Barely an hour has passed since the Marlins fired manager Fredi Gonzalez and replaced him with Edwin Rodriguez, but the reactions have already started streaming in. The early verdict: Gonzalez deserves another chance and he'll probably get one. Here are some takes on the dismissal from around the league:
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wonders who is good enough for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria if Joe Girardi and Gonzalez are not.
- Braves GM Frank Wren told MLB.com's Mark Bowman (Twitter link) that he respects Gonzalez, but will not comment further until Bobby Cox has managed his last game.
- Bowman wonders if the Braves will find room for Gonzalez in their organization this season.
- Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports suggests (via Twitter) that Bobby Valentine could be the Marlins' next manager.
- Ed Price of AOL FanHouse says there's "some belief in the game" that the Marlins already have an agreement with Valentine. Price also suggests Loria had unfairly high expectations for Gonzalez.
- Gonzalez seemed to be taking the news well, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. The Marlins players, however, were walking around the team hotel "in shock."
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro calls the firing "a stunning move."
- Jon Heyman of SI.com says Gonzalez deserves an award, not a dismissal, for standing up to Hanley Ramirez (Twitter link).
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that the Marlins were "strongly considering" firing Gonzalez before his public clash with Ramirez (Twitter link).
