The American Spectator

Earlier today, Edwin Rodriguez resigned as manager of the Florida Marlins. During the month of June, the Marlins have a 1-17 record and have fallen to the cellar in the NL East. Currently, they are twelve and a half games back of the Philadelphia Phillies.

In April and May, the Marlins were neck and neck with the Phillies and began June only two and a half games out of first place. But a series of events happened. Hanley Ramirez stopped hitting and was dropped in the batting order, hitting coach John Mallee abruptly resigned and Chris Coghlan, the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year, was demoted to Triple-A. Rodriguez lasted less than a year. He took over last June after the team lost confidence in Fredi Gonzalez who has since landed on his feet with the Atlanta Braves.

Will the Marlins ask Jack McKeon to come back and perform another miracle? In 2003, McKeon was brought in after struggling under Jeff Torborg. Some scoffed at the move. How could a 72-year old man relate to a bunch of 20-year-olds? Well, all McKeon did was guide the Marlins to the NL Wild Card en route to a World Series triumph against the New York Yankees.

McKeon is now 80. Assuming this is what the Marlins are going to do it will be a lot to ask for lightning to strike twice. But the Marlins probably don’t have any better options before them. If McKeon can’t whip the Marlins back in shape this season then maybe no one can.

UPDATE: It’s official. Trader Jack is back.