Girardi sees Marlins' bright side

By MARC TOPKIN
Published December 11, 2005

DALLAS - While the Devil Rays boast about being under construction, the Marlins are undergoing a dismal deconstruction.

As bad as it has been for all to watch, it has to be extremely painful for new manager Joe Girardi, who took the Marlins job - and took himself out of the running for the Rays' job - because he believed Florida had a better chance to win.

Girardi said the Marlins informed him they were going make some moves, and he has tried to be a good company man, but he admitted last week he didn't know the roster would be stripped this severely.

Through trades and free agency, the Marlins have lost two of their top starting pitchers, Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett; their closer, Todd Jones; and at least six frontline position players, 2B Luis Castillo, 1B Carlos Delgado, SS Alex Gonzalez , C Paul Lo Duca, 3B Mike Lowell and CF Juan Pierre.

"We didn't necessarily talk about the degree," Girardi said. "I think that a lot of the reasons you're seeing this is the stadium deal is not done. ... I think the landscape will change again when it gets done.

"But for right now we're going young. My thought is if you're going to go young, go all young. They can grow together, learn to rely on each other, be accountable. And the competition is good. The competition for the spots is healthy."

That's an extremely optimistic view, but with team officials launching a world tour of possible new homes, the Marlins are headed for a dreadful season.

"A big part of my job is making sure that these guys understand that they belong in the big leagues and they can do it. That's going to be my message; that just because you're young doesn't mean you can't play," Girardi said. "It will be exciting. Don't underestimate these kids."

RED HAZE: Whatever happened last week in talks between the Red Sox, Braves and Rays - and it sounds like one of those "he said, he said" situations - the reality is that the only team that got what it wanted was Atlanta, which landed Edgar Renteria.

And that means it's likely the Red Sox and Rays will talk again.

The Sox, who ended up paying about $20-million to have Renteria for one bad season, still don't have a shortstop, or a first baseman, though they do now have an elite third-base prospect, Andy Marte, the Rays covet.

And the Rays, who have the right to hold out for a premium return when they don't have to make a trade, can offer them both in Julio Lugo and Aubrey Huff , as well as closer Danys Baez and centerfielder Joey Gathright.

The Rays have others interested, especially the Cubs. And the Sox have other options, with speculation starting about trading Manny Ramirez for disgruntled O's shortstop Miguel Tejada.

RAYS RUMBLINGS: Angels backup catcher Josh Paul, the center of the playoff umpiring controversy, was designated for assignment and may end up in Tampa Bay. ... Entering the last year of his contract, Huff has been a regular at the Trop weight room this offseason. ... Amid a new approach to in-game entertainment and promotion, there is talk of a Joe Maddon glasses giveaway night. ... The Padres say they will look at Dewon Brazelton primarily in long relief; they also claimed Pete Laforest off waivers for $1. ... New 3B Sean Burroughs has been hard to reach; he was on a fishing expedition in the south Pacific. ... Maddon will gather his coaches in January to go over plans and conduct a mock spring training. ... Former manager Lou Piniella expects to spend the summer doing Fox TV work and corporate speaking appearances while awaiting an opportunity to manage again. ... Maddon has been immersed in the book Blink and touting the theory that the brain stores information and disperses it in thick and thin slices: "It should be required reading for all coaches, I think, and a lot of players."

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]