MIAMI -- Once the runner-up to Joe Girardi for the job of managing the Florida Marlins, Fredi Gonzalez became his successor Tuesday.

Doing More With Less

Girardi
Joe Girardi lost his job with the Marlins, but he produced 78 wins with baseball's lowest payroll ($14,998,500). In fact, the Marlins had the fourth-most wins in the last 10 seasons among teams listed last in total payroll, according to USA Today's salary database.:
Team Payroll* Wins
1996 Expos $15.4M 88
2001 Twins $24.1M 85
1997 Pirates $9.0M 79
2006 Marlins $15.0M 78
2000 Twins $15.6M 69
*=Rounded up.

The Marlins fired Girardi and five hours later announced that he'll be replaced by Gonzalez, third base coach for the Atlanta Braves the past four years. Girardi's departure after only one season had been expected after his rift with owner Jeffrey Loria boiled over in an on-field confrontation two months ago.

Gonzalez, 42, interviewed with the Marlins a year ago after Jack McKeon resigned. Instead they hired Girardi, but his relationship with Loria and general manager Larry Beinfest soon became strained.

Gonzalez was born in Cuba and raised in Miami, becoming the first manager in the Marlins' organization when they hired him to run their first minor-league team in Erie, Pa., in 1992. Beginning in 1999, he coached third base for 2