Mike Redmond became the second managerial casualty of the 2015 season over the weekend. The Miami Marlins fired their manager with the team off to a disappointing 16-22 start this season.
What followed was a handy lesson in the value in being right versus the value in being first.
When the dust cleared from Redmond, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that former Marlin and longtime MLB vet Jeff Conine would be named the new manager.
Jeff Conine appears to be the #Marlins next manager
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 18, 2015
He even referred to Conine as the “new Marlins manager” seemingly cementing the hire in stone:
Jeff Conine, the #Marlins new manager, has been special assistant to President Mike Hill. An original Marlin
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 18, 2015
Just about a half hour later, suddenly there was mass confusion and a mystery!
There still is no official word or confirmation on Jeff Conine. Mystery continues until confirmation
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 18, 2015
And then finally, Nightengale had to offer a correction. Conine’s stint as Marlins manager lasted less than an hour.
Correction: Jeff Conine will NOT be the next #Marlins manager, a front official insists.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 18, 2015
Nightengale then published a story at USA Today about the mystery surrounding who the next Marlins manager would be. He threw out Conine’s name and then mentioned that a front office official said it would not be him. There was no mention of Nightengale’s errant report that Conine would in fact be the next manager of the club.
Finally the next morning, it was reported that current GM Dan Jennings would be named manager by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. Nightengale gave credit where it was due:
Dan Jennings, the #Marlins GM, will now also be the manager, per @JonHeymanCBS
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 18, 2015
I wonder what Jeff Conine thought about all of this…
