Marlins fire Girardi, hire Gonzalez

MIAMI, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The Florida Marlins have hired Fredi Gonzalez to replace first-year Manager Joe Girardi, who was fired earlier Tuesday.

Girardi was let go despite leading an inexperienced team to a 78-84 record when the team was expected to be much worse. But Girardi had well-known disagreements with team owner Jeffrey Loria and other club officials, which led to his dismissal.

Gonzalez, the third base coach of the Atlanta Braves, was with the Florida organization from 1999-2001, when he was the Marlins' third base coach. He has never managed on the Major League level, but did serve as the manager of Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate in Richmond, Va.

He is the ninth manager of the Marlins, who have been in the National League since 1993.