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The Miami Marlins have removed Brett Butler as third base coach, replacing him with Lenny Harris, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal:
Sources: Brett Butler out as #Marlins third base coach. Indication is that he resigned.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 26, 2015
Source: Lenny Harris taking over as #Marlins third base coach.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 26, 2015
The move comes less than two weeks after the Marlins fired manager Mike Redmond and replaced him with general manager Dan Jennings, despite him having no prior professional managerial experience. The quick change of third base coaches is just another sign of turmoil in Miami, and Rosenthal reports that it is starting to affect the players:
The #Marlins under Jennings could turn into a soap opera. Numerous sources say frustration among players mounting.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 26, 2015
Miami is just 2-6 with Jennings as manager, scoring just three runs per game in eight games under Jennings. They were 16-22 under Redmond.
Part of the issue has been confusion over signs, which may have played a part in Butler's departure from the third-base coaching job, Rosenthal reports:
Sources: Confusion over signs with #Marlins evident in past week; likely influenced decision on Butler.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 26, 2015
Prior to taking over as third base coach, Harris was in his first the Marlins' assistant hitting coach after having coached with Miami's Gulf Coast League affiliate from 2012-2014. He had also been a hitting coach in the Dodgers and Nationals organizations prior to joining the Marlins. Like Jennings, he has no prior experience in the job he now has.
Butler was in his second season as third-base coach for the Marlins. Before that, he was manager of the Reno Aces, the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate, for five seasons. He will now coach the Marlins outfield and baserunning.