PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 23: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves gestures to the dugout after hitting a single in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 23, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Now that Don Mattingly has been fired as Marlins manager, perhaps Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña can finally rest easy.
Acuña was frequently a target of the Marlins during Mattingly’s tenure, even to the point of nearly coming to blows.
Acuña coming off the injured list? It was always against the Marlins, and Miami was sure to brush him off the plate. Acuña in the middle of an NL MVP race? You can bet the Marlins would be standing in his way.
On Sunday, Miami parted ways with manager Don Mattingly. While that doesn’t necessarily mean their beef with Acuña is in the past, a change in leadership can at times impact a team’s philosophy. Why waste resources throwing at a player like Acuña?
Marlins fire Don Mattingly, Ronald Acuña is safe
“I am proud and honored to have served as manager of the Marlins for the past seven years and have enjoyed my experiences and relationships I’ve developed within the organization,” Mattingly said. “I look forward to spending time with my family in Evansville (Indiana), and to any future endeavors.”
Mattingly is the club’s all-time leader in managerial wins, yet he finished his tenure with a putrid 437-583 record.
“We are fortunate to have had Don Mattingly leading our team on the field over the last seven years,” Marlins principal owner Bruce Sherman said. “He has represented the Marlins, our players, our fans, and the South Florida community with unmatched dignity and pride.”
Mattingly only had one winning season in his seven years as manager. While he was a trusted voice in the clubhouse, it’s surprising he survived this long with such little on-field success.