Brett Myers being considered (or volunteering for) the bullpen? Hogwash or not, your thoughts?
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