Jeffrey Loria is Already Disappointed in the Marlins

Loria miffed at Marlins' Spring Training losing streak

The Florida Marlins have lost nine Spring Training games in a row, and owner Jeffrey Loria is sick and tired of the Fish dogging it out there. When asked of his thoughts on the team after a 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, Loria called the Marlins' play "Uninspired baseball."

Loria told the Palm Beach Post that the Marlins have been playing "uninspired baseball," adding, "Very few guys have focused on what they’re here for. Very few."

"I know it’s only spring training," he continued, "but it’s time to take a look in the mirror. We’re better than this. It’s time to show it."

Loria wasn't done venting, though. Channeling his inner George Steinbrenner, he also told MLB.com, "It's time to kick it into gear, because the switch doesn't turn on the first day of the season." Letting the complaints fly, he groused, "I'm here 10 days and I haven't seen us win one game."

Meanwhile, Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez (who probably has a better idea of what kind of reinforcement his players require) told the Miami Herald Wednesday, ""We have a very young team, and I think they're learning. I don't want to show them...give them the impression that there's panic."

Which one of these two sounds like he is overreacting?

Rodriguez should watch his back, though. If ever there was an owner who would fire his manager in Spring Training, it would be Jeffrey Loria.

But here is the thing about Spring Training criticism. When fans do it, it's charming and reflects well on a group of people who just want to see good baseball. When team owners do it, it resembles a spoiled child mad that his Lexus is in the shop.

David Hill is a Miami native and the cofounder of Marlins Diehards, the only blog with perspective on the eccentricities of Marlins fandom.

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